Minivans are truly coming into their own as the ultimate family vehicle. Far from being a boxy “mom-mobile,” minivans are one of the best-equipped vehicles for busy families. There is almost no family situation for which a minivan is not an asset. But, although practical, many people just do not view the minivan as a “cool” vehicle.
But, don’t worry. You can be one of the “cool moms” and still drive a minivan. The trick is to simply find ways to bring a bit more “coolness factor” to the minivan life. Before you know it, all your friends will be coveting your “minivan mom life” and will be out shopping for their own cool set of minivan wheels.
There are plenty of ways to make a practical minivan cool. Choose an awesome color such as blue or red, instead of the plain black or gray shades. Accessorize your ride to match its color and add a few cool window decals.
Stock your minivan with fun in mind. Nothing is cooler than a vehicle ready for an adventure. Make sure your tunes and movies are always ready to roll. Stock a tote with some non-perishable snacks and keep a cooler handy for cold drinks to-go.
Keep your minivan clean, shiny and well-detailed. Form a “cool mom’s club” with your fellow mom minivan owners. But most of all, just enjoy the fact that you are confident and self-assured enough to be super cool in your minivan ride.
Top 10 Ways to Make Your Minivan Cool
1.Deck it Out as the Ultimate Party Bus
Just because you shuttle your kids around in your minivan all day long does not mean it can’t double as the ultimate “girls’ night out” party bus at night. The average minivan has a comfortable seating room for all your girlfriends and then some. They generally seat up to seven or eight people, so you won’t have to whittle down your girlfriend guest list.
If you are planning a night out with the girls, safety should be at the top of your list. “Designated driver” is the way to go. One person drives, the rest can ride, and all can have a great night out on the town.
Of course, while the girl express van is tooling down the highway, you will want to make sure not to violate any open container laws. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still equip your party van for some fun. Stock up on some snacks, bottled water, sodas, and maybe even a few games. After all, part of the fun of going somewhere is the journey itself.
2.Kids’ Entertainment Center
Moms sometimes worry that kids will roll their eyes when they roll up in a minivan. But you won’t have to worry about that once you deck your minivan out as a traveling entertainment center.
You will be the favorite kid carpool mom when your minivan is equipped with games, fun DVDs and hand-held video games. Add some fun snacks – make them healthy snacks even – and you won’t have a single rolling eyed kid in the bunch.
For optimal enjoyment, be sure to gear the entertainment features to the ages of the young passengers. Of course, some types of fun transcend age, like cartoon DVDs and snacks.
The kids will have fun, the entertainment factor will prevent kids from quibbling over who is looking at whom, and you will be able to drive in peace. Your minivan might be boxy on the outside, but it will be pure rolling coolness on the inside.
3.Help Your Friends
Nothing screams “cool mom” like helping friends in need. Pity those moms who are driving those sleek, tiny sporty cars. Maybe one of your friends needs some help moving. Sure, you can help! Planning a shopping trip to one of the big warehouse stores?
Sure, the more the merrier, let’s all go together! Maybe one of your friends has a side business, and needs help setting up at a local makers’ fair? Flatten the back seats, load it up with your friend’s canopy tent, display tables and all the handmakes, and off you go. Who knows, maybe your friend will show you some love and buy you a funnel cake out of gratitude.
4.Choose a Cool Shade
Yes, there are a lot of black and gray minivans out there on the road. Pull into any store parking lot, and you will likely find a sea of them. But that doesn’t mean your minivan can’t be cool.
Different makes and models are available in different color palettes of course, but there are some cool ones. A Radiant Red Metallic or Obsidian Blue Pearl Honda Odyssey or a Forest Green Cypress might be your signature color for “cool.”
Once you’ve picked a cool paint color option, the next step is accessories. Picture a tiny air fern or succulent in a trendy macramé hanger dangling from your rearview mirror. Or, how about a steering wheel cover in a cool, eye catching accent shade? Remember, just because you are driving the ultimate family vehicle doesn’t mean it can’t look pretty cool too!
5.Killer Sound System
Cue the earbuds. Just because the kids are watching Frozen for the thousandth time doesn’t mean you have to subject your ears to “Let it Go” for the thousandth time too. Minivans tend to have awesome sounds systems, so you can enjoy your favorite cool tunes upfront, while the kids do their thing in the back.
Cruising solo in your minivan? Awesome, you can crank up the tunes and just enjoy the ride. Boost the base, and just watch the surprised expressions on the faces of the people you sidle up to at the stop lights. Your minivan will simply exude coolness, and sound awesome too.
6.Express Yourself
What’s a minivan without a few decals? But not just any decals – add some that are uber cool and expressive. Add the traditional stick figure family to your back window if you must. But why stop there? Add something fun, something expressive, something cool, something 100% you.
Window decals are easy to apply, easy to remove, and a completely “no long-term commitment” way to add some pizzazz to your ride.
You might just end up being the coolest-looking minivan in the school pickup lane. As a bonus, a cool window decal or two will make it easier to find your ride in the sea of other minivans in the shopping center parking lot
7.Detailing is Everything
Your hardworking minivan deserves a spa day every now and then too. Find a full-service car wash that specializes in interior and exterior detailing. A handwash, buff wax and detailing is just what your minivan needs to stay looking its best.
Nothing looks as cool as a shiny polished vehicle in a sea of dusty, woefully neglected cars that haven’t seen the inside of a car wash in forever.
Maybe you are more of the do-it-yourself type. Great, time to go shopping for car care products! Treat your ride to some deluxe wax. Splurge on a detailing vacuum – after all, you know your kids spilled popcorn under the back seats. Of course you don’t want roaches inside your car.
Polish your dashboard, clean car seat straps, buff your seats, make your windows shiny inside and out. It feels great to drive around in a shiny vehicle. Blast some music in your driveway, pour yourself a cool drink, and just have fun making your minivan shine.
8.Form a Club
Moms driving minivans unite! Do most of your mom friends drive minivans too? Great! Why not form a fun “Cool Moms” Minivan Club. Moms who drive ordinary hum-drum small vehicles need not apply.
Come up with a fun, cool name for your club. Order matching t-shirts, and maybe matching window decals for your minivan rides.
After all, why not have some fun with it, right? Life doesn’t have to be so serious all the time. It’s cool to be fun! Flaunt that minivan spirit!
9.The Ultimate Vacation Vehicle
Have you flown anywhere lately? Air travel is expensive, especially since most airlines are charging more for luggage. Who needs airlines when you have the ultimate vacation vehicle? Pack whatever you want – take all the full-size toiletries that you need. Pack that extra bag with clothes you probably won’t even wear while you are on vacation, but want to take along “just in case.”
Take turns driving – while it’s not your turn to drive, you can stretch out in back and be truly comfortable. Even if you have a minivan full of kids with you, there will still be plenty of room in back for a seriously comfortable nap.
Who needs a tiny plastic cup of soda and an even tinier bag of pretzels? Airline snacks aren’t cool. Do you know what’s cool? A full-size bag of chips, and an entire cooler filled with cold sodas.
Are you feeling especially adventurous? Bring your sleeping bags along and just camp out in your minivan overnight. Saves money on hotel rooms and it will take your back to your cool younger days.
Buy as many vacation souvenirs as you’d like. After all, you’ve got plenty of room to transport them home. In fact, go ahead and buy a few souvenirs for your friends too while you are at it. Be that cool friend that returns bearing gifts.
10.Just Embrace the Minivan Coolness
If you’ve been hesitant to buy a minivan because it felt like going over to the uncool dark side, it’s time to change your outlook. Embrace the minivan life. Just be cool and enjoy the ride.
Conclusion
As long as you are not planning on making your car sound louder, any modification should help your car look cooler.
