Another milestone in my adult life has been reached.
My Jeep was coming up on 8 years old (only 56,000 miles, thank you!), and I had long known the time was approaching for a trade-in. For the last couple of years, I couldn’t take it in for repairs without the mechanic finding three other broken things and it costing at least $1000. I like driving an SUV. I particularly like having the space to haul things, and I really like not having to worry too much when it snows in New England. My husband’s Jetta might be confined to the driveway for a week, but not me and the Jeep.
But its time was nearing, so I long thought I might go for a small SUV, like a Subaru Forester or Rav-4 or something. Still hearty, still plenty of space, still the ability to get places in the snow. But a little less of a behemoth, both in physical size and outrageous gas mileage. Sure, I knew we were going to try to get pregnant soon, but there’s no reason you can’t put a carseat in a Forester. The minivan, I laughed, could wait until the second child.
Heh.
Once we knew the twins were on their way, I knew the minivan was going to be the way to go. I resisted the idea a bit. Somehow the idea of being 28 years old and driving a minivan was just too strange. My mom drives a minivan, not me. But the draw of the dual power sliding doors was too great. So, on Friday, I said goodbye to my Jeep Grand Cherokee and hello to my Toyota Sienna.
Though I keep wondering what stranger has parked in my driveway, I cannot deny that it’s a great car. It drives really well, has an obscene amount of space (and I thought my Jeep was huge), and still has better gas mileage than I used to. And though I hadn’t intended to get all of the options, that’s pretty much what they have on the lot at the end of the model year. My dad decided the rear-seat DVD system was the best thing ever when we put on the Big Lebowski on the way to dinner Friday night.
It still smells like new car, and has not yet been pimped a-la Zima. The carseat bases are installed, and the dog is amazed at how much there is to sniff back there. I really do like it, even if it feels surreal. Now I just need some soccer balls in the back, and I’ll really be on my way.
Oh, and I swear it’s a bad angle and I really do look pregnant. Not just hugely fat.
I can’t go the mini van route just yet, but I am having a singleton. The Forester is what I am getting within the next month. All you need now on your Sienna is an NPR bumper sticker and you’re set! You will LOVE the DVD system. All of my friends who have them say they are life savers. All we did growing up was play the ABC game, made signs that we were being kidnapped, and sang songs for our road trips.
Can wait for pics of Danger and Peril when they arrive!
Larkhappy…aka Lisa
Welcome to the mini van club. I was 28 when we first purchased our mini van and I was only pregnant with one baby. Now that #2 is on the way I am very happy we went the mini van route in the first place. Although it takes some getting used to the idea, it is really a great vehicle!