Refusing to drive on a motorway/long distance in a Fiat 500?

[CheeseSandwich1]

What the title says really!

DC’s Dad and I aren’t together. He moved 30 minutes away and now lives in the countryside.
He expects me to drive to his new home but it’s very hilly and is in the arse end of nowhere, I really don’t feel comfortable driving there in my small car. For reference his own Mum also won’t drive there in her small car.

I also really don’t like motorway driving in my car as I feel nervous as it’s so small and I have to put my youngest in the front seat rear facing. This means anywhere the children need to go that includes motorway driving DC’s Dad has to take them.

I can’t afford to upgrade my car at the moment.

DC’s Dad thinks I’m being unreasonable about driving but he has a huge car (I would feel safe if I had his car as the children are all in proper car seats in the middle of back of the car).

AIBU?

I drove a Fiat 500 for years, including from Norfolk to Devon and Norfolk to the Highlands of Scotland on family holidays (with 4 DC and all our luggage also in the car). I wouldn't hesitate to take my 500 on a motorway or long journeys and I do the same now in my Panda.

If he’s moved away and he thinks the drive is fine-why can’t he do it in his big car?

What's the point in having a car if you restrict yourself so much?

Fair enough if you dont like motorway driving in a small car (I say this as someone who has driven north/south and back on motorways in a smart car) but hilly? Seriously?

Why isn't he sharing driving?

If you don’t like hilly rural roads and you
don't like motorways, where exactly will you drive your car?

He needs to collect his own dc...

Of course YAU if your car is roadworthy, as I assume it is if you are putting your DC in it at all. If you are nervous about Mway driving, I suggest that you invest in a few lessons. Fiats can climb hills, if they are in the right gear, and that depends on the driver

The car isn't the problem your lack of confidence is.
It's not far, are you capable of driving safely or not?
Maybe you need to deliver more if you lack so much confidence.

When you said long distance I thought you meant across Europe or something. Half an hour is literally nothing.

He moved away so he should be partially responsible for getting the DC to his home but I think it’s a bit daft to own a car that you’re not actually comfortable driving in all scenarios. I’d feel safer in a larger car but if I felt so unsafe it stopped me from driving certain roads I’d pick a different car

In my opinion it’s irrelevant whether you drive a Fiat 500, a Robin reliant or a Hummer. He moved to the arse end of nowhere then he does the driving.

If you'd told me you didn't want to do a 300 mile drive in poor weather in it, I would have understood. But 30 minutes isn't a "long drive" by any standards.

One of mine drove a Fiat 500 from Miami to Key West last summer. She said it was grand.

Do you literally never take your kids anywhere that requires you going on a motorway?

I would understand if you were talking about the 1970s car. I had one, and they were genuinely terrifying on the motorway.

But not the modern one. Same as a ford Ka underneath. Can't see the issue on the car.

If he moved, he should do the driving.

I wouldn't buy a tiny car like that - there's nothing to protect you in a crash. As you've said, you can't change your car now, but presumably you bought it for low speed, local journeys, which are less likely to end in a significant accident.

No I don’t because my youngest has to go in the front rear facing and I’m so scared about having an accident.

I used to be a really confident motorway driver when I was in a bigger car. My Dad also doesn’t motorway drive due to being in multiple serious accidents so I think his anxiety has rubbed off on me,

30 minutes? It takes me longer to get to work, the supermarket, to see friends- anywhere!

Did you have the car before you had dc?

It was fine when I was only doing local journeys and had a large family car. My Fiat is my first car that I just kept but since the breakup it’s now the only car I have access to.

I did. It’s my first car. I used to use our family car when I was with DC’s Dad.

30 minutes

YANBU. How old are DC?

Are we talking about a proper 1960s Fiat 500 or those nasty modern versions?

Yabu about the motorway driving

Hiweber, if the dc's dad chose to move then the onus is on him to do the driving for contact.

If it went to court they would at most tell you you had to do 1 way or meet half way on both trips.

You need tongetnover your fear. A modern Fiat 500 is perfectly safe, however why is your uoungestnin the front? How many kids do you have.

30 minutes is long distance?! 😂😆🥴

In all seriousness, you are being wildly unreasonable.
You can drive on the motorway and over hills in a Fiat 500.

Maybe it's just me but that seems mad. I'd go insane not being able to travel about with the kids. OP motorways are the roads you are least likely to crash on. Rural A roads are the most dangerous. You are far safer on a motorway than on the majority of other roads.