Hellobee Boards

@aprild: yeah , the SUV being the cooler option is all just marketing. I mean, sure I prefer the look of an SUV but I realize that's just because I've been told by people who want to sell to me that it's the sexy option. And really, who do I want to think I'm young and sexy and cool? And really, minivans are "sleeker" in profile. SUVs are boxy.

Also was anyone that embarrassed by their parent's minivan? I remember not loving when I drove it (because then it was obvious it wasn't my car) but I never thought it was weird or embarrassing that my parents had one. Or when anyone else drove their parent's.

I also think a vacuum cleaner sounds super cool. My car is 10yo and does not have the fancy bells and whistles new cars do!

I listened to a Planet Money podcast once on how the Audi used to be like the Lincoln. Considered old and lame. And then they started marketing to our generation before we were old enough to buy cars and now that we are all grown up and can afford them, people think they are super cool. It was pretty fascinating!

My parents never had a minivan, so I don't think they're uncool because of that. They tend to be some of the worst drivers I see on the road, so that's kind of scary assuming they have kids in the car. I love to drive, and they're just clunky to me. If I'm spending $45,000 on a car, I care about how it looks and drives. If I only cared about making sure I got somewhere, I would just buy a beater car and call it a day. We have one car garages, and my neighbor just traded in their SUV for a van, and can't fit the van in the garage!

Minivans are awkward to drive. New ones do have some cool features. I thought about switching my CRV for a van but DH said the hood areas are too small for him to do the maintenance on comfortably. I test drove a bunch of vehicles and if I do need something bigger than my CRV, I really liked the Chevy Traverse. We only have 2 LOs though.

Most people around here drive SUVs or regular cars.

I decided on a metaphor for my feelings- minivan is like sweatpants, SUV is like yoga pants. Sure both are for comfort and you probably aren't doing anything sporty, but yoga pants / SUV you COULD.

(Disclaimer: I wear yoga pants every day and have "nice" pairs and stretched out target pairs that I wore for two pregnancies. Call me if you want style advice).

@Foodnerd81: HAHAHA this made me smile. My "luxury" SUV with various silly upgrades is totally the car equivalent a pair of lululemon yoga pants. Makes me at least feel like I am ready to do something way cooler, trendier, and fancier than I'm actually doing

To the original question - I think it's just about the look, and the perceived ability to drive it fast/aggressively? Like, I can't envision a youngh-ish guy flooring a mini-van down an empty stretch of road and getting excited...there's slightly more chance of winding fast around curvy roads/Alaskan tundra with a "cool" looking SUV, maybe? I personally wouldn't drive a minivan because we live in the city, and street parking/getting it down narrow streets would be a nightmare. I also feel like I sit higher in an SUV than I would in (some) mini vans.

@avivoca: when we borrowed my parents odyssey Dh, who really is a very good driver, actually made the tires squeal taking a turn.

@PinkElephant: yes- it is so much better driving a nice SUV than my parents minivans (which are the only minivans I have driven). But again, I admit it's a nice mom car.