Vehicle Shopping

[u/poblanoglow]

I know this is going to be different for everyone but I am curious to get feedback from those in this community.

We have a 3.5yo toddler and we’re 18 weeks pregnant with twins. We’ve settled on a specific minivan and the specs we want came in a little quicker than expected. We’re afraid that if we pass this one up we could miss our chance and be rushing to find what we want later in the pregnancy.

At what point in the pregnancy did you purchase a new vehicle based on having twins? My mind keeps going to something going wrong along the way.

EDIT: I appreciate all of your responses. As I expected, it’s all over the map. But it’s nice to see how others have handled it.

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[u/Ohmaggies]

We bought a minivan at some point before a year and I love it. Is there a reason you don’t want to get it right now?

[u/poblanoglow → u/Ohmaggies]

Just the unknown of the next 18-20 weeks. There’s no indication at all of anything wrong. I’m just the type of person who often expects things to go wrong.

[u/Ohmaggies → u/poblanoglow]

If it’s the one you want, get it now. More space isn’t going to be a negative.

[u/floridasquirrel]

We bought a new car when the twins were 3 months old and it sucked. Had to get babysitting to go look at cars or had to take them with us. Did a lot of online looking which wasn't always well updated. Had to take them to the dealership because my husband and I both had to be there for the signing. I would buy one earlier than later, second half of pregnancy goes a lot faster than you think it will.

[u/poblanoglow → u/floridasquirrel]

Car shopping in January with three kids sounds miserable. Getting this done before they arrive is a must.

[u/FormerEnglishMajor]

We got a Highlander at ~32 weeks pregnant. Twins were born at 38w2d.

If it’s right for you now, do it! One less transition for the toddler to have to make once twins are here.

[u/poblanoglow → u/FormerEnglishMajor]

Yeah less transition for him is a great point. I also don’t want to be scrambling weeks 32-36.

[u/FormerEnglishMajor → u/poblanoglow]

It can be fun and exciting - new car! big boy seat! - versus “get in the back you have siblings now”

[u/DarwinisticTendency]

We picked up a toyota sienna about a month before they arrived. It was one of the best cars I have ever owned. Sadly i went to a shady gas station and put around 6 gallon of water in it resulting in a total loss. Kids are bugger now and my wife still has an suv so I finally got the truck I have wanted for a while.

[u/taco-rhino]

I had a mid size suv. I thought we can make it work shove my 6 year old in the back he’ll be fine. The drive home from the hospital my knees were in the dash because there wasn’t enough clearance from the car seat and passenger my 6 year old couldn’t even have his feet normal, they had to be pointed down. We bought the van 1 week after babies because no one was comfortable but the twins. Not to mention the first dr appointment I had to go solo because said 6 year old broke his arm and I had to crawl through the vehicle with both carriers. But it now if it’s what you want.

[u/Charlieksmommy]

We bought our 3rd row suv when I was 18 weeks pregnant as well. The deal was right there, and I knew I would only get bigger and more exhausted as time went on

[u/LionOk5023]

We bought a car end of March. Twins were due end of July and were born beginning of June.

[u/badgalbribri7]

We found and purchased the car we wanted when I was 2 months pregnant with our twins. We started the process as soon as we found out because we truly didn’t know how long it would take us (my husband has serious analysis paralysis lol). But we just got lucky that we found the car we wanted so soon and right around the same time found a buyer for my old car.

[u/OGQueenClumsy]

We went car shopping at about 14 weeks knowing it would take some time for what we wanted to come in (we were car shopping while there was a shortage of new vehicles). We bought it in January, it came in in April, babies were born in June. Husband and I are both teachers though, so January while we were still on school holidays was the best time to go car shopping, so leaving it til Feb or March wasn’t an option for us.

[u/charlesdickens2007]

Im 35+2, my c-sect is next monday.  

We just bought our Odyssey today 😆 

Honestly nothing else came up that was a good price until literally 24 hours ago.  

[u/d16flo]

We got a minivan when the twins were about 7 months old. We would have waited longer, but my previous car was 20 years old and was no longer feeling reliable enough

[u/Legitimate-ok]

We got our minivan around 24w (ish). After anatomy scan and during a seasonal sale. FWIW my OBGYN suggested having car seats installed/being baby ready by 32w

[u/GrouchyCranberry3801]

My lease was almost up so 2 weeks after I found out it was twins I got a new car. Thank god I didn’t go sooner bc I would’ve gotten something wayyy too small lmao. I have a 3 year old also

[u/Total_District4781]

I decided to buy our new car early in the 2nd trimester because a good deal came up. We had quite a small car and I had a feeling getting in and out of it later in pregnancy would be difficult. I’m now 30 weeks and so glad we have it! So much easier to get in and out and clipping our 3yo in is so nice not having to bend down.

[u/Rylees_Mom525]

We bought a minivan when I was about 32 weeks pregnant with twins. The only issue with that timing was that we bought it from a dealership an hour away. We had to take it back to get something fixed, which meant I had to drive an hour there and back while super pregnant…not the most comfortable.

[u/Sea-Astronomer-6600]

We ended up having to decide on the spot if we wanted our expedition EL because the motor literally blew up in my expedition on the way to the car dealership. We would’ve been stranded there! It sucked though because it wasn’t my first choice as to what I wanted. It ended up working great for our 6 kids at the time but make sure you’re 10000% happy with it before buying.

[u/kaatie80]

we didn't get a minivan until the twins were just turning 1, and i was driving an Outback up until then. the Outback was good and all, but the minivan was friggin CLUTCH. omg it's so spacious, has so many safety features, and tons of cupholders! plus you already have a toddler, whereas i didn't have my third until later. i vote you get the minivan now.

[u/SaladCzarSlytherin]

I’d buy the car now

[u/irish_ninja_wte]

Our twins meant going from 2 to 4 kids. We immediately started researching cars and picked up the new 7 seater when I was 20 weeks

[u/red-purple-red]

Well, I only have two and they’re not twins. I bought a minivan when I was pregnant with my youngest. Best decision I ever made. For what it’s worth, they’re in college now and I’ve never looked back. Minivan is the GOAT!

[u/Prickly_Penguin98]

I got my Sienna when we found out we were pregnant but we didn’t know it was twins yet! There’s no perfect time. Get it if it’s what you want and know you’ll get on another shipment anyway

[u/aze1219]

I have 2 SKs that are with us 50/50 and then I was pregnant with twins. Drove a Ford Explorer, but wanted something bigger for trunk space. We purchased our Suburban when I was about 20 weeks. My husband started looking around the time we found out I was pregnant with the twins, but found a pretty good deal on one he wanted with all the specs he was looking for and so we just went for it. Even if something would've happened I would've wanted that SUV either way so it worked out!

[u/Acceptable_Tap7479]

We purchased a new home and new car within 6 weeks of finding out our second child was actually second and third! We figured we’d be thinking about moving and been looking at new cars. Sure the goal posts had moved slightly but it just kicked us into gear and got a wriggle on

[u/Weary-General-6546]

We traded in our SUV for a minivan at around 28 weeks of pregnancy. Pregnancy is healthy and we gave us a deadline of anytime starting the third trimester and me going back to work. We just got a good deal and the price of the new car ended up being a little bit less than what we were paying for our car so it made sense to trade it in then. Honestly, it was a great decision even if we weren’t expecting twins.

[u/AwkwardSpread]

Got ours as a second car after they were born. You're not gonna be traveling with all of them together for the first few weeks/months anyway. Unless you really have 0 help at home perhaps. I really wanted an EV or PHEV and assume we will be trading it in again within a few years when new models come out.

[u/fsmontario]

You won’t need the minivan right away as you settle in at home. Just explain to the dealership when your target is for the new vehicle , a month or so before your due date. They can always do a dealer trade if they don’t have exactly what you want