I think car companies hate me. Well, they don't hate just me. I think they hate all families that dare to have more than 3 kids. Really. I'm serious about this. No one must have more than 2.3 children, or you are stuck forever in your choice of a gutless mini-van or a 3 MPG tank.
So, I have a tiny Hyundai Accent that Josiah and I purchased back when we only had 1 child. It's nice, it was really cheap, it gets almost 40 MPG, it can park anywhere, and has seats for 5. Then came along child #4. I now drive a bus.
Ok, not a bus... just your average 10 year old mini-van. But still. Ick. It's old, so it didn't cost much, but new they cost twice what my little car does. It has terrible gas mileage, has the get up and go of your average little old man, makes u-turns over 4 lanes, and has seats for 7. Yay.
I'm just wondering... why is it that to add one measly seat belt we must double the size and cost, and cut the gas mileage in half? Seriously. I can go and get 2 standard no frills little cars for the same price of one vehicle that seats 6. I want 1, count 'em, just 1 more person to be able to sit in there!
Browse vehicles at a dealership and this is what you get: "Here you are, a tiny hatchback that seats 5. Or over here we have a sporty small car that seats 5. A nice standard car that also seats 5. A large sedan... very roomy. It has enough room for a body in the trunk, but alas, seatbelts for only 5. Or we have this beautiful SUV that seats, you guessed it, 5. Here we have a sporty wagon with plenty of room for a family of 5. This is our latest crossover. It's sporty, gets great gas mileage, has all wheel drive, and seats 5. Or you can drive this bus (we like to call it a "mini-van"), about like driving a stylish elephant made of jello, but it has seats for 7."
See what I'm talking about?! Car companies hate people that have kids.
Now, add to this that we live on a dirt road, and during monsoon season our road is one giant mud pit with nice sandy washes here and there for variety. So, we really need something that won't leave us stranded in the muck.
Ooooo... now we get an even better choice! Now the only option is the behemoth 4x4 that sucks down enough petrol to power a small city on a drive into the grocery store. Or if we only need seats for 5, we can get a nice little 4x4 crossover wagon that gets 27 MPG and- lookie there- it also costs $12,000 less.
Thanks. Thanks a lot.
Now I get to make a choice that I dread. When I buy our next vehicle, do I break down and buy the Ford, Chevy, or Nissan version of the behemouth 4x4 that has room for my entire family, but is the most impractical vehicle in the world for everyday driving and will literally take every last penny of my discretional money to fuel. Or, do I get a smaller, less expensive, better MPG, all around better to drive vehicle that will always leave one person at home or in another vehicle because it only has seatbelts for 5 dang people!
Anyway. My thoughts on the matter. For now I'll just drive the mini-van and be stuck in the mud every time it rains, because- let's face it- I don't have the cash for a new car anyway. But someday I will, and hopefully by then one of my kids can drive and I will make them buy their own car and I can drive whatever I want.
