Announcement Time

"mcseanerson" (mcseanerson) 06/22/2015 at 11:30 • Filed to: None

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61

I need to start shopping for a minivan.

Found out last Friday the little lady is expecting a little baby. I’ve also gotten her to agree to a Mazda 5. No stick though...

505Turbeaux > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 11:33

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wow congrats man!

crowmolly > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 11:34

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Congrats man!

MIATAAAA > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 11:38

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Congratulations. If it has to have sliding doors, the answer is Mazda 5.

HammerheadFistpunch > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 11:38

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Congrats, 3 now?

LongbowMkII > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 11:38

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Congrats. I want a Mazda 5 too.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 11:39

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Congrats! Mini-vans don’t have to be all bad.

ly2v8-Brian > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 11:42

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Congrats.

mcseanerson > HammerheadFistpunch 06/22/2015 at 11:42

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Yep. Should’ve seen this coming. As soon as one finishes potty training another one has to be on the way to keep us perpetually in diapers.

mcseanerson > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 06/22/2015 at 11:43

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Thanks!

mcseanerson > MIATAAAA 06/22/2015 at 11:43

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Thanks!

mcseanerson > LongbowMkII 06/22/2015 at 11:43

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Thanks!

mcseanerson > 505Turbeaux 06/22/2015 at 11:43

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Thanks!

mcseanerson > crowmolly 06/22/2015 at 11:43

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Thanks!

mcseanerson > ly2v8-Brian 06/22/2015 at 11:43

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Thanks!

LongbowMkII > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif 06/22/2015 at 11:45

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Part of the reason I want a 5 is so I can mod it.

Baby, I need to upgrade to Mazdaspeed3 brakes for safety. Think of the Children!

HammerheadFistpunch > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 11:48

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We’ve got the 2 now and that may be enough for us...but we’ll see. The thought of more diapers and more not sleep haunts my dreams.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 12:01

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The Mazda 5 is probably the best van on the market, or was anyway. How much stuff do you think you'll end up having to lug around with the children? Would a tall wagon like a cube, Soul or xB work?

mcseanerson > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 06/22/2015 at 12:03

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I need three rows. Putting three car seats side by side seems like a logistical nightmare.

HammerheadFistpunch > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 12:03

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So can I ask if she is truly minivan only at this point? I have no beef against minivans really, I think they are great work trucks, campers and all around party machines if used right...but just curious if she has locked out other choices like a flex or crossovers.

mcseanerson > LongbowMkII 06/22/2015 at 12:05

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I want koni yellows on mine!

LongbowMkII > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 12:06

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obviously needed for better evasive maneuvers. good call!

mcseanerson > HammerheadFistpunch 06/22/2015 at 12:07

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I would be happy with 4 if we lucked out. Right now we’re one boy and one girl. I’m hoping for a boy with this one and a girl for the next. That said, whatever happens happens, it’s out of my hands.

Future next gen S2000 owner > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 12:07

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Congrats but why no wagon?

mcseanerson > HammerheadFistpunch 06/22/2015 at 12:09

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I’m the one who wants the minivan. She’d take a crossover or a suburban if I’d let her. Thing is her driving is all city and it’s just back and forth to the school and on errands. A three row crossover or suv would kill us on gas.

LongbowMkII > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 12:10

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With low (side)profile seats it is doable with a wide enough vehicle. I make do with a Nissan Murano. I wouldn’t suggest it however.

mcseanerson > LongbowMkII 06/22/2015 at 12:12

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And a corksport catback!

Babe, if they don’t hear us coming they’ll start ramming us inadvertently.

HammerheadFistpunch > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 12:13

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I guess thats true, though “mini”vans are notoriously bad fuel users in town. Ask anyone with a current or previous generation odyssey, they are getting like 16 mpg city.

mcseanerson > Future next gen S2000 owner 06/22/2015 at 12:17

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I want three rows and there aren’t a ton of wagon options, much less one with three rows.

BigBlock440 > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 12:19

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From what I hear though, that’s the way to do it. I’m at 3 months right now, and I wouldn’t want to go back to this if my kid were already mostly self sufficient. Better to keep with the lack of sleep/free time and not realize how much you miss it. Once they’re out of diapers for a few years and sleeping through the night, it would be tough to go back.

jjhats > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 12:20

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ford flex?

mcseanerson > HammerheadFistpunch 06/22/2015 at 12:24

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Yeah, I think the Mazda 5 is the lightest three row I can get.

HammerheadFistpunch > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 12:27

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Make sure you practice getting in and out of one before you commit. I hear that back seat is tiny and a little tricky to get to. Cool cars though, I have recommended them to many people who always end up buying something else.

mcseanerson > BigBlock440 06/22/2015 at 12:35

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Yeah, my kids have been out of actual diapers and in pullups for a bit now.

mcseanerson > jjhats 06/22/2015 at 12:37

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That would be an increase in fuel and purchase price.

mcseanerson > HammerheadFistpunch 06/22/2015 at 12:40

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My intention would be the 5 year old and 4 year old go in the back. Adults and infants go in the middle.

OPPOsaurus WRX > HammerheadFistpunch 06/22/2015 at 12:43

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well you can;t have your dreams haunted if your not sleeping so theres that.....

HammerheadFistpunch > OPPOsaurus WRX 06/22/2015 at 12:46

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My front bumper and increased insurance rates beg to differ.

No i didn’t fall asleep but my lack of sleep sure slowed down my reaction times.

Tekamul > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 12:52

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Congratulations! All hail the sliding doors.

I had a 5, it was really good. The third kid pushed me too a full size(?) minivan. Too much ancillary stuff.

M54B30 > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 13:07

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Wife and i have been looking too. Really digging the new Sedona - $33k EX model is fantastic

Panther Brown Tdi Volvo Shooting Brake Manual Miata RWD Wagon Stole HondaBro's Accord. > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 13:09

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Don’t make the same mistake I did

mcseanerson > Panther Brown Tdi Volvo Shooting Brake Manual Miata RWD Wagon Stole HondaBro's Accord. 06/22/2015 at 13:10

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Oh God, why?

mcseanerson > OPPOsaurus WRX 06/22/2015 at 13:11

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The Kreuger Defense.

Panther Brown Tdi Volvo Shooting Brake Manual Miata RWD Wagon Stole HondaBro's Accord. > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 13:12

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But in all honesty you can get them loaded for really cheap. Since no one else bought them

mcseanerson > Panther Brown Tdi Volvo Shooting Brake Manual Miata RWD Wagon Stole HondaBro's Accord. 06/22/2015 at 13:13

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I’m trying desperately to get away from Mopar and the idea of adding VAG to that just seems like adding fuel to the fire.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 13:37

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If I needed a mini van I’d look into the new Transit. Especially with the split rear doors. Altho you can’t get the them on the top trim, which means no ecoboost either :(.

thankfully we just need a bigger hatchback.

mcseanerson > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/22/2015 at 13:41

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My wife would hate the Transit. She’d say it’s too ugly.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 13:43

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It is kinda ugly, but thats kinda why I like it lol. the Mazda5 is a much better looking car

mcseanerson > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/22/2015 at 13:47

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I agree that I kind of like the Transit for being ugly but I doubt my wife would have the same opinion.

mcseanerson > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 06/22/2015 at 14:19

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So I just asked on facebook to see if my wife would respond and instead a friend who owns a Mazda 5 and dailys a transit as a work vehicle weighed in on it and said the 5 is much better.

BrainForest > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 14:35

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Yes. Three kids here, two little ones and one older in school. I had a 5 and loved it (sadly, it was crushed by a tree during Hurricane Sandy). Here in Brooklyn, it’s all stop-and-go traffic, with super-tight parking. Thus, the 5 was the perfect family car...

... but here’s the thing: there is very little space behind the 3rd row. If you intend to take a stroller with you, or carry anything more than a few grocery bags, you’ll need to get creative. The manual demands that the middle row seats be slid fully back if they’re holding a baby seat.

So here’s what we did: the youngest sat in a baby seat behind the driver, pushed all the way back. The other little guy sat in the 3rd row on the passenger side, leaving the other 3rd row seat folded down for the stroller and other cargo. That left the other middle row seat for our oldest, or for an adult passenger like Grandma.

If you’re going to be using all four rear seats, you’ll probably want a roof box.

Good luck!
PS, ask me anything...

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 14:37

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I’m sure it is. Also is that daily driven Transit a work van or the wagon? the suspension and interior are going to be very different. and the new Transits are a big jump from the old one. Tho I loved drving the old Transit.

Panther Brown Tdi Volvo Shooting Brake Manual Miata RWD Wagon Stole HondaBro's Accord. > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 14:41

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Why?

mcseanerson > Panther Brown Tdi Volvo Shooting Brake Manual Miata RWD Wagon Stole HondaBro's Accord. 06/22/2015 at 14:43

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I’ve never liked Mopar and my ownership of a WJ has just reinforced that. As for VAG I view them like I view all German vehicles, I appreciate them from a distance.

Der Käfer > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 16:25

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I work for a dealer group that carries a lot of the MV contenders and I agree that you should look into the Sedona, but if you are on a smaller budget then I would look at the mazda 5 last gen in maybe a GT trim... very sporty for what it is and handling is great!

mcseanerson > Der Käfer 06/22/2015 at 16:27

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I don’t even have that much of a budget. I’ll be looking at the first gen Mazda 5.

Der Käfer > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 16:49

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Even still, great little vans, low cost maintenance and will make great family haulers. Have you looked into maybe a used Jetta Wagon? I sell a lot of them to starting families, can be had with a diesel and they have great safety tech. Just an idea.

mcseanerson > Der Käfer 06/22/2015 at 16:50

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They can’t be had with a third row can they?

Takuro Spirit > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 17:43

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Congrats!

So long as you and the lady are shorter than 6 feet, and have small-ish feet the 5 is perfect. Sliding doors and small size FTMFW. I miss mine.

Do not miss the cramped driving position and having to tilt my foot to fit it between the gas and brake to avoid hitting both when wearing anything more than a sneaker.

mcseanerson > Takuro Spirit 06/22/2015 at 17:45

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Thanks! I wear a size 15 so pretty much every car has that problem for me and I have squeezed into Miatas, a CRX, and a Ford Aspire. I’ll make it work.

Takuro Spirit > mcseanerson 06/22/2015 at 17:54

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Well my 11 wide doesn’t seem like such a big deal then.

mcseanerson > Takuro Spirit 06/22/2015 at 17:58

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Yeah, trying to heel and toe in a Miata is a pain in the ass.