Seeking MiniVice (Minivan Advice)
Feb. 22nd, 2011 08:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
judecorpI am getting a new computer for the first time in many many years. It will be shipping soon. So exciting! I got an iPod Touch for Christmas and haven't been able to put any music on it because my old iBook can't run a new enough version of iTunes to sync up. Whoops. So it was time.
Financially, it was more prudent to leave the world of Mac for a while, although I am super sad to do it. I feel like I am cheating, ha. But this way I can get a bunch of software from Jen and can have Photoshop again, hooray!
I got one of those Dell Inspiron thingies that you can get in different colors, because I got in my head that I needed a smurfy blue computer. Of course. Of course.
My tax return - which was pretty significant thanks to Senor Cupcakey - is completely and totally gone now. Man, that was quick. Paid off both credit cards, got our heating system in the house fixed (it didn't have cold air returns, stupid prior owners), and now a new computer. Ch-ching!
Jen's should be coming soon, and is earmarked for getting the crack in the living room ceiling fixed, putting some away for the summer when I'm not working, a couple of flight vouchers to go to SC in the summer, and potentially paying off the rest of my car loan to get a jump start on replacing Jen's car. I was rallying for a Mazda5 but Jen thinks if we're going to "go minivan," we should go big or go home. So we might be getting a regular minivan and be a minivan family. EEEEEEEK.
Tell me your minivan stories and advice, please.
Being a grown-up is way less glamorous than I thought it would be. Whodathunk that spending all of that money could be so PRACTICAL and BORING?
p.s. Name my new computer
Financially, it was more prudent to leave the world of Mac for a while, although I am super sad to do it. I feel like I am cheating, ha. But this way I can get a bunch of software from Jen and can have Photoshop again, hooray!
I got one of those Dell Inspiron thingies that you can get in different colors, because I got in my head that I needed a smurfy blue computer. Of course. Of course.
My tax return - which was pretty significant thanks to Senor Cupcakey - is completely and totally gone now. Man, that was quick. Paid off both credit cards, got our heating system in the house fixed (it didn't have cold air returns, stupid prior owners), and now a new computer. Ch-ching!
Jen's should be coming soon, and is earmarked for getting the crack in the living room ceiling fixed, putting some away for the summer when I'm not working, a couple of flight vouchers to go to SC in the summer, and potentially paying off the rest of my car loan to get a jump start on replacing Jen's car. I was rallying for a Mazda5 but Jen thinks if we're going to "go minivan," we should go big or go home. So we might be getting a regular minivan and be a minivan family. EEEEEEEK.
Tell me your minivan stories and advice, please.
Being a grown-up is way less glamorous than I thought it would be. Whodathunk that spending all of that money could be so PRACTICAL and BORING?
p.s. Name my new computer
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Date: 2011-02-23 03:24 pm (UTC)I have the older version of the T and C, mine is a 1999. I don't like the new body shape. I have a luggage rack on top which is nice for when we camp, but the LXi version is extended and I can fit a TON of stuff in the back even with the rear seat in the back position.
I think most minivans hold their value really well, especially if the inside is in nice shape. We bought ours used.
Go for an all-wheel drive version no matter what van you get. It will cut a tiny bit into your gas mileage, but it is so worth it. You will not get stuck in the snow in the winter, and I feel like mine handled incredibly well on the icy roads. Get one with darkened windows too, it really helps keep the thing cool in the summer, plus I like the privacy feature: no one can see my youngest with her finger shoved up her nose. I also vote for the auto doors option, it makes it lovely when you have your hands full of grocery bags and babies.
I love love love my leather seats because they wipe clean, and heated seats is a lovely bonus in the winter.
Downside to vans for me is they suck to clean because you have to crawl all the way in, but the seats come out easily which is nice for when I have to vacuum.
I love my minivan. It really made a difference for us. I drove a Dodge Intrepid before and it handled like shit, not to mention 2 or more kids in the backseat totally sucked.