The Down Side to Being a Parent

If you've read my blog for any period of time you know that I LOVE my car (Volkswagen CC).  Probably, an un-Godly amount actually.  It was the only car I've had out of 4 that wasn't a hand me down and I actually got to pick it out.

So, the other night we were on our way to our last baby class and our "homework" was to install our car seat (which we did) and the entire time we were driving to the class it just didn't feel right having the car seat in that car.

My car has only two seats in the back and a center console.  Also, the seats are contoured to fit around your body.  I think it's to make it look "sporty" I guess...anyways, the car seat just didn't fit very well (although it did fit and was secure, because of the anchors in the car, but it just wasn't "great").  I also had to scoot the passenger seat way up so that the car seat would actually fit.

Don't get me wrong...it would work but I just didn't feel 100% about it.

So, we bit the bullet and made the decision it was time to get a family car (ugh...I really hate strongly dislike the sound of that).  My husband drives an old Jeep so that's not really "family" friendly and he's actually looking into trading that in to get another "project" car that can also be his daily driver as he says...we'll see about that.

Here are some personal facts:

I don't think that just because you're having a baby you need an SUV.  I think that is quite ridiculous actually BUT we thought it would be a bit silly to trade in one car for another.  If we were actually going to get another vehicle we figured it might as well last us awhile this time around so we're trading up if you will...whether I like it or not.  For me, this is honestly all about vanity.

When we look for cars I take into account looks and gas mileage.  For me, looks knocks A LOT of SUV's off my list.  Honestly, there just aren't a ton out there I even like much less love.  Then, when you factor in gas mileage there are even less.  My car currently only takes premium ($$$) but it does get very good mileage.

Then comes my third row hatred.  I know if we were to get a third row SUV I would most likely never ride back there but to any of you who have ridden in the third row...it's uncomfortable, right???  Jonathan and I being the youngest in our families often get shoved into third rows and I always end up cramped and car sick (unless it's an expedition...their third row is the same level as the second row).  So, no third row for us.

So with all that being said here is the list we narrowed it down to based only on style and what we ended up test driving:  Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Commander, Mazda CX-7, and the Nissan Juke.  Yes my friends, those are the only SUV's I like.  Well, I like the Volvo and Audi as well but we don't want our car payment to go up so those never even made it to our real list.  I'm not about to make a whole new budget after I spent hours on the other ones.

Right off the bat the hubs knocked off both Jeeps because they don't get good MPG.  Plus, the Commander has a third row but I thought I could get over it since I thought they were cute.  Yeah, I was wrong.  It's like the worst third row ever.

The Nissan Juke, while I thought it was cute on TV it was teeny tiny.  As in, smaller than my car.  Plus, in person was way funnier looking than I thought it would be.  Kind of looks like a frog in person...not so much my thing.

(Sorry if anyone drives the cars I marked off of my list.  Nothing personal.  Just my opinion.)

So, that leaves us with the CX-7.  When I bought my car these were actually the two choices I had come up with then so I've liked them for awhile now.  Hubs approves because it has good MPG (good for family road trips) and his college car was a Mazda 3 and it ran really well so we know they are a good car company.

All of that being said, there may have been some tears on the way to trade in my car.  Ok, I'll be honest I totally bawled TWICE.  Once, when we were looking around the parking lot at the dealership and a second time when we drove away in the new car.  I'm so vain...I know, but I LOOOOOOOOOOOVED my Volkswagen CC.  It was just so pretty!  I would have driven it forever had it been more family friendly (towards babies that is.)

So, here it what we drive now.  I think it's pretty too...and there actually isn't another SUV I would rather drive.

I kind of think it looks like the SUV version of my older car (I tend to go for sleek over boxy) and I really do like it BUT it's a mom car.  I totally drive a mom car now and that makes me cringe.  I don't mean to be rude, since I've totally joined the club now, but for me it's just a bit odd.  Today Jonathan and I went to take the recycling, and the car seat is already in the back, and I just looked at him and said, "we are totally those people now..."

Good bye fun car!  I loved you for the year I got to drive you.