My Case for the Minivan

June 30, 2009

(* = Name that movie!)

Warning: if you grew up in a 2 minivan family like I did and moan and feel sick to your stomach at the sound of these words, rest assured, this is not your mother’s minivan. I’m talking about the Honda Odyssey here because that’s the one I drive…

My surrounds are infested with Range Rovers and Mercedes GL’s. But when I whip out my key fob, and open both sliding doors and the trunk in one single motion, their $85,000 jaws drop. The key, my friends, to being cool as a mom, is pure functionality. I’m not interested in impressing anyone – have you seen my wardrobe? It’s all about the adorables right now, and I’m okay with that.

So buckle your seatbelts, here we go:

1. The first reason why minivans rock is exactly what makes them so: Sliding doors, people.

Here’s why: our lives are parking lots, parking lot after endless parking lot. Since we’re always on the hunt for rock star parking, we invariably have other cars parked next to us, right? Sliding doors solve the problem when you are trying to get a car seat carrier into the base when your neighboring car has left you 4 inches. This is really huge, especially with 2 or more adorables.

2. Flexibility

On one trip, we carried 4 adults and 3 adorables in car seats, 2 decent-sized strollers and luggage. On another, we carried 5 adults and 2 adorables in car seats. Regularly for our road trips we put the third row down and pack the Running Man’s bike, our double-jogger (it’s BIG), another umbrella stroller, luggage, coolers, golf clubs, etc. It’s like Tetris in there.

3. Navigation System with Back-up Camera

I’m really talking about the back-up camera that comes with the Navigation system. I know they are not unique to the minivans, but oh so helpful in preschool parking lots!

4. Family Extras: DVD player with wireless headphones, a little rear mirror to check the adorables without have to wrangle the real rearview mirror, a laughable number of cupholders, a real power outlet in addition to 2 car adaptors, and finally in the Touring model: ability to remember seat positions for 2 drivers.

I do wish Honda offered All Wheel Drive, as Toyota does on their Sienna. That’s my only issue.

Check out this Mama who adorned her minivan with flames. Love it.

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Category: Brilliant
Tags: functional car, minivan, sliding doors |