Jason on Cars

A Kia minivan is about as exciting as… well… actually, it’s not exciting at all. However, that should not mean that it can’t be a great vehicle for the right person/need. I recently drove around for a week in one and learned quite a few things about myself as well as the era of minivans.

First of all, driving a different car every week definitely has its advantages, however, I try very hard to remember that whatever I’m driving has no impact whatsoever on my identity. A hot new BMW does not make me cool. It’s not mine, and I’m only driving it for a week. However, hopping into the minivan everyday for a week ended up being a completely different experience. Part of what made it interesting was that other people seemed to notice and comment on the car far more than normal. “I had no idea you were a minivan type of person” one friend commented when I showed up to a dinner. “Nice minivan” would repeat over and over throughout the week, and even an occasional giggle from my coworkers when I walked out with them at the end of the day. Even driving around town, I found myself thinking differently about certain driving conditions when in the Kia. At one point, I had made a slightly silly move at a 4-way stop, and as I waved at the other driver, apologizing, I thought to myself, “well, they won’t be mad at me, I’m in a minivan, I obviously don’t take myself *that* seriously.” And it’s true. You don’t take yourself seriously when in a minivan.