Cheeky neighbours?

[LittleBlackHat]

My neighbour has just called my DP and asked if he could take his children and mother to the airport next week as they (neighbours) will already be away. It's a 120 mile round trip. However the neighbour has asked to use the 7 seater. Which is my new car I've had less than 2 weeks. It's not brand new but it's new to me and it cost me a lot of money. He agreed to this on the phone and then came to ask me and I've said no. I don't want my family car being used a taxi. My partner thinks I'm being unreasonable. Do you?

I can’t imagine a neighbour asking me such a thing. I am sixty miles from Heathrow amd with all the traffic a round trip would be at least half of the day gone. It isn’t just the petrol, it is the imposition of time that would bother me most.

Four years ago I got a taxi to Heathrow. It was 60 miles and was £60 and well worth it.

I would be happy to do this- no problem. It is not going to hurt your new car, op, and 120 miles is not that far, if your husband doesn't mind driving them.

Ha! Absolutely not yummy mummy with fancy car.

Based on a 7 seater full of passengers and luggage on a 120 mile round trip with some city driving calculated on an online fuel calculator.

Extra weight of passengers and luggage makes a significant difference.

All that said when I did a long trip in my old banger (when I had one!) about 17 years ago 200 miles THEN cost about £60 in fuel. So that didn't seem a lot for a 120 mile trip 17 years later.

Your DP shouldn't have agreed before checking it was alright with you, but unless you have a need for the 7 seater that day, I don't see why you wouldn't help out. It's not like you're being asked to drive. I'm assuming that you get money for the gas and/or reciprocal favours from the neighbours (or DP), though.

I think you're being a bit precious about the car if you bought it used. I could sort of see if it was a brand new, just off the production line vehicle. But it's presumably got thousands of miles on the clock already, so 120 more isn't something to get uptight about if it's the sort of favour you would otherwise do.

It isn’t just the petrol, it is the imposition of time that would bother me most.

Exactly! It's a total pita!

I’d be annoyed at DPs largesse on your behalf - he isn’t entitled to agree to your car being used!

If these are people you swap favours with a lot, then it wasn’t cheeky of them to ask. But your DP should not have agreed without asking you and now he will have to back out of it ‘LittleBlackHat’s car isn’t free, but I am happy to take you in my mondeo if that helps.’

Just say no, let your husband deal with it. Make sure you hide your keys in the day just in case.

He can drive them in his car. Neighbour pretty rude demanding the use of your new car!!

I would be happy to take them to the airport but I don't understand why they dictate which car they use. Unless the mother struggles to get in and out of the car and then the higher one would be easier for her.

They can ask, but you can also say no. It’s a bit cheeky when it’s a new car (to you), and it’s quite a distance, for a ‘drop off’. I guess your husband was cornered on the phone. I would get back to them soon citing ‘previous plans your dh didn’t know about’ so they can make other arramgements.

If pushed about plans, make up something, coffee/ lunch with friend youdon’t Get to see often ( so can’t be moved etc).

I have a 7 seater people carrier that is often loaded up. £50 quids worth of petrol will get me 450-500 miles. Easy. 120 miles is really not that far.

I understand the issue is not so much that your neighbours asked, but that your DP offered your car without asking. That’s reasonable - it’s annoying. However your thread title is misleading - you have a DP problem, not a neighbour one.

It’s odd that the neighbours dictate the form of transport. Surely he would be doing them a massive favour just taking them in a normal car. If he is happy to take them then fine. I think YABU, surely letting them use your car isn’t that big a deal, there are more important issues in life.

What if one of the children is travel sick? I wouldn't want that in my new car if I were you.

I wouldn't even ask/expect a friend to drive me 60 miles to the airport, let alone a neighbour. That's so cheeky. I hope you don't live to regret buying a 7 seater. We bought one when the children were small and quickly became the unofficial taxi service for driving friends on nights out, taking other kids to parties etc etc because, you know, we had space in our car.

YANBU. If he wants to take them then fair enough. He's agreed now anyway. However don't give him your keys, hide them if you have to. He can take his own car.

Hmm did the neighbours really dictate which vehicle to take or does your partner just want a proper spin in your new car 

i think you're being quite selfish towards your neighbours whom you've said are nice people. I can understand being cross with your DP for agreeing to take your car without asking you, but 120 miles is really not that far and unless you are likely to need your 7 seater car during the few hours it will be being used by your DP... what's the problem? Obviously they should give petrol money plus offer a bit extra.

I don't think there is need to make excuses like "sorry I'm busy that day".
Your DH needs to flat out say "I'm sorry but it's too far to drive your family to the airport and back, it would take up too much of my day. I've heard XXX taxi company do a good rate"

£40 of petrol gets me about 600miles in my twenty year old car.

Lol. What giant extremely fuel efficient car are you driving that you can get 600 miles on one tank? Or is that 2 tanks for £20 each? Ours is pretty efficient but only goes about 300 miles on the tank and it’s around £65 to fill up.

He can use his own car if he wants to do it. If that's not big enough they need to sort out a taxi. If you do let him use your car then make sure you get money for petrol and a bit more on top.

Tell him he can't take your car. He's welcome to drive them in his.

Are they paying for the petrol?

£40 of petrol gets me about 600miles in my twenty year old car.

is this car similar to the MN chicken that can feed a family for 4 meals?

I have a new, 1200cc vehicle. I get max 50 miles to the gallon, motorway. More like 40 for city. So I'd also like to know what car you are driving!

They are getting a long trip as a favour and they want to choose the car!! 😆