Minivans Of The World Unite!

I'm a minivan Mom. I'm not really ashamed of that. Really I'm not. I've noticed though that people who ride motorcycles, they have like this secret wave... I want to do that.  I want to have a secret wave that I can do to all the Mom's out there who actually are in love with driving their Minivans.
When I was first resigned to the idea of having to drive my van, it was kind of like a death sentence. Jon and I both had compact cars. We had decided that with the pregnancy would come a new, more family friendly vehicle. We had pretty definitely decided on the Chrysler Pacifica. We still see them on the road today, and do a little "awww" like it's a memory of when things were easier? I dunno. Regardless we didn't end up with the Pacifica. We ended up with a Chrysler Town & Country and Triplets. Aka: The Mom-Mobile. I wasn't thrilled. Hauling my hugely pregnant butt out of it the first time though, I was ecstatic. I had been hauling my hugely pregnant butt UP off the ground of a Honda Civic. This was glorious in comparison.
So now, this all brings me to today. I'm still driving the same minivan obviously. It's only been about 4 and half years... Perhaps my expectations are just too high, or perhaps Chrysler just has no idea what the heck they were doing when they made these minivans. I've run into nearly every problem imaginable with this vehicle, and now, my love for being a minivan Mom? It's starting to turn into more of just a "like"... I don't so much loooove it anymore... I just sort of like it.
For instance, I've had this squealing coming from my back tires now for at least a month. We know it's not the tires... Oh no, that's not even possible. Know how I know that? Because I JUST replaced all four of them, before the van even turned over 40k miles. Yeah. Winner Winner. Anywho, the van, it squeals like a pig. I take it to our handy dandy auto mechanic to have a quick listen to it... For those of you who know me, I'm a pretty pride filled person. I refuse to go into a garage and be one of "those people" replicating all the noises my car likes to make... It's not pretty, people laugh at those people... I'm not one to be laughed at.
So I go waltzing in there, and I'm all "Oh Hai... yes... My van makes a squealing noise in the rear axel area upon acceleration" And of course then they say, "you mean it squeals when you brake? Like your brake pads are wearing down?" So then, THEN I'm forced to explain that no, it is definitely when I accelerate...and this leads me to making the most annoying pig like, wub, wub, wub noise... It was Fabulous. Then to top it all off, my van decided today was not a good day to "perform". Noises couldn't be replicated...
Needless to say, if you drive by me, and you give me a new Minivan Momma secret handshake sort of wave, and I flip you off? Don't be alarmed, it's just been one of those days... Because all the way home my van was singing a tune reminiscent of "sooooey"...

Comments

[JD]

It could still be your brake pads...my Burb is squealing like that - when I accelerate - and my hub says it's the brake pads. Forget the van, join the ranks of the tanks! ;o9

[Katie]

I so completely hear you about family vehicle. Back in the days of the VW really! The ode to the minivan usually goes like this, "ha ha, I cut you off... I don't care if you have kids with you... neener neener neener!"

Poor Chrysler. Hope you have better days with it and soon!

[Jeannie]

you are so funny!!! :)

[Jonny R]

I think you just made Chrysler go bankrupt with this post. Seriously :)

[Nita]

I think that any soccer mom mobile needs a secret wave. I have seen the motocylcle wave - I call it the secret Harley handshake (seems like folks riding hogs do it more).

Can you possibly replicate this sound and YouTube it? Or maybe have Jon do it - since he was in a pig costume recently? That might be more fitting.