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cars - sliding door v. regular door



 
 
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  #1  
Old January 7th 09, 06:48 AM posted to misc.kids
Anne Rogers
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Posts: 1,497
Default cars - sliding door v. regular door

We're still trying to decide between a minivan and a midsize SUV
(something like a Honda Pilot). One of the main differences that I think
would effect us is the sliding doors of a minivan, or regular doors in
an SUV - the automatic opening is great, but not fundamental, my bigger
concern is ease of holding a door open and juggling kids in a
potentially tight car park, which is something I really don't have to
deal with right now, I haven't looked at the exact measurements but our
current car is very narrow and I think the doors are shorter than in an
SUV so they don't open out as far, but even so, I do find I have to hold
the door open reasonably often, I really wish they had a locking
position midway sometimes! There are a couple of places we go with tight
spaces and on a slope, add in a wind and suddenly you're doing
everything one handed to avoid damaging the next car! That is totally
doable with the kids the age mine are, but if memory serves correctly,
rather more frustrating with a baby!

Originally I was just thinking minivan, but we just had lots of bad
weather and were renting a minivan and it wasn't good! We've also had
lots of people raving at us about certain SUVs, including that they are
a lot more comfortable than minivans - to be honest, I'm not convinced
on that one, we've hired both in the past couple of years and they have
all been pretty good both to drive and to ride in!

Cheers
Anne
  #2  
Old January 7th 09, 07:29 AM posted to misc.kids
toypup[_2_]
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Posts: 222
Default cars - sliding door v. regular door



"Anne Rogers" wrote in message
...
Originally I was just thinking minivan, but we just had lots of bad
weather and were renting a minivan and it wasn't good! We've also had lots
of people raving at us about certain SUVs, including that they are a lot
more comfortable than minivans - to be honest, I'm not convinced on that
one, we've hired both in the past couple of years and they have all been
pretty good both to drive and to ride in!


I'm a fan of the minivan. I find them more comfortable than the SUV, and
the sliding door is a plus. My MIL didn't realize what a great thing a
sliding door was, being that she had an SUV, up until we got into a tight
space and she was able to get out easily. I think kids handle sliding doors
better (especially if they are automatic), and they can get in the minivans
more easily because minivans sit lower to the ground.

  #3  
Old January 7th 09, 07:51 AM posted to misc.kids
Kat
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 177
Default cars - sliding door v. regular door


"Anne Rogers" wrote in message
...
We're still trying to decide between a minivan and a midsize SUV
(something like a Honda Pilot). One of the main differences that I think
would effect us is the sliding doors of a minivan, or regular doors in an
SUV - the automatic opening is great, but not fundamental, my bigger
concern is ease of holding a door open and juggling kids in a potentially
tight car park, which is something I really don't have to deal with right
now, I haven't looked at the exact measurements but our current car is
very narrow and I think the doors are shorter than in an SUV so they don't
open out as far, but even so, I do find I have to hold the door open
reasonably often, I really wish they had a locking position midway
sometimes! There are a couple of places we go with tight spaces and on a
slope, add in a wind and suddenly you're doing everything one handed to
avoid damaging the next car! That is totally doable with the kids the age
mine are, but if memory serves correctly, rather more frustrating with a
baby!


I have a mini van - it's a Dodge Caravan and it does have the dual sliding
doors (which I feel are an absolute must for me to have the dual doors
compared to just the one sliding door!)
The one thing that you mentioned is the doors in something like an SUV.
I've never had an issue with keeping doors open, but yes, the wind thing or
similar and the fear of smashing someone's car beside you. One bonus with
the sliding doors in a van is the car seat thing. My door open for my van
needs only a couple of inches... I'd guess definitely not more than 3". The
great thing about that and the baby in a car seat is if you want to remove
the car seat from the van, the door is fully opened, and opened very wide,
and is a snap to pull a car seat out, even in somewhat tight places.
There's no worry about the door not opening wide enough, or balancing a baby
seat and a door, to get the seat out, if that makes any sense?
Both of my girls (they're 2 and 3) can get in and out of the van with no
problem and can even get into their seats. I have the car seats built right
in to the middle row, but I have been using the regular car seats lately as
them falling asleep in the van's car seats means they sit more upright and
flop over and with big, bulky winter jackets, I'm not as comfortable with
the way the built-in seats tighten up... The regular car seats seem to have
more control over how tight I can make the harness, even with big winter
jackets. DS is just about 8 and can climb in the back row with no problem
and deal with his own seat and belt, plus there's still extra seats for an
infant car seat soon enough.

Originally I was just thinking minivan, but we just had lots of bad
weather and were renting a minivan and it wasn't good! We've also had lots
of people raving at us about certain SUVs, including that they are a lot
more comfortable than minivans - to be honest, I'm not convinced on that
one, we've hired both in the past couple of years and they have all been
pretty good both to drive and to ride in!


I'm not a fan of the SUVs. I find they're not as comfortable as a mini van.
I also find there's a fair bit more leg room in a mini van than your average
mid-sized SUV. They also seem to be a little narrower than a mini van, but
higher up to get in, in comparison.
If given an unlimited amount of cash for a new vehicle, my second choice
would be a mini van (and that would most likely be either the Dodge Caravan
or Mazda's MPV), even though my first choice would definitely be a sporty
little 2-seater with NO back seat for the kids and no trunk space for
strollers, leather interior and I'm sure I'd make it a convertible lol

Cheers
Anne



  #4  
Old January 7th 09, 12:45 PM posted to misc.kids
Beth Kevles
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Posts: 269
Default cars - sliding door v. regular door

Hi --

We have a minivan with two sliding doors and are happy with it. The big
disadvantage is that the windows don't open on the sliding doors. Now,
our van is 10 years old, so that might not be an issue these days. (The
other issue is that the mpg is really lousy, but that will be the same
in an SUV.)

--Beth Kevles
-THE-COM-HERE
http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic
Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical
advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner.

NOTE: No email is read at my MIT address. Use the GMAIL one if you would
like me to reply.
  #5  
Old January 7th 09, 03:47 PM posted to misc.kids
Nikki
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Posts: 486
Default cars - sliding door v. regular door

Anne Rogers wrote:
We're still trying to decide between a minivan and a midsize SUV
(something like a Honda Pilot). One of the main differences that I think
would effect us is the sliding doors of a minivan, or regular doors in
an SUV


First off - the people I know with a Honda Pilot rave about them. Their
kids are older.

I'd love love love the sliding door feature. The wind that you mention
is an issue here too. The tight parking is an issue. The kids old
enough to do the door themselves but to young to really take care of the
car next to it is an issue. I'd also love the wider door opening
offered by a minivan.

I do not have a minivan - only dreaming, lol. I have a car and dh has an
old SUV. The SUV is easy enough to get the kids in and out of. I hate
driving it in bad weather because it does not have front wheel drive but
4 wheel drive. I don't even know how to use four wheel drive. If it
is that bad I just stay home I much prefer my front wheel drive. I
don't know if minivans are front wheel drive or not but they do make
some that are 4 wheel drive.

--

Nikki
  #6  
Old January 7th 09, 07:16 PM posted to misc.kids
Kat
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 177
Default cars - sliding door v. regular door


"Nikki" wrote in message ...
Anne Rogers wrote:
We're still trying to decide between a minivan and a midsize SUV
(something like a Honda Pilot). One of the main differences that I think
would effect us is the sliding doors of a minivan, or regular doors in an
SUV


First off - the people I know with a Honda Pilot rave about them. Their
kids are older.

I'd love love love the sliding door feature. The wind that you mention is
an issue here too. The tight parking is an issue. The kids old enough to
do the door themselves but to young to really take care of the car next to
it is an issue. I'd also love the wider door opening offered by a
minivan.

I do not have a minivan - only dreaming, lol. I have a car and dh has an
old SUV. The SUV is easy enough to get the kids in and out of. I hate
driving it in bad weather because it does not have front wheel drive but 4
wheel drive. I don't even know how to use four wheel drive. If it is
that bad I just stay home I much prefer my front wheel drive. I don't
know if minivans are front wheel drive or not but they do make some that
are 4 wheel drive.


I believe many come FWD, RWD and even AWD. I think it depends. Vehicles
seem custom made now based on what a person wants/needs!


  #7  
Old January 8th 09, 12:58 AM posted to misc.kids
dejablues[_3_]
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Posts: 16
Default cars - sliding door v. regular door


"Nikki" wrote in message ...
Anne Rogers wrote:
We're still trying to decide between a minivan and a midsize SUV
(something like a Honda Pilot). One of the main differences that I think
would effect us is the sliding doors of a minivan, or regular doors in an
SUV


First off - the people I know with a Honda Pilot rave about them. Their
kids are older.

I'd love love love the sliding door feature. The wind that you mention is
an issue here too. The tight parking is an issue. The kids old enough to
do the door themselves but to young to really take care of the car next to
it is an issue. I'd also love the wider door opening offered by a
minivan.

I do not have a minivan - only dreaming, lol. I have a car and dh has an
old SUV. The SUV is easy enough to get the kids in and out of. I hate
driving it in bad weather because it does not have front wheel drive but 4
wheel drive. I don't even know how to use four wheel drive. If it is
that bad I just stay home I much prefer my front wheel drive. I don't
know if minivans are front wheel drive or not but they do make some that
are 4 wheel drive.


Minivans are either front-wheel drive or full-time AWD, which isn't the same
as 4-wheel drive. AWD decreases mpg significantly.
Hardly any cars are rear-wheel drive anymore, mostly imported sports cars or
muscle-type cars.


 




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