New vehicle...

[soldiergrrrl]

So, I've finally shed the last vestiges of my life with Syd.  The Blazer had served me well and faithfully, but slowly but surely, was falling apart.  It's not that surprising.  With 175,000 miles on her, and some really hard use, she was bound to show her age.  Add to that, she was a reminder of a horrible time in my life and really...it was time to pass her on. 

So...I traded her in and bought a little silver....minivan....Yeah... a little silver minivan.  (And the first person who asks about kids is going to get deleted, I swear to freakin' Bob....)  It's a Nissan Quest, and it's really cute!  I think it's a she, and I still need a name for her, but I'm happy.  She's pretty zippy and responsive and OMG more comfy than the Blazer.  WAY more comfy.  Considering we routinely haul three adults (one of whom is screamingly claustrophobic), two kids, seven-foot tent poles, nine-foot spears, swords and armor, along with assorted camping accoutrement, it really just seemed like a better idea than another SUV.  Also, seriously, much easier to load stuff in to the van, with the lower deck.

Over all, I'm happy.

Now, to go put an SCA sticker on the window.

Comments

[ladytwnks.livejournal.com]

congratulations! and for the record, you already HAVE kids to transport in the van. they're just not yours (two of them) or they're furry members of the family. and lets not forget the sillinesses that grown men can get into. ;)

[soldiergrrrl.livejournal.com]

Heh. You know...that's not all wrong. :-D

[brownkitty.livejournal.com]

It's also easier to transport dogs in a minivan than in a Blazer.

[soldiergrrrl.livejournal.com]

True. Moose will actually fit in the Mustang, too. He takes up the ENTIRE back seat, but he does fit...

[dogmaticus.livejournal.com]

50 points for proper usage of "accoutrement" !

[soldiergrrrl.livejournal.com]

Thank you, thank you!

[spearweasel.livejournal.com]

Tis not a minivan, but an armored personnel carrier.

That is, a carrier for armored personnel. ;D

[soldiergrrrl.livejournal.com]

You win the internets for the best comment yet.

[momwolf.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a good idea to me!

[soldiergrrrl.livejournal.com]

I really like it so far. It's a VERY smooth ride and nice inside.

[tygerr.livejournal.com]

I have never understood the stigma attached to minivans. Other than "I am not my mother and will not drive a vehicle like hers", which frankly strikes me as an awfully irrational reason for disliking a hauling vehicle.

Really, a decent minivan is the very best vehicle type ever devised for people who routinely need to haul large quantities of people and/or containerized (or otherwise not-too-hard-on-finished-interiors) gear on-road for long distances in reasonable comfort. And, really, how often do most people need to haul rough concrete, or go off-road for any distance, or any of the other things that would justify the crappy gas mileage of a heavier truck?

Hauls more than a station wagon, without the mileage penalties of light trucks and SUVs. Ya done good. :-)

[soldiergrrrl.livejournal.com]

Mostly it's the automatic assumption that minivan=kids and soccermom that bothers me. But OMG so much more comfy than the Blazer, especially in the back seats. And the acceleration and ride is MUCH better.

Really, it's been incredibly cool the past two days, since we've been making trips to and from Home Depot and such.

[mommeeof9.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't make any unkind comments, says the woman with the 15 passenger van. :) It's amazing how much stuff you can fit in my van once the back seats are removed-12 ft long pieces of lumber, appliances, etc.

[soldiergrrrl.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, but you have a lot of kids and we have none. Mostly I'm trying to head off the "well, when are you going to start having kids to fill up the van, nyuck nyuck nyuck."

[mommeeof9.livejournal.com]

You have the perfect "excuse" in that you do have kids to haul around, just not your own, plus the dogs. I'm sure it is more comfortable for them in a minivan verses a car.

[piroshki.livejournal.com]

Mostly I'm trying to head off the "well, when are you going to start having kids to fill up the van, nyuck nyuck nyuck."

Well, that's what a minivan is for, putting kids in. And the barbecue, and the condiments to put on the kids once they're rotisseried, and and and...

well...

[redc1c4.livejournal.com]

i only ask because i have to have *someone* to leave all my toys to.... if you don't get on the stick Robin and Dave are going to get them all.

[pelgar.livejournal.com]

I am instantly reminded or Mr. & Mrs. Smith:
"That extra door does come in handy."

Nothing at all wrong with minivans that a Kingdom sticker cannot fix. They're more recognized by the mundanes than you would think.

[florentinescot.livejournal.com]

I <3 my minivan.

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

Hubby diermuid has a Nissan Quest and loves it. I call it his "man purse," and we could survive the zombie apocalypse with everything he routinely carries in there (which ranges from scouting to SCA and beyond). Enjoy!

[thatpotteryguy.livejournal.com]

I have no idea how the SCA functioned before we all got minivans...

FWIW, I'm a whiskey-drinkin' pistol-wavin', tank-drivin' Gulf War vet. And the only car I have ever loved unreservedly was a 1998 Honda Odyssey, and the only person I have ever contemplated killing in cold blood was the drunk who wrecked her at a stoplight.