To think women are perfectly capable of driving and parking "big cars"?

[Kingcyrolophosarus]

and to hate the casual sexism from male garage workers

Took car to the garage, patronising young guy " would you like me to reverse that out for you?"
No thanks, I've been driving since you were in nappies mate. I've had this car for 5 years, it belongs to me, not my husband. I know how to look after the engine, I know what tyres it takes, and I can fit those tyres by myself

Car hire guy when I was changing a car( for price reasons) "is it too big for you, can't you park it?"

Tyre garage guy
" ooh these are really expensive" proceeds to quote 30% extra
Er, you really think I don't know how much they cost?
I'll go to a garage that doesn't assume I'm stupid thank you

[otchayaniye]

i drive a porsche 911 and did ride ducati 748/kawasaki ninja sportsbikes pre children and have put up with all manner of patronising crap from race track people and mechanics.

that said, iwill own up to knowing only the basics about how the engines themselves work

[otchayaniye]

my mother failed a driving test for 'inability to locate test vehicle' in a multistorey carpark!

[otchayaniye]

yes. she parked it, went to the driving school office, went back with test instructor but couldn't find it. half an hour later he told her they'd have to stop as he ad other tests. i kid you not.

[Sparklingbrook]

The multi storey I park in is all normal on the way in. Teensey spaces with lots of pillars with car paint on them as usual. But the best bit is the 'corkscrew' you have to drive down on the way out. It's horrible. Like a spiral staircase for cars.

[Sparklingbrook]

Yes, it's quite good now Ever. I have the knack. But if you drove in and didn't like multi stories you couldn't get out without going down it.

[noblegiraffe]

I always feel sorry for people I see at the side of the road changing a tyre. It never looks fun. That's what the AA are for

[elastamum]

I once drove my XC90 into a multi story with a roof box on. It went in under the height barrier not problem, but wouldnt go out under the concrete beam by the exit barrier! I think all the people behind were thinking 'how did that madwoman get in there?'

Now have one slightly squashed roofbox

BTW, am not compltely useless. I can parallel park my 9 metre motorhome and do a three point turn whilst towing a loaded horsetrailer

[Pumpster]

My mum drives a van and I'm learning to drive in our s-max.

[NewRowSees]

ooh otchayaniye I'm crying with laughter - your poor mummy!

[BiteTheTopsOffIcedGems]

Kingcyrolophosarus its like you have read my mind and written an AIBU for me!
I hate it when men look impressed and say 'oooohhhh well done love' when I park our huge van properly. Grrrrrrrrrr. There's plenty of room the back for the bodies if I ripped their sexist heads off.

[McChristmasPants2012]

nobel i did ask my driving instuctor what would happen if i said ask my dad on Question 2

www.learnerstuff.co.uk/show-me-tell-me-questions-a-23.html

[Autumnmumm]

I am an EXCELLENT driver and parallel parker. Dh is good at motorway driving i prefer to read a mag on long journeys but in the city I rule with my superior spatial awareness.

This pains him severely

[Autumnmumm]

YANBU

[marriedinwhite]

Nope. The men at my garage don't behave like that and never have. They are fab. I have known them for more than 25 years; longer than I have known my husband. They are utterly lovely and helpful and brilliant. Currently on the look out for a car for DS; serviced mine last Friday and said "that French thing's a bugger to drive I don't know how you do it - I wouldn't". I like the French thing - I like quirky things that are cheap and reliable and need careful handling to give of their best. They take the piss out of my dh's thing that has to be charged and have both said "I hope your son develops a better taste in cars than you two".

[lisa1968]

I'm a CM and drive a 12 seater minibus-I can park it,OH can't......

[BlingLoving]

I think the point a few people have made here about practice is key. A lot of women are worse drivers because they do not practise as much because they are told driving is scary for women / because they naturally allow their fathers/brothers/partners to drive etc etc.

Boys grow up excited to learn to drive. Girls grow up nervous. When I was learning to drive I went to the Bling'sScaryDad school of driving which was applied to all his students, boy or girl (a total of five as he taught a few who weren't his own children). This technique involved "Not-Messing-Around". As a result, I was quite surprised to discover my girlfriends were on about lesson 5 before they got into 3rd gear! I was in 4th, reversed and did a hill start in lesson 1. And drove into a ditch .

My male friends however were all taught like me.

It drives me crazy that when I see someone being silly and over cautious it is invariably a woman.

As for my parking, I think it's interesting that I probably parked better as a 21 year old, relatively freshly out my day's training. Now I can still park but somehow my confidence has been eroded slightly.

[McChristmasPants2012]

I don't get why people have cars they can't drive.

i was glad to see the back of my volvo 850 T5 as at that time i only passed my test 5 months and tbh never drove it ( me and DH share 1 car) if i had that car now it wouldn't phaze me.

if you cant drive and park big cars down size it to a car you can