I'm planning on taking the 05 MCS from Vancouver BC to Edmonton AB, by way of Calgary AB. Dropping the wife off in Calgary and driving on to Edmonton with the kids, ages 4 and 7. Am I nuts to take the Mini as opposed to my minivan? I've got lots of stops planned and DVD entertainment for the kids. I'm just a little worried that we're going to be squeezed a little to tight. Any opinions or experiences from those who have done something similar.

 

Minivan. If you we soloing or it was you +1 I would say MINI, but not with three other people.

 

mini van

 

Mini... We have the mini van as well and have taken it on plenty of long road trips. My problem is that the kids are almost too insulated from the trip and what is going on outside the windows. I have great memories of taking road trips with my family when I was young and many of those memories involve what we saw along the way. So I think if the goal is to just get there, then take the van but otherwise I would take the Mini and a fair share of non-interstate type roads and enjoy the trip.

Another upside to taking the Mini is that you actually have to pay some consideration to what you pack given the limited space. "Just what you need not all that you want." JMHO

 

We have a minivan and the MINI convertible - with less back seat legroom than your MCS. We've done several weekend trips of that length in the MINI. It's a totally different experience - but completely doable.

That said... the wife WAAAAAAY prefers doing it in the van...

 

Depends on two things:

1. How loud are your kids ?

2. How loud is your wife ?

 

Hello,

I have done many weekend trips with the whole family. If you have room for the stuff you need to bring with you, then bring the MINI. We live in Calgary, so I do enjoy driving the MINI through the mountains. My kids are aged 5 and 6. We have a DVD player too, placed between the seats. It is nice being closer, as we can actually attend to the kids without stopping (at least the wife can).

Depending on when you come through, we do have many events planned for the summer if you are interested in checking out the mini club of Calgary (minicalgary.com). There is also an Edmonton mini club (edmontonminiclub.com).

BTW, you will probably spend half as much on gas for the trip in the MINI too :D.

 

With kids...mini VAN!
1-2... mini.

 

Yes you are nuts.
Take the minivan. For a long trip with kids a MINI is ok if that is your only option but with a minivan available take the van.

 

we've done vegas trip in the Mini (wife and two kids), and have driven to Seattle for a week in a Clubman (lots more stuff to pack). Really, there's room for the people, but it's the luggage that's a killer in the coupe.

Like others have said, it's a more "intamate" trip in the Mini. If you can fit, it's not that bad! But if you do want the extra space to overpack or whatever, then the choice is obvious. You can make the trip either way...

Matt

 

Mini - thats our traveling car kids 16 and 13 + my wife and I. Usually do 2-2 1/2 hours before taking a break.

Nik

 

We've done a week long trip from Chicago to Washington DC 2 years ago, and a week trip 2 years before that Chicago to Birmingham Alabama with wife and 2 kids (who are now 16 and 12). We also do many overnight/weekend trips as a family. Kids fit fine, just gotta be careful packing luggage.

I say go for it and make it an experience!!

 

Exactly!!

 

Mini! I've had some great adventure with the family (wife, 2 kids) in the Mini, to include an awesome, awesome 4 days and 1100 miles through the Alps last summer. Best thing I learned about Mini adventures with the fmaily, was to pack in soft-sided bags. That right there has made all the difference us.

I say go for it.

 

Take both for an undeterminite amount of reasons.

 

As if that wasn't enough, I took my wife and 16 yo son and 15 yo daughter to MINI United 2009 from the Netherlands for 5 days and that's only ~380 miles with a ferry trip, too. For long weekends, sure, take the MINI. Something longer and there's no laundry available or practical, get luggage racks on the MINI!!

Cheers!!

 

Wow, lots of opinions. The Mini is my first choice as I'm dropping my wife off in Calgary and then going on to Edmonton for a week with my family, so it'd just be me and the girls. (Who are quiet and small) My wife is just about convinced on the Mini but she wants to bring a cooler for food and stuff and the one she wants to take will not fit. No problem with our other luggage, its just the cooler holding me back so far. My neighbor has a backpack cooler that I might try hanging from the back of one of the seats. We'll see, that or 2 smaller coolers on the floor behind the seats. Thanks for all the replies!

 

Don't forget the ac in the glove box. You can put some need to be cold items in there and take a smaller ice box!