Help..I'm scared of my new SUV!

[Brier Rose]

OK, believe it or not, even with the ever increasing gas prices we just bought a new Nissan Armada Le. Stupid me did not drive it before we bought it. I rode in it with my DH and the salesman, but I don't even like to drive, much less something new, with an audience.

So, I drove it for the first time today, and I hated it! I had a mini van, and thought..how different can it be? Apparently very!

Honestly, it scares me to death..I feel like I'm driving a camper! Anybody else have this trouble adjusting at first?

Any tips?

 

[luvindisneyworld]

It takes awhile to get use to it,but once you do you will Love it.It will be hard to ever go with something diffrent.I feel much safer in an SUV.I did trade mine and got an Accord,now thats a diffrence.

The Armada is a nice vehicle,dont worry you will Love it.

 

[the kabuki]

Went from a car (Bonneville) to an SUV few years back, it took about a week to get adjusted. Always felt like I was going to tip the thing when I turned. It's a bumpier ride than a car too. But now I could never go back to a car. Drove SIL's the other day and felt like I was in a go-cart or one of the mini clown cars they drive at the circus. Just felt to closed in.

 

[ChristmasElf]

Don't worry you will get used to it. A mini van drives like a car because it is on a car frame. A SUV sits higher off the ground and moist are on a truck frame and drive a little harder like a truck would.
Eventually you will no doubt love it. I love mine and I don't think I would ever want to drive a car on a regular basis again, as I love the fact that I am sitting higher and can see more.
Happy driving!

 

[Brier Rose]

Thanks everybody!
I know you all are right, I'm just still really nervous right now. My first attempt at driving it tonight was going through a drive through, and it was just so nerve racking!

I know I'll grow to like it, but have to admit my mini van did ride better. This suits my DH better though, he's very tall..6'4, and he wanted something to pull a boat, so he's well pleased.

Maybe I'll make some laps around a parking lot somewhere for practice. UGH! don't even wanna think about parking!

 

[luvmydogs]

A friend of mine went from a Town & Country minivan to an Expedition--and she's so teenie, she looked like such a pixie behind the wheel! Eventually she got used to it, and it was hilarious seeing this petite little woman manhandling that big boy Expedition!

 

[Sleepy]

I thought I was driving a bus the first time I drove my Durango. However, now I feel more comfortable in it than a regular car. Even around here, where all cars are the size of a Ford Escort, I prefer my Durango because I know it. I know how much space I need to get through traffic and I know how it handles depending on the road conditions. I don't want to drive anything else.....not even my husbands Honda Civic hatchback. I never want to get rid of my SUV.

 

[2BigKIdz]

My husband has a Nissan Titan (it's the same frame as the Armada). It took a little while to adjust to driving it and I drive a Pathfinder. Once I got used to it I like driving it, but I will NEVER try to park it in a parking garage. Just give yourself a few weeks and you will love it.

 

[Martha7]

I drive the Lexus GX470, and love the way it sits up so high! If yours is anything like it, you'll be thrilled not to be stuck at home in bad weather conditions. If you live in an area prone to flooding, your SUV will raise you up out of the water, and if you're in snow, you'll still have the weight and control to maneuver. My best friend from childhood got snowed in at the airport in Detroit, called us, and we drove the half hour in to pick her up to stay the weekend with us. It was effortless in the GX. Lots of other cars were going off the road! Just be patient for a few weeks for you to adjust to it, and I think you'll be fine!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Maybe this will help you....It is not a "car" but a fancy truck. The SUV's of today ride way better than when they first came out.

You will get used to it. I drive a YUKON. As far as parking sometimes I just don't pull up far enough in parking spaces and stick out too far.

I would rather drive a car but here in Texas most people have SUV's and trucks. I just don't feel safe.

 

[snoopy]

You do get used to it. After you get used to it, though, its hard to go back to driving a car.

 

[grlpwrd]

I'm thinking of getting one... if you don't mind me asking.... how many does it seat and what do you think of it in terms of storage, spaciousness, and repair record? I know it might be too soon regarding the repair record, but I haven't found anything online besides Consumer Reports and Edmunds because they are relatively new.

I guess it will take time to get used to it because it's huge. Be safe!

 

[FroggyinArk]

A friend of mine went from a Town & Country minivan to an Expedition--and she's so teenie, she looked like such a pixie behind the wheel! Eventually she got used to it, and it was hilarious seeing this petite little woman manhandling that big boy Expedition!

dw who is 5 ft and less than 115 lbs went from a toyota tacoma pu to a chevy suburban now she drives a blazer

 

[Brier Rose]

I'm thinking of getting one... if you don't mind me asking.... how many does it seat and what do you think of it in terms of storage, spaciousness, and repair record? I know it might be too soon regarding the repair record, but I haven't found anything online besides Consumer Reports and Edmunds because they are relatively new.

I guess it will take time to get used to it because it's huge. Be safe!

We have the captains chairs with center console in the middle for the second row, versus the split bench, and then the bench seat for the third row, so it seats 7.

As far as storage goes, that really depends. If you are using all three rows, there is NO storage, but the second and third rows fold completly flat into the floor, so you could have tons and tons of storage...if that makes since.

We will only use our full third row when we have other people riding with us, so when it's just us going on a trip, we'll fold the third row down, and have plenty of room for our luggage.

As far as the repair record goes, obviously it's still too early to tell, but my step-dad has never owned anything but Nissan, and has always been well pleased.

They do offer an extended warrenty to go beyond the normal 3years/36,000 miles one, but we didn't take it.

From all of the research I did online, it seems to get pretty high marks...let's hope so!

 

[inaminute]

Honestly, it scares me to death..I feel like I'm driving a camper! Anybody else have this trouble adjusting at first?

Yup. I was not too sure I liked our first SUV the first time I drove it. My DH did the test drive, and I got to drive it home from the dealership. It was scary and I couldn't wait to get out of it! It sits up higher and was bigger than any car I'd driven in the past. I felt way out of my driving comfort zone.

Fortunately, it took only a couple more times driving it for me to fall in love with it. I also played with the seat settings until they were exactly right. That made a big difference.

I'll never go back to a regular car again. As a matter of fact, we needed a second car and bought a slightly bigger SUV. I love my SUV's!

 

[Dan Murphy]

.....Any tips?

If you don't get used to it, you can always convert it........

 

[Kimberly]

The Armada is a monster of a truck. I aren't they the largest SUV's on the market?

 

[Christine]

Hey, do you live in Virginia and were you just out on the road about an hour ago?

I just got back from the grocery store and I was behind an Armada. It was a left hand turn lane and when the light turned green, the Armada drive could hardly make the turn and was going at a snail's pace! I had read this thread earlier this morning so I had a good chuckle when I was behind the Armada thinking "well, Brier Rose isn't the ONLY one with this problem!"

 

[Kimberly]

Hey, do you live in Virginia and were you just out on the road about an hour ago?

I just got back from the grocery store and I was behind an Armada. It was a left hand turn lane and when the light turned green, the Armada drive could hardly make the turn and was going at a snail's pace! I had read this thread earlier this morning so I had a good chuckle when I was behind the Armada thinking "well, Brier Rose isn't the ONLY one with this problem!"

One of my neighbors has one. My car (a Mini Cooper S) is only about as tall as the bumper for that car. Literally.

 

[PrincessTori]

I've read several on here posting that once driving an SUV that they would never want another car. Thats not true for everyone. We had a Dodge Durango that I really loved. We had leased it and when the lease was up my husband wanted something sporty. So we bought a Altima SER. After owning this car I would never want another SUV. The handling of the SER is awesome! We drove my parents Tahoe to Miami last year, and I never felt safe in it, so I personally don't get the "safer in a SUV" thing. Some do though, so to each his own. Just wanted to post that not everyone becomes the once a suv always a suv person.

Give yourself some time though, the Aramada, or Flotilla as we jokingly call it, is a large vehicle. You will be driving it without a problem in no time.

BTW Kimberly, I would love to have a Mini Cooper S. We test drove one and I loved it! Have you taken in long road trips in it? Sorry to thread jack, just curious how the car would do on a long trip. We knew for our family of three travel may be an issue in it, but for my everyday local car....Vroom Vroom. Love those cars.