Unless you are a parent, you probably do not have minivan envy. Because I had minivan envy. I had it really bad. Like an envy that would keep me up all night thinking about eight cup holders and under-floor storage kind of bad. So bad that I used to pretend that my SUV had the kind of doors that would slide open and close and open and close again with the slight touch of a button. You know, the kind of doors that kids didn’t let fly open into the car next to you at Target and you feel so responsible that you have to leave little notes on all of those cars with your contact information from the kid-induced door-dings. Those are like the calling cards of the moms.
I wanted a minivan so badly that when I finally got a minivan, I wrote a song about it. I really, really horrible song. But still a song.
And pretty much for the last year I’ve been happy. I have seating for eight, doors that slide open and close and open and close, more storage than I know what to do with, and of course eight or more cup holders. Oh yes, I have my minivan so I can go…
It’s a dream come true really.
But then. THEN. This vixen in red came along and set my world on fire. I had no idea things could be this amazing. Things I had never ever even dreamed about…things like DVD players, and wireless headsets, and underfloor storage, and GPS, and a V6 baby! Oh, did she have power under her hood. I had no idea.
But the clincher. The clinchers…were the heated seats and heated steering wheel. Now you may not live in the North Country, but for those of us who do – this was a dream come true. It was below zero the week that my red vixen was here and my butt has never been warmer or happier. But I’m just going to say that the heated seats were not my number one perk – it was the heated steering wheel.
Here’s why….
It gets so cold here that you really need mittens to have warm hands. Gloves are worthless. But bulky mittens are not safe for driving. So typically I do this fun little activity when I drive called ‘sitting on one hand.’ Do you do this? Basically, until your car really warms up(which takes forever in the cold), you can barely keep your un-mittened hands on the wheel..so I take turns driving with one hand while warming the other one up under my butt. Yeah, weird, I know. But practical in a strange way.
BUT OH MY WORD – a heated steering wheel basically changed my life and my safe driving practices forever.
Until I had to give her back.
I had to give her back.
I had a full seven days of a warm bottom, warm hands, safe driving, brilliant maneuvering in the snow, GPS so Jed would never get lost again, and a full entertainment system for the kids. Seriously. My kids were begging me to keep her forever.
But we could not. And she drove out of our lives just like she came – on a big truck from Detroit. And if you think I’m lying when I say a few of us shed a few tears, well I’m not.
And my fingers are cold again.
Which is why I should never be spoiled.
********
I was given a Dodge Grand Caravan to test-drive with my family for a week. This red vixen Dodge Caravan is truly the ultimate family vehicle and America’s best selling minivan…and now I know why. It has the industry’s most versatile passenger and cargo options with exclusive one-touch Super Stow ‘n Go seats, and rocking Blu-Ray player with amazing resolution and ports and plugs and everything for a true multimedia experience on the road. Which in mom speak is “everybody is happy!” I loved how well the Caravan handled the ice and snow that we received everyday that week, and of course my hands were warm. For safety, the blind spot monitoring and park assist were angels in my outfield.
If you are in the market for a minivan, I insist you check-out the Dodge Caravan – it’s the industry standard and proves that you don’t have to give up a spirited driving experience just because you have a family.
I am like Ms. Minivan. I need a sash. Truly. I am in love.
Disclosure: I was provided a vehicle to review and spending money from Dodge, but all words and opinions and happy hands are all mine.
We are looking at cars right now and one of the options was heated steering wheels. But, we live in South Florida, So… Thanks for the insight on why this would be such a selling point!
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FUN!
That first pic you posted I thought that little red vixen was tiny – but lookit all you ladies in there! With room for more!
Great car!
And yes! Heated seats AND heated steering wheel?
Sign me up!
i know i probably shouldn’t even have one since i’m in virginia, but boy do i love my butt warmer!
anna see recently posted..Valentine’s Gratitude Box Round-up
I’m so happy your had a warm butt, warm hands and safe driving on those scary icy/ snowy roads.
Also, red is so your color.
(Dodge, give Tracy back the vixen!)
Alison recently posted..Dear Future Friend
I am still envious. I suspect I’ll be envious for quite a long while. But yes, I agree (and we’re rarely under 25 degrees) the steering wheel warmth is so much more necessary (we had it on our Touareg but it worked only when it wanted to. It most often didn’t want to.) And yes, too, to the one handed driving (hell, I do that on days when it’s 40).
Arnebya recently posted..Sometimes
Um, my competitor van has all that jazz. Well, except for the steering wheel warmer thingy. But then I Do NOT need that here… lol
Glad you liked it and you look HAWT driving it, mah lady!
Elaine recently posted..Guitars and Stripes and Birdies, Oh My!
As a Canadian, I must say that a heated steering wheel sounds absolutely lovely. The heated seats would be nice, too.
Kim@Co-Pilot Mom recently posted..Ode to Joy – 10 Small Things That Make Me Happy
I hear ya. We had the VW version – which is actually made by Chrysler and dressed by VW – we named him Darth Vader. Sliding doors, remote tailgate, leather, dual DVD players and screens, Heated Seats. It was heaven. I did love him very much and the day we traded him away for an albeit kick tushie sedan, I did feel guilt. I did she’d a tear. We’ve only got two kids, and being far past the baby stage, it was just more space than was practical for us.
But I still dream about him and our 3200 mile trip from Ky to Wa. You don’t forget a journey like when your kids are watching DVDs and you’ve got nothing to do but drive…
I have wanted a minivan for so long, I lust after them, I want all that space, all those little things. I know that if I was given one for a week, chances are that I’d be in a COLD jail, trying to keep it. LOL
that minivan sounded like the SPA of vehicles, all the plush…all the stuff.
I’m sorry she had to go back to the LOT. That stinks.
but you looked sooo good in that minivan.
I’m a grand caravan driver….love my baby…Eric bought it for me for our anniversary last last year…my very first new new car…
no need for a warm steering wheel though, but she does keep me nice and cool, and looking supa fly
Not a Perfect Mom recently posted..No, I Am Not Dead
Man they should totally give you that car after teasing you like that.
Lady Jennie recently posted..Life in the Trenches – Chapter 7
I had a brand new minivan while mine was in the shop. Soooo hard to give back. Did yours have the back up camera?!
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