Mommy’s “loser’s cruiser” a.k.a. minivan!
We’d like to think that we are educated consumers in everything we invest our money in. But we are dead wrong in our choice for a minivan, or as it’s known…a “loser’s cruiser”!
I should say it was I who chose our minivan, the Nissan Quest. My husband is shaking his head in agreement vigororously.
BK (that’s “before kids”), we were cruising in a nice Audi A6 being “DINKs”, you know “Double Income and No Kids”. We loved everything about that Audi. But AK (that’s “after kids”), we had to trade it in for THE loser’s cruiser. I vowed never to get a minivan no matter how many kids we have.
But it gets kind of hard trying to squeeze two boys in the Audi with their car seats and toys. After Sophia was born, it was an impossible feat altogether. Â
So I threw in my towel and only agreed to get the 2005 Nissan Quest because the commercial “spoke” to me. The message it was trying to convey was that the Nissan Quest is for the “new kind of Moms”…hip and young *clearing my throat*.
Boy, they sure did a great job marketing that message!! We traded in our beloved Audi for a green Quest. I loved the design and Nissan does make quality cars.Â
Well, we couldn’t have been more wrong!! Not long after we drove the van home, it was recalled for something I don’t even remember any more because there were other minor glitches, i.e.
- the CD player had to be replaced,
- the roof top only opened half way so it had to be fixed,
- there is this really annoying scratching noise every time we accelerate that the Nissan mechanics couldn’t figure out all three times we brought the van in (and you know how it is waiting around with a baby in the waiting room for hours) they think it’s the “heat shield” but not sure,
- it’s leaking antifreeze today,
- we just got another recall for some loose screws in the backseat,
The lesson learned is NEVER TO BUY A FIRST MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. Let the car companies work out all the “kinks” first and then buy it at least two years after that.
So as you take your family out shopping for a car or minivan this weekend (it’s President’s Day sale galore), make sure you heed our advice above!!
Â
Â
We’d like to think that we are educated consumers in everything we invest our money in. But we are dead wrong in our choice for a minivan, or as it’s known…a “loser’s cruiser”!
I should say it was I who chose our minivan, the Nissan Quest. My husband is shaking his head in agreement vigororously.
BK (that’s “before kids”), we were cruising in a nice Audi A6 being “DINKs”, you know “Double Income and No Kids”. We loved everything about that Audi. But AK (that’s “after kids”), we had to trade it in for THE loser’s cruiser. I vowed never to get a minivan no matter how many kids we have.
But it gets kind of hard trying to squeeze two boys in the Audi with their car seats and toys. After Sophia was born, it was an impossible feat altogether. Â
So I threw in my towel and only agreed to get the 2005 Nissan Quest because the commercial “spoke” to me. The message it was trying to convey was that the Nissan Quest is for the “new kind of Moms”…hip and young *clearing my throat*.
Boy, they sure did a great job marketing that message!! We traded in our beloved Audi for a green Quest. I loved the design and Nissan does make quality cars.Â
Well, we couldn’t have been more wrong!! Not long after we drove the van home, it was recalled for something I don’t even remember any more because there were other minor glitches, i.e.
- the CD player had to be replaced,
- the roof top only opened half way so it had to be fixed,
- there is this really annoying scratching noise every time we accelerate that the Nissan mechanics couldn’t figure out all three times we brought the van in (and you know how it is waiting around with a baby in the waiting room for hours) they think it’s the “heat shield” but not sure,
- it’s leaking antifreeze today,
- we just got another recall for some loose screws in the backseat,
The lesson learned is NEVER TO BUY A FIRST MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. Let the car companies work out all the “kinks” first and then buy it at least two years after that.
So as you take your family out shopping for a car or minivan this weekend (it’s President’s Day sale galore), make sure you heed our advice above!!
Â
Â
I was willing to buy my wife a Honda Odyssey. But she went for “looks”. Now we are stuck with this piece of crap!! Oh well like you said - lesson learned. I do miss our Audi though :(  Too bad they don’t make an Audi minivan!!
Yeah, I vowed I would never get one, too. Oh my. My baby isn’t even born yet and yup, there’s a big fat mini van in the garage. What has become of me? And I didn’t even drive a cool car like an audi “BK” (or BP - before pregnancy, in my case).