Driving a larger car for the first time
Discussion
I’m a novice driver, but enjoy driving, though have only ever driven small cars on the public roads. I’m looking at changing vehicles again. Have had mostly hot hatches and an MX-5, looking at the same old small cars but can’t help thinking if I was to consider something bigger there’d be far more choice. I’m just a bit nervous about driving a larger car.
For those with experience: is size ever a problem? Do you ever have to consider your vehicles size and find it restrictive, or is it really a non-issue? Not talking huge vehicles, just something like a modern saloon or SUV.
I’m not on about parking and such, more about width on country lanes, which is where I do the vast majority of my driving.
Often on a B road I will pass a vehicle coming the other way and think I was OK because I have a small car. If I was in a larger vehicle, surely my left hand side tyres would be driving over the broken road surface and the other crap often found along the edge of a typical country lane.
I’m also wondering about positioning - I’ve done a couple of advanced lessons and often it’s recommended that the car is positioned in a certain way depending on the situation. In a wider car, I can’t really see there being much room for movement within your lane as a lot of larger vehicles are as wide as the lane?
Any comments are welcome. Apologies if this is a silly question.
Thanks.
For those with experience: is size ever a problem? Do you ever have to consider your vehicles size and find it restrictive, or is it really a non-issue? Not talking huge vehicles, just something like a modern saloon or SUV.
I’m not on about parking and such, more about width on country lanes, which is where I do the vast majority of my driving.
Often on a B road I will pass a vehicle coming the other way and think I was OK because I have a small car. If I was in a larger vehicle, surely my left hand side tyres would be driving over the broken road surface and the other crap often found along the edge of a typical country lane.
I’m also wondering about positioning - I’ve done a couple of advanced lessons and often it’s recommended that the car is positioned in a certain way depending on the situation. In a wider car, I can’t really see there being much room for movement within your lane as a lot of larger vehicles are as wide as the lane?
Any comments are welcome. Apologies if this is a silly question.
Thanks.
Never really found it a problem, I just slow down more and stop if necessary. You'll get an idea of the size before long.
Only place it ever was a problem was down narrow bits and meeting another vehicle, in general driving it never bothered me at all.
That said,i started driving Coaches a year or two after passing my car test, so any car seemed small after that!
Only place it ever was a problem was down narrow bits and meeting another vehicle, in general driving it never bothered me at all.
That said,i started driving Coaches a year or two after passing my car test, so any car seemed small after that!
no such thing as a silly question, only silly answers. which you'll likely get a lot of on PH.
but no, going from a small car to a medium sided one shouldnt be a problem. you're right, there is slightly less room to move about in your lane, and you might be fractionally further to the right than before if you're trying to avoid the crud at the edge of the road, but unless you're driving down really narrow roads you'll be fine.
I'd only be slightly concerned if you frequently drive down single lane roads with passing places, then a larger car is generally a harder thing to sneak past.
but no, going from a small car to a medium sided one shouldnt be a problem. you're right, there is slightly less room to move about in your lane, and you might be fractionally further to the right than before if you're trying to avoid the crud at the edge of the road, but unless you're driving down really narrow roads you'll be fine.
I'd only be slightly concerned if you frequently drive down single lane roads with passing places, then a larger car is generally a harder thing to sneak past.
As others have suggested, I think you're over thinking it.
I would just go out and have a go and see how you get on. Obviously take a bit of care but just try and drive normally - you'll probably find you just adjust naturally.
I taught my gf to drive in a polo and then after passing she had to drive either a Honda Accord Tourer or a Land Cruiser 80 series - she got on fine with both and now chooses to drive our Hilux over any of our other cars.
I would just go out and have a go and see how you get on. Obviously take a bit of care but just try and drive normally - you'll probably find you just adjust naturally.
I taught my gf to drive in a polo and then after passing she had to drive either a Honda Accord Tourer or a Land Cruiser 80 series - she got on fine with both and now chooses to drive our Hilux over any of our other cars.
Have you ever hired a van? They are large and I don’t usually have a problem driving them.
I’d much sooner have a small car if I can though - generally speaking and all other things equal, they go, stop and handle better, use less fuel, are easier on consumables and are easier to park.
I’d much sooner have a small car if I can though - generally speaking and all other things equal, they go, stop and handle better, use less fuel, are easier on consumables and are easier to park.
IMO size isn't even the most relevant metric, it's more the ability to judge or see where the extremities of the car are. I've owned several larger vehicles where I felt I knew exactly where the sides and corners were and I've also driven some smaller vehicles that were much harder to see or judge where you are. Big Pillars, small windows and more curvy bodywork can have far more of a bearing than just size.
I find larger cars a problem on Victorian London streets. Country lanes and motorways were completely fine in Transits, BMW 3 Series etc.
I settled on a VW Golf living in central london. Mainly for ease of finding on street parking. The vast majority of cars in the UK are Fiesta and Focus size, and so were the on street parking spaces. I had to drive past quite a few in a 3 Series. The Golf fewer. My neighbour had a XC90, I could easily park in spaces he couldn’t slot into.
Also agree with Jimbob about car shape. Boxy SUV shapes are generally easier than saloons. A 3 Series and Tesla Model Y are similar dimensions, but I found the Model Y much easier to thread down narrow lanes and park because of its shape, it was much easier to judge the extremities. The 3 series you’d want all round parking sensors at the very least, if not a 360 camera setup.
I settled on a VW Golf living in central london. Mainly for ease of finding on street parking. The vast majority of cars in the UK are Fiesta and Focus size, and so were the on street parking spaces. I had to drive past quite a few in a 3 Series. The Golf fewer. My neighbour had a XC90, I could easily park in spaces he couldn’t slot into.
Also agree with Jimbob about car shape. Boxy SUV shapes are generally easier than saloons. A 3 Series and Tesla Model Y are similar dimensions, but I found the Model Y much easier to thread down narrow lanes and park because of its shape, it was much easier to judge the extremities. The 3 series you’d want all round parking sensors at the very least, if not a 360 camera setup.
Edited by wyson on Friday 5th August 15:30
wyson said:
Also agree with Jimbob about car shape. Boxy SUV shapes are generally easier than saloons. A 3 Series and Tesla Model Y are similar dimensions, but I found the Model Y much easier to thread down narrow lanes and park because of its shape, it was much easier to judge the extremities. The 3 series you’d want all round parking sensors at the very least, if not a 360 camera setup.
I agree with you on boxy shapes being easier but a quick Google suggests that a Model Y is actually wider than an even a 7 series never mind a 3 series! I've not driven a Y but our similarly wide Model 3 is the only car in years that i've kerbed the alloys on. It's much wider than it feels from the driver's seat.
Op is going about it all in the right way.
OP are you doing IAM or RoSPA advanced driving lessons? If not for about £80 and I believe less if a new driver and under 21 cheaper still! Your "observed" drives would be free then and a test at the end of it.
I have had a "large" car since 1999 (V70 Volvo) That died recently and both me and the wife like a bigger car so it has been replaced by a Volvo S80 which feels bigger still.
I found our old V70 easier to reverse than our smaller cars, with better all round viz.
Parking them in car parks is a pain as they eat up the room both sides and stick out a bit, so expect some twit to scuff your bumpers.
Bigger cars make life easier too in that you have more versatility. Go to the dump, go out posh, get suitcases in easily more comfortable on a long run.
On narrow roads they are not so much fun, but plan ahead, if you see road is narrowing, slow or stop where it is wider for other vehicle to get past. If they then hit you it is their fault as you gave way, stationary, so what could you do? Remember where passing places are as you may have to reverse up to one.
sometimes you find the bigger you are the more likely someone may give way to you....but don't count on it!
I also have an MX5 and found my V70 easier to manoeuvre!! (just didn't corner as good!)
I miss my V70 as today couldn't get my lawn mower in the S80 to take to repair shop!
Stay for a car/estate not an SUV they are just bigger yet have less space in them.
OP are you doing IAM or RoSPA advanced driving lessons? If not for about £80 and I believe less if a new driver and under 21 cheaper still! Your "observed" drives would be free then and a test at the end of it.
I have had a "large" car since 1999 (V70 Volvo) That died recently and both me and the wife like a bigger car so it has been replaced by a Volvo S80 which feels bigger still.
I found our old V70 easier to reverse than our smaller cars, with better all round viz.
Parking them in car parks is a pain as they eat up the room both sides and stick out a bit, so expect some twit to scuff your bumpers.
Bigger cars make life easier too in that you have more versatility. Go to the dump, go out posh, get suitcases in easily more comfortable on a long run.
On narrow roads they are not so much fun, but plan ahead, if you see road is narrowing, slow or stop where it is wider for other vehicle to get past. If they then hit you it is their fault as you gave way, stationary, so what could you do? Remember where passing places are as you may have to reverse up to one.
sometimes you find the bigger you are the more likely someone may give way to you....but don't count on it!
I also have an MX5 and found my V70 easier to manoeuvre!! (just didn't corner as good!)
I miss my V70 as today couldn't get my lawn mower in the S80 to take to repair shop!
Stay for a car/estate not an SUV they are just bigger yet have less space in them.
brillomaster said:
no such thing as a silly question, only silly answers. which you'll likely get a lot of on PH.
but no, going from a small car to a medium sided one shouldnt be a problem. you're right, there is slightly less room to move about in your lane, and you might be fractionally further to the right than before if you're trying to avoid the crud at the edge of the road, but unless you're driving down really narrow roads you'll be fine.
I'd only be slightly concerned if you frequently drive down single lane roads with passing places, then a larger car is generally a harder thing to sneak past.
Good advice there but no, going from a small car to a medium sided one shouldnt be a problem. you're right, there is slightly less room to move about in your lane, and you might be fractionally further to the right than before if you're trying to avoid the crud at the edge of the road, but unless you're driving down really narrow roads you'll be fine.
I'd only be slightly concerned if you frequently drive down single lane roads with passing places, then a larger car is generally a harder thing to sneak past.
Many thanks for all of the replies - really appreciated!
The shape of the vehicle not the size being the relevant thing makes perfect sense. Don’t laugh but I drove an Abarth 595 (Fiat 500) and couldn’t see the front of the car from the drivers seat so found that was harder to park than the MX5 with its long bonnet as in the Mazda I could at least see where the bonnet was!
Majorslow - I’ve only done a bit on an informal basis with someone who is ex police but I am looking into something more official - like you say either ROSPA or IAM. Sadly I’m not under 21, I learnt to drive later on in life, but still think the prices are very attractive. Also maybe a session with Reg Local if he’s still dong them as I’ve watched all his videos and learnt a huge amount.
Thanks again all.
The shape of the vehicle not the size being the relevant thing makes perfect sense. Don’t laugh but I drove an Abarth 595 (Fiat 500) and couldn’t see the front of the car from the drivers seat so found that was harder to park than the MX5 with its long bonnet as in the Mazda I could at least see where the bonnet was!
Majorslow - I’ve only done a bit on an informal basis with someone who is ex police but I am looking into something more official - like you say either ROSPA or IAM. Sadly I’m not under 21, I learnt to drive later on in life, but still think the prices are very attractive. Also maybe a session with Reg Local if he’s still dong them as I’ve watched all his videos and learnt a huge amount.
Thanks again all.
The only other thing I would add to all the above good advice is something I've noticed which is the difference between my own daily and daughter's much smaller car, namely bonnet length.
Emerging from the entrance to an industrial estate we both regularly visit or turning right at a mini roundabout where both situations have a restricted view to the right then it's possible to get a good observation of traffic coming from the right much earlier in the small car. The bigger car you have to take extra care which can involve gradually nudging the nose out a little bit over the give way lines in order to get anything of a line of sight.
Side point, and yes you in the white Jag XF I do see you just driving straight out so the give way lines are half way down the driver's door aperture. How you've never yet been collected still amazes me.
Emerging from the entrance to an industrial estate we both regularly visit or turning right at a mini roundabout where both situations have a restricted view to the right then it's possible to get a good observation of traffic coming from the right much earlier in the small car. The bigger car you have to take extra care which can involve gradually nudging the nose out a little bit over the give way lines in order to get anything of a line of sight.
Side point, and yes you in the white Jag XF I do see you just driving straight out so the give way lines are half way down the driver's door aperture. How you've never yet been collected still amazes me.
Snow and Rocks said:
I agree with you on boxy shapes being easier but a quick Google suggests that a Model Y is actually wider than an even a 7 series never mind a 3 series!
I've not driven a Y but our similarly wide Model 3 is the only car in years that i've kerbed the alloys on. It's much wider than it feels from the driver's seat.
I’ve only sat in a Model 3 and Kia EV6. I found it hard to judge the extremities on both those cars so didn’t bother to test drive them. Didn’t realise a Model Y was wider than a 7 series. It didn’t feel like it from the drivers seat.I've not driven a Y but our similarly wide Model 3 is the only car in years that i've kerbed the alloys on. It's much wider than it feels from the driver's seat.
My uncle drives a 7 series extended wheelbase. That thing feels massive from the passenger seat. Would hate to drive one of those round Central London streets.
In the narrow width restrictions down my road, the larger cars fold in their mirrors or they wont fit through.
To help with a larger size car, electric folding mirrors and 360 degree birds eye cameras can help a lot as can rear wheel steer. I was behind a new Range Rover with rear wheel steer in a tight multi storey car park. I was amazed how well it could turn. It didn’t seem ‘natural’, that something that large was as manoeuvrable as my Golf.
Also the positioning thing, that’s one of the things I dropped after passing my IAM. Most of the time, at normal road speeds it makes very little difference but puts you in danger of placing your wheels on detritus on the road. I can see it making a difference at blues and twos speeds for emergency services drivers however. I only really apply it for tight motorway exits that spiral round and have very little visibility.
In your test, if you have a larger car and there is no room to move over to the sides, you can mention it in your commentary. Something like, ‘no space to position to the left, maintaining course’. They will be totally fine with that.
To help with a larger size car, electric folding mirrors and 360 degree birds eye cameras can help a lot as can rear wheel steer. I was behind a new Range Rover with rear wheel steer in a tight multi storey car park. I was amazed how well it could turn. It didn’t seem ‘natural’, that something that large was as manoeuvrable as my Golf.
Also the positioning thing, that’s one of the things I dropped after passing my IAM. Most of the time, at normal road speeds it makes very little difference but puts you in danger of placing your wheels on detritus on the road. I can see it making a difference at blues and twos speeds for emergency services drivers however. I only really apply it for tight motorway exits that spiral round and have very little visibility.
In your test, if you have a larger car and there is no room to move over to the sides, you can mention it in your commentary. Something like, ‘no space to position to the left, maintaining course’. They will be totally fine with that.
Edited by wyson on Saturday 6th August 09:25
you might be surprised trying out different cars. I have just gone from a massively lifted/wider L200 pickup to a passat estate. I couldnt see ANYTHING out the back of the truck yet i could reverse park it into any gap and the towball would be between 3 and 10mm off whatever was behind - never touched anything. But reversing the passat is comedy - i think I'm there and its 3 feet away! Just not used to it yet... will get much easier as I do it more. Same for you whatever yo drive.
Something to bear in mind - while larger cars are longer, they aren’t hugely wider. Google suggests a 5 series is around 15cm wider than a Fiesta. So, call it 8cm wider each side - not too bad really.
When you move to a larger car you'll find you adapt quite quickly. It shouldn’t be a problem, but take it carefully at first.
When you move to a larger car you'll find you adapt quite quickly. It shouldn’t be a problem, but take it carefully at first.
DriveForFun said:
I’m also wondering about positioning - I’ve done a couple of advanced lessons and often it’s recommended that the car is positioned in a certain way depending on the situation. In a wider car, I can’t really see there being much room for movement within your lane as a lot of larger vehicles are as wide as the lane?
Yes - and/but - don't forget you can (and, I would argue, should) move your head as well as the car. It's going to increase your line of sight. That means more information for planning. E.g. for a right hand corner, move the car a foot to the nearside (assuming no side entrances on the left, etc. etc.), and move your head to the left too. JimbobVFR said:
IMO size isn't even the most relevant metric, it's more the ability to judge or see where the extremities of the car are. I've owned several larger vehicles where I felt I knew exactly where the sides and corners were and I've also driven some smaller vehicles that were much harder to see or judge where you are. Big Pillars, small windows and more curvy bodywork can have far more of a bearing than just size.
This x100 my older range rover is easy as is is slab sided and has large windows. My old slk was way harder as visibility wasn't great and the sloped bodywork meant you had to guess where your corners where.Majorslow said:
Op is going about it all in the right way.
OP are you doing IAM or RoSPA advanced driving lessons? If not for about £80 and I believe less if a new driver and under 21 cheaper still! Your "observed" drives would be free then and a test at the end of it.
I have had a "large" car since 1999 (V70 Volvo) That died recently and both me and the wife like a bigger car so it has been replaced by a Volvo S80 which feels bigger still.
I found our old V70 easier to reverse than our smaller cars, with better all round viz.
Parking them in car parks is a pain as they eat up the room both sides and stick out a bit, so expect some twit to scuff your bumpers.
Bigger cars make life easier too in that you have more versatility. Go to the dump, go out posh, get suitcases in easily more comfortable on a long run.
On narrow roads they are not so much fun, but plan ahead, if you see road is narrowing, slow or stop where it is wider for other vehicle to get past. If they then hit you it is their fault as you gave way, stationary, so what could you do? Remember where passing places are as you may have to reverse up to one.
sometimes you find the bigger you are the more likely someone may give way to you....but don't count on it!
I also have an MX5 and found my V70 easier to manoeuvre!! (just didn't corner as good!)
I miss my V70 as today couldn't get my lawn mower in the S80 to take to repair shop!
Stay for a car/estate not an SUV they are just bigger yet have less space in them.
IAM course is £175 not £80. However, many local groups have special deals for young drivers, eg, my local group (Gloucestershire) has a number of the IAM course FOC for under 26s.OP are you doing IAM or RoSPA advanced driving lessons? If not for about £80 and I believe less if a new driver and under 21 cheaper still! Your "observed" drives would be free then and a test at the end of it.
I have had a "large" car since 1999 (V70 Volvo) That died recently and both me and the wife like a bigger car so it has been replaced by a Volvo S80 which feels bigger still.
I found our old V70 easier to reverse than our smaller cars, with better all round viz.
Parking them in car parks is a pain as they eat up the room both sides and stick out a bit, so expect some twit to scuff your bumpers.
Bigger cars make life easier too in that you have more versatility. Go to the dump, go out posh, get suitcases in easily more comfortable on a long run.
On narrow roads they are not so much fun, but plan ahead, if you see road is narrowing, slow or stop where it is wider for other vehicle to get past. If they then hit you it is their fault as you gave way, stationary, so what could you do? Remember where passing places are as you may have to reverse up to one.
sometimes you find the bigger you are the more likely someone may give way to you....but don't count on it!
I also have an MX5 and found my V70 easier to manoeuvre!! (just didn't corner as good!)
I miss my V70 as today couldn't get my lawn mower in the S80 to take to repair shop!
Stay for a car/estate not an SUV they are just bigger yet have less space in them.
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