Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Twins declare cars too small -- request parents to upgrade

Hi everyone-

With a headline like that -- who could resist.

After the twins arrived we knew the cars would be fine for a while, but now we are driving longer distances with more stuff and the cars are quickly becoming packed. As such I spent a good portion of the weekend test driving new cars. The list is as follows:

Mini-van category

(1) Toyota Sienna

SUV category
(1) Honda Pilot
(1) Hyundia Santa Fe
(2) Jeep Commander
(3) Honda Highlander
(4) Ford Explorer

Okay the Explorer just sucked. Too truck like and for the money you get more stuff in the other vehicals.

Honda Highlander would have been #2, but the DVD entertainment gets played from the dash -- it would be difficult to see in the second or third row without an after market player/screen -- so what's the point.

Jeep is #2 -- but gas mileage for this vehical is 16/19 and for a commuting vehical that sucks.

The Pilot and Sante Fe are tied. The Sante Fe really surprised me. Hyundia has come a long way reguarding their cars. It had to make you stop and think about the decision. But because it costs the same as the Pilot you go for the Honda.

The Toyota Sienna however is just the people moving machine. As much as we don't necessary like a minivan it certainly has its advantages. Well stayed tuned.

Having fun...

4 comments:

Rhonda said...

Hey Kevin,
Give us a call. We did all the minivan research already and can give you the pluses and minuses on all the different models before you buy. We went with the Honda for the standard removable 8th seat which has been THE best thing about the minivan when traveling with twins.

Anonymous said...

Hi Kevin,
Have you looked into the acura RDX?

Anonymous said...

We are expecting twins and need a new car but my wife doesn't want an SUV- any recommendations?

Kevin Davis said...

Brian-

First -- congrats on the expecting twins. The girls where born in June and we got this car in November, so unless you have other children that need to be carted around as well, surving for a while in a car is just fine. It was a trip that we went on - which we flew - that showed us that our "large" car was too small. We did choose the Toyota Sienna. The post on November 14th let everyone know that the Sienna was the right choice. My wife went into this decision wanting two things : AWD and a DVD player. The only AWD minivan at the time was the Sienna -- I think that is still true today. All of them get the same gas mileage. I just wish Toyota had a hybrid minivan when we bought our minivan I would have purchased that engine option in a heartbeat. All in all the minivan is awesome! The other minivan that people have chosen is the Honda. Also I know you are right now going to double down on the snugrides, but also start to think about what the next car seat is going to be. When you find that next car seat -- which I think you should do before you purchase your next car -- is get two of them and put them in the area where the twins will be sitting. Have you and mom -- after she delivers the twins -- and try to sit in the back seat area where they should be.

BTW another piece of advice if your wife is going to nurse the twins -- www.doubleblessings.com -- and get the twin nursing pillow. Nurse them at the same time - every time.

So in closing:
(1) Get a twin nursing pillow
(2) You can wait until after they are born to buy the bigger car
(3) A minivan really is the way to go Toyota or Honda.
(4) Take plenty of pictures -- the day they are born will completely change your life.

Kevin