Automobiles

[theflashunc]

is the aversion to the van just an image thing? we have an odyssey, and for family hauling, it can not be beat. everything is where it should be. carrying bikes, and full sized sheets of plywood are a piece of cake with the ody. roll two bikes, with the wheels on right in with 3 kiddos strapped into seats. drives as good or better than any SUV on the road, and most non-sport sedans as well. impressive fuel economy. sufficiently adequate power.

if it's just that you dont want to be "seen" in a van, you've got three kids, get over it. if it's that the frame of reference on how they drive is the original chrysler van, the 2015 line-up is completely different.

just curious, seems like you're struggling to avoid the most logical answer?

And you can always airbrush a wizard on the side.

[Brandon White]

Depending on the car seats, I could possibly fit 3 in the 2nd row of our LR4. Impractical and expensive though. What do people in Europe do w/ 3 kids in car seats? Are the car seats smaller that they fit in narrower cars?

[rmplum]

And you can always airbrush a wizard on the side.

or,

https://magnetamerica.com/Car-Flames

[lumpy]

is the aversion to the van just an image thing? we have an odyssey, and for family hauling, it can not be beat. everything is where it should be. carrying bikes, and full sized sheets of plywood are a piece of cake with the ody. roll two bikes, with the wheels on right in with 3 kiddos strapped into seats. drives as good or better than any SUV on the road, and most non-sport sedans as well. impressive fuel economy. sufficiently adequate power.

if it's just that you dont want to be "seen" in a van, you've got three kids, get over it. if it's that the frame of reference on how they drive is the original chrysler van, the 2015 line-up is completely different.

just curious, seems like you're struggling to avoid the most logical answer?

With three little kids, we wanted all three of them lined up in the second row of seats so they could be reached, fed, soothed, etc., and so no-one felt exiled to the far back row. This knocked all the minivans out.

[lumpy]

Can I suggest a mid-70s Ford Courier? You can bolt the 3 seats across in the bed.

When No. 1 child was on the way, I had a ratty, right hand drive Triumph GT-6, in which I had ill-advisedly taken my wife for a drive before it was totally done. I came in from a day of backwards-ass fiberglassing in the very rusty rear quarter and said, you know, I think there's enough room and structural integrity in that rear deck behind the seats to bolt a child seat in.

She was appalled, looked at me like I totally misunderstood the ground rules for being a parent, and said, "You are NOT taking MY BABY to daycare in that thing." She was right, I had no idea what I was getting into. I was never even able to get that car inspected. Sold it later that winter.

[rainy rider]

With three little kids, we wanted all three of them lined up in the second row of seats so they could be reached, fed, soothed, etc., and so no-one felt exiled to the far back row. This knocked all the minivans out.

Our Sienna seats 3 across in the middle and we often seat all three of our kids up there for this very reason. The middle seat even slides forward a little extra which made reaching the youngest easier when she was extra small. I am with angryscientist. Once I got over the image hangups with a minivan I regretted all those years trying to cram into an SUV when our van is quieter, smoother, more efficient and halls twice as much stuff with ease, including bikes with the wheels on. I have never regretted having all the extra space.

[dutchess]

Why go minivan when you can make everyone happy with a Sprinter van. Even adult friends being chauffeured for a night on the town.

[theflashunc]

There's always the Frazetta route if the wizard isn't your thing:

[j44ke]

With three little kids, we wanted all three of them lined up in the second row of seats so they could be reached, fed, soothed, etc., and so no-one felt exiled to the far back row. This knocked all the minivans out.

Isn't that what the nanny is for?

[j44ke]

Depending on the car seats, I could possibly fit 3 in the 2nd row of our LR4. Impractical and expensive though. What do people in Europe do w/ 3 kids in car seats? Are the car seats smaller that they fit in narrower cars?

Europeans gave up having kids for Lent.

[Mr B]

What do people in Europe do w/ 3 kids in car seats?

They usually have to suck it up and buy one of these awful pieces of shit (available in parts of Europe, if you can believe it).



And no, they haven't yet forgiven Chrysler for producing them.

[j44ke]

Actually, looking at the stats for Europe v. US - average household size in Europe is 2.3 while the average household size in United States is 2.58. Plus that's size as in number of people, not size in terms of weight. Europe's average body weight is 156lbs while in the United States it is 177lbs.

Probably makes fitting three in the back seat in Europe easier but also makes it not a real necessity either.

[lumpy]

Isn't that what the nanny is for?

We never had a nanny. The kids are practically feral.

[Brandon White]

Actually, looking at the stats for Europe v. US - average household size in Europe is 2.3 while the average household size in United States is 2.58. Plus that's size as in number of people, not size in terms of weight. Europe's average body weight is 156lbs while in the United States it is 177lbs.

Probably makes fitting three in the back seat in Europe easier but also makes it not a real necessity either.

What are the height differences between Europe and US?

[davids]

Real men drive minivans, when minivans make sense.

ho.jpg

[j44ke]

What are the height differences between Europe and US?

US average height is 5'9" for men and 5'4" for women and in Europe, 5'10" for men and 5'4" for women.

If you subtract the Dutch from Europe's population, the average height of men in Europe is 5'2" and 4'8" for women.

I am kidding of course, but man, those Dutch people are tall.

p.s. these stats are from Wikipedia and Science Today.

[Brandon White]

US average height is 5'9" for men and 5'4" for women and in Europe, 5'10" for men and 5'4" for women.

If you subtract the Dutch from Europe's population, the average height of men in Europe is 5'2" and 4'8" for women.

I am kidding of course, but man, those Dutch people are tall.

p.s. these stats are from Wikipedia and Science Today.

Interesting ... thanks for being my Google-Fu.

[dutchess]

Real men drive minivans, when minivans make sense.

ho.jpg

Is this one of those 'find the one item that doesn't belong' quizzes?

Jorn, how many Dutch children will fit in a standard sedan? Compensating of course for two statistically tall adults in the front seats.

[robin3mj]

With three little kids, we wanted all three of them lined up in the second row of seats so they could be reached, fed, soothed, etc., and so no-one felt exiled to the far back row. This knocked all the minivans out.

This. Plus my wife staunchly refuses a van right now. Hence the search for a couple year stopgap with wide second row. To be replaced by something with three rows when the rugrats are bigger. I really can't believe how hard this is, but then I think about the percentage of the population that had a toddler and two infants at the same time, and I realize this is a bit more unusual situation than many have.

I've got a line on a nicely priced Touareg with low (enough) miles. If I can fit the car seats I'll probably just jump on it. My dad had one and he loved it; I enjoyed driving it the few times I had occasion to do so.

[j44ke]

Is this one of those 'find the one item that doesn't belong' quizzes?

Golf clubs obviously.

Jorn, how many Dutch children will fit in a standard sedan? Compensating of course for two statistically tall adults in the front seats.

Depends on how you stack 'em.