How to Pick a Minivan Over a Station Wagon
So you think its time to buy an extra vehicle. You might want something that will double as a family car and a carrier for lots of cargo you need to move around. Now, you don't really need or want a truck for this, so that leaves you to decide between a minivan and a station wagon. Besides, don't forget the obvious importance of "people moving." Go through these steps to decide.
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Instructions
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What Work Will Your Vehicle Do?
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Decide how many people you will carry most of the time. You can purchase either of these vehicles with 2 rows of rear seats. This will enable you to drive yourself and 7 others around. Both the minivan and the station wagon will be comfortable and give a good ride when loaded with people.
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Carry boxes to your heart's content. You can always let down the back seat in both vehicles to load things. Moving boxes, work articles and large plants go well in these vehicles.
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Buy all you want the next time you see a garage sale or flea market. You can fill either vehicle up quickly. However, the minivan could have more head room to hold bulky articles. Sacks, grocery bags and odd-shaped items can be "crammed" together using all of the available space to the best option.
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Stack boxes on each other. You should be able to stack 2 together vertically in the minivan. The station wagon should take a smaller one on top of a medium-sized box.
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Make a large open area for your children to sleep in when you camp out. The minivan can do this better than the station wagon. Thanks to rear bucket seats, this is an easy job.
How Comfortable Will Your Vehicle Be?
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Drive a minivan and it will seem like a car, except that you sit up a little taller than most cars. This makes it easy to keep track of the traffic while you carry on a conversation with your mother and supervise the kids in the back (all on the way to the restaurant).
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Enjoy climate control-minivans are more apt to have this feature than station wagons. Dealers try to entice you with luxury options. They know they are competing with a station wagon; they just need to get you to think the minivan is the better deal.
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Watch your payment amounts. Station wagons are often slightly less expensive than a minivan (depending on the make and model you buy).
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Think safety. Airbags are in the front and sides of most minivans. Curtain side air bags are standard with the Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona and Toyota Sienna.
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Reflect on the safety of the Volkswagen and Saturn station wagons as well. They offer great seating and they truly drive like a car--no slow 50's style wagons here.
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Formulate your thoughts and make your choice based on what is important to you.
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Tips & Warnings
It's easy to mount a DVD system in a minivan. The height of the mount will make it easier for children in the back seat to see the show.
Dealers like to make deals where everyone wins--you might be able to negotiate a really good deal.
If you are looking for airbag protection in a vehicle, don't buy a GM van; as of the writing of this eHow, they only have airbags that provide torso protection for the front 2 seating rows.
