January 22, 2012 2:05 PM
Our dearly beloved Club Wagon, RIP
Through the years, we've owned a series of Club Wagons - including a 15-passenger I drove cross country when we moved from California to Virginia in 2002. Our latest was a 12-passenger as some of our kids had married and left home and we were trending downward.In the last year we talked about getting a smaller vehicle since our numbers are down considerably, but the van was paid off and it came in handy for helping kids move in and out of college and out of state.
Now the decision may have been made for us:
First of all, no one was hurt. Thank God!
Tripp was coming home with Jesse, Daniel and Justin when he turned the corner from Route 287 to Householder Road yesterday and lost control on the icy road. He was going so slowly that he described it as being like slow motion. The airbags didn't deploy and the boys were all in seat belts.
It's just that one moment they were right side up and the next minute they were hanging sideways. I can't imagine. No one was around, so Tripp unbuckled himself and proceeded to unbuckle and assist the boys out the back door, one at a time. I can't imagine.
EMTs arrived and put the boys in the ambulance to keep warm:
The boys handled everything remarkably well. The tow truck came and righted the van and Tripp drove the two miles home.
I was out with Matt and Maddy and Jonny - on our way from The Met HD Enchanted Island to 5:00 Mass. Zach picked up Tripp and the boys and met us in time for Mass. Then we went on to Kobe's for Zach's farewell dinner. He leaves for Marine OCS tonight.
If that sounds like a lot, sandwich it in between Zach, Matt, Jesse, Justin and I driving down to Lychburg on Friday to see Sophia and Josh Head in Pirates of Penzance and driving home in the snow and ice, arriving at 4:00 AM Saturday morning - and Tripp, Maddy, jonny and Daniel leaving this morning to go see the show too.
In the meantime, the van sits in our driveway waiting to be towed to a auction/broker place because our insurance company feels pretty certain it will be totaled.
This leaves us with the question of whether to go to a smaller van. Our second car is a Ford Fusion which we always choose for gas mileage when only a small number of us are going anywhere.
Please pray for us to be good stewards and to find a car we can afford that will fit our family's needs. A four wheel drive is pretty necessary where we live. Your suggestions welcome.
Comments
Oh my! Good thing no one was hurt.
You may want to get new plates too since some people with evil motives could do some damage after seeing it here.
Posted by: Melanie | January 22, 2012 3:24 PM
So thankful that Tripp and the boys are okay! We live in 4 wheel drive country too, and have always been well served by our Subaru cars. Great handling, low maintenance and will run forever. We are contemplating looking for a used one for our newly licensed driver.
Posted by: anne | January 22, 2012 4:17 PM
Barbara!
Glad no one was hurt. Wow! Amazing photos there. How about a Subaru? Do they make those big enough for your family?
Posted by: Shannon Best | January 22, 2012 4:24 PM
I was going to suggest Subaru too. I love mine and have no trouble with it in the snow. But good luck finding a used one! So glad no one was hurt.
Posted by: Tenney Singer | January 22, 2012 5:44 PM
I like the Siena, but I don't know if they have 4 wheel drive.. So thankful no one was hurt! Too bad about your van, may it rust in peace. ;-)
Posted by: Betty | January 22, 2012 6:40 PM
Wow! Glad everyone is OK! We love our Sienna but it doesn't have four wheel drive.
Posted by: Rachel | January 22, 2012 7:45 PM
Guardian angels were doing their jobs, huh? Glad all are okay...
Posted by: wendy | January 22, 2012 8:32 PM
OH my goodness! I am so glad you family is safe!
I bet you are so thankful for insurance! I remember that you owned a suburban years ago, have you owned one of the newer models? OR, how about a Honda Pilot?
Best wishes... so glad to see your boys safe and hear that your husband is too!
Posted by: Lisa | January 22, 2012 8:34 PM
Wow. Thank you, Lord, that everyone was safe and that this didn't traumatize the Downzers! Probably due to Tripp's calm demeanor and gentle handling.
Not to be completely unoriginal, but if we were buying a smaller vehicle we'd go with a Subaru. We live in Alaska and they are very, very popular, which says something in itself. Four different families in our close circle of friends have them and swear by them. Our priest, who has to be able to go along twisty, steep, icy roads to visit some of his parishioners, also has one. The four wheel drive is supposed to be top-notch. That said, I would look carefully through something like Consumer Reports or other independent research organization reports for any possible issues with used models. I have heard of some past models having the odd systemic problem.
If I were buying just a regular van, I think I'd go with the Toyota Sienna with AWD. Very versatile, can haul up to eight passengers - although I'm not sure if the 8-pass version comes with the AWD.
May the Holy Spirit speak loudly in your ears! :)
Posted by: Denise | January 23, 2012 2:14 AM
Barbara, I am so glad you guys are ok. I guess I should be thankful for my van instead of having thoughts of leaving it downtown in Berlin so I can get one to fit our whole family. Wow
Posted by: Amy | January 23, 2012 4:03 AM
Oh..my..gosh! I am so thankful that you're all safe. Wow.
I wish that I had pearls of wisdom about vans but..I don't. lol. We have a Dodge Grand Caravan and we haven't had too many problems with it. We haven't exactly gotten tested this winter though. It's been good in past years. It only seats 7. Probably not big enough.
I hope that you have success in finding something inexpensive but durable.
God bless all of you.
Posted by: Sue from Buffalo | January 23, 2012 9:28 AM
Just read........glad all your family was okay, Barb!! I will thank God at our next Mass and thank our Blessed Mother for keeping them all safe:)
Posted by: Eileen | January 24, 2012 12:10 AM
