Comments on: Can a Real Man Drive a Minivan? http://manzine.org/2009/08/24/can-a-real-man-drive-a-minivan/ Lifestyle magazine for men by men. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:37:35 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Manly Thoughts http://manzine.org/2009/08/24/can-a-real-man-drive-a-minivan/#comment-257 Manly Thoughts Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:23:09 +0000 http://manzine.org/?p=328#comment-257 [...] Can a Real Man Drive a Minivan? [...] [...] Can a Real Man Drive a Minivan? [...]

]]> By: dustbury.com » Unmoved by people movers http://manzine.org/2009/08/24/can-a-real-man-drive-a-minivan/#comment-233 dustbury.com » Unmoved by people movers Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:59:56 +0000 http://manzine.org/?p=328#comment-233 [...] “Can a real man drive a minivan?” asks James Joyner. [...] [...] “Can a real man drive a minivan?” asks James Joyner. [...]

]]> By: bacchus http://manzine.org/2009/08/24/can-a-real-man-drive-a-minivan/#comment-231 bacchus Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:50:03 +0000 http://manzine.org/?p=328#comment-231 The minivan, if used for a family of 5 or less, is as underutilized for the majority of the populace as the SUV. Two or three times a year, it is needed, but the majority of the time, a Honda Civic or VW Golf could provide just as much functionality with greater gas mileage. $1738.64 vs $1092.86 based up $2.55/gal and 22 vs. 35 mpg and 15000 miles per year. Get the subcompact and rent the larger vehicle for your trips, people. The minivan, if used for a family of 5 or less, is as underutilized for the majority of the populace as the SUV. Two or three times a year, it is needed, but the majority of the time, a Honda Civic or VW Golf could provide just as much functionality with greater gas mileage. $1738.64 vs $1092.86 based up $2.55/gal and 22 vs. 35 mpg and 15000 miles per year. Get the subcompact and rent the larger vehicle for your trips, people.

]]> By: PJ Mullen http://manzine.org/2009/08/24/can-a-real-man-drive-a-minivan/#comment-230 PJ Mullen Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:26:54 +0000 http://manzine.org/?p=328#comment-230 Absolutely, real men drive minivans. As a matter of fact, that is what I named my blog. Do I revel in the fact I find a minivan in my driveway, no. Do I wish I had a Shelby GT500 instead, yes I do. To Bacchus' point, taking a trip with even one child, their belongings, car seat, stroller, light weight stroller, pack and play, toys to keep them occupied for 15 hours on the road and all other stuff my parents didn't need or need when I was first born in the early 70's have made owning a minivan a near necessity. Now, I realize it isn't essential. Lots of people do just fine without one. For us our two Hondas just weren't cutting it. So, I figured if we were going to make the move we might as well go straight to the nuclear option and get the minivan. I've owned one for just over a year and it is incredibly convenient. However, the trade off is that I don't enjoy driving it. Absolutely, real men drive minivans. As a matter of fact, that is what I named my blog. Do I revel in the fact I find a minivan in my driveway, no. Do I wish I had a Shelby GT500 instead, yes I do.

To Bacchus’ point, taking a trip with even one child, their belongings, car seat, stroller, light weight stroller, pack and play, toys to keep them occupied for 15 hours on the road and all other stuff my parents didn’t need or need when I was first born in the early 70’s have made owning a minivan a near necessity. Now, I realize it isn’t essential. Lots of people do just fine without one.

For us our two Hondas just weren’t cutting it. So, I figured if we were going to make the move we might as well go straight to the nuclear option and get the minivan. I’ve owned one for just over a year and it is incredibly convenient. However, the trade off is that I don’t enjoy driving it.

]]> By: bacchus http://manzine.org/2009/08/24/can-a-real-man-drive-a-minivan/#comment-229 bacchus Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:06:44 +0000 http://manzine.org/?p=328#comment-229 @James Joyner I actually had on of the bakelite booster seat with the steel frames, when I was that small. But it propped me up high enough for the seatbelt. @James Joyner I actually had on of the bakelite booster seat with the steel frames, when I was that small. But it propped me up high enough for the seatbelt.

]]> By: James Joyner http://manzine.org/2009/08/24/can-a-real-man-drive-a-minivan/#comment-228 James Joyner Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:51:55 +0000 http://manzine.org/?p=328#comment-228 <strong>@<a>bacchus</a></strong> - That's a fair point. I grew up around the same time and we didn't need a minivan, either. But I didn't have a car seat, either, and bet you didn't, either. They take up a lot of room. With an infant, you need a Pack-n-Play or some other portable crib. Diaper bags and lots of changes of clothes. It doesn't take much to fill up the trunk. @bacchus – That’s a fair point. I grew up around the same time and we didn’t need a minivan, either.

But I didn’t have a car seat, either, and bet you didn’t, either. They take up a lot of room. With an infant, you need a Pack-n-Play or some other portable crib. Diaper bags and lots of changes of clothes. It doesn’t take much to fill up the trunk.

]]> By: bacchus http://manzine.org/2009/08/24/can-a-real-man-drive-a-minivan/#comment-227 bacchus Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:01:55 +0000 http://manzine.org/?p=328#comment-227 It continually amazes me that one of the first things families do after having a child is to purchase a minivan. Growing up in the 70's with 2 kids (my sister and I) we seemed to do just fine with the Buick Wildcat. After the divorce, my mother bought a Toyota Corolla and our new stepfather had a 1978 BMW 320i. We moved from Ohio to Pittsburgh, then to Quebec, then Ontario and back to Ohio over the next 5 years. Frequently traveling back to Ohio for family visits, we had no problems in the small coupes with the four of us. A few of the trips, we had an Irish Setter, as well. When my father would come up to get us, it was in a 1976 Dodge Charger...again...no issues. How much space do you really need and how much stuff do you have to take on a trip to be happy? My sister has a Chrysler Town and Country and my best friend has a Kia Sedona. The back seats are rarely used and both vehicles just seem to gather junk. It continually amazes me that one of the first things families do after having a child is to purchase a minivan. Growing up in the 70’s with 2 kids (my sister and I) we seemed to do just fine with the Buick Wildcat. After the divorce, my mother bought a Toyota Corolla and our new stepfather had a 1978 BMW 320i. We moved from Ohio to Pittsburgh, then to Quebec, then Ontario and back to Ohio over the next 5 years. Frequently traveling back to Ohio for family visits, we had no problems in the small coupes with the four of us. A few of the trips, we had an Irish Setter, as well. When my father would come up to get us, it was in a 1976 Dodge Charger…again…no issues. How much space do you really need and how much stuff do you have to take on a trip to be happy? My sister has a Chrysler Town and Country and my best friend has a Kia Sedona. The back seats are rarely used and both vehicles just seem to gather junk.

]]> By: James Joyner http://manzine.org/2009/08/24/can-a-real-man-drive-a-minivan/#comment-226 James Joyner Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:20:50 +0000 http://manzine.org/?p=328#comment-226 @<a href="http://manzine.org/2009/08/24/can-a-real-man-drive-a-minivan/#comment-225" rel="nofollow">Trumwill</a>: Yeah, my instinct would probably be a decent sedan -- maybe the G37 convertible -- and then an SUV. We traded in my wife's RDX because it's too crowded for roadtrips with all the baby gear but it was perfectly fine for day-to-day use. And she never really liked the RDX, anyway. @Trumwill: Yeah, my instinct would probably be a decent sedan — maybe the G37 convertible — and then an SUV. We traded in my wife’s RDX because it’s too crowded for roadtrips with all the baby gear but it was perfectly fine for day-to-day use. And she never really liked the RDX, anyway.

]]> By: Trumwill http://manzine.org/2009/08/24/can-a-real-man-drive-a-minivan/#comment-225 Trumwill Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:27:18 +0000 http://manzine.org/?p=328#comment-225 It rarely makes sense to have a 2-door when you have a family, though everyone's situation is different (and additionally, sometimes people want things that don't make sense). It's also rarely the case, though, that a family needs two minivans. If you determine that you need to upsize your car, I would first consider light SUVs (Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, etc). If you want something with a little more oomph (if you think you'll miss the power of the sports car), you can often get these models at the higher end or you can go with a sportswagon like a 5-door Subaru WRX (though I'm sure other makers have similar offerings). Big enough for four to comfortably sit and have some room for other stuff, though you'd want to leave long trips to the minivan. It rarely makes sense to have a 2-door when you have a family, though everyone’s situation is different (and additionally, sometimes people want things that don’t make sense). It’s also rarely the case, though, that a family needs two minivans. If you determine that you need to upsize your car, I would first consider light SUVs (Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, etc). If you want something with a little more oomph (if you think you’ll miss the power of the sports car), you can often get these models at the higher end or you can go with a sportswagon like a 5-door Subaru WRX (though I’m sure other makers have similar offerings). Big enough for four to comfortably sit and have some room for other stuff, though you’d want to leave long trips to the minivan.

]]>