Greetings
Mostly lurker here posting to the community for some suggestions on which way to go with our car situation.
Background: family of 4. Twin 6 year old girls + medium size dog. We won't be having more kids. Before getting the van, the kids were toted around in our 2003 VW TDI wagon (currently 260k; love that car). However, the biggest issue is that we could not fit an adult in the middle of the backseat w/ 2 car seats installed. As the girls are 6 (they're really small), we're justing moving to a 5-point booster seat, so thinking there may be some more room back there.
Both my wife and I bounce around town and outlying communities for work and so we need two cars. However, most trips are very short in duration and each of us may only drive 30 miles/day. If she goes further, she takes the TDI and gets to claim mileage.
About 2 years ago, I lost the debate on getting a minivan. The used prices were so nuts that we went new, planning on keeping it until the wheels fell off. Put 1/2 down and paid off the other half in about 12 months. It's a 2015 Odyssey. To be fair, the car is awesome and I'm a total mini-van convert. The utility is unparalleled as well as the convenience. On 3 occasions we did some 4-7hr trips with another family of 4 and all our luggage. It was cool. But that doesn't happen nearly as often to warrant the downside.
All the short-tripping is killing us. I figure we spend about $100/mo just in fuel vs. when the kids were in the TDI. Now, the van is more reliable, being new, more comfortable, safer, etc., but coupled with insurance and registration costs, this thing is a boat anchor.
I was able to show the wife the #'s and she reluctantly agreed that it appear a better idea to cut bait and, perhaps, think about a used van when the kids are in middle school, have more friends to cart around, activities, etc. We have 14k in HELOC debt to pay off + my student loan of 13k so, i figure, we sell the van, pay off the HELOC, buy another vehicle, and put all the payment proceeds towards the student loan which would have that paid off in about 12 months. Our only remaining debt would be our mortgage.
Anyway, I guess my questions are these:
(1) Given all the short tripping, what about an EV? Do any of the EV's have the ability to fit 2 5-point booster seats + an adult in the middle with enough comfort for, say, a 3hr trip? Also, in same case, where the hell would the dog go? However, that may not matter as we could just use the TDI for the longer out-of-town trip (assuming the different car seat configuration will allow an adult in the middle).
(2) If no EV, other car suggestions for same configuration in back seat + ability to take a dog? I'm fine with getting roof racks / trailer hitch racks for extra cargo.
(3) Am i just being an alarmist re: the minivan downsides and just keep it?
It is possible I will be moving toward some more private practice which would enable me to not have to drive as much. However, for now, my job requires me to bounce between school sites and to frequently do so on a moment's notice.
any other suggestions or inquiries welcome.