Have you ever slept in a car before ? Only for one night

[Lardlizard]

What was it like ?

I spent the night in my car when I was stranded and cut off by the huge floods in 2007, it was pretty awful to be honest as I wasn't rescued until the next morning.

I didn't really sleep as I was terrified but under less unusual circumstance it wouldn't be too bad.

Yes. My mate and I drove to Cornwall from North Wales as 18 year olds and couldn’t be arsed to pitch the tent on the first night so slept in the back of her Dad’s minivan we’d borrowed. We had great fun until 3am hit and we were bloody freezing and uncomfortable.

I’ve also been known to grab an hour’s shut eye in my panda on a night shift parked up in a car wash to avoid detection with radio turned up to spring into action if necessary

Yes. It was cold and not very comfortable. I don’t plan to repeat the experience.

I did it once when I was a Scout Leader. I always had problems sleeping in tents, but this time I just felt totally claustrophobic and had to get out of the tent.

I had six hours sleep, best ever for a camp!

Are you asking for a specific reason and wanting everyone to ask why you want to know?

Yes, I think there have been one or two times when camping and the tent was impossible for one reason or another for me. It was pretty awful, but then I find sleeping anywhere except a bed really hard!

Yes, years and years ago in my early 20s. DH and I went camping for the weekend but forgot our sleeping bags (a long string of disasters led to this happening) and couldnt find any at short notice in the middle of Cornwall. The car was much warmer than the tent, but it was an old style Mini though, so very cramped and hugely uncomfortable 🤦‍♀️

Yeap......for many months backpacking around NZ.
It was an estate car so could at least lie flat.
Saved a fortune on hostels and was much cheaper than a campervan.
I remember buying sheets to make curtains!

Yes a few times. One time it was parked outside a friends and someone just kept drunkenly talking to me and I remembered we had a duvet in the boot (can’t remember why!) so when they went for a smoke I snuck out and got cozy in the car, was lovely actually and DP thought it hiliarious when he eventually found me in the morning after panicking, I even stayed there while he drove us home 🤦🏻‍♀️

once in a small car in the seat (missed a ferry)
it was really really cold and uncomfortable.

once planned, big car, we slept on a matress in the boot/over folded rear seats.
it was a bit more comfortable but still really really cold

Unbelievably uncomfortable, even though utterly exhausted. Makes sleeping on a plane seem restful.

Why?

We do if often instead of setting up a tent. But, we have a largish 4wd and a special double air bed that is designed to fit in the back. It's super comfy, just need to crack a window for condensation.
I am in NZ though, and only do this at campsites with facilities. I wouldn't do it at the side of the road.

Horrible. Cold.

Are you okay?

Glastonbury for me too. Trying to pitch a tent in the mud, so gave up and slept in the car. It was really uncomfortable but at least it was dry!

Two and a half times.

First time i was 15 and it was an old Granada with a door missing, it was November and i nearly froze to death. Boyfriend went and got his dog to help keep us warm.

Second time was same boyfriend i was 16 and he had upgraded to a mk2 escort with all it's doors. Slightly warmer but still didn't sleep a wink. Just uncomfortable.

Last time was embarrassingly recent and was in a BMW with DH and we couldn't hack it and gave up at apx 2am.

Oh missed the obvious OP. Have you no option tonight?

One night isn't the end of the world but it wont be comfy. Laying the front seat back is best if you haven't got an estate.

What did you all do re middle of the night wees?!

Yes, I was about 17 and had told my parents I was staying out all night with a friend. But I got an unexpected lift back to my village - it was too late to call (around 1.30am) and well before the years of mobile phones, so I when I got back, they had already put the deadlock on the door so I couldn't get in.

I was way too afraid of my stepfather's wrath to ring the doorbell, so I clambered into my mum's old Mini Clubman and slept there, right outside my own bloody house. It was miserable and very fucking cold. Thank the Lord my mother was a churchgoing woman and got up at 7am to go to communion, I pressed my face up against the conservatory and she nearly had a heart attack.

Oh yeah I’m totally fine m, just thinking about trying it either that or wild camping I’ve never done either before so thought I’d ask people’s experience

I did once in the New Forest, not enjoyable. If you had an estate car then maybe it could work but I don't think it would be great.

A fair few times. Wasn't too bad. But I was cold. I went through this stage of wearing my dressing gown with my phone, car keys and purse in the pockets, as my partner at the time could go from nice to nasty at the flick of a switch after a drink.

So I could run out of the house, get in my car and go. Then sleep in there and come back when he'd calmed down. Sad now I read it back.

Several times!
It’s OK, but I don’t know why you’d do it if the alternative was a tent/bivvy bag.

Yes, in an airport car park when I had a 5 o’clock check-in for a 7 o’clock flight.
I preferred to get my sleep 10pm-4:30 am than drive at an ungodly hour.
I took a sleeping bag and pillow but it was cold and uncomfortable on the back seat.
I slept for most of the flight, which actually worked well for jet lag!