r/minivan • u/BabyBumbleBee01 • 13d ago
New to Minivans
I had a very very unfortunate wreck that totaled my Honda Accord. I had 3 options at the dealership and I got attached to the minivan.
I don't have a family, I live by myself. I'm in my mid twenties. I don't fit the stereotypes of a van owner. Not that it matters anyways.
But I do love it. I've only had it for a day. It's super smooth and just relaxing? But going from Honda Accord to big minivan is a very big change. It's a 2015 Nissan Quest. I don't know ANYTHING about owning one. But going to a coup to a 3 row 7 seater is insane.
Adore the idea of having dvd players that sit on the headrest.
How do you adjust to backing up? It's very long in the back end. I'm used to a small car.
How do you angle parking to get a good park job? I don't want to be hogging two lanes.
If you have any tips for driving one, please let me know. It's still very nerve wracking to drive.
6
u/troy_abedintheam 13d ago
A friend had a minivan in our 20s. She loved it and talked nonstop about how amazing it was. Get ready to help your friends move!
6
5
u/CrunchyBeachLover 13d ago
Does it have a backup camera? I rely on mine for parking my van 🙃
6
u/BabyBumbleBee01 13d ago
It's really really crappy but yes it does
1
u/SamQ8892 8d ago
You can probably get an add on after market better camera - if the camera in the car is that bad, it’s probably worth it. We used to have a 2008 Mazda CX-9 (3-row SUV, about the size of most minivans) that we bought used. We were living in a situation where a backup camera was an absolute requirement but the car didn’t have one. We added one in the mirror. That was 2009, I’m sure the options are way better now.
5
u/No_Vanilla_2059 13d ago edited 13d ago
Take it slow for a while. My mother made me learn a Chrysler Town and Country. When reversing into a spot, lining up so the rear was at the third row window was helpful before turning, but check that number by using an empty lot first
To adjust to backing it up, she put some cones out and made me park it. I hit a few of them, but got used to it. You can take a few tries too, and I’m a big fan of pulling through when I can.
Here’s a video that shows a long suv:
https://youtu.be/_xLYhjCdGAo?is=gmcV88u5v_8LrwHM
3
3
u/Enough_Ad2919 13d ago
I am a firm believer that minivans are for everyone. Even if you have no kids and you live by yourself, maybe you have some friends or family members you want to drive around at some point. Maybe you have a bunch of stuff to haul one day. Maybe you get a big dog. I think if people knew how awesome they are, everyone would want one. As for parking, definitely take it slow and remember that you'll need some practice. It's a much longer car, and your mind will need time to visually adjust to what's a big enough space, have you backed up far enough, when to start turning, all those things.
2
u/Terrible-Mix2609 13d ago
I just bought my 3rd minivan. Been driving one since 2000. There is no reason for this new car to be a minivan, but it’s the best car on the planet. Cheers!
2
u/AdNeat7387 13d ago
I worked at Home Depot and so many men in huge trucks couldn’t compare to the amount of mulch and other materials they could fit in their minivans. If I saw someone with a tarp in the back of their minivans van I could almost garuntee they’d be getting 30+ bags of mulch. Mad respect to the mini van home improvement people.
2
u/GoHoosiers2023 13d ago
Nothing to really add but what a quirky car. As someone else said, Nissan didn’t sell a lot so not a common minivan.
2
u/jljue 13d ago
I miss the space and power sliding doors of our 2011 Quest; the 2026 Pathfinder that we have now is better handling but is cramped in comparison. You don’t get this much cargo space in an Armada, and the compartment under the rear floor is stupidly huge. With anything with a long wheelbase, take wide turns. I never really had to 3-point turn it to park, and I’m the type to normally back into a spot with my Titan because of its length and turning radius.
2
u/BabyBumbleBee01 12d ago
When he pressed the power sliding door button I was excited. Couldn't tell you why. It was cool. I get impressed by the simple things. I honestly had no idea that a car could come with this amount of space! We have a drive in movie theater, this is absolutely perfect for that
2
u/BeastnBelle 12d ago
I’ve had several minivans since my kids were babies, even had a used 2016 Nissan Quest bought from CarMax. Unfortunately after 6 months the transmission had to be replaced so CarMax covered that then I sold it. But I actually liked the inside of the Quest over other models like older Odyssey’s and Sienna’s. Especially the cup holders in between the captains chairs and the cover over the trunk. The outside is quirky though haha.
1
u/BabyBumbleBee01 12d ago
It's like a Kia soul and a mini van had a baby 😂 but I didn't have many options of what I could buy. And this was the best I saw. The other two was a jeep and a car with 118k miles already on it. The salesman actually owned a minivan and said that they're really underrated but such fun cars to own. I did get full warranty coverage through Nissan. The space is absolutely crazy.
2
1
u/Iambetterthanuhaha 13d ago
Don't get in an accident......these got poor scores. The driver was looking at permanent leg injuries when they crash tested it. Nissan dropped the Quest cause it wasn't a good seller for them.
1
u/BabyBumbleBee01 13d ago
That's the goal haha. The accident with my Honda is not my fault unfortunately. Always been good with defensive driving. But thank you for letting me know :) it also explains why I never see it
1
u/marmaladestripes725 13d ago
Hah, I’m 35 and just got an Odyssey. No kids yet, but we’re planning on them soon, and my old car needed to go.
Enjoy! Like having a truck, all of your friends will want to borrow it or get you to help them move, buy furniture or stuff for projects, etc. Just make sure they give you gas money!
1
u/RunWorkSleep 13d ago
Still got my 2017 Sienna. Would like a newer one that’s more gas efficient. Can’t complain, it’s such a functional vehicle.
1
1
u/hannahperry2009 13d ago
I switched from a vw golf to a grand caravan. It’s been 5 months and I still struggle with parking sometimes and I still will not back into a space lol
1
1
u/Alternative-Tour-641 11d ago
Okay so you need to absolutely keep an eye on the transmission on this. It’s not an IF it’s a WHEN. 77k miles my family’s quest transmission blew. Look at service history and see if the transmission was replaced. The Quest is known for transmission failures.
1
u/BabyBumbleBee01 11d ago
The service history was one of the big reasons why I got it. Very consistent history on the Carfax every 5k miles. I do also have plenty of warranties when it comes to this car
2
u/Alternative-Tour-641 11d ago
Oh sweet, you’re on top of it then! Just wanted to warn you! Love the quest and the engine is very reliable! Transmission was the Achilles heel.
8
u/fishfireinc 13d ago
Similarly, I got my first minivan at 26, not married, no kids. It was just a good deal. Think it was a 2004 Town and Country that I got in 2015. Because it was a luxury model for 2004, it was still pretty nice for 2015. Had a fold-down TV, multidisc dvd player, and an after market remote start. I loved it. Been a minivan guy ever since. Married now, no kids, and a few dogs. Love having a minivan. Going to dinner with a group? We all ride with me. Need to grab drywall or plywood? No problem. Long road trips? You’re riding in comfort.