My thoughts re: daily driving a big car for the first time.

"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
05/04/2016 at 11:36 • Filed to: None

My Q45 is 199 inches long, or 16.5 feet. That’s 2 feet longer than a contemporary Honda Civic and over 3 feet longer than an NB Miata. Sure, it could be a little larger as far as late nineties executive sedans go, but it’s still pretty damn big. Parking, making tight turns, and driving down narrow roads are all more challenging than they would be in a normal car.

Not that I’m complaining. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to drive a big luxobarge, and now I know. I find these small issues amusing more than anything else. It’s all part of the experience, which is exactly what I’m here for; my favorite thing about cars is that they’re all so different, so there’s always something new to explore.

My friends refer to me as a “parking enthusiast” because I back into most spots I come across and I get a kick out of seeing how straight/close to the back end of the parking spot I can get on the first try. Backing up is definitely more difficult than it was in my old 635csi, which was a typical 80s BMW greenhouse:

I really like the C pillars on my current car. The angle, the width, and the way they flow into the shoulder line are some of the most unique aspects of the Y33 Q45. That said, they are HUGE. Not just big compared to the ones on my old BMW. They’re much larger than many of the C pillars you’ll find on modern cars. This makes reversing into tight spaces or checking my blind spot extra difficult. You can hide a small car behind those things!

More difficult than backing up though is making sure I fit in the parking spot. If it’s a smaller space, there’s a good chance that the nose of the car will be sticking out. That’s worsened by the fact that the c pillars and giant, downward sloping trunk make it harder to judge where the end of the car is. I’m usually overcautious, and end up leaving too much space behind me. I can’t believe there are millions of Americans who drive pickup trucks every day - they’re even larger, and even more difficult to see out of. Why anyone would subject themselves to an even more extreme version of my “too long/too wide” situation is beyond me!

Tight turns are also a problem. The long wheelbase does help soak up the bumps, but you pay for it when you’re taking on a tight turn from a stop or a curb-lined drive through. Occasionally, I misjudge my angle and either ride up on the corner of a curb/snowbank, or have to back up a little and try again. I’ve only curbed a wheel once though, so 99% of the time I just think it’s funny.

Narrow back roads are a little stressful too. Between the body roll and the extra width that come with driving a big old barge, they aren’t as fun as they should be. Passing another big car is stressful and in the winter, I often had two wheels on the pavement and two wheels in the snow. Not good!

My next car will hopefully be the exact opposite of this one. I love my Q and all of its quirks, which I will hopefully deal with for a long time if it continues to be a reliable daily driver. That said, I do miss driving a smaller 2-door with a manual transmission, especially in the city. Maybe I will pick up something like an NA Miata as a summer car in the near future? That would be SO much fun.

DISCUSSION (21)

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/04/2016 at 12:01

I didn’t realize the Q45 was so long ! It’s only like 4 inches shorter than my S600. I find that the W220 is actually pretty narrow for a big car, and with my seating position, has great visibility out the back. That being said, with my always super heavy steering and 10 foot wheelbase tight lots are a bitch. Also, ABC does a remarkable job of keeping the big girl flat. I also want a NA Miata for a runabout summer car. Nice write up !

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/04/2016 at 12:08

16.5 feet? That’s cute. Almost like driving a smart car.

I see your 16.5 feet and raise you 19.5 feet.

Kinja'd!!!

blacktruck18 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
05/04/2016 at 12:22

Dammit beat me to it.

blacktruck18 > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/04/2016 at 12:33

I saw Luc already posted his, but 16.5 feet, calm down little fella.

Kinja'd!!!

You probably need Opera windows to help with c-pillar visibility.

Kinja'd!!!

I always forget how cool this generation of Q45's are until I see one, your’s looks super clean.

Rock Bottom > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/04/2016 at 12:50

I guess 16.5 feet qualifies as a big-ish car... I didn’t drive anything smaller than 18.5 feet until about 1996... and my 1977 Oldsmobile 98 (like the one below) was smaller than many of my friends’ cars. Hell, 1977 was the year GM downsized these! They were a foot longer in 1976. Right there with the biggest Lincolns, and one of the standard high school parking lot cars until the mid/late 90s. Sure, the richer kids were all driving new Berettas and LeBarons, but a lot of us had to figure out how to manage several tons of rust and emissions equipment without balling it up too bad. I miss the day of high-school land yachting!

Kinja'd!!!

Noah - Now with more boost. > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
05/04/2016 at 13:16

That’s HUGE.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Rock Bottom
05/04/2016 at 13:17

I need to own a big 70s yacht at some point, they are ice cold cool

Noah - Now with more boost. > blacktruck18
05/04/2016 at 13:20

Big Lincolns are awesome, I love the opera window with the logo. My car photographs well but she’s really a 20 footer lol. Cleaner than most nineties barges are at this point but I still have a lot to do!

Rock Bottom > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/04/2016 at 13:22

They really are. I’ve always had a soft spot for the big Lincolns (like Luc’s car), but all of the American companies built some monstrosities in the 70s! The amazing thing is how small the interiors are compared to cars today. My Oldsmobile probably had a smaller interior than a Fusion or Malibu, despite being big enough to pit the newer cars in it’s trunk.

Noah - Now with more boost. > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
05/04/2016 at 13:22

Thanks! And ooo that ABC sounds interesting, I have an anti body roll button (it says “sport” on it but that’s a lie) which tightens a valve in the dampers to make them a little stiffer - but they’re shot hahah

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/04/2016 at 13:24

I’ll take it when you’re done with it.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/04/2016 at 13:24

Lol you'd don't want ABC. Since I bought the car a year ago I've paid like $4000 fixing it

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
05/04/2016 at 13:24

Mine’s 203.3"

Noah - Now with more boost. > Rock Bottom
05/04/2016 at 13:25

The interiors are still amazing though! The crazy fabric patterns, the oddly shaped steering wheels, and those 3 foot long door straps!! Do want, must have

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/04/2016 at 13:26

As is mine lol

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
05/04/2016 at 13:29

*high fives*

Noah - Now with more boost. > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/04/2016 at 13:41

hahah deal! but hopefully it will get VIP’d out and I’ll keep it for a while, that’d be awesome

Noah - Now with more boost. > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
05/04/2016 at 13:42

hahahah omg I paid 4400 for my entire car...

blacktruck18 > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/04/2016 at 15:05

I have always thought big Lincolns and Cadillacs are awesome and I happened to stumble across this and had to get it.

Good luck cleaning it up, keeping up older normal(ish) cars like that is awesome to me. If I ever win the lottery I will probably have one super car and 100 super clean old normal cars.

Jagvar > Noah - Now with more boost.
05/06/2016 at 16:45

You have a Y33 ? Oh my God, I love those things. Sexy as hell.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Jagvar
05/06/2016 at 17:00

She says thanks! I feel the same way about Phaetons, I’ve only seen a few and I flip out every time. It’s been an awesome car so far, I love it. It’s cleaner than most are at this point (though I think someone on Oppo has a Y33 with like 70k miles on it!?) but I still have a ton of work to do. More pics here if you’re curious:

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/1999-q45-oppo-…