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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Me or DH! My car...

96 replies

myfingersarenotsogreen · 24/05/2019 09:26

So DH, DCs 5 &3 and Me are supposed to be going away for half term to a self catering place about 5 hours drive away tomorrow. Yesterday DHs car (family size hatchback) packed up. It is at the garage and they will phone us at lunchtime to see if it can be fixed in time...

I suggested we might be able to go in mine - a Nissan Micra but DH has refused and wants to hire one... but we now find there is no availability locally. I raised my car again wanting to discuss pros and cons but he was just rude to me!

I know mine is small, its a town car and not great at long motorway trips but AIBU to say that it has air-con, a decent radio and is actually running?

OP posts:
kalopali · 24/05/2019 10:32

perfect in size but did 28mpg

That’s not that bad, I’ve done a 2000 mile European road trip in a car that does less. My 1200 mile/month commute also does less. I baulk at

DominiqueSmith · 24/05/2019 10:34

Well if his car is off the road and you can't hire a larger car, you'll have to take the Micra!

It'll be a squash but you'll manage!

My friend went touring round Europe in the 70's in an old style mini! Two adults, two teenagers and all their luggage! They had a great time!

DonkeyHohtay · 24/05/2019 10:34

5 hours in a Nissan Micra with 4 people and all your stuff for a self-catering weekend - nope.

Original poster
myfingersarenotsogreen · 24/05/2019 10:35

Thanks for your input. DH has now been more reassonable and we’ve had the discussion. The deal breaker is that to fit in we would need to put DC2 (3 and a half) forward facing and DH isn’t happy about that.

There is also the matter of not being able to take the kids bikes etc and it would be a squeeze as we are planning to take watersports kit ( and DD was promised a body board...

DH has just been back to tell me that he has sourced a hire car through our breakdown cover. Happy Days!

OP posts:
Cadsuane · 24/05/2019 10:36

We went Glasgow to Cornwall for a weeks self catering last summer with a Micra. Dh and I with 15 and 18 year old. We also had some of my parents heavy stuff as they were flying. We just bought food when we got there. Might have had difficulty fitting a buggy but you get more boot space by putting stuff in the rear foot well when they have little legs that don't reach the floor.

daisypond · 24/05/2019 10:38

When we owned a car a Micra is what we had- fine for a week away self catering or camping even. A tight squeeze, though.

mumwon · 24/05/2019 10:38

Itcalls for a list of exactly what you need - if your sc place has washing machine - you can cut down a bit only take min food & do food order from local supermarket. DD & her DH go camping & have told me people do food order on campsite (that tickled me!)

BarrenFieldofFucks · 24/05/2019 10:40

What's his solution then? If car isn't available, no hire car...miss the holiday? Fuck that.

bumblingbovine49 · 24/05/2019 10:40

Blimey. I drove to Italy in a mini when I.was younger with 3 adults in the car !!!!. Now that was uncomfortable

Assuming you are not camping and don't newsota of stuff , a Nissan Micra would be absolutely fine for a few hours on the motor way. No way would I waste money on hiring a car

We have a Nissan Note which I appreciate is probably a (tiny) bit bigger but we go camping in it with no trailer ( though we do use a roof rack for that). We only have one teenager but he takes up almost as much room as two smaller children Smile and we drive it everywhere and would never consider it ' too small' for a longer journey

NannyRed · 24/05/2019 10:42

I had a Nissan micra, would go half way round the world on tank of fuel, remind him of the savings you’ll make and tell him to stop being so stubborn.

Acis · 24/05/2019 10:47

Depends how efficient your packing is. My recollection of travelling with small children is that there was always a mountain of stuff and we were literally stuffing bags into every nook and cranny, usually with some on the front seat passenger's lap for good measure. So the Nissan may be a nightmare if that is your situation.

Also bear in mind that this weekend you may well hit traffic queues. If you're assuming 5 hours will be bearable, think about whether 6, 7, 8 hours will be.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 24/05/2019 10:59

I'd be hiring a car for comfort if we could afford it. 5 hours is a long drive...

UCOinanOCG · 24/05/2019 11:06

We used to go on self-catering holidays to caravans in the 60's in a Hillman Imp! 4 of us. We managed just fine. We all take too much stuff with us now (me included).

UCOinanOCG · 24/05/2019 11:09

Hillman Imp for those of you too young to have ever seen one

Me or DH! My car...
minisoksmakehardwork · 24/05/2019 11:12

I'm glad you've sorted it out and sourced a car. But another option would be to ship all the big stuff by courier to your destination.

We looked at this option when, with young twins plus toddler and 4 yo, we travelled to Cornwall. In the end family down there were able to help out but if we had needed our travel cot as well as other stuff, we were going to parcel up and courier our double buggy and travel cot to make space for other stuff in the car.

minisoksmakehardwork · 24/05/2019 11:12
  • the courier was cheaper than a hire care.
Jaxhog · 24/05/2019 11:13

Why on earth would any sane person spend money hiring a car for a there and back journey, when you have a perfectly good car you could use? If you were about to go on a week's touring holiday, then it would justified. Or if it was blazing hot and you had no aircon (maybe).

Op, what reason does your DH give? (Or is it just that he doesn't want his mates to see him driving a little car!)

Jaxhog · 24/05/2019 11:14

Cross post. Glad to see you've found a reasonable solution.

PeoniesarePink · 24/05/2019 11:20

I've got a Mini. I'm very good at packing light and we've done holidays in it.

Glad you got a hire car sorted OP.

GabsAlot · 24/05/2019 11:21

So what does he want to do cancel the holiday- you be hard pressed to find any hire car next week of half term

MancaroniCheese · 24/05/2019 11:21

Is your DH average height or above? I'm 5'10" and need a large car for long journeys.

I used to have a small car, it really was not comfortable after an hour being cramped in it, let alone 5 hours.

GabsAlot · 24/05/2019 11:22

Sorry didnt see your update glad its sorted enjoy your holiday

LakieLady · 24/05/2019 11:22

By the time we had car seats, pram and luggage in it would be cramped and awful! Cars like a micra are only good for journeys in town, never really for long distance.

I had a Mark2 Micra in the 90s, and me and my mate (and dog, and luggage) went from Brighton to Whitley Bay and back in it! It was fine.

My ExH and I used to go camping in it as well, it used to be laden to the gunwhales with stuff (and dog) but we never had any problems, and we did several 300-mile plus journeys in it.

It was an awesome little car, and if some twat hadn't run into the back of it and written it off, I'd probably still be driving it.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 24/05/2019 11:22

We drove from West Wales to North Yorkshire to go camping with a 2 and 4 year old in a Micra. It was fine and my DH is 6' 3"...

CruellaFeinberg · 24/05/2019 11:43

would it be cheaper to get a trailer/roof rack?

if you're taking bikes, you would need a biker rack anyway