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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to lose it at this angry woman who criticised my parking.

422 replies

bobbypercy1 · 22/07/2013 14:48

So i was in town this morning with the Q7 (or the panzer tank as I call it) and i pulled up to a space. I reversed in a few times but i was always a bit squint. Eventually i left the car squint but still in the bay. I let out my kids and just while i locked the car this woman came over.

she said i should go back and straighten the car out because it was squint. I told her that if she had a q7 i would like to see her park it in such a tight space. She thought i was suggesting that she didn't have a big car because she was poor. i wasn't suggesting that at all. so she went into a long rant about me being disrespectful. i was shocked .

but i didn't shout too much cause i had two kids with me.

aibu to be annoyed at her.

OP posts:
MummytoMog · 22/07/2013 15:35

I have the C Max and can't park the bugger at all. I didn't buy it, my stupid husband did. I wanted a nice, neat little Ford Focus. Am still considering nicking my mum's Micra when she gets a new car. SO easy to park.

footphobic · 22/07/2013 15:41

I can't get away from the fact that if you cannot manoeuvre your car into a marked parking space after several attempts in a low pressure situation, i.e., not on a busy public road, you probably shouldn't be driving it, or any car.

I would worry how you would handle a large vehicle like that in an actual emergency. I say this as my DH has just been hit for the second time in a year by a woman who was a hopelessly inept driver. This lady had a mental block on the basic rules of roundabouts Confused.

Maybe consider some refresher lessons with parking including, or consider purchasing a car you can park properly? I honestly don't mean that rudely - you have a tank of a car, I just believe you ought to be in complete control of it, and parking is a very basic skill everyone should try their best to master. It does impact on other drivers if you park awkwardly/badly.

I have nothing in particular against big cars or people who need (being the operative word), I have 5 dcs and quite genuinely need a large 7 seater myself, but I do know how to drive and park it properly.

I also don't feel the need to mention the make or model of mine in my post as I don't think it's particularly relevant. Wink

Funnily enough, I also live in a rural area and the only people who have '4x4's are those who need to tow, i.e., the horsey lot, or farmers, and they all have ropey old Landys. Almost everyone else seems to manage with normal cars. Grin

MrsKeithRichards · 22/07/2013 15:42

Oh look! A thread full of twats feeling the need to comment on someone's choice of car. Puhleese, get over it people. Some people like their cars with a bit of styling, some drive potatoes on wheels (I'm looking at you Zafira).

MrsKeithRichards · 22/07/2013 15:45

For what it's worth I can't parallel park my mums panda for shit (in fact I'm usually that distressed by the whole experience of finding the thing, it's like a toy car, fucking awful) but our Mitsubishi Animal is no problem to me! It's not always about size.

Sallystyle · 22/07/2013 15:46

is a Q7 as big as a ford galaxy?

That is all I have to add.

LadyBryan · 22/07/2013 15:46

MrsKeithRichards - I have no problem with what anyone chooses to drive at all - hell I drive a 4x4 myself.

But I do have a problem with people who struggle to park/cannot properly park what they drive....

Khaleasy · 22/07/2013 15:46

I used to drive a Q7 as apart of a Nanny job in London. It is full of parking sensors. It has a bloody camera on the back! I struggle to park my little rover 25 but the Q7 was a dream because of the technology!

Taz1212 · 22/07/2013 15:46

I only drive a Mondeo and if I've parked even a little bit squint it really messes up the spaces next to me (I always repark- ignoring the fact that it's rude not to, I'm paranoid about being scratched!), so I can imagine what a larger squinty parked car would look like! I do think it's pretty rude for a stranger to call you out on it, but honestly I bet most people would be thinking it if they saw someone in your car going back into the space then forwards, then back, then forward...

MrsKeithRichards · 22/07/2013 15:49

Why the heel should someone out themselves through the hell of driving the Ford Galaxy if they don't want to? Do you advocate standard issue, pre approved mummy mobiles if you have a few kids?

Bloody he'll, no wonder mumsnet cars never took of.

I do assume you carry your personal belongings in a tesco carrier bag? Given that anything else is just downright unnesseccary?

LeGavrOrf · 22/07/2013 15:50

I would love to see a Great Dane in the front seat of a mini. Pag is it a proper old mini or one of the new ones (would be funnier in an old one). Love the fact the kids get relegated to the back.

I often park squewiff in the lines as well, I have no excuse as I drive a bloody polo fgs. Dd parks better than me and she has only been driving a few months. I am a disgrace.

missmarplestmarymead · 22/07/2013 15:51

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

Original poster
bobbypercy1 · 22/07/2013 15:52

footphobic

the 'rural area' where i live had temperatures of -25°c last December.

OP posts:
Costypop · 22/07/2013 15:52

I think the fact that you rubbed it in about the type of car you had didn't help. If you had just said car then it's a different outcome

LeGavrOrf · 22/07/2013 15:52

I would LOVE one of those big Audi SUVs. I would black out the windows and drive around with Dr Dre blaring like the tosser I am.

Original poster
bobbypercy1 · 22/07/2013 15:53

costypop

how am i rubbing it in?!?

OP posts:
MrsKeithRichards · 22/07/2013 15:53

rubbed it in ??

Sensitive much?

LRDYaDumayuIThink · 22/07/2013 15:56

Ooh. Can I come along for the ride, LeGavr?

It amazes me how many people know precisely what car the OP means, down to Jeremy Clarkson-style specifics, despite having a huge distain for it ...

K8Middleton · 22/07/2013 15:57

-25? Really? I think it might actually be warmer at the poles.

SlangWhanger · 22/07/2013 15:57

missmarplestmarymead. That was a mean post.
The OP explained that her 'bad' parking wasn't going to effect anyone else. She was parallel parked at the side the road not in a carpark where it would have interfered with neighbouring cars.

I don't think you would like to be called thick for not reading the thread before making unpleasant comments. (Not that I would do that of course Blush )

K8Middleton · 22/07/2013 16:00

I think some of us were just joshing? I was. Except for the bit about the temperature. That was genuine.

mum11970 · 22/07/2013 16:02

The size of the op's car is neither here nor there, one car is no easier or harder to park than another, the principle is just the same; you just need a bigger space to park a large car than a small one. If you've selected a space that fits your car, a problem only arises if you can't actually drive your car well in reverse. I've seen equal amounts of badly parked small cars as large ones.

MildredIsMyAlterEgo · 22/07/2013 16:04

Hmm I would disagree with a 4x4 being a necessity for Scottish winters.

My family and friends in S.E. Poland manage without one in incredibly harsh conditions by using winter tyres.

Twirlyhot · 22/07/2013 16:04

I don't care if the OP chooses to drive an actual tank. Just don't drive what you can't manoeuvre well.

LunaticFringe · 22/07/2013 16:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ballinacup · 22/07/2013 16:05

My boss has a a Q7, he reckons it's rubbish in the snow unless it's brand new, virgin snow that hasn't been driven on.