Vehicles For Multiples. Planning Your Life Ahead On The Road With Twins.

 

Vehicles For Multiples.  Planning Your Life Ahead On The Road With Twins.

 6-30-2011

 

 

‘I don’t want to become a minivan person.’  Is that what you are thinking when you first heard the words, ‘Baby A, oh and look, baby B,…’ and maybe they even went on from there and you are thinking, ‘Oh no…what about my beautiful car?  What am I to become now?’  It’s true. 

 

Those who don’t want to face the mini van music will eventually find peace and happiness in it.  It does NOT mean the end of life as you know it, your youth, or have anything to do with you as a person.  It’s just plain convenience.

 

Now if you just have twins you can get away with most anything, but if you go beyond that you are basically screwed in the car department.  Don’t make my mistakes ok?

 

DO NOT, even if you are just  trying to conceive, buy or lease out any vehicle until there’s an ultrasound head count.  A definitive one.  WHY you ask?  Because if you do like we were stupid enough to do only a couple of  weeks before we learned it was twins, you will end up with a huge headache you might be stuck with for years to come.

 

My husband took out a 4 year lease on a SUV that does not have a 3rd row of seats.  Getting the family around for the past almost 16 months has been absolute hell.  When that sucker gets returned we are talking many thousands of dollars in damages.  Expect scratches, expect dirty leather seats, expect sunscreen stains, and bottle spills, if not worse. 

 

Expect a lot to pay back when you return it.  Car seats in and out, life, and just kids in general.   It just wasn’t well thought through.  I had the unfortunate predicament of our other lease ending right before we knew.  Great odds, huh? 

 

We had it all planned out for our life with 3.  Who expected the 2nd baby to show?  I was told there was no chance of multiples by the doctors.  So never ASSUME like we did, and don’t take on a car/truck  payment that is beyond, or even close to the end of your means.  I guess you could say..expect the unexpected!

 

With one baby we would squeak by just fine, but taking on an $800 car payment a month, then finding out it was twins, then an unexpected drastic pay cut at hubby’s work, did not all mesh well with one another.  Think practical, like we would have had we known.

 

This is coming from someone who didn’t EVER want to become a minivan mama, until NOW.  (Though I still dream of a lipstick red Mercedes convertible.  Maybe in my grandma days, ha ha. )

 

 

Why Become a minivan mama?

 

A)  I see the ease these moms have with the mini vans.  Sliding side doors so no worries about, ‘Damn this idiot parked way too close to me.  How the heck will I get little Betty out of this side?’  No oopsie dings.  This makes life easier then you know if you’re still pregnant. 

 

I can’t count how many times I had to wait  by our SUV for someone to leave because I could NOT fit the seats back into the truck.  Just not enough spacing.  You can’t control how other people will park.

 

B)  The minivan moms are out of the parking lot much faster then us SUV mamas.  ZIP..they are off like the road runner!

 

C)  Ample trunk space.  

Our Lexus truck has very little of it.  Who thought about large wagons and extra stuff to lug around?  1 yes..2 never.  Always look at the backside before you buy!  You need a lot of space back there.

 

D)  They always a 3rd row of seats. 

What is ironic is we had a 3rd row and didn’t need it, and my husband turned it in just previously for a more expensive vehicle with less spacing.  Again, who knew, but always best to have more then less space, especially if you are still having children.  God may double or triple bless you.

 

E)  Bucket seats. 

 I saw in my husband’s friend’s van who has triplets.  These bucket seats are awesome.  The big kids have their own space, you can walk up and down like like a little aisle in there.  It’s not such a tight squeeze getting around back and handling car seats.  Taking kids out, putting them back in.  I can imagine how nice that is not being stuck out in the rain while putting the twins away.

 

When big kids are stuck in the same seat with screaming twins right on the side of them…trust me, it is no picnic for anybody.  ‘Make them shut up mommy.’  So not a fun thing when you know you have many miles left ahead of you.  The more  space the better, though yes..gas is an issue.  You have got to be pratical & smart in your buying choices.

 

 

 

My top picks for minivans for twins.  This is after checking out all of them including caravans.

 

 

#1)  The Honda Odyssey. 

This is the van we will buy should I hit lotto tomorrow, or when this damn forever lease is over.  No way, we need something sooner then that.   It’s a solid value, a practical buy, and has VERY high ratings.  Every mom I have questioned on this one raves and raves.  If only we had known.  A much smaller payment, and much more comfort.  This is coming from a mom who swore off mini vans.  I’m now ready to roll…Honda style. 

 

I thought the old model was far too boxy looking.  I said ‘No way Hosea.’  But the new one, I actually really like the style of.  Dream on Shelly.  Again..if only we had known.  We would have saved $$ and found ourselves an answer to our now daily headache.  I may have to settle for used and boxy.  We shall see.

 

 

#2) The Toyota Sienna. 

 

 Also highly rated in quality and has a great amount of space.  The price is very reasonable and competitive.  If you are looking for a lot of room for 4 or 5 children, this model is also a great choice for your growing family.

 

 

#3) Chrysler Town and Country. 

Lots of space, also sliding doors, great ratings, and a good reputation.  You wouldn’t go wrong with any of these three, and will thank me if you are now in an SUV and planning on making your move.  My husband prefers imported vehicles, so we won’t be getting this one.  But it is a GREAT van!

 

If you have a bus load of kids a big Suburban might be for you, but they are by far bigger gas guzzlers.  Gas ain’t cheap nowadays!  I know someone who is very happy with that truck, but they do have a minivan to.  (Grrr…)     They take long trips in the Suburban.  It’s huge inside.

 

 

Now again if you only have the twins or 3 children you CAN get away with an SUV with a 3rd row.  Even with 4 kids in like a Mountaineer, Navigator, or Cadillac Escalade which I would LOVE, But you are NOT going to have the aisle to walk down to get the babies in and out of,  no sliding doors, and all the things that just make life a little bit easier with multiples +. 

 

Even with just multiples, anything that makes life easier to me, is a Godsend.  This no way, no how, now wanna be, minivan mama, is quickly changing her tune after 16 months of SUV hell.   I wish we still had our previous SUV at the very least.  It had far more space and was cheaper.  Think ahead and put aside your pride…For sanity sake!

 

Thanks for driving on by! 

No..they haven’t looked like this in decades.