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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be PETRIFIED of my new car?

45 replies

Letmeeatcakecakecake · 11/02/2015 21:35

Have only every driven a teeney weeney little Saxo but second child on the way meant the need for a larger car.

We got a Mazda CX5.

What was I thinking? I hit a mirror driving home (luckily the marks buffed out and I appear to think that I'm driving a bus.

Don't even get me started on trying to park the thing.

How long did it take any of you to adjust to a different sized car? Please tell me that I'll be zooming down the road and throwing it into any little space in no time!

OP posts:

caroldecker · 12/02/2015 00:01

My DP learnt to drive and passed the test in a Land Rover Defender, then moved to a fiat punto

Pixel · 12/02/2015 00:12

I'm petrified to drive my new car. I have driven an old Zafira for the past 10 years but now have a Renault scenic- the handbrake is a button, the ignition key is a like a credit card and the gearstick is in a different place. I just want to keep my old Zafira even though it is dying !

Babyroobs, snap! I've just got a Scenic as well and wanted to keep my old car forever even though it was over 20 years old and full of water all the time. My scenic must be older than yours as it's got a normal handbrake (button one was on my list of total no-nos) but it is a bit weird as I have to lean right over to reach it (or my arms are abnormally short). My old one was just in the right place .
Anyway, am getting the hang of the parking and all that, the short bonnet is actually much better, but I still don't quite trust it not to go wrong, it's all the computerised gubbins - very worrying!

SnookyPooky · 12/02/2015 07:35

We went from a Nissan Micra to a Toyota Rav4. On the day we picked it up my DH refused to drive it home so I had to, in flip flops!
Absolutely love it, easy to drive and park etc, soon got used to it.

We also now have a smaller coupe for me to use for work but I much prefer to drive the Rav.

I would have another large motor if I could, a Toyota Hi-Lux, Pajero or something similar if I could. The bigger the better.

kim147 · 12/02/2015 07:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ArgyMargy · 12/02/2015 07:40

YABU and an embarrassment to your sex. Can you imagine any man being "petrified" of anything to do with a car? Next you'll be telling me you just can't read a map to save your life.

eurochick · 12/02/2015 07:41

I agree with the suggestion to go and practice somewhere quiet if you are that nervous. I upgraded from a 2 seater sports car to a huge Volvo a year ago and found the change pretty easy. I had a bit of a worry about getting it on the drive, but it was fine. As it has great big windows the visibility is great, which actually makes it very easy to drive.

Sparklingbrook · 12/02/2015 07:46

I am sure lots of men are petrified of driving new cars. I am sure lots of women can read maps too.

I hate driving hire cars. Scared to leave them anywhere in case something happens to them.

Notagainmun · 12/02/2015 07:55

When we changed from a Vaxhall Astra to a Vectra estate I miss judge the extra width and scraped the side all along a wall. A week later I miss judged the length and reversed into a post.

Cobain · 12/02/2015 08:47

My DP (male) drove tanks and HGV1 for a living and hated driving a picasso and was horrendous at parking the first week. Bloody overhang being streamed at the numerous attempts at parking. Some fear is good and better than fake bravado.

Pimpleminds · 12/02/2015 08:49

If it makes you feel better the cx5 is a lovely drive IME.

Minus2seventy3 · 12/02/2015 11:56

Pimple is right - CX-5 is a wonderful car.
DW bought herself one a few months ago - she'd moved up from a Mazda 2, so quite a jump in scale.
The 2 was so chuckable and fun through the twisties, I was dubious the first time I got to play in the CX-5, but have to say, I love it almost as much as she does.
DW has got used to the size pretty quickly (reversing camera is fantastic, but even without it, the mirrors' dip range show rear quarters perfectly for parking), and DD prefers it to daddy's car :-(

Sidge · 12/02/2015 12:02

Remember bigger cars often have a longer wheelbase and bigger wheels, which means a much bigger turning circle.

This can mean you need to allow much more room when turning to park, and in multi storey car parks.

It just takes practice, so the more you can get out in it the better.

BubbleGirl01 · 12/02/2015 12:18

I went from a Fiat Punto to a Renault Espace after having twins. That was a bit hairy and I was knackered too.

They say it takes about 2 weeks to get used to a new car.

Definitely try driving in and out/reversing out of parking spaces in an empty car park to get used to the size.

What I found the hardest was to go from an automatic (10 yrs in the Espace) to a manual. Only coped for 6 weeks before I changed back to an automatic and enjoying driving again!

drudgetrudy · 12/02/2015 12:28

YANBU-my new car is large and its control panel is complicated eeek!

Horseradishes · 12/02/2015 13:39

You will find it much easier once you've had more driving lessons and passed your test. It's hard when you're learning, if you are having difficulty braking and have damaged the wing mirrors I'd see if your instructor can teach you in your new car though, they may be able to give tips and make you more comfortable.

It doesn't sound very safe for you and other motorists to be driving in this car until you're more practiced! Let me know when you're going out and I'll stay in hehe.

Original poster

Letmeeatcakecakecake · 12/02/2015 13:42

argymargy not only can I not read a map... I actually can't even follow a Satnav. I do however, have a full bush, which must be a redeeming feature to womankind?

I'm glad I'm not the only one who is petrified of my car and has made a big jump. I'm getting better... Drove to the gym and sainsburys and reverse parked and filled it up with petrol (whilst screaming petrol repeatedly in my head!!)

Going to head out to the private estate shortly to practice my 3 point turns and figure out where my scrape points are.

The length of the nose makes it quite difficult for me to judge if I'm going to swing out on another car whilst parking, but I'll try figure it all out today!

It does have the sensors and the rear camera... I need to work out if I'm supposed to follow the blue or yellow lines though haha!

OP posts:

Original poster

Letmeeatcakecakecake · 12/02/2015 13:44

horse I've had a license for 6 years

OP posts:

DillyDallyDaydreamer · 12/02/2015 13:46

I passed a year ago and my first car is a renault espace it's Huge but high up so feels like you can see more park ings a pain but you get used to it.

SnookyPooky · 12/02/2015 17:48

I forgot to say that my DH has a PCV/HGV license and he has bumped and scraped our Rav twice.

MojaveWanderer123 · 12/02/2015 19:22

My sister has just passed her coach driving course so imagine what's it's like for her
You will get used to it, everybody does.

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