I hate my new car

[Thinkingitallover]

Argghhhh. Expecting a baby in about 3 months, got a new car. DH chose it because I was struggling with toddler at the time.

I just can’t get on with it. Grumbles are

1. my feet don’t reach the pedals without being rammed up against the steering wheel
2. The pedals are so stiff
3. the car is too fucking clever - keeps locking itself
4. motion sensors ridiculously sensitive and I hate it, means I’m responding to beeping rather than using my own judgement
5. the thing to play music is really sporadic and doesn’t always work. (Or I’m not using it properly.)

Anyone else had this? I probably should arrange a return but seems such a hassle and I feel mean to DH but I just hate it!

You were struggling with a toddler at the time? We’re not talking about being at the supermarket and which brand of milk you bought?! 😂 as for the car… you’ll get used to it 🤷‍♀️

1. *the thing to play music is really sporadic and doesn’t always work. (Or I’m not using it properly.)*

yep

Well, depending on how long you've had it and where you bought it from, returning it could be an option.

It's only a car; swap it for something else if you don't like it. (Test drive the next one first though, eh?)

Having to sit crushed up against the steering wheel doesn't sound either safe or comfortable, particularly factoring in that you're pregnant.

1. **my feet don’t reach the pedals without being rammed up against the steering wheel

So you are very short?

I can’t understand how this wouldn’t be an issue in any car you drive then

You can possibly turn the beeps off, and some of the other features.

is the steering while a tilt and rake one? can your seat be pumped up and down? You might be able to find a comfort position.

What sort of car? Someone might be able to help you with the functionality.

I hate mine - I’ll swap you a Skoda Karoq if you like? It scores really highly in all the ratings but it drinks petrol, is always having some electrical problem and I just generally dislike it.

Can you move the seat up and down, rather than backwards and forwards?

The pedals are always going to feel different in newer / different cars , you adjust pretty quickly .

I thought that @Floralnomad but it’s been a month now and I’m still struggling.

@PriamFarrl so sorry to sound thick but how do you mean? It’s difficult getting in and out of it as well although hoping that’s a temporary issue!

Where did you buy the car from? Get it changed. If you are up against the steering wheel then this is dangerous if the air bag deploys. Ideally your wrists should rest on top of the steering wheel whilst still having a slight bend at the elbow. Any closer and you risk injury.

If this was just pedals I would say you could get used to it, I have just bought myself a new car, I went from a granny eco car to one with some oomph to it so the pedals and gears are very different. I have been driving for 25 years so have driven lots of cars over that period.

As it is the seating position you need to consider changing the car. Everything else is a getting used to. Source the car yourself this time. Don't let your Dh choose the car he isn't the one driving it.

What car is it? Perhaps another owner can point you in the right direction of making it work for you, turning off the parking sensors for example.

As others have said, you need to have a good fiddle with the seat, maybe lower it and the steering wheel.

When you say the pedals are stiff do you mean the break or all 3?

As for motion sensors, it always takes a while to get a get used to the size of a new car. When you are parking and the sensors are going off, get out and take a look at how much space you have left. Mine go green, Amber, red and get progressively noisier but on the first red beep it still isn't actually touching anything. If I went by just the racket it makes I'd have about 2 foot behind me.

A lot of cars lock themselves when you are driving, I think dh's BMW does that. I think you should give it a while to get used to it.

What sort of car is it?

Is it a bmw? I really hate the driving position in lots of the saloon bmw's and some of them have those pedal like in racing cars that are quite heavy too.

I hate mine too - newish Ford Focus. Only done 700 miles since I had it, but I find it noisy (pet hate) and surprisingly uncomfortable although our potholed roads my be partly to blame. Very economical though. Next new car I think I'll hire one for a week to try it out properly.

No - it’s a Mini Cooper. I did think maybe it was the positioning that was the problem with the pedals but a friend said she had similar issues, so maybe they are stiff. I probably need to fiddle around with it but it all seems very new and complicated compared to the simplicity of the old one!

I hate mine as well. If I could have test drove it before I bought it I wouldn't have got the blooming thing. I've had it almost 3 years now and really wish I had the money to get a different one.

I hope someone can come along with some Mini experience soon op. Ultimately, if you aren't happy driving it then go and try out some other cars.

I got a Mini Cooper S a month ago and love it! That won't help you though at the moment. Did you get it from a dealer? Could you go back and get them to adjust a few things for you?

I can ask DH to - just I don’t want him messing about with everything and ending up with things even worse than before!

I am only 5 ft 1 and I love my mini . But it’s 2017 so might be different .

Minis you can raise the seat up and down as well as forwards and backward. There's a lever on one side of the drivers seat (can't remember which side). You can also easily adjust the height and distance forward/back of the steering wheel with the lever underneath the steering column.

Hopefully you'll find an easier position OP!

The pedals are shallower than any other brand of car I've ever driven but you get used to them.

I can't get on with my sound system either though! Had my car 4yrs and can't get my phone to connect to the Bluetooth

I feel your pain! I also have a mini Cooper, which I love for the driving experience, BUT they are not designed for short fat people.
I have to have the seat in the highest position and really far forward to reach the peddles (this is mini specific as never had this issue before) this means I have to move the seat back to be able to get out.
Clutch is really really stiff, ok generally but when stuck in traffic I get pains in my leg.
I put up with the issues as I love it

Minis are definitely marmite cars. SIL has one and loves it whereas I think they are the worst car I’ve ever driven. No one I know seems to have a neutral opinion about them. I doubt you’ll change your mine if you’re in the hate it camp so I’d just accept it’s not for you and change it. And next time make sure you do a good long test drive!

@Bigpinkslippers me too! Makes me feel ENORMOUS. I’m totally blaming the pregnancy …