I'm thinking about replacing my minivan with a car.

[LaraMN]

I HATE driving a large-ish vehicle, but with three kids (and no payment on the van for the last three years)it's been accommodating.

The van's about to die; we'll probably get rid of it after this summer, and I am going to have to replace it with a short-term vehicle- one I can drive the crap out of until I'm done with school.

I only need it to last two years or so, my kids won't be that large by then, and we NEVER travel anywhere as a family. I would save on gas, particularly with my school commute.

Anyone else get by alright with three or so kids and a car for a primary vehicle?

[huskerlaw]

1. I dont' have kids, but...

Two of my sisters have 3 kids. They both drive minivans, but for different reasons. One got a minivan when she had the 3rd kid because at 11, 7, and newbie, there wasn't room for a car seat in the SMALL car she had before. The other sister has school-aged kids, but is the neighborhood soccer mom and carts everyone else's kids everywhere.

Both families have a car as a secondary vehicle and often take the kids in them. It's totally do-able, especially if you're not taking long trips. I would suggest a slightly large car though...something Camry-sized, rather than Civic-sized. ;)

[fizzgig]

2. we had a volvo wagon when i was younger

and mom was always hauling around my sister and i plus our friends. of course, this was back when little kids still sat in the front seat, but there's room for three in the back seat.

i know it's a large-ish vehicle, but they are good, solid cars. i've had my wagon for almost 10 years (it's as old as i am) and it's got many good years left. if you take care of them, you can drive them forever and they're reasonably good on gas mileage. they're not the sexiest of cars, but i wouldn't trade out my girl for the world.

[Midlodemocrat]

3. Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it.

Says the woman who just purchased her fourth, yes fourth minivan.

Even without kids, I think I would have gotten it anyway. I LOVE it. 2007 Town and Country Limited with all the bells and whistles. Nicest car I've ever owned.

[LaraMN]

5. I know, I know, but it's just an interim vehicle...

I need something cheap and fuel-efficient (we don't want to assume a car payment) that I can get by with for just a couple years.

None of the kids are in activities that warrant much vehicle space for large equipment, and their friends all live within five minutes of us.

[deepthought42]

4. As a kid I preferred my dad's car to my mother's minivan...

But then that may have had something to do with her driving abilities... :scared: lol

I personally never want to own one. Driving my mother's van once was enough pour moi...

[lutefisk]

6. Cheap, fuel-efficient, and don't need much space?

[seaglass]

7. I have 2 kids and have always had a small car. Always enough

room in the trunk for hockey bags, golf bags, softball bags etc...

I despise paying for gas - even when it was under $2/gal.; I don't like driving large vehicles, I don't like the look of them and I don't like how they impact my driving experience.

The only issue with a smaller vehicle is it can limit your ability to carpool - I think 3 kids and 3 hockey bags was my max. :-)

[Pithlet]

8. Everyone's situation is different, but I traded in my first minivan for a car.

We have two kids. We bought a minivan right before having our second child, and I hated it. We traded it in for a car less than two years later, thinking we could get away with a car, and would prefer it. I ended up turning right around and trading that car back for another minivan. I wish we'd just stuck with the first one. As much as I hate driving a minivan, I hated driving a car with two small kids even more. That doesn't mean you will, but I thought as a minivan hater I'd relate my experience. It's possible you might miss the extra seats and room more than you think you will. I think it was easy for us to forget just how much we used the extra seating and room until we no longer had it. If you have no choice, it's one thing, and I think a car is obviously doable. Lots of people do it every day. But, if you can swing another minivan, it's worth considering.

[youthere]

9. Mother of three here and here's my advice...

If you have any still in car seats, stick with the van. Don't switch to the smaller vehicle until your kids can at least get themselves buckled, otherwise you will hate life and curse yourself for all eternity. We made the switch to a family car from a minivan when my youngest was still in a booster seat and it sucked because the seat took up so much room in the back...and remember,space is at a premium in a family car, especially since none of the kiddos can sit up front until they are at least 12 because of the whole airbag thing. We have no problem now, and if I had to do it over I would absolutely make the switch again, but not before the kids are out of those damn seats.

[bullwinkle428]

13. I totally agree with you - my brother and sister-in-law have two

little ones (still in car seats, and will continue to be for a while), and they purchased a mid-sized SUV (Toyota Highlander) rather than the minivan as I suggested. When they go somewhere as a family, she insists on being in the back seat with the two kids so she give them whatever they need at the snap of a finger, so she has to shoehorn herself in the middle, between the two car seats! She's a small, petite woman, and still has to work at getting in and out of the back seat...

The minivans have a lot more flexibility as far as seating positions and access with the sliding doors on each side. They really aren't image-concious people, but somehow didn't want to deal with the stigma of a minivan...to each their own, I guess!

[Pierre.Suave]

10. Here is a good pick

It can be found used, will be reliable, and cheap.

Honda Accord Wagon

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/default.aspx?make=Honda&model=Accord%20Wagon

[LaraMN]

11. That looks do-able!

Not too terribly spendy, either!
Thanks!

[Pierre.Suave]

12. you are welcome

I think it is a great little useful, reliable, and not very expensive car. It will also get better gas mileage than a van.