August 2006 Weddings
lilmgirl
member
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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odds of getting an SUV once you have kids
I know this has been discussed in length before, but I have an observation I'd like to share. Partly b/c I find it hilarious for some reason.
I work next to a private school so their bus system isn't very extensive. I'd say the vast majority of students get dropped off. I get the lovely corner window view of the main road that most people take to get to the school and they all have to make left-hand turns in front of me. I'd say of all the vehicles I see with kids in them, only about 5% of them are NOT SUV's or a mini-van. I'm thinking of conducting a statistical study one of these mornings.
just thought I'd share 
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Re: odds of getting an SUV once you have kids
Well I had an SUV before I had kids.
SO there!
Hmmm. We have an SUV but no kids. We replaced a pick up, perhaps the least kid-friendly type of vehicle, but future children weren't the primary consideration; we want room for cargo!
Anecdotally, it does seem that the SUV has replaced the minivan for parents, though.
I have met people pregnant with their first kid who feel the need to get an SUV. Because apparently, carseats no longer fit in sedans. WTF? My parents drove 4 kids around in a sedan and rented a minivan for vacations. When we hit the teen years and were getting too big, my mom finally got a minivan.
We have a small SUV, but I do not like it. Sure, it's useful for some things, but overall, it's WAY more car than we need. The only reason we have it is because we needed to replace GmcG's car and we knew a guy who had a low-miles Honda SUV that he was selling for wholesale price. We were not going to find a car that reliable at a comparable price, so we snapped it up. But within a couple of years, I want to get rid of it. If I need space to haul stuff, I'd rather get a hatchback. I am the most self-loathing SUV driver ever. I hate myself everytime I drive it.
VW. Hilarious.
But, that's what VW does.
Except it's about minivans, not SUV's.
Here's a longer version (a mocumentary) that I found on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDZSxFLcMVg
Yep, it's the VW Tourag (sp) and I think those commercials are so funny. "Actually we've been planning this baby for a long time." LMAO!
I actually have two cars that I drive on a regular basis - a Jeep Liberty and a Toyota Matrix. Depending on the day and if my DH's turn to drive in the carpool, I drive either car. Anyway, my Matrix is actually ROOMIER than my Liberty. If it weren't for our camper and the Jeep's 4x4 capabilities (live out in the country and hubby leaves before plows when he works), we'd probably sell the Jeep and get a similar crossover. LOVE that car!!
I remember that commercial being VW because she says "have a baby for love, not for German engineering".
Anywho, DH has a Rav, but it doesn't count because DH's parents gave it to him when they got a new car and its old as the hills and we aren't planning on it being part of our lives in the long run.
We really couldn't afford an SUV now, and I dunno if I will ever want/need one enough to legitimize the extra $$ to get one. We'll see how it goes. I'm not gonna say I wont ever have one.
having said that - camry's and corollas are selling for way more than they are worth - so who knows what may be the most affordable by the time we get a new car???
Major, we bought it used and it had about 60K miles on it. That was 2 years ago and it now has about 90K miles on it. We've not had a single problem with it. I will say that it doesn't go great in the snow but our Matrix is the XRS (sporty one) and the previous owner had fancy schmancy tires on it. We've since switched to regular tires and it's doing better. Of course, keep in mind that it's hard for me to compare apples to apples b/c my Jeep KICKS ASS in the snow.
It runs awesome, there's plenty of room in the hatch for a smaller stroller and plenty of packages and even with my big stroller, there's still some room leftover. The backseat has TONS of leg room. I'm a petite person but I can get inside the back seat, stand on the floor and buckle the kids in - awesome for when it's raining, lol or when they're pitching a fit about being in their car seats and I have to "manhandle" them. Seriously, GREAT CAR!!!!!
I don't understand it, either, although I've heard many people talk about their NEED for a bigger car when they have kids. I'm just wondering how all of us from 2+ kid households ever survived since there weren't really SUVs when we were growing up. Gtown is right. You have too much stuff if you can't fit it into a normal sized car. And if you have 3 kids in carseats, you might have found the source of your problem, and it's not the car.
Actually, my mom had a Bronco from the 80s before she married my dad. I've never been clear why. Something about liking to see above everyone. Obviously, that argument doesn't hold since so many people have huge cars. And that's in flat S FL with no snow!
I hate SUVs and don't plan on having one. I don't understand why a baby wouldn't fit into my Civic. Seriously, these days those Civics are huge. And the trunk is enormous. I felt like I was getting into like a Toyota Avalon when I first got into the Civic.
And I don't like the value of taking up more space. I'm trying to streamline my life and my things, and I want my baby to learn that the world doesn't revolve around him/her, and he/she needs to learn to consume and take up less.
I don't think you SUV folks think the world revolves around you, but that's what it means to me. So sedans all the way for us. Maybe a station wagon if we really feel we need it.
I hate this debate, but felt moved to make a couple of points.
We bought an SUV when it was time to let our last car go. For lots of reasons, one of them being kids. We only have 1 child right now, but hope to have at least 1 more. We are a family that drives cars until they are on their last legs, so we bought our SUV with the next 7-10 years (ideally) in mind. Short term, more car than we need. But the best decision for us long term.
Right now, DH drives the SUV and I drive the sedan, because he drives far less than I do. On the weekends, the SUV mostly sits in the driveway, unless DH needs to haul stuff (like the wood for the fence he's building.) The SUV will get far more use in the future, and I'm pretty sure I'll drive it if/when we are blessed with child #2, because the space will be nice. But for now, I'm happily driving my sedan that has plenty of space to fit my child, her stuff, and me.
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Majorwife, I can't say it enough. Subaru. I just bought my 3rd (sadly, 3rd in 2 years. Thanks, air force!). I've never driven a better snow car, and I had an SUV before getting the suby. If you really need all the space, you can get the wagon, but the little sport hatchback still holds a ton. I drove around 2 carseated kids all the time in my impreza.
Kateaggie, why would 2 kids not fit into a sedan? Really, I'm curious even if I sound snarky. From a mom's perspective, how much is the stuff going to multiply with another kid that a car won't work? Especially since your daughter is older now and won't need as much of the stuff by the time another kid comes along.
As I said, the space will be nice, not necessary. The SUV was purchased for many reason, kids being only one of them. We treat it more like a truck right now, but we wanted a "truck" with seats. Heck, I may keep driving the sedan with 2 kids, as I really like it and enjoy driving it.
We live close to my parents, and it's nice to be able to take 1 car when we do stuff togther. Likewise, DH's family (5 kids total) lives out of state, and it's nice to be able to fit everyone in 1 car when they visit (we have yet to have all 7 of them at once, but have had 4 at a time 2x a year on average).
Again, the SUV has a lot of things about it that are convienient for us. We don't need all the space all the time, which is why our smaller car gets far more use. But I'm glad we have it when the need arises for a large vehicle/truck.
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And if you have 3 kids in carseats, you might have found the source of your problem, and it's not the car.
Really? Hmph. I think that's a backhanded attack on people who choose to have more than 2 children. Also even with only 2 kids in carseats and say a third child who isn't in a car seat yet, in many sedans/wagons/SUVs (both of mine included) you would not be able to fit three children across the back seat alone. Children should not be riding in the front until like age 12 I believe and I can't imagine a child out of their car seat smooshed in the middle between two car seats. I'd assume it'd be quite dangerous in the event of an accident and likely uncomfortable depending on the size of the child. In both my vehicles, the two seats will NOT sit side by side with one in the middle so that's not an option either - putting the older child on an end, that is.
The above scenarios are reasons why we will likely not have a 3rd child as it all ties into my financially we can't afford it right now reasons - I don't want another car payment. LOL!
Oh, I want to add - my friend has an Explorer and three seats do fit across the back of her SUV. She has the third row but we had it full of stuff and were able to fit the three seats across the middle. Two boosters (usually smaller seats) and one convertible fit. I don't think an infant + two boosters would have fit though.
I have a small SUV - Jeep Liberty - which is what I was basing the above reply on, a smaller SUV, sedan, wagon/crossover
To be fair, I only recently realized that they now suggest car seats for kids in their double-digits of age. I think I stopped riding in a car seat when I was 3 or 4, 5 at the oldest.
When we have kids we will probably get rid of Dylanites car just becuase it is a 2 door and I can see that being a serious pain in the butt with a carseat and a kid. I have a 4 door Corrolla though, and it is probably going to be around for the next 7 -10 years, and there is no reason that a carseat (or 2) and a ton of stuff cant fit in it. The trunk is HUGE!
I wont lie. I love me a Honda Pilot and if we had the money I am sure I would own one. I just cannot control myself LOL Realitically though, I am sure that when we get rid of Dylanites car it will be for a sedan. Hopefully a hybrid.
Every state varies but in Ohio it's still only 4 AND 40 lbs. My son is 4 but he isn't 40 lbs so he is still in a 5 pt harness that will later convert to a belt positioning booster - he could just be in the BPB right now but I am choosing to keep him in the harness system instead. His seat's 5 pt harness goes up to 65 lbs in my car and the one my mom has (she sits) is up to 40 lbs
There are states that are age 8 AND 80 lbs though, I think.
I plan on keeping my son in one as long as I can. I like him not having the freedom while in the car.