Home Moms: what kind of car do you have?

[TBjumper]

And I am an idiot..... LOL


I didn’t notice this was specific for moms... oh well...

Sorry guys.

 

[coda72]

Well, I''m not a Mom, and I''m never likely to be one, but if I were, I would keep the car I have now. I have a Honda CR-V, and I really like it. It has a roomy backseat for a carseat. It''s good for an SUV on gas mileage. It''s also a very safe vehicle with I think 6 airbags. It also is small enough that if you take it into the city, parallel parking is pretty easy.

 

[Camille]

Smart Girl

 

[D&T]

I have a cross over... technically SUV Forester,, it''s great that zips in and out with some nice space in the trunk area, not too tall for my kiddos to step into, has great turning radius, and DH has an Endeavor... But in the next couple of years, would love to get a Sequoia for the 7 seater, and be able to truck the kids and other kids around, and boat hauling capabilities since we''re going to move to state with many more seasons and SUV is a must there.

 

[tigian]

We have 2 dogs who are over 60 lbs, so I often feel like a mom. I drive a BMW X3 which the dogs love because they have a lot of room in the back. Plus they like the act of "leaping" into the car. DH has a Honda Fit which also accommodates the dogs. Both our cars would also be perfect for human children.

 

[pennquaker09]

I will admit that I like the Ford Edge.

 

[ladypirate]

We don''t have kids yet, but the car we''re planning on getting next will be our family car. It''s the Subaru Legacy GT, so a sport wagon. I don''t know where that falls under your poll.

 

[LitigatorChick]

My Infiniti FX is my "baby car". Nice and peppy, but good for hauling the kid and cargo.

Now my heavily modified 350Z is just for mommy and my BF

. And we just picked up a modified Audi A4 for the BF to zip around in, and it could take the toddler too.

Yes, I am single woman with 3 cars

 

[prettycat]

I have a Lexus RX350, which falls under luxury SUV, but it''s very affordable since it''s basic model. I love this car so much!!!

 

[janinegirly]

Date: 5/14/2009 6:37:32 PM
Author: pennquaker09
I will admit that I like the Ford Edge.

you''re so funny penn. Your cars are to drool over btw, i love that mercedes SUV model.

to answer my own question, we are considering a luxury SUV (BMW), but then again we haven''t shopped around much yet and the sticker shock might change our minds. I never thought I''d buy an SUV (I''m a city person), but most cars do not have enough trunk room for baby gear, and not going to go the minivan route ("not that there''s anything wrong with that..."). I''d like to look at the Acura MDX since it seems to get some great reviews here.

 

[Mara]

No Mom here yet but we are planning to turn in our Mini at the end of the year for a more 'family friendly' vehicle. Problem is I love love love the sporty, zippy, tiny nature of my car.... which doesn't exactly equate to being great for hauling a family around. I don't like large cars or SUVs (well I like riding in them but not driving them), but we would not get a minivan. It seems like most minivan drivers around here are crazy!! So we're looking at the BMW X3 but we'll have to go and test drive some things later this year and figure it out. Funny thing is that even 'small' SUV's are still huge to me... when will someone come out with a super-mini luxury SUV? hehee.

 

[mrssalvo]

I''ve got a Dodge Caravan. I never wanted to be a van mom but must say now with 3 kids I LOVE it. I love the auto doors than open on their own so my kids can hop in and out. It''s got the built in DVD which is great on trips etc. Someday I''d love an SUV but will keep our van for a looooooong time.

 

[janinegirly]

Mara, we''re thinking of the X3 or X5, so along the same lines as you. I like that the X3 is smaller (and less money), but it looks really tight in the hatch/trunk area. Let me know what you think if you end up test driving it!

 

[qtiekiki]

My little sis has a X3, and I think it''s good for one kid not multiples.

 

[vizsla]

we looked at a tiguan and x3 as well, but after doing a ''cargo room'' comparison spreadsheet (nerd alert) - we discovered that the mini-suvs and some larger SUV (acura MDX) have less cargo room than my old GTI. just something to think about.
if you are looking for luxury AND cargo room i would highly recommend a BMW 3 series wagon, the audi A4 avant or the new volvo V70/90. we actually just got the volvo V50 (however, that was my third choice - see above for choice 1 and 2 .
i think wagons are making a total comeback, not too big, more cargo room AND great fuel efficiency - PLUS for those who like the pep of a smaller car, wagons can provide that get up and go because they are much much lighter than suvs.
just my $.02

 

[NovemberBride]

Janine,

I''ll be interested to see what you end up with, we are expecting our first this fall and are looking at the BMW X5, Acura MDX, Lexus RH300 and Volvo XC 90. I also cannot bring myself to go the minivan route and I am not a wagon person either. I previously had a Ford Explorer and DH has a NIssan Xterra and we want something a little more luxurious with a smoother ride this time around.

 

[Mara]

hehe janine well both of our cars right now are sports or compact cars (except for my hub's old truck used for moving, gardening stuff etc)... so we are used to really hardly any room in the trunk.

we drove a 'compact' SUV in AZ last week as a rental..some sort of ford that was pretty decent, but the funny thing was that even though it was a compact SUV we thought it was absolutely HUGE!!!! we were laughing at how much room there was in there, we felt like we were floating around.

so it will def be interesting to get a larger vehicle for us since we are used to smaller spaces. i am also not a wagon girl...so i think we're stuck with a mini suv.

oh and random note...but there is actually a website called mommycars.com or something like that which rates cars for mom's...with things like # of drink holders, # of netted pockets, etc...which is pretty interesting. as someone who doesnt have a kid you def dont think of things like carting toys or sippy cups around but i guess thats the whole point of getting a 'kid friendly' vehicle?

ETA...the site is http://www.motherproof.com/.

 

[TravelingGal]

Our car as FOURTEEN cupholders. It is absolutely ridiculous.

My two cents - don''t get a big SUV with height. Getting a kid in and out where you have to step in to get the kid in is a sure way to kill your back. Also, if possible, make sure the car has the LATCH system in the CENTER seat. A lot of car manufacturers don''t seem to get that we want to put the carseat in the middle if possible. And if you are going to put the carseat in the middle, it goes back to having a car that is not that high!

I highly recommend crossover vehicles, which is usually based on a car chassis instead of a truck. But my first pick for any mom car now that I am one would have to be a minivan.

 

[Mara]

Date: 5/20/2009 3:31:43 PM
Author: TravelingGal
But my first pick for any mom car now that I am one would have to be a minivan.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 5/20/2009 3:53:38 PM
Author: Mara

Date: 5/20/2009 3:31:43 PM
Author: TravelingGal
But my first pick for any mom car now that I am one would have to be a minivan.

I''m with you Mara!!!

My kids are older, but back when I was hauling them around, I really didn''t want a minivan...

 

[janinegirly]

Date: 5/20/2009 4:25:18 PM
Author: Kaleigh

Date: 5/20/2009 3:53:38 PM
Author: Mara

Date: 5/20/2009 3:31:43 PM
Author: TravelingGal
But my first pick for any mom car now that I am one would have to be a minivan.

I''m with you Mara!!!

My kids are older, but back when I was hauling them around, I really didn''t want a minivan...

No offense to minivan drivers, but I''m the same. I know it''s convenient, but I can''t do it. There are plenty of families in Europe and hardly a minivan or SUV in site! Yes they have better public transport, but still..I just like things tinier and less obnoxious.

I also just can''t do the wagon route...yet. The fact that I''m considering an SUV is progress...and even then I want it to look nice! Wow I sound vain I do realize space is important when it comes to kiddos (hate having no room in the car after putting one item in the trunk), so need to find a compromise I spose!

I think we''ll check out a dealership this wkend, will report back...

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 5/20/2009 3:53:38 PM
Author: Mara

Date: 5/20/2009 3:31:43 PM
Author: TravelingGal
But my first pick for any mom car now that I am one would have to be a minivan.

Sad, but true. Especially with how dense parking is in LA. I can''t tell you how many times I found a tight parking spot, only to realize I could not get the door wide enough to take the babyseat out.

 

[SparklyLibra]

I drive a Honda Civic... DH drives an Accord. No need for a truck yet. Both of our cars are relatively new.

 

[sasa]

We have a Subaru Tribeca. DH can''t imagine himself in a mini van.

 

[vespergirl]

I drive a Volvo XC90 (their larger SUV) and I really love it - I''ve had it for about a year. I love the safety features, and it''s also very roomy and comfortable and drives beautifully.

 

[Mara]

Date: 5/22/2009 6:10:51 PM
Author: vespergirl
I drive a Volvo XC90 (their larger SUV) and I really love it - I''ve had it for about a year. I love the safety features, and it''s also very roomy and comfortable and drives beautifully.

our friends have this and have a baby...the thing is huge inside but not so big outside, it''s def a good option for someone wanting a larger SUV but without the HUGE footprint of some of the more american cars. it''s also a good ride.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 5/26/2009 1:15:15 PM
Author: Mara

Date: 5/22/2009 6:10:51 PM
Author: vespergirl
I drive a Volvo XC90 (their larger SUV) and I really love it - I''ve had it for about a year. I love the safety features, and it''s also very roomy and comfortable and drives beautifully.

our friends have this and have a baby...the thing is huge inside but not so big outside, it''s def a good option for someone wanting a larger SUV but without the HUGE footprint of some of the more american cars. it''s also a good ride.

We were going to buy a used one - really liked it. But got the Ford because of the great deal and 0% financing. The XC90 felt so much more luxurious though.