It has been a long, exhaustive researching time settling on the best vehicle for the expansion of the Behner Family in November. The inevitable was in our face from the learning experience we gained with the birth of Louisa. What you thought you could prepare for and what everyone did and did not tell you, was certainly a rude awakening. But what an amazing time it has been for the past 2yrs and 5 months. We have learned so much, as parents, especially from this amazing creature that is a mixture of both Katie & I. The list could go on-and-on, but back to the vehicle search.
Yes, a mini-van. It's like an old VW camper in its practicality and simplicity. Having put Louisa's car seat in probably 20+ vehicles (too lazy to count all the travel trip rental cars) the only vehicle we found that worked perfect was a mini-van trip to Baton Rouge Louisa the Fall of 2007. It was great, when it was raining you just open the door and jump inside. None of this standing outside trying to untwist car seat straps while you're doing a crazy yoga move.
I grew up, well what I remember when I was I was 9, was my parents 1985 conversion van. I still remember the long drawn out trips to the dealer and waiting for all the paperwork. Yes, things haven't changed much in 25 years!!! We took one of our few date nights to go test drive our first Sienna, which we narrowed down in the limited "luxury" mini-van classes of the only other option an Odyssey. But the ground clearance is only 4.6" compared to the Sienna's 6.8" for our dirt, pot-holed at times, 3/4 mile road and snow-filled winters. AWD was key, even with the downside we're told of run-flats. So surpisingly we test drove the vehicle in Epping and purchased the same vehicle from Grappone Concord through a Burlington Vermont dealer, which is kind of weird. We took advantage of Uncle Sam's cash for clunkers and got ride of the '96 Grand Cherokee my parents put 108k miles on and we said goodbye to at 209k miles. She was an amazing vehicle and survived only one major overhaul with a new engine. But she was getting tired, especially after Toyota bought back my 2000 Tacoma Truck last summer for a frame recall. I knew the cash-for-clunker and the poor economy would bring some deal back, so we waited patiently and I survived daily hopeful turns of the key every morning to/from work.
So back to my parents conversion van, yes that was the bomb on trips. I remember my 3 year old sister at the time who is Louisa's age now, using the white potty chair as my dad mad the 24hour twice a year to Florida and Hilton Head, South Carolina. The middle captains chairs and my first Sony Walkman jamming to my Slippery When Wet cassette album (Bon Jovi for those who can't place the album). I remember vividly getting that tape for Easter from my Aunt Peggy and the Weird Al Yankovich "I'm Fat" song on another cassette while eating Pizza Rolls (homemade by mom with pepperoni), drinking cokes and stopping at Cracker Barrells near cheap gas stations for dinner.
So on to another generation of Behner adventures, where will this new "transporter" (VW coined it perfectly) take us for our first trip? Ohio maybe, 1400 miles roundtrip? Somewhere closer? Someplace warm in the fall/winter? Someplace cool this summer? Will Louisa have her first fond memories of traveling safely and with plenty of room to move around? With mom or dad in the back seat playing games and watching DVDs of Barney? Certainly not comfortable in the tiny Liberty, so the Sienna was a much needed upgrade.
Thanks to everyone, great salesman Sonny at Grappone, Laura for babysitting, Louise for driving Katie to dealership, babe for being supportive through exhaustive discussions about clunker deals and dealer rebates and options, my dad for endless email strings about features/safety, for Kate's cousin Crystal dissing the SUVs and saying how essential their Sienna has been and of course for Toyota for thinking of us parents in building a practical vehicle.
To many future Behner Family adventures together!!! - Scotty B
