Need Help / Input

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by tasdrouille

If you have only one kid, I really don't see why you need more than a standard midsize sedan.

Oh, come on! Now you're talking like a European!

Anybody who's ever been to Quebec City knows it looks very - some would say suspiciously - European.

[Christ]

Oh - I'm getting ready to have a kid... well, my fiancee (wife) is. I bought a 2000 Dodge Caravan. It was the most economical choice for me. I hear lots of people saying all the time what you "should need" but we all have circumstances... we're not cookie cutter people.

Just thought I'd put that out there. I could probably get away with just a standard 4 door car, but given that the Caravan will probably last me 5 years or longer, and we plan on having another child before we're done, maybe the Caravan was the best choice for us.

Did I mention I got it for $250 and fixed it for ~$100?

[Frank Lee]

Somehow my parents got me and my sis all the way to adulthood with little cars to go around in. HOW DID THEY DO IT????

[wyatt]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Somehow my parents got me and my sis all the way to adulthood with little cars to go around in. HOW DID THEY DO IT????

When I was a kid, we had a small car. Worked well until my parents had a 4th kid, then we needed a station wagon... when they had a 6th, we got a mini-van... I don't remember ever complaining about storage space... the stroller we had was a simple frame with tiny wheels, and only the youngest got to ride in it...

[Frank Lee]

wyatt... duggar???

[wyatt]

No... maybe I should have clarified, my parents stopped at 6...

[tasdrouille]

Originally Posted by Christ

Oh - I'm getting ready to have a kid... well, my fiancee (wife) is. I bought a 2000 Dodge Caravan. It was the most economical choice for me. I hear lots of people saying all the time what you "should need" but we all have circumstances... we're not cookie cutter people.

Just thought I'd put that out there. I could probably get away with just a standard 4 door car, but given that the Caravan will probably last me 5 years or longer, and we plan on having another child before we're done, maybe the Caravan was the best choice for us.

Did I mention I got it for $250 and fixed it for ~$100?

250 for a 2000! Must have been in pretty bad shape. What mileage is the caravan getting?

We considered getting a mini van, since we want a couple of kids, but it'll have taken maybe five years before we really need it (3 kids). That's $3750 (using last 5 years avg RUG price) saved in gas by driving the 4 door sedan vs the minivan. And by then, I'll be eying the Sprinters

[Bicycle Bob]

Tell her that the smaller car makes her butt look slender. If you tell her the big one makes it look fat, you'll be shopping for a Porsche.

[trikkonceptz]

Originally Posted by Bicycle Bob

Tell her that the smaller car makes her butt look slender. If you tell her the big one makes it look fat, you'll be shopping for a Porsche.

Now there is some quality advice ... Btw, the major hold up is storage, because on the occasion that we travel out of town aside from clothes, which can go in the rear seat and her stroller, which takes up the storage area, we carry a playpen which serves as the babies bed.

Now we have a travel pod that sits on the roof, which would resolve all our problems and be even easier to load since the vehicle is lower, but I think like some of you have said, I'm gonna hit her between the eyes with the numbers including vehicle depreciation and prove this is the more prudent way to go.

Thank you for your advice ..

[Peter7307]

Originally Posted by trikkonceptz

.

My problem is convincing her to let go of the gas beast she has grown accustomed to. She is still clinging to the space issue, which would be less of a factor if she carried less gear.

Mind you we carry a stroller, and a diaper bag normally. I'm talking about the weekend trips she makes to her mom's house with all the travel bags etc ..

If the trips are to and from the same places (ie Mom's place and yours) on a regular basis then get a second set of whatever is needed and leave it at Mom's place to save packing / unpacking / repacking and eventually unpacking it all again every trip.

Easier for everyone and when you are only carrying the essentials in the car the smaller vehicle is easier to justify.

By the way my niece and her husband have two kids : One four and one seven months and they have a Honda Civic. No problems.

As mentioned above change you habits first and the rest follows from there.

Cheers , Pete.