SoCal78 said:
Someone (IHO) explain to me the magic that is the sliding door. I don't really understand the appeal. I've never used such a thing. Here's what I'm thinking: What good is it to let a child in? If they aren't old enough to open the door, that means they will also need help getting their seatbelt buckled, which means you have to get out of the car anyway, thereby rendering the effortlessness of the automatic door ineffective.
To truly understand the magic of the sliding door... you need to live with one yourself.
1. The egress to a sliding door is much wider than regular doors. Not only is it dimensionally larger, but when parked, more likely than not, you won't be able to have a regular door open 90 degrees so you have to "turn corners" to get a car seat in and out. This is also provides more room for non-infants to enter/exit your van.
2. While your kids may not be able to buckle their belt, they can surely unbuckle it, so when getting to your destination... it's easier for them to get out of the vehicle and useful if your hands will otherwise be full.
3. When they are old enough to open doors, you will find them dinging other cars parked beside you (has happened to us many times with our other vehicle), sliding doors don't do that.
4. Slamming of fingers in doors becomes easier to avoid.
5. You control when doors open/close.
6. Speaking of magic... while they are younger, you can pretend you are a magician and magically open the doors with a wave of your hand.
There are more... but that's a taste for now.
Seems like it was just yesterday that I heard she was on the way.