I narrowed my decision down to the Honda Odyssey and the Buick Enclave. I took each car for a test drive and was immediately in love with both cars, surprisingly. If I had no kids, I would absolutely have gone with the Enclave. It was such a crazy smooth ride and I loved the feel of the car. But, I did have kids and kids make big messes. So, I packed away my pride and went with the minivan.
I never thought I'd be a minivan mom. The mere thought of driving a "mom" car just made me cringe. But in all honesty, I made a terrific decision for our family. I went with the Honda Odyssey and I haven't thought twice about it.
For those contemplating a minivan, let me tell you some of the advantages.
1. Power doors!
When it's raining or you have a kid in one hand and groceries in the other, you can just hold the button on your key and the doors open automatically! I can't tell you how many times my kids and I are running to the car in the rain and just jump in; it's great!
2. There are 17 cup holders.
So this was a selling feature of the vehicle and at the time, my husband and I laughed at the fact that this was a selling point. But, when on a road trip and you have 2 sippy cups, a cup for you, a cup for your husband, 2 milks from McDonalds, and a water for the dog, the number of cup holders is perfect!
3. So much storage space.
My lovely husband likes to make sure that the dog has the entire back of the minivan on road trips (aka, the whole third row plus the trunk space), and we can still pack a separate bag for all 4 of us. I never have to worry if I pack shoes for each outfit anymore.
4. It's great for cadet transfer.
So this definitely doesn't apply across the board, but it does where we live. I can pick up all 5 of the cadets we sponsor at one time. I can also give a big group of cadets a ride back to the barracks without leaving one behind.
5. You can get auto-start!!!!
So this winter was horrible with snow. But.....I was able to get auto-start for my car because I went with the color on the lot, saved money, and used that savings for the auto-start function. It has been perfect! I can start my car 10-20 minutes before we leave the house in the winter and by the time I get in, the car is warmed up and most everything is melted off the windows. And even though I forget a lot, it has come in handy in New York where you can get a ticket if you don't clear all the snow off your car. I hit the button and forget about it while I get bundled up to face the cold.
At the end of the day, it is up to you what kind of vehicle you drive. But don't let the thought of being a "minivan mom" stop you. I still rock out in my mini van. In fact, today, I rocked out to Pat Benatar and Snoop Dogg on my way home from the grocery store. I bop my head and I sing/rap along.....yeah, it happens. Bottom line is, if you are a mom and you need a vehicle to for lots of people, don't let a stigma get in your way. Do what is best for you and live it up. A minivan doesn't define who you are; you define who you are.
I'm a mom who can rap, head bang, and get into a good love ballad as much as the next person.....and I drive a minivan!
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