We’re in “that” place – we need a mini-van, but I don’t want to drive one. My husband doesn’t want to purchase one either, so at least we’re on the same page there. Problem is, I need the features of a mini-van: the extra room, third row of seating, separate temperature gauges for the passengers, and something that doesn’t drive like a truck. And I love the idea of having captains chairs for the girls to sit in. Considering how much my sister and I fought in the car when I was little, I would like to keep a little space between them. So an SUV it is. But which one? I mean, there are so many options. All of this has left us aimlessly wandering car dealerships on weekends and holidays, along with scouring the internet at all hours. Tons of fun, I tell you. Please note the heavy sarcasm in that last sentence.
I’ve driven my compact car for 8 years. I’ve ignored the fact that the girls’ convertible car seats essentially touch because the backseat is so small. I’ve made myself okay with the fact that keeping one of them rear-facing means my front passenger seat has to be moved so far forward no human could actually sit in it. And I’ve pretended that it’s totally fine that I can barely fit a full size stroller in my trunk. Forget the double stroller, ’cause that’s just not happening. Greenleigh has to walk when we take my car and that’s that. But the truth is, I’m not really okay with any of it.
Why do I do these things? Because I hate car shopping. Even the promise of a new (or new to me) car at the end of the process, doesn’t make it any better. Oh, the list of things I would rather do – get a colonoscopy, take my entire computer apart just to put it back together (you know, like a puzzle), take another Bar Exam, explore the idea of moving to a war-torn country, voluntarily clean my house, – really, there are just so many things. I mean, it’s at least a bazillion degrees here on any given day. Add in pushy sales men calling me “honey” and top it off by jumping in the car and taking a ride in complete silence with a person that I’ve known all of 5 minutes to God-only-knows-where on a test drive, and you have a pretty painful experience. And the sad part is that normally, I know more about the vehicles than the sales people do. But you know what makes the process way more fun (again, please note heavy sarcasm)? Kids. Little kids. My kids.
Car shopping with my children is:
- Trying to convince Greenleigh that she cannot drive…and then physically prying her out/off of the vehicle while she’s clinging to the door frame. Oh, and of course she’s screaming at the top of her lungs. Typically this occurs in the showroom. With lots of other people around.
- Wrestling the equivalent of a 23 pound bag of snakes while some idiot is trying to hard sell me on a vehicle I’ve already told him that I don’t even like.
- Trying to convince Greenleigh that seatbelts are not required to be worn in the dealership showroom. Although I commend her dedication to safety, the shrieking when I refused to snap in her seatbelt really freaked out the salesman in his early 20s. He may never have kids. He actually told me so.
- Dealing with the follow-up phone calls from the dealerships, which inevitably occur 3 minutes before dinner is about to go on the table and both kids are loosing their minds. And then they get upset that they can’t hear me.
Hmmm yeah that’s a tricky one. We are also in the market for an SUV but I’ve done most of my research online and we lucked out and was able to rent the SUV we are most interested in while on holidays last year. So we got a 5 day test drive, with the kid, with the luggage, on the road. It was awesome!
Renting is a great idea! Problem is, I don’t really know what I want. I mean, I know the features, I just don’t know which car. And so many of the cars I’m interested in are not available to rent. Although I will say, I’ve been most impressed with the dealership that was willing to let me take the car I liked home and drive it for a few days under a rental contract. I wouldn’t have to pay for it, I’d just have to promise to bring it back. We decided not to do it that day, but it seems too hard to pass up.
Usually my husband is the one who is in charge of car buying and he does most of it online or while driving around town. Back in December we got our first SUV, a Jeep Cherokee and we love it!!
Hope it all goes well this weekend with your car shopping extravaganza! 😉
I’ve only gone car shopping once, thankfully and really, we did it online to find just the minivan (I thought) I wanted. We dropped DD (almost 2) at the time with her aunt and cousins and traded in my Santa Fe.
I’m not looking forward to it this time but feel I need my husband there with me to play hardball.
And yes, good decision on no minivan. Yes, the space is awesome, as are the sliding doors. But I feel like my soul dies a little bit whenever I drive it.
Maggie – I love the idea of the sliding doors, but I just don’t want a mommy car. Deep down I feel the need to try to be stylish and trendy, even though I’m so not. I don’t want my soul to die. [shudders]
On another note – How did you like your Santa Fe?
Fortunately, I have not had to struggle with such a huge decision like car shopping with small kids. When we made our last car purchase, our kiddoes were big enough to know ot behave. However, that being said shopping for a vehicle is a nightmare no matter how old your kids and it is a tiring process. In 2003 when we bought our last car, we did much of our leg work online. Reviewing features, colors, blah-blah before actually going into a dealership. We knew we wanted a Toyota and most likely a Camry at that, which narrowed things down a lot. Now, we’re in the market for shopping for our 18 year old son. We are sticking to the same method using the Internet as much as possible on this purchase. We know it’s gonna be either a Honda Civic or Toyota Corella. The rest of the work will come with visiting the lots to see which car choice DS goes with. This doesn’t answer entirely how to deal with shopping with toddlers, but the net is good first step for you to eliminate your options. Best of luck to you!
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My neighbor has four kids (2 two yr olds) and she has a Chevy Traverse. The back row is supposed to be one of the best size wise. I’ve ridden up front and it’s pretty nice. You might look at them. I driv e VW routan mini van, and I have to say, I do love it!
Yes – I really liked the Traverse. The only problem is that there’s not much room once the 3rd row is up and we have a huge double stroller. Given that we plan to have a 3rd child in the next year or two, the stroller isn’t going anywhere so we better plan for it!
Well, my husband has a Tahoe. If I’m honest I’ve never driven it and have no desire to. The third row is really only for kids unless you feel like stunting your growth! Suburban maybe then? But that’s a huge leap from compact car! Try the Volvo XC90 with a third row. I knew a lady who had one for her four kids, and other than the truck type of feel (which is really any suv), she liked it.
But I’m telling you, come to the dark side. Mini van will change your life with how easy it is. And I will say the VW is the most stylish non-soul killing version out there!
We actually looked at the Suburban and decided it was too much car/truck. I’ve driven the XC90 and really liked it, but compared to some of the other cars we’ve driven it really wasn’t super nice for the price you pay (if buying brand new). I love, love, love the Buick Enclave but my husband likes the Acura MDX. There’s a stand off going on in my house right now. LOL
First time car shopping was terrible (even walking in with a check in hand still took hours) and we just one 1 little one. The second time around we left Lennon with the grandparents because it made testing out the features so much easier at the dealership (plus we were a little more civilized with no one yelling I’m bored)
Yikes. Your car shopping adventure does not sound like fun. I’m with you…I hate car shopping. However, I do kind of want a mini-van. Even though my soul might die a little….at least I’ll have plenty of space for my dead soul.
And sliding doors for your dead soul to enter it. Don’t forget about those. LOL. Seriously though, I know so, so many people who rave about their mini-vans. I’m sure you’ll love it, they just aren’t for me…yet.
I couldn’t imagine driving a mini-van. They just aren’t my thing. People say great things about them but it’s just something about them that I can’t get with. Maybe it’s the shape of the body or the sliding doors, LOL! I drive an SUV and I love it! Enough space for the family and all of our stuff, and it’s pretty stylish too! Good luck during your car hunt. If it helps any people really love the Honda Odyessey (sp?)…