https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 12:27:47 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/3#post-2543468 Fri, 06 May 2016 20:11:26 +0000 Foodnerd81 2543468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: when we borrowed my parents odyssey Dh, who really is a very good driver, actually made the tires squeal taking a turn. </p> <p>@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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/3#post-2543432 Fri, 06 May 2016 19:25:03 +0000 avivoca 2543432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: We had an intern last summer who was a buff male (he played minor league baseball before getting his MA in History) and he drove a janky green Honda Oddesy like he stole it. Crazy fast, whipping that thing around corners like nobody's business. It was crazy and not what I associate minivan driving with. </p> <p>Idk. I'll get my "cool" dream car when my kids are grown. Right now, my dream car For this stage of life is a minivan. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/3#post-2543425 Fri, 06 May 2016 19:18:55 +0000 PinkElephant 2543425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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 :silly: </p> <p>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? :silly: 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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/3#post-2543407 Fri, 06 May 2016 18:50:11 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2543407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: you could be like half my fb friends and sell really STYLISH yoga pants! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/3#post-2543406 Fri, 06 May 2016 18:48:23 +0000 Foodnerd81 2543406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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. </p> <p>(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). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/3#post-2543390 Fri, 06 May 2016 18:00:12 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2543390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love my mini van! It makes it so much easier to get kids in and out of the car because the doors slide and I dont have to worry about a kid making me bump someone elses door with mine. And the doors open with a button, which is awesome when you have arms full of babies. Function is way more important to me. But I also spend a lot of time in yoga pants haha. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/3#post-2543371 Fri, 06 May 2016 16:55:13 +0000 Finfan 2543371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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. </p> <p>Most people around here drive SUVs or regular cars. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/3#post-2542837 Fri, 06 May 2016 07:27:52 +0000 littlebug 2542837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, I'm kind of over the word "mom" being flung around as an insult - "mom car, mom jeans, mom haircut..." I am a mom, dammit, and I'm proud of that! I grew up in Volkswagon vans (from the old school bus, to the Vanagon, and now my parents still drive a Eurovan), so I have no qualms whatsoever about vans. If Volkswagon still sold vans in the US, I'd plunk down money on that baby in a heartbeat! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/3#post-2542785 Fri, 06 May 2016 04:07:48 +0000 dc yoga bee 2542785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/3#post-2542783 Fri, 06 May 2016 02:44:18 +0000 erinpye 2542783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like they're kind of the mom jeans of cars. I'm just not a fan, aesthetically. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/3#post-2542768 Thu, 05 May 2016 23:07:30 +0000 jedeve 2542768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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. ;-)</p> <p>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. </p> <p>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! </p> <p>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! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/3#post-2542745 Thu, 05 May 2016 21:48:44 +0000 autumnlove 2542745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love my Sienna! I don't care about sleekness, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542735 Thu, 05 May 2016 21:33:08 +0000 MsMini 2542735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would rather cut off a limb than drive a minivan. They are the most soulless vehicles, so slow and clunky and awkward to drive. They are also not all that nice to look at in my opinion. I grew up in a 3 kid family and my Mom always drove Jettas, and we did 12 hour each way road trips every summer! I have driven a couple, I LOVE driving and I couldn't park them and get away fast enough LOL. No amount of built in vacuums will convince me they are cool 😉 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542723 Thu, 05 May 2016 21:01:43 +0000 cat620 2542723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skipra: My friends are all moms, so I was pointing out the features that would be useful to them as well. I can understand more if a young, childfree person said minivans aren't cool, but I'm a little confused about why other moms hate on them. In the end, I know it's personal preference. Just sharing my opinions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542720 Thu, 05 May 2016 20:58:56 +0000 skipra 2542720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aprild: Right but it seems that you are offended that your friends think your minivan is uncool. I'm just saying that a lot of things that we as moms find exciting are generally not cool. Oh well! Why did we used to be so embarrassed by our parents' minivans? It's the same thing but with some new technology. Why do we have to feel the need to be cool as moms? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542703 Thu, 05 May 2016 20:39:58 +0000 cat620 2542703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skipra: Obviously what's cool and isn't cool is subjective, so I'm stating things that I think are cool about minivans. I get that not everyone will see it the way I do, but I'm excited about the features including the built-in vacuum </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542697 Thu, 05 May 2016 20:28:34 +0000 skipra 2542697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aprild: Lol a car that has a vacuum cleaner is considered "cool"??? Sorry but I think the last thing the cool kids care about is having a vacuum cleaner in their car. Why does it matter if the car you drive is cool or uncool? A minivan is by definition a family car and generally families with young kids are uncool. Embrace the uncoolness of it. It's not big deal! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542692 Thu, 05 May 2016 20:24:47 +0000 rattles 2542692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't read all the answers, but my opinion is that they are 'uncool' because we are socialized to feel insecure about growing up. Age, practicality and parenthood are never marketed as glamorous. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542684 Thu, 05 May 2016 20:15:25 +0000 avivoca 2542684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aprild: He's just anti-minivan. I'm working on it though. I want the sliding doors! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542680 Thu, 05 May 2016 20:11:54 +0000 cat620 2542680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: The Sienna is AWD if that's important to him, but I live in the South like you, so I'm fine with an Odyssey or something similar </p> <p>@jedeve: Using "mom" as an insult is so irritating to me. I hate that moms feel like they have to dissociate themselves with anything that implies they are moms. </p> <p>@coopsmama: I just don't get what makes the minivan uncool. If someone doesn't like the style, that's one thing, but saying it's uncool simply because it's associated with moms is dumb. And I agree that they are practical and perfect for families. My hubby sent me this article, which I thought summed it up well: <a href="http://jalopnik.com/if-youre-a-real-grown-up-minivans-are-cooler-than-cros-1764226230" rel="nofollow">http://jalopnik.com/if-youre-a-real-grown-up-minivans-are-cooler-than-cros-1764226230</a></p> <p>@Adira: I could totally see how that would be fun to all travel together in a minivan! And the third row in a minivan is more spacious than in most SUVs, so it actually works for adults. </p> <p>@SugarplumsMom: Yes, I think we all need to accept the fact that we are parents now </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542672 Thu, 05 May 2016 19:59:49 +0000 cat620 2542672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: My husband sent me that article yesterday lol. I agree that minivans have come a long way. I don't see how anyone could think they are uncool with all the new features they have: a built in vacuum cleaner, a back-up camera, heated leather seats, top notch entertainment center and more! </p> <p>@Foodnerd81: We're most likely going to have a third, so I want to be able to access the third row easily and still have plenty of storage.</p> <p>@catomd00: I'm only 28, so that thought crossed my mind. But I am a mom of two small kids, so I feel like this is the best vehicle for my life stage. </p> <p>@Golden: I think this has more to do with the person that the car. I could totally see myself singing Dr. Dre in a minivan and then laughing at the silliness of it lol</p> <p>@regberadaisy: Yes!!! We drive to Florida regularly (which is an 8 hour drive), and we need the extra space for all the stuff we bring. Plus, we're thinking about having a third baby, so it makes so much sense to get a minivan</p> <p>@caterw: They are awesome! My husband and I rented one for our last family vacation, and the whole time we were saying how nice it was to have the extra space and how easy it was to get the kids in and out of the car</p> <p>@gingerbebe: I love the sliding doors! I drive a compact SUV now, and it's hard getting kids in and out of carseats without dinging the door of the car parked next to you. I have a friend who owns a Suburban, and that thing is HUGE. It doesn't even fit in her garage. </p> <p>@anonysquire: The Honda Odyssey has a built-in vacuum cleaner to keep that from happening ;)</p> <p>@oliviaoblivia: I think they are awesome too, especially if you get one with all the bells and whistles!</p> <p>@Silva: All the SUVs I see are driven by soccer moms, so they aren't fooling anyone into thinking they are young, childless and just using the SUV for their active lifestyles </p> <p>@petitenoisette: We have two kids now, but we want a third someday. I think if you know you want more kids, then it makes sense to go for the larger vehicle, especially if you plan to keep it a while. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542416 Thu, 05 May 2016 16:22:29 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2542416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Saying they're uncool (imo) is a knee-jerk reaction that stems from "the younger and care-free years" we all used to have. I remember back in the days, I associated mini vans with old, boring, parents. I'm now an old boring parent :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542365 Thu, 05 May 2016 15:23:32 +0000 sunny 2542365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not a big fan of the way minivans look but I don't care because of how convenient I think they are... I think our next car will be a minivan! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542338 Thu, 05 May 2016 14:50:44 +0000 BSB 2542338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I've seen some bad minivan drivers where I hope there aren't any kids in the car! Haha. My point, bad drivers are everywhere doesn't matter what car they drive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542336 Thu, 05 May 2016 14:50:08 +0000 Adira 2542336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopsuey: haha, sorry! I've also always been scared of SUVs because I've known quite a few people who have rolled them. Minivans seem to have a lower center of gravity and less likely to roll. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542334 Thu, 05 May 2016 14:48:02 +0000 chopsuey 2542334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: my SUV is offended by your comment. 😂😝 jk</p> <p>Minivans are practical, but pretty ugly imo. I have an Audi Q7 and I love everything about it 😍 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542328 Thu, 05 May 2016 14:41:58 +0000 Adira 2542328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Minivans are great! I'm renting one for my friend's bachelorette party so all 7 of us can carpool together to NYC!</p> <p>I think SUVs suck. I tend to associate SUV drivers with being more reckless and dangerous on the road. Minivan drivers aren't like that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542288 Thu, 05 May 2016 14:03:24 +0000 looch 2542288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: I wasn't a fan myself, but my husband overruled me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542274 Thu, 05 May 2016 13:51:58 +0000 Truth Bombs 2542274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Yeah the Tesla was my pick for him but he wasn't interested. Boo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-are-minivans-uncool/page/2#post-2542264 Thu, 05 May 2016 13:47:04 +0000 looch 2542264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: you mean a Tesla? I have to admit, it's pretty bad a**, even if it is a sedan. </p>