Mini-van or Station Wagon

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I need a new vehicle. I can't decide between a mini-van or station wagon. I have some idea in my head that in an emergency, I could sleep in the van (where in the hell that comes from, I don't know.) I'm just starting to get in to camping, so maybe that's it. I want to be able to put stuff on top (like kayaks)which may be too hard on a minivan.

Any opinions?

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2000

Answers

We sleep in our van while camping if it's really cold. Paul picked our new, bigger van partially coz we can remove as many seats as we want and make as big a sleeping/packing space as necessary.

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2000

This may sound twisted, but I have been really really coveting station wagons - the really dorky 70's ones with the fake wood on the sides and the pop-up seats in the back. Hubs thinks I'm totally nuts, and refuses to talk about it. Oh sure, he'll wear a 15 year old once-upon-a-time- it-was-black-but-now-it's-scummy-grey Judas Priest t-shirt, but he won't be caught dead in my dream car.

By the way, this is my first post, and I'm sorry I haven't shown my appreciation earlier, but this site cracks me up. So there ya go.

Anyway, back on the subject of station wagons, my aunt and uncle had one back in the day, and they went camping in it (well, they didn't sleep in it - they had tents instead)) - they had triplets and oh yeah, the other one who wasn't a triplet, so he doesn't count (to hear him talk) and a dog. Plus they took me everywhere too when I was visiting, kinda like Cousin Oliver - you know - what's one more? Sometimes my cousin Patrick went too, so let's see, that's the triplets, Patrick, that other one (oh yeah, Mike, who doesn't count), Aunt D, Uncle C, Sandy the dog, and me. Eight people and a dog. Wait - seven, because Mike might as well be invisible - right? No car seats though - but by then we were all too big for them anyway. Meanwhile, my mom's minivan has the illusion of space, but all it really has is headroom, much like my duplex. So I like the station wagon (obviously), and if you know of any that are gas efficient, then let me know.

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2000


I have a Volvo V70 Cross Country station wagon and I love it. It's my dream car. Naturally, I'm going to recommend it. :-) But before I discovered the Volvo, I wanted a mini-van... I think I wanted the Windstar? Now I don't remember. Anyway, I wanted it because a) it was BIG, b) it had 13 cupholders and c) it had headphone jacks in the back, which I thought was pretty cool. But I got over that fixation post haste when I spotted the Volvo....

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2000

Please please please don't get a minivan. There's plenty already. My sister read somewhere that like less than 2 per cent of the population drives station wagons - so that's definitely the cooler choice!

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2000

Paul, the volvo was cool, but $40 was not cool. I did get a minivan today because: a) I have two huge dogs b) I kayak and take a lot of gear c) It drives like a dream d) I can lay down in it (camping or cramps!) e) I got a very good price (end of month)

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2000


Oh yeah, that.

Sounds like you made the right choice! I'm sure you're happy!

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2000


oops...I meant $40k not $40!

-- Anonymous, September 01, 2000

STATION WAGON! I love my '86 Subaru wagon. It has 145k miles on it and still kicks butt. It rarely visits the car doctor either despite an eentsy weentsy oil leak. I would replace it in a minute with it another one (but not an Outback--yuk! How SUV!) if I could afford to. As much as I covet the new VW Bugs, I know my next car will be another wagon. I love being able to haul a lot of crap around like bags of organic compost and mulch. And bricks. I gave my mom 40 old bricks for Mother's Day (she asked for them), and they looked lovely in the back of my car, like a little pathway leading to the back seat. I hated to give them to her.

-- Anonymous, September 01, 2000

Hi Lisa, Good choice! Vans rule! My Chev Astro has 208K miles and counting. They are sooo versatile. My doghairmobile gets me everywhere I want to go and does it with style and comfort. It takes enourmous risks for me and never complains. My dog and I love it. Wagons have no headroom. I'm going to get a captains chair so I have a seat that will turn around and face the back. Extra battery so I can run music and reading lights at night without draining engine batt. Solar panel will recharge extra batt and table folds away when going to bed. I go camping and to the beach alot and everything is right there for me. Remanufacture makes all kinds of racks and stuff for kayaks, bikes, skis, and other stuff. So good choice. James

-- Anonymous, September 03, 2000

Get an SUV. They're almost as roomy as a mini-van, but you look much, much cooler. We got one after our daughter was born, and I have to say I LOVE it.

-- Anonymous, September 04, 2000


I strongly prefer sporty, compact-midsize wagons because of their superior handling, rollover resistance, fuel economy, and driving pleasure. I am considering the Saturn LW200, but am concerned that Saturn may discontinue it next year, when they introduce their SUV.

-- Anonymous, November 05, 2000

Wagons are the most underrated vehicles on the US roads today. The combination of superb handling, fuel effenciency and cargo space is what most of us say we want, but we ain't buying 'em. I never understood how someone decides they need an SUV or mini-van as soon as they have 1 child. Jesus, how big are these kids? I have owned SUV's in the past and could not be more unimpressed. They handle like shit, they have no more interior space than most sedans and please...just how many of you broads in your 30-40k plastic-clad "luxury" suv's are actually taking them off-road. How many truely need 4-wheel drive? (AWD is another matter, however). Mini-vans can be useful in that you DO have more interior space, but they still handle like crap and block the views for the rest of us. If you're in a band or have lots of kids and gear then mini-vans are probably the way to go. But if you don't need a U-haul to transport you and your family then wagons are absolutely perfect. My turbo-charged Passat wagon hauls big dogs, 8-foot sailfishes and yes, lots of groceries...but it also does it with more agility & style. Keeping the geek aura alive and the center of

-- Anonymous, December 02, 2000

Uh, I take my SUV off road a lot, and I use the 4WD when there is snow and ice on the roads. And I've been able to get a lot more shit in my SUV than my parent's Ford Taurus wagon.

-- Anonymous, December 02, 2000

I'm so sick of people that drive 20 year old cars that go 0-60 in 20 seconds. I'm really sick of people who drive cars that are ugly! They shouldn't be on the road. People shouldn't have kids. That way they won't buy mini-vans or SUVs. People that can afford luxery cars should be shot. The world should only be driving Geo Metros!

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go pack up my 2 kids in my Jeep and go out and annoy the world.

-- Anonymous, December 02, 2000


OK ladies, I didn't intend for my post to sound so hostile and your responses have shown me that I wasn't too clear on some rambling points. Yes, there are people who do need 4WD, there's nothing wrong with that. I live in a region where we get very little snow and so it's not necessary - however, there are some in the same region who live in more rural areas where they must have it leave their homes. Getting through rough terrain is the idea behind 4WD,(though the system itself does little on ice...without ultra grippy tires 4WD just becomes 4-wheel slide). My tirade concerns those that drive monsters like those Navigators and Expeditions just to get to work or the mall. The question was opinions on wagons vs. vans and I apologize for getting on the SUV tangent, but it became a question of practicality. My point should have been that if you don't NEED 4WD then SUV's are out as you have less cargo room than that of a mini-van, in some regions higher insurance rates, greater fuel consumption and the 4WD system will add to any repair costs. Mini-vans obviously have a higher center of gravity and therefore do not handle as well as a wagon would, but if you need more room then the Mini-van is the way to go. There are many out there equipped with All-wheel-drive, offering full time traction in all conditions. Outbacks, Foresters & Cross Country's get around great without having a bumper height matching others rooflines. People have every right to drive what they choose, but the question did ask for our opinions on these vehicle types. Although I'm still confused as to how a dislike for SUV's equates to a dislike of children, I will argue that Geo Metro's are damn good little cars and I'm sure that many loving parents transport their kids in them just fine.

-- Anonymous, December 02, 2000


We have an 80 something Chevy Suburban. It is listed as a Station Wagon. It's big, it's bulky, it handles with all the grace of a school bus..... but it is --===SAFE===--.

My wife had someone pull out in front of her and our 2 kids while she was driving the Suburban. No one in our vehicle was injured in the least. Seatbelts are a rule not a choice!

The guy in the other car needed a shit transfusion cause he lost all his when she went over his car like a monster truck.

He was totally at fault and was cited by the cops. He pulled out right in front of her and she had no chance to try to stop or avoid him. His car was totaled. The front bumper of the Suburban was bent in about 1/2 an inch and that was all that happened to it.

It is the ultimate Camping vehicle. Yank the third seat out and there is enough room in the back end to haul enough firewood for a week plus food, tents, food, tarps, food, chairs, food, lanterns, food, clothing, food, air matresses, and a few snacks, as well as most everything else she can think of to pack. Add a bike rack to the back and a small trailer what more could you need except maybe $75 - $100 to fill up the gas tank once.

Station Wagon is the way to go. I do still miss the old '69 Impala wagon that was my first car (sniff) :'(

-- Anonymous, December 02, 2000


My first car was a Geo Metro convertible. It got almost 60 mpg. I could park ANYWHERE. Golly, I miss that little car. It died a horrible death. :( *cries bitterly*

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2000

Milla,

I understand your love for the Geo Metro, they looked sweeeeeeet (and so do you!).

Alas, when I went to test drive one I realized that I am nearly as big as a Geo Metro.

I'm not overweight, I have failed to reach my optimum height of 8 feet 19 inches ;o)

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000


I hate and despise SUV's and Minivans and I'm not ashamed to say it. They're obnoxious - they're hard to see around - they are gas guzzlers - I think the people that drive them are bad drivers - I am sick and tired of them. Blech. Double blech. Boooo!

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000

i hate suvs to! there ugly and they take up all the parking spots!!! i rilly hatw whne poeple put antlers on them!!its just wrong!!

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000

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