Confessions. Cars. Coolness.
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Confession: I don’t drive.
I don’t even have a driver’s license. Yup, that’s right. I have 3.2 decades under that proverbial belt. I have a marriage and a mortgage, but I have never driven a car. I could blame this on the Manhattan thing. And I always have. I grew up in a city where there is no need to drive! But it’s getting a bit pathetic. I’m beginning to wonder. Why don’t I get my act together and get that little rectangle of plastic? What am I afraid of? What am I trying to prove? Is this some sort of bizarre effort to cling to my youth? Is this a big badge of old school laziness? I haven’t the faintest.
But here’s the thing, why I am suddenly so pensive about my identity as a non-driver: We are in the market for a car. Our very first car. There is indeed some truth to the Manhattan thing. To this point, we have had little reason to own a car. Parking is astronomically expensive. Public transportation is easy. Fine. But now that an outrageous number of our friends are moving to the ‘burbs (traitors) and we will be shuttling three small kiddos, we figure it is time.
But. We are clueless. I am totally clueless and Husband is slightly more clued in. We are looking to buy a car that is big enough for our brood. A car that will easily accommodate three, yes, three car seats. A car that will not destroy our environment. I know. Tall order.
We have been looking at both hybrid SUVs and minivans. Yes, I said it. The M word. We are contemplating taking the plunge into utter uncoolness. I don’t really care about what it looks like, or means, to own a minivan. Maybe it is because I am a deep soul, truly above obsessing with appearances. Or maybe I just feel like I don’t deserve to have an opinion because I will not drive the thing.
Anyway, this is where I turn to you guys. I know that you are all far more fluent in car-talk than we city-folk are. I know many of you have families to ferry. I know there are opinions, and compelling ones, that you’d like to share. What kind of car would you recommend for our soon-to-be family of five?
(And if you are not interested in chatting about cars, feel free to interpret why I have never in my entire life driven a car. In your analysis of me, please be gentle!)
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Any car recommendations? Any insight into my inability (and lack of desire) to drive? Do you know any other adults who do not drive? Do you care how cool the car you drive is?
We bought our first minivan last year (we had been driving cars or SUV’s up until that point). I resisted with all of my might, thinking that once I gave into being a minivan driver, that was it for me. And now? I love it, and wouldn’t want to be without it. Good luck with car hunting! We just bought a second vehicle and it was a pain in the arse shopping for it.
Not only do you need to drive but you’re missing out on a great pleasure. License should be on the bucket list. Second, I care about the coolness of so many things but not our car. And yet we have a “cool” one because my husband cares. Whenever our budget is up for discussion I say let’s lose the car (or downgrade) and the golf club. Funny, he gets a little defensive. Get what works, get what you don’t care having food particles (and worse) all over, get what isn’t too hard to park on a city street with a snow bank and get the DVD plays (3!).
dvd players (shouldn’t comment pre coffee)
I say do it. My two closest friends, both of whom I assure you were “cool” back in the old college day, both have minivans. They love them. I’m pretty dazzled by the push button doors myself. I am SO not a car person. It drives Matt crazy. I still drive this old beater Subaru wagon that is 10 years old that I love … gets great mileage, good in the snow, what else do you want? He has his SUV and loves it, but the Subaru will always be my love.
xox
I don’t think there is any deep explanation as to why you have never driven a car. You just have never had the need! I am trying not to think too deeply into things lately because I exhaust myself by thinking “why?”
I wouldnt beat yourself up about it though!
Kind of a cop out explanation, I know!
We dont have any kids, yet. But I drive a crossover SUV. Not too big, not too small. I love it. I think though with 5 of you in the car you will def need an SUV! Check out the Infiniti QX56. They are really nice and have a lot of room!!
i dunno lady friend… there’s something that i love and respect about your non-driving self that i would be sad to see go. then again, i love to “stick it to the man.”
with us only having the magoo, i still rock my teeny VW hatchback, complete with “PEACE AND LOVE” bumper sticker. granted, it’s a 4 door (the volkswagon GTI) but it’s a wee-car for one who has a kiddo.
paul drives the parent-mobile, but you’ve seen the size of my husband, and can appreciate how he looks like a clown in my mini car. he has a tahoe and can get away with it being both a dude car and a parent-mobile.
i regret to inform you that it’s not nearly as environmentally friendly as my car is… but having that space is nice for road trips.
i wish you luck. i have zero advice to offer, only hugs. i can imagine it’s exciting to embark on a new family purchase like this… but again, as a sentimental soul, i’ll be a tad bit sad to hear that you got a driver’s license.
xo
I have my license, but I only got it because my permit was expiring and I wasn’t going to let getting that go to waste! I do not like driving. I like to think it’s a writer thing – I like to spend my time in a car thinking, or dreaming, or even just observing. When I’m driving, all my attention has to be fixed on the road, and quite frankly, it’s exhausting. And boring.
However, since we do not live in a place where public transportation abounds, this is a definite hindrance for us! On the other hand, being a one-car family certainly does save us money.
No recommendations on the car – except I don’t think minivans are uncool at all!
I recommend a Winnebago. – ira
You are a funny man
And now you have me imagining a wonderful scenario for a novel where a city family buys a Winnebago to avoid the high cost of living and drives around sampling all the city neighborhoods… Ah, the power of the imagination. (See what Husband gets to live with?)
I grew up in the traffic of Northern NJ. The first day behind the wheel of a car my driving instructor took me onto Rt. 46 at rush hour. I knew then that I didn’t want to drive. I went ahead and got my license but didn’t drive until I moved out of state in my early 20′s. Now driving and traffic don’t bother me at all. After all, I learned to drive in NJ! As with everything else in life, when you’re ready to drive you’ll know it.
Suggestions for a new vehicle… I would recommend a crossover. Something that handles like a car instead of a truck will be much easier to drive in the city and parallel park. It won’t be as bulky as a mini-van either. Plus it will get better gas mileage than an SUV. Good luck and have fun shopping!
I grew up in the North where we had snow on the ground 7 months out of the year. So naturally, my whole family, including myself, have always driven SUVs. However, when I moved to a city for grad school, I had to learn how to parallel park the darn thing. After three years and two (minor) fender benders – oopsy – I finally had it down. On the bright side, I picked up some very savvy manuvering skills
Now, if I had to, I feel like I could parallel park an eighteen wheeler on Michigan Ave. in rush hour traffic…kidding.
As soon as I moved to the South I purchsed my very first eco-friendly compact car. Great gas mileage. Easy to park. Cute. It’s also a hatch-back which makes shopping and errands easy. I LOVE IT, although my family calls it the “nerd mobile”.
Good luck with the car shopping! Get something big enough that your family will be comfortable but not so huge that it will be difficult to park. That’s my advice
One good by-product of my never having driven? I will never ever be judgmental of other people’s driving. That’s good, right? Your “nerd mobile” sounds lovely. Parallel parking on the other hand, does not
Let’s see I got my learners permit in ’84. I drove a ’69 Dodge Dart Swinger, ’77 Impala Wagon, ’77 Camaro (last year of the steel bumper), ’92 Camry Wagon, ’96 Accord, and now have a 2000 CRV and 2006 Odyssey.
Born and raised in LA- this is car culture land and I love it.
The idea of not driving is foreign to me. I have driven across country about 4 times. If I don’t get into the car to drive somewhere on a daily basis it is because I am sick or on vacation.
I don’t care what people say about minivans. They are far more practical than many of the cars out there. Much easier to drive carpool, carry gear for sports, take on vacation etc.
But they are big so parking in the city might be tricky at times.
I live in super-rural PA (no traffic lights in the whole county, nearest fast food joint is 15 miles one way) so pretty much everyone I grew up with got their permit within a week of turning 16. Parents couldn’t wait til we could haul ourselves around, being as there is absolutely no public transportation. Once I got to college, I met a few of your urban, non-driving types, but driving is such a part of my lifestyle that I honestly can’t imagine not having the skill, it would be like not knowing how to read! My dad was a mechanic and my hubby is good with a wrench, so I’ve always driven what we call beater cars…cheap to purchase, require some upkeep. My fave was my Lumina…went great in the snow, big enough inside to haul lots of people/stuff comfortably and big enough outside to withstand the occasional crash involving a deer who jumped into the road (a major concern here, believe it or not!). Both my mom and my MIL love their Honda CRV’s, they are fairly room, but pretty small and fuel efficient for their size, you might want to check into the possibility of fitting 3 seat in that one since it would certainly be cooler/easier to park than a minivan!
Aidan, I remember that you have mentioned before that you want to learn to drive and so I think that you should because you want to. Driving gives you freedom in many ways. I recommend SUV because they are great with children. The DVD will keep them busy on long drives
I think an SUV or minivan would likely work equally well. Might be easier for the girls to get in and out of a minivan. Although I can’t speak to how much trunk space they have given the third row of seating.
I’m a fan of certified pre-owned cars. Get something that can be conveniently serviced and won’t have obscure replacement parts. If you go the minivan route I’ve heard great things for years about the Honda Odyssey. If you go the SUV route, I’ve ridden in my SIL’s Denali and it’s wonderful. I love, love, love my crossover SUV, but it wouldn’t be big enough for you all.
As for the coolness factor… even if you cared a wee bit about it, in the long run you’ll be happier with something that meets your needs. Even if that thing is a minivan.
I am not a car person either. I’ve had hand-me down cars all my life and see them only as a means to get from point a to b. It’s a type of attachment I really don’t understand. But where I have lived, it has been a necessity. There are moments when I appreciate the freedom of driving in a car, with my radio loud and the wind blowing, singing my favorite song. But if I could, I would be content just walking to my destination.
Oh how I hear you on not wanting to drive. I practically put it in the marriage contract that I would never be responsible for driving. I basically still only drive myself to work, which is all of one street.
That being said, what I have heard from friends with families of 5 as far as car recommendations…1)the VW minivan and 2) the big infinity (see how I know real names of cars and makes?). Something to consider with 3 car seats is even if there are two rows of kiddo seating, it’s hard to access the back row for kids that can’t necessarily get into car seats and get buckled by themselves. The solution is apparently a second row that’s “Captains chairs” so two separate seats with a space in the middle so you can get back to the back row (otherwise you’re strappin someone in by climbing through the trunk). I think a lot of minivans are configured that way too.
Okay, that’s my only advice on the subject, you know how much I hate driving myself!
miss you. xoxo, D
Hey stranger – Love that I am not the only one who doesn’t like driving. Although I guess that’s not the appropriate description of my situation in that I have never tried it
Thanks for the advice. We have actually been pondering both the VW and the Infiniti… Hope you are feeling good. We must catch up before these little girls make their debuts.
xo
I do drive and share a car with husband but I don’t love to drive yet I see its necessity. There are too many vehicles on the road as it is and it’s bad for the environment. Aren’t SUV rentals a viable alternative for a family of five in Manhattan? Maybe not if you plan on driving to the burbs every weekend. Just my two cents.
I too cannot imagine not driving – at age 15 I clammored to drive with my learner’s permit and drove myself to school on my 16th birthday all by myself. I grew up in the suburbs of DC where a car is also a necessity if you want to lose your sanity just a little bit slower. (Driving iis frustrating, and so is public transportation!) Now I live in central PA, with virtually no public transportation, so . . .
I think it would be good to have your license just in case of an emergency. What emergency, I don’t know, but it just seems practical to have.
Anywho, I am mildly snobby about vehicles, even though I cannot really afford to be. Also a product of growing up in the Northern VA suburbs I imagine. I say go for a Flexfuel Tahoe/Denali or Suburban/Denali XL. Still cool, lots of room and more enviro friendly!
a
Yes, yes. I should absolutely have my license for emergency purposes. Husband mentions this a fair bit and it is true. If ever he couldn’t drive, I really should be able to step in. I think once this baby arrives and I have gotten my wits back a bit, I will sign up for some driving classes… Which raises another issue though. Driving in New York City is nutty – almost video-game-esque – and this is the last place I would choose to learn to drive. Alas. I will do what I have to.
Hope all is well, Niki
Hi Aidan. I have been following your blog for quite a while now, but this is my first time posting. We are in the same situation as your family. I have two little ones (age 2 & 3) and am expecting baby #3 in May. We have a Honda Pilot right now, but it will not be big enough for all of us considering the bulkiness of those car seats! We are just starting to look at options. We haven’t test driven yet, but some of the crossover SUV’s have captain chairs with a bench seat in the third row ( ex: gmc acadia). They have surprisingly more cargo space than some of the larger suv’s that we looked at…but we have to bring all the strollers along to the dealer to see if they will really be a viable option. Otherwise, we will have to go the minivan route – not my first choice, but perhaps the easiest with small children. I’ll let you know if I find a great “family friendly” option!
Laura – hello and welcome to the comment box
Love that we are in the exact same position. You will absolutely have to keep me informed as to what you learn. We have heard great things about the Arcadia (here on the blog and elsewhere) and I am curious to hear what you think! I do hope that you continue to comment here. Nice to have a fellow soon-to-be mom of three hanging with me!
I am sure you have thought through this already, but I wonder have you checked out Zipcar or Connect by Hertz?
We thought about buying a car since my husband and I take little trips to the country (i.e., CT) sometimes. And I actually love driving. But after crunching some numbers, it turns out that owning a care doesn’t make sense unless we drive more than 10 times a month. We are fortunate that there is Connect by Hertz in a garage right next to our apartment. If we had a car, we would park it there and the parking fee alone would be over $500 a month.
More than cost though, we find Connect by Hertz to be more convenient because they take care of the maintenance. They also have enough variety of cars that I am not stuck with a SUV when a coupe would do.
Maybe it is more convenient for you to have your own car given you have 3 car seats. Also, it does require more planning on your part when using Connect by Hertz or Zipcar since you need book the usage duration ahead of time. Anyhow, I am not trying to dissuade you from buying a car, I just wanted to let you know other options in case you haven’t examined them.
With 3 kids, a minivan is priceless – the doors open with a push of a button, there’s room to walk to them during long car trips, the DVD (!) We got the “cool” Nissan Quest and I’ve been told I drive it like a sports car
But between you and me, the second those girls are old enough to be driving their own cars, I’m getting a mini-cooper!
Peggy – Thanks for your insight. Unfortunately, both girls are prone to car sickness and the DVD just ensures that they vomit
Let’s hope the third doesn’t have this trait. And love your honesty about how you will most certainly switch up cars when your kids are old enough to drive themselves!
If you live in a big city with a great transportation system, then there is really no need to drive. So, I get why you don’t have a license. However, I totally think you should get one. Having a license gives you so much freedom and flexibility. I live in California where driving is a must and people love (and I mean LOVE) their cars. I have moments where I wish I didn’t have a car or insurance or maintenance, but those moments are fleeting. I love driving along the coast from Northern California to Southern California. I love my drive into work each morning as the coastline appears in Newport Beach. I love taking quick trips to San Diego and Santa Barbara. If I didn’t drive, I couldn’t do all these things. Driving is freedom. Imagine all the things you could do during vacations if you have a license…
As for cars I don’t have kids yet so I have no idea what type of car works best. I can say that I grew up with a mom that drove a minivan and I will NEVER own one (a minivan for me is equivalent to a station wagon for children of the 60s and 70s). I just can’t. I know they are so snazzy now with the electronic doors and all the other things engineers are adding to make minivans “cool” and functional, but to me they will never be cool no matter how functional. I will most likely drive an SUV when we have kids. Not a big, gas guzzling Yukon or a similar behemoth, but a cute, smaller SUV (Audi Q5, MB GLK, Ford Edge).
Good luck buying a car! And I hope you go for your license – you won’t regret it!
Yes, I know that I would probably very much enjoy the freedom that driving allows. The thing is that even if I do procure my license, I imagine I will rarely use it unless we are on vacation, etc. As long as I am with Husband, I imagine he will be the driver.
So interesting that you will never own a minivan because you rode in one growing up. When I was little, my parents always had a station wagon and I guess I would be reluctant to get one of those. Maybe this is why I am more open-minded about minivans – because I don’t have any particular personal associations with them?
I can understand where your non-driving self is coming from. But I LOVE driving. Honestly it is such a freeing feeling to just jump in the car and drive around, especially when you have beautiful scenery as a backdrop. I’ve made some of my most important decisions while going for a drive- just myself, my old car (Jetta than Cavalier), and some good tunes. Without the ability to go for a drive I feel kind of trapped.
As for recommendations, I’m obsessed with the VW Toureg, partly because it looks like a cute egg and I love VW. I’d definitely go with a Crossover SUV because they’re more environmentally friendly and convenient. Besides that I’m kind of clueless. Before I knew it was good to get a “Asian” car because they last long, are super reliable and parts are decently priced but these days I hear American cars are really making a comeback!
Good luck!
I have no advice to offer. We have a Ford Explorer and two under two and we love it. I am here to tell you that I am 29 and do not drive either. You are not alone! Why is this such a scary endeavor? Im in the same exact shoes as you. Good luck.
If I could take public transportation I would, but alas, I live in Los Angeles where the bus is as rare as the rain.
I obviously don’t know what your budget is but Volvo makes a nice SUV that isn’t too big but can easily seat 5. A friend just bought a Honda passport and is very happy with it. And if you really want to splurge consider the hybrid Porsche Cayenne – it is truly gorgeous!
If you live in LA and don’t drive it is because you can’t afford a car or can’t qualify for a license. That is not meant to be snotty, it is just the reality of the situation.
I don’t really have any input, just a silly question that I wonder about. How do you travel in the city with small children? Meaning, if you have to take a cab with Toddler and Baby, do you have to lug around two car seats with you?
Okay I can understand that you don’t have a car in the city & that must take stroller shopping to the next level, but you’ve NEVER driven a car?!? Ever? Not even on vacation? I will work to wrap my mind around it, but that is so odd to me who grew up in Arizona, where we drive all.over.the.place…in our big gas-guzzling, non-eco-friendly cars. I have 2 kids in a Tahoe & I love it. I can fit everything but the kitchen sink in it & then some.
But some other, more city friendly options I love are the Audi, Volvo & Porsche SUV’s. The LR4 by Land Rover is nice too. Just know though, that whatever you choose, it will be utterly trashed by your children, given their current ages. Goldfish? They will be smashed into every little crevice known to man.
So, if you aren’t driving it? Then who is? Is it common for people to have drivers there? I am excited for this new adventure for you! Although I would fully recommend getting your own license. Just think of the possibilities!
No, no drivers
(There are people who employ drivers here of course, but we are not among them.) If we get a car then Husband will drive it when we use it. That’s the issue, really. Even if we buy a car, we will not use it a ton. We will continue to walk a lot and use public transport and cabs, but use the car for trips out of the city. Again, the big question is whether a car purchase makes any financial sense whatsoever.
And, yes, I know whatever we get (or rent, or use) will be trashed. Par for the course with little ones and very good to remember
Aha another of Quinn’s quirks that I had a funny feeling might be real! Good on you for surviving without one. My Husband and a reasonable number of my friends don’t have their licenses – result of growing up in towns/cities (Edinburgh, York, Birmingham) with reasonable public transport and zero need for a car.
However.
I keep a car in London (LONDON! It’s the English capital, notoriously car-unfriendly, the public transport system works remarkably well considering the bad press it gets) because it is convenient. On the days I don’t drive it, it’s not hurting the environment (ignoring the effects of building it in the first place, its contribution to road building etc etc). On the days I do use it, it’s for going to the furniture shop. Or the airport at 4 in the morning. (Anywhere at 4 in the morning). Or moving things from one end of the country to the other. I can’t afford the insurance and the petrol, but I keep it anyway because I value my sanity and my safety. So in short, just buy it and stop beating yourself up about it.
(But if you own a car, you have to get your licence. I’m sure your Husband is wonderful and almost omnipresent, but there are going to be times when he isn’t there and you need to get 3 babies to somewhere)
I have no useful thoughts to contribute on a good family car. Good luck choosing! I don’t care about cool – it’s not worth the cool premium on the price!
Yes, a little piece of truth amid the fictional world of Quinn
Your comment speaks to me because, for us, getting a car is as much about lifestyle/freedom as it is about necessity. Even if it doesn’t make ultimate financial sense to purchase a car now, having a car will, I think, positively affect our life. I think we will be more inclined to do things, to go places, etc. And that is worth something.
And, yes, I am leaning toward getting my license. Believe me, when and if it does happen, there will be a big announcement here at ILI!
Your not driving makes perfect sense to me. I also grew up in a city (not NY), then worked in various cities. Didn’t learn to drive until I had to – when I was taking a job where I needed to drive.
Honestly? Handy thing to know how to do. But its necessity when you live an urban life? Not so much. Just one more massive expense and source of worry.
(But since you’re looking – my contribution to the car discussion – pick a color you love!)
My most favorite rig to drive was a 12,000 lb. ambulance. Lights, sirens, air horn…
After that, pretty much anything I’ve driven is pretty boring. I grew up on a 4,000 acre farm, so operating machinery, driving tractors and running skid steer loaders was standard. (I’ve been driving since I was nine.) I don’t have three kids (just one ‘tween), but she WISHES I drove a minivan just for the *awesomeness* of a DVD player and back seat captain’s chairs.
I’d have to vote in favor of the minivan. And captain’s chairs for the second row. It’s wayyy easier to keep the ankle biters properly separated when they each have their own space (and individual throne). I’m not being a total smartass, here. I’m the oldest of five kids and my parents thought it would be cool to drive us from Alaska to Michigan in a Ford Granada (sedan) when I was a kid. I can tell you, *space* is your friend.
You’ve been storing up a lifetime of carbon credits by not driving up to this point, so karmic balance would indicate that you can buy whatever makes you happy.
Oh I am so sad that you’ve never experienced driving. It is one of the most pleasurable things I can do (provided there is open road with little traffic so I can be free and fast).
As for types of cars, I think you’ll likely need a minivan or SUV. Once you tip over the 2-kid threshold, anything with only 5 seats is just too small. And I agree with Titanium – when the kids are older, the extra space will be your friend.
I recently wrote about this VERY thing. My husband is dying to get a minivan!
http://stephanieinsuburbia.blogspot.com/2010/12/where-i-ask-if-i-just-need-to-embrace.html
I would happily drive a minivan. I am holding out until my 2001 Saturn quits running.
My brother and sister-in-law really like their Chrysler Town & Country (they have three kiddos ages 4 and under), and my mom likes her Mazda 5, which is an extremely compact minivan.
I can’t imagine learning to drive as an adult. I think it would be exciting!
Oooh. Two more cars to check out. Thanks! I will let you know (if I do bite the bullet) whether learning to drive as an adult is exciting or utterly scary
I am amazed at the number of people that love driving. I hate it. Well. don’t love it.
I go with Ira. Get a winnebago. Perfect for the tight corners and double parking of your city.
I painted flowers on my car.
Not sure whether you are serious about the flowers on the car, but I am choosing to believe it. Love it
I have minivan envy and I would love one, but because we don’t have three kids, we settled for a lovely Honda Accord, which I do love. But my mom loves her Honda Odyssey (in which she carts around three grandchildren). Our three-kid friends also love their Toyota minivan. Good luck! I’m excited that you’re going to learn to drive.
I find it very funny that you don’t drive. I just got my license less than a year ago and it’s fabulous being able to drive. Just be prepared to be REALLY BAD the first week and then it all comes together after that. It also helps if you practice with someone very calm in the face of near death experiences
I think it’s definitely a worthwhile investment, best of luck on your test!
Hmmm. I’m anti minivan and SUV, which makes me wonder if you can fit 3 car seats in a Camry or something like that? Maybe a Cube or XB? Probably not. I only have one child, so I’m not much use to you, I’m afraid.
One word – Volvo! All the functionality of a larger car with room for three car seats (tried and tested) and they are slowly becoming cool again!
I never would have suggested this until I had to take a bright gold one from the fleet at work… I fell in love with that car in spite of it’s colour, loved how functional and well thought out it was; nice light steering which meant you didn’t feel like you were steering a barge, and above all, safe safe safe!
Depends a bit on your budget but I’d recommend taking a peek at the XC crossover series…And it’s an ultra low emission vehicle.
Good luck with your search – btw, I know dozens upon dozens of Londoners that have never bothered learning as they see no need!
Hattie
Having 3 kids myself I will tell you that the BEST invention EVER is the automatic sliding doors on minivans. Hands-down can’t be beat. You will love these doors everyday. You can open the doors with a purse, groceries and a baby car seat in hand. You never have to worry about your kiddos banging their doors into the car you’re parked next to. I could go on and on. I don’t think it matters what make you get, just get the sliding doors.
So I live in the South and have been driving since I was 15 but my Mom did not learn to drive till she was 22 and pregnant with me. She didn’t see a reason. Her job was around the corner and she could walk every day. So unheard of in the South! We don’t have the most reliable public transportation.
I just don’t know if buying a car in New York City is the way to go. The parking is impossible! Why pay to park a car when you will only use it every so often? I would totally look into renting a car every time you want to go to the burbs to visit your friends.
I drive a Tahoe and I know that isn’t the most eco friendly car but it helped out when I had to pick up my friends kids. I had 3 car seats in the back and it worked out perfectly. But I would not recommend that car for you since trying to parallel that boat of a truck is THE WORST!
Good Luck! I know you will do fine learning to drive.
The best drivers on the road have a laser sharp focus. Perfectionists, and those with minds that race a mile a minute, may be slightly intimidated by the thought of getting behind the wheel. You don’t need to be a geius to pass to a drving test but you have to be pretty smart to know when to leave the driving to others.
We have three kids in three car seats, and I have no interest in a minivan, though everyone says they are great. We fit all the seats (we have the super-skinny Sunshine Radian ones) in our Subaru Forester. I love it.
But what I’d really love (and one of the things I’m looking most forward to about moving to Romania) is to live in a city where public transportation, or (ye gads!) walking, is a viable option.
Okay, crazy number of comments on this topic! I think you’ve really tapped into something. We recently went from one car to two, realizing that our environmental commitment was taking its toll on our schedules and sanity. So we opted for a Prius. But we only have two car seats. Three is a whole different ball game! I have friends who have a Toyota Highlander hybrid and swear by it. Maybe you’ll love your new wheels and be so inspired that you’ll go running to the DMV.
Clearly you don’t really need any more comments, but since I’m here, why not?
Three car seats completely consume a car – there is no wiggle room for bags, toys, etc. I’ve put two in the back of my mid-size car and I feel like the kids are riding on my back the entire time!
Definitely look into a small SUV or a mini van. Mini vans are easier for kids to get in and out of (aka – easier for parents).
The Toyota Sienna is a fave — I drove one in my nanny days. The Honda Odyssey is also rather roomy. The trunks in both are nice for strollers, kids’ gear, etc. Get used if you’re concerned about the expense of brand-spanking new – since you won’t be driving it everyday.
And every single van I’ve ever driven, ridden in, has been a complete mess of kid crap and cheerios!
Enjoy!
First time commenter, found you via a baby name website somewhere.
Wanted to drop another vote for the mini van and sliding doors. I learned to drive in a mini van and found the sliding doors and access incredible when I was a nanny with 3 small children (all in carseats). I’ve spoken to parents of multiple children who think the SUV will work out due to the roominess, only to feel that the access in and out of the back row isn’t easy enough. Who cares if the car you drive makes it look like you’ve got a bunch of kids- you do!
Hi Aidan! I’m a fellow non-driver and I’m 30.
I do not have a license, but I came real close once. I had a permit; however, I allowed it to expire when I went away for school in TX. I live in DC where it’s a pretty small city and the public transit here is almost comparable to New York’s. In TX, people were amazed that I didn’t have a car. They just couldn’t fanthom it!
Having a car here is expensive as well and I hear my friends complain about lack of parking/expense of parking. I am happy that I don’t have a car payment, insurance payment, and other fees associated with cars. A lot of my friends are moving in the suburbs too so I either catch a ride or we agree to meet in the city. When the metro acts up, I always think about biting the bullet and finally getting my license. But hey…I lasted this long, right? I don’t have any kids so my motivation for getting a license comes and goes very quickly. Good luck with driving!