Thursday, September 24, 2015

The Giant Jump: Buying a Van

Well, we did it folks.  We made the leap.  With this new baby arriving at Thanksgiving, and having a hard time fitting three carseats across the back bench seat of our suburban, we've brought this home...
...the Nissan NV.

This is a big jump for me.  Or, really, I should say it's a big jump for pre-momma Britt.  I swore I'd never drive a minivan.  No reason really, now that I think of it.  I just grew up in a suburban, so that's what I always imagined driving.  Then, came four (almost five) little ones, and well, we needed to make a change. 
We've had it about ten days, and this is what I have to say:

1). I LOVE it.
2). It is SO much easier to drive than I imagined.
3). I don't mind the wide-eyed stares.
4). It seats 12 (with many different combinations of seat arrangements) and is very easy to get in and out of.
5).  It's basic.  We're adding a DVD player (another one of those pre-momma things I said I'd never do).
6).  The kids made us promise we'd never give it back.  Haha.  So, we're starting them young on the van mentality.
7). It doesn't get the best gas mileage, but what big rig does?
8). I've yet to see what it can do in snow/ice.  I'll let you know.
9). We could take an extended family road trip if we wanted...or even have a babysitter or friend in the car...so nice.
10). I didn't want white, but now I love it (it's great on our dirt road, and I'm not the greatest - read the worst - about keeping a car washed and clean.
11). I've yet to go in a parking garage and might never do that.  I've also yet to go through a drive through car wash - I need to read up on the height specs first!

and finally...
It can sport our support for New Mexico beef!

Bigfoot (according to the kids) is here to stay.  

If you're debating the same giant jump, I highly recommend taking it!


15 comments :

  1. I love the sign that says BEEF....I'm guessing that is what is for dinner :-)

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  2. big foot is amazing! I will have to show this to my husband... we will need if we just keep adding babies!

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  3. How neat- we have thought about one, I bet you will love it

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  4. That's a lot sleeker design than the one we drove around in as kids (and I learned to drive in!). We called ours 'the big white whale'.
    I like it!! :)

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  5. What a great van!!! And it looks way cooler than a regular minivan!

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  6. I love Big foot. I'm secretly sad I don't need a Big Foot.

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  7. I love Big foot. I'm secretly sad I don't need a Big Foot.

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  8. hahaha I love it! I grew up in a minivan family, and I love mine! It's not exactly the sexiest vehicle around, but it's decent on gas, can fit my kids plus a couple extras, and we can still fit a bunch of stuff in it! I love that your kids named it Bigfoot :)

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  9. New cars are always exciting!! I bet you are so adorable behind the wheel - your tiny little self driving that big rig!! So glad you're happy with your decision.

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  10. Welcome to the NV club! :) Glad you love it - knew you would - we absolutely love ours! Couple of things... I think it will do absolutely fine on snow and ice. We've had two rough winters with ours...it's been great...and I still prefer it over the Suburban we used to have. Also... We love to travel and this thing can HAUL a lot of stuff and people. We've taken ours on some longgg road trips! Lastly... I still avoid parking garages - like the plague. Will never forget the FIRST weekend we had ours and headed to downtown Indy. My husband took out someone's rearview mirror trying to get it parked in a garage! And yes... Love, love, love that we can take a crew along with ours with all the space and configurations!!! :)

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  11. Ha! How great is that?! So glad everyone is loving Bigfoot! (Great name, too.) ;)

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  12. A 15 passenger van was my first set of wheels and I feel like if you can drive a big van, you can drive anything! :) Bigfoot looks great!

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  13. Ha! How exciting! Don't you just love the smell of a new car??!! Friends of ours bought that van when it first came out, (they are expecting #8). She loves driving it. And Thanksgiving?? I know it may not feel the same for you, but I think your pregnancy is going quickly!

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  14. I drove a 15 passenger van for years at work and swore I'd never do it again, but I didn't know what I was saying. I know you love all your extra space! Our minivan is maxed out right now with three car seats and a booster...

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