World Class Soccer Mom

Everyone knew that this day would come. Even Katy knew it though she refused to acknowledge it. It began early on when we started thinking about starting a family and has been festering through multiple trips to the zoo, Costco shopping orgies and too many cousins for a small SUV. Not quite sure what changed from 2010 to 2011, but on the first day of this year, Katy broke down and accepted a MINIVAN into her household. Yes, I am picking on Katy. I grew up in a minivan...one of the first, I had no illusions that I would avoid getting one when I had kids. And that is fine with me. Katy and I both knew that they were practical, convenient and more environmentally conscience and affordable than a big SUV. But much to our surprise, it that can be a whole lot more than just that.

We shopped around for awhile, knew we would be going Honda or Toyota and just needed to make the call. We, no not “we”, Katy, made the humungous leap of courage and decided to get a USED minivan (used meaning it could be dirty and minivan meaning minivan). This, like, goes against everything Katy is. On a whim, we went to test drive a 2008 Sienna on New Year’s day. The only one they had on the lot was a totally loaded, limited edition version. So we tried it out. It sold itself pretty easily. With a Lexus suspension, AWD, more power per pound and better handling than my Audi, and more extras than an over-hyped Hollywood blockbuster...it was pretty cool.

But, of course, it was not without its issues. It was used, so there was room for negotiation. It is a long, multi-month (still going a bit), yelling at used car salesman, standing our ground, threatening black death story about getting what we were promised for what we paid, but the upshot is that we got a smoking deal on the car, lots of good warranties, and about $3000 of repairs (that the dealer had not anticipated) to make the car what we want.

Chapman’s: 1 Toyota: 0....

The reluctant soccer mom