Cars you just don't get used to.

[Jonny69]

I've owned my Anglia for about 7 years now and been driving it for about 3 of those years. I recently got it back on the road and as soon as I got back in it even though it had different seats I felt totally at home and comfortable with it. I took it up the road, gave it some stick and I felt totally comfortable doing so.

My girlfriend's car I've probably done just as many miles in it. We've had it for 3 or so years and it's been an infill car while mine have been off the road etc so I've used it for social and commuting, lanes, town and motorway so I should be totally at ease when driving it. Well the odd thing is I've been driving my Anglia now for 3 weeks. I haven't gone that far but as soon as I get back in the Renault it feels totally alien to me. I have no perception of its size, I can't judge its speed properly and I keep messing up where the basic controls are like the indicators.

So I may drive this car for a few weeks and get used to it again and go out for one short journey in my Ford Pop (really old classic car for those that don't know it), and this will completely mess me up again in Renault.

Does anyone else get this? I just cannot get used to the Renault.

[Burble]

I get the same thing. In the course of my job I drive a lot of different hire cars and some I get on with, some I don't. I have the cars anything from 12 hours to two weeks depending how long I am working abroad so you could say that I don't drive them long enough to form a reasonable opinion but I can tell within 5 minutes if I am going to get on with a car or not.

Take the hire car I had last week for example - a Peugeot 807. Physically the thing is massive but it felt very cramped from the drivers seat and I couldn't get the seat into a position where I felt comfortable. Externally it didn't feel as big as it actually was so I was having to allow more space than I thought I would and my spatial awareness is pretty good, especially when I'm behind the wheel.

So yeah, I just couldn't get used to it.

[Dr. Z]

Not come across this yet, but I might not have driven as many cars as you. After about 10 minutes behind the wheel of any car and I am sorted, although some cars are more natural than others (thinking particularly of cars with offset pedals being a bit more odd at first).

I was pretty immersed immediately in my 5 series (but that was coming from a 3 series after a few weeks in a Ka) and I had a similar feeling in MB's MINI, just immediately felt "right" to drive but no car has ever felt really "wrong" at first. *shrug*

[Zirax]

Well I've had a couple of cars that I really haven't liked. One was a brand new Fiesta and the other was a Clio. The Fiesta's seats were too small (length wise) as they only came to mid thigh before ending. It felt like you were perched on the seat. You turned the steering and *something* happened which turned the corner. The other was the Clio. Hated the clutch from the get go. Granted it was fairly fun throwing it around but the ride was too bouncy for me to live with.

I moan about it, but the Focus was a yes car after 10 mins. Nice mixture of being able to cruise on motorways and then throw it around the back roads. That being said, it will snap given the chance on the edge, very little warning. Mine needs more poke as at 118bhp ish ? (1.8) its rather boring.

The other was a mk1 mr2. I know what I like. Again 10 mins and eye opening speeds later and I knew I needed one. Just felt right is the best way I'd describe it.

[Darrin]

I'm the same way Johnny. Say what you like about Dodge Neons, but that 2001 that I had was a driver's car. As soon as we got the identical car for my wife this year, I knew I hadn't been wrong.

No, it doesn't compare in any way to the RX-7 for performance, but the seating position, controls position, the handling (steering, braking, road feel) are all spot on. Yes, it's gutless as hell, but give it another 50-100 bhp and I'd be all over any track you throw me at with it.

My Jeep is much the same way. Except for different reasons. It corners like an arctic with three flat tyres, Acceleration is anemic to say the least, and standing on the brakes makes you feel like you're on the upswing of a teeter-totter. But get it off road and it's a whole different story. I've never seen an SUV crank over almost on its side and still be fully controllable like my Jeep is. And traction? Even the old Toyota in Minnesota couldn't compare. This thing is a BEAST on snow and ice. I have yet to lose traction taking off, and the only time I actually got tyres to go a different speed than the vehicle was when some idiot tried to come sliding in my driver's door. The comfort level on this thing exceeds Lazy-Boy recliners and the sheer amount of toys included stock is staggering for a 1995.


And then there was that thing my dad gave us. The red Dodge Neon. Yes, it took off like a raped ape on a bit hit of acid, yes it would corner like it had a grappling hook tied to a telephone poll. Yes, it hugged the road like the reverse idea of a mag-lev train. But it was noisy, cheap, and there was no way in hell I could get comfortable in it. The seats were in the weirdest position, the controls were all screwy, the mirror visibility sucked, and no matter what I did there was a severe amount of engine vibration that came through the steering wheel in the 4,800-5,500 RPM range. The only reason I ever really liked that car was because of the memory of my father. If it hadn't been his, I would have sold that thing the first moment we had clear ownership of it.

[Glaucus]

LDV Vans. I shudder when ever our transit has to go in for a service. You can never get use to the driving position and feel.