[fredr123]

I know your wife is adamant that a minivan is out of the question. My wife said the same thing. However, we went out and test drove a Sienna and an Odyssey anyway and my wife quickly came around on the idea.

First of all, the nice minivans of today look nothing like the photo you posted and are so far removed from what your parents might have owned growing up that they may as well be in a new category of automobile. Granted, they are still not as cool as a sweet SUV, but they certainly aren't as lame as what you might think.

Second, they are super convenient. Ours transports two adults, three kids, a large dog and all the accoutrements with ease. We can even fit an extra adult or two from time to time without complaint. Lots of room and it's really easy to get the kids in an out with the sliding door and the height of the vehicle.

Third, you can get some really comfortable minivans with really convenient options. Automatic doors, backup cameras, rear seat entertainment, etc.

Fourth, a nice minivan is probably going to be a lot cheaper than a comparable SUV. It'll probably be better on gas too.

We decided to bite the bullet and go with a minivan for a few years. Once the kids are in booster seats and beyond, I think it's easier to fit them in an SUV of reasonable size and we will reassess our options.