Is there a tactful way....

[DasBoot]

Originally Posted by jhynesrockmtn

My fiance drives with her dog in her lap. I've tried to mention as subtley as possible that in an accident, if the air bag deploys, she'll have Oscar's insides all over her.

More like Oscar's insides will be inside her. I investigated many accidents where the passenger's knees (kneecaps) went through their lip/jaw/mouth in an airbag incident. These were folks who (used to) enjoy riding with their feet up on the dash.

[9dreizig]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Subscribing!

My wife also often comments that such and such a situation wouldn't be her fault or that, since we're in America, she'd get rich from the lawsuit. I always ask her if being right or winning a judgment will make her feel better when she's in a wheelchair or permanently maimed. She even walks in front of cars in parking lots with the attitude that they'd never hit her because of the lawsuit. I'm truly worried.

Um Rick buddy, you married an oriental woman,,, you didn't really think she could drive did you ?? Element of truth to every stereotype...

[Hawktel]

A girl I was dating won't even wear a seatbelt.

And let me tell you a chick that won't wear a seatbelt doesn't swerve for potholes either.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Give her a big hug. My wife has told me that if I buy a $4-5k Land Cruiser, she will not ride in it nor will she drive it, because it is ugly. Actually, that could be a bonus.

Oh she is a gem that way. She even drove this little runt:

Maybe she's getting back at me for that

Originally Posted by 911pcars

I offer an observation if not a solution to your dilemma.
.....
For the more forward-thinking among us, I think the ideal vehicle for uncoordinated spouses would feature half-track technology from world wars past along with lower body and full coverage under-vehicle shielding made from light weight, carbon-kevlar (or just plain steel as an option) armor-cladding. Upper body pieces, including breakaway door handles and outside mirrors would be made from recyclable milk, egg or Maalox cartons and quickly replaceable using quick-disconnect, Dzus-type fasteners.

All vehicles would have a choice of two colors, a generic off-white or a generic dark brown plastic appearance for low cost maintenance and repairs. Paint surfaces would have a semi-satin to flat finish to reduce glare and increase visibility so drivers can more easily extricate themselves from road construction ditches and just plain ditches found along the highways of America.
...
I'm glad I could help.
Sherwood

That is good stuff, right there. A half-track is a great idea.

Anyway I'm going to wait a few days before I even say anything. The car goes into the shop on Friday for an alignment & check-over. I'll wait until then anyway. If I can't bring it up delicately then, I'll hold off. She's leaving on Tuesday for 10 days in China, don't want her going away and shopping around for a new hubby.

In the meantime I'll clean up the 4runner to make it as appealing as possible. She helped pick it out so she's partial to it anyway.

[911pcars]

Jake,
Will she leave you if you suggest she pay for repeated damage to tires and alignment? If you accidentally break one of her belongings and ask her to replace it, what would she say or expect you to do?

If you're the sole provider in your household, you have less repayment options, but all forms of repayment aren't tangible.

This might end up to be a classic struggle between the sexes. Can we observe in the hope of creating better strategies in our lives? Stay tuned.

Sherwood

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by 911pcars

Jake,
Will she leave you if you suggest she pay for repeated damage to tires and alignment? If you accidentally break one of her belongings and ask her to replace it, what would she say or expect you to do?

If you're the sole provider in your household, you have less repayment options, but all forms of repayment aren't tangible.

This might end up to be a classic struggle between the sexes. Can we observe in the hope of creating better strategies in our lives? Stay tuned.

Sherwood

Well to be clear, it's OUR car, so it's not like I can accuse her of damaging MY possession. The car was paid for jointly, as with just about everything.

Plus, it can be hard to convince someone that they broke something if it seems OK to them. My wife drove the car today and thought it felt great. But it is pulling hard to the right and something is beat in the front & back, probably shocks. Just about anyone here would drive it an agree, but not everyone would. That's a hard gap to bridge.

If anything, spending $$ on repairs will drive her nuts... even if it's split 50/50. She is very, very careful with money and having unplanned car expenses really bothers her, even if I'm doing the work and were just paying for parts. Maybe this "hit" will help tip the scales.

On the upside, the E-class parts are surprisingly reasonable, even compared to our old Jetta.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by Porsche_monkey

Okay, subtlety was never my main attribute:

http://www.discoverychannel.ca/shows/showdetails.aspx?sid=29

Benefits:

1. National recognition
2. She may not win, that would make her feel good
3. She may win, that would make you feel good
4. Going without sex for the next few years will leave you more free time.

Downside:

Can't think of any.

Ha ha, I nominated my MIL for that and got in big s##t

[ChrisBennet]

You're hosed Jake. I feel for you bud.
-Chris

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by ChrisBennet

You're hosed Jake. I feel for you bud.
-Chris

No no, I really am a lucky guy. My intent was not to come off as complaining about my wife, she's a superstar.

The driving thing is an issue though, and I was hoping for some ideas on how to approach it with tact... which I'm sometimes lacking. I figured there must be some PPOTers with similar issues

[livi]

Might save both money and lives in the long run if you just give her taxi money instead.

[lisa_spyder]

I haven't even read past this post....

Originally Posted by notfarnow

I'm starting to wonder if she should just have her own car, and it would be hers to maintain and care for. Could be easier on both of us

DO IT! yes I am female and yes I crack it when MY car gets abused.

Let's put this another way - pulverize your wife's favorite piece of kitchen gagdetry...I dunno, the blender or the food processor. When she screams, liken it to the abuse she gives the car.

Sorry - but even though I am female I SHOW NO MERCY . I even used to scream at my Mum and threaten to charge her for every repair we had to do that could have been avoided on her car for this level of stupidity and laxness.

Would she miss a kid on the road? Well I hope so...maybe the puppy thing needs to be upgraded.

Jeez Jake...we're talking about a 300TD? WTF? They are built like tanks...quit the niceties...your wife's driving sucks...

[repp]

or maybe dont get in car with her ...
could save a lot of headache .heartache?
dependse on how YOU word it or how you say it .........
personally I would let my sister drive my car or back me in a fist fight before i would trust a BRO to take my back personal experience. ask me I know .. hang with a tough crowd ?????? BUTT my wife,girlfriend,mom,bestfriend, drive me around well thats just plain nuts:GOD DAMN NUTS........

[924slover]

im in this situation right now my girlfriend's driving is horrible...i mean i love her but she doesnt seem to see things in the road and then yells at me when i jump or hold on for dear life..........easiest answer get her her own car and make her pay

[artplumber]

Get in, buckle up, close eyes, pretend to be asleep. It's the only way to survive

[DanielDudley]

My wife has destroyed every car I have ever purhcased for her. After the last one got messed up, she rolled it over into an expensive late model car that I will be paying for in the coming years, or taking a serious loss on.

I realized that she would destroy it as well, so I rushed out and bought her a cheap DD. She is not allowed to drive the nice car, and recently she hit an orange barrel with the beater, so I feel quite justified.

The car I now own is worth more than my 911 that I reluctantly sold. Am I bitter ? No, but I would by far rather have a 911 that was paid for than a late model SAAB Aero that I owe on.

The real kicker is that it is in my wife's name, and she hasn't worked in almost ten years. OK, so maybe I'm a teensy bit bitter. My wife bought the car while I was at work BTW. I point blank told her not to.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

...The real kicker is that it is in my wife's name, and she hasn't worked in almost ten years. OK, so maybe I'm a teensy bit bitter. My wife bought the car while I was at work BTW. I point blank told her not to.

Oh boy...and Jake thought he had a problem . Good luck...

[widgeon13]

Their minds work differently than ours (if you haven't already realized that). My wife thinks Porsche's are ugly. I'm not sure she really believes that or just says it to be disagreeable with me because I like them so damn much. Every car I like, she hates. She just wants four wheels and a steering wheel. Sometimes she might even tell me when a red light comes on in the dash. If I'm lucky, she tells me me the day the light comes on! We don't talk much about cars, thank heaven we have other things in common. She likes planes though and she is actually a very good driver, not fast but good.

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

Their minds work differently than ours (if you haven't already realized that). My wife thinks Porsche's are ugly.

My wife thinks they're ugly too... they "look like frogs". More importantly, she doesn't like driving them... finds the bottom hinged pedals awkward and the shifter way to hard to use.

Over on the technical forum, there's a great thread titled "What was porsche thinking when they built the 915 trans?"

A couple years ago, someone called the 915 a "wife deterrent", lol.

[widgeon13]

My wife grew up on a VW Beetle so she doesn't mind the floor hinged pedals, but then again she might not have noticed that either. I won't ask her about that, could start a domestic dispute.

[berettafan]

what happened to saying something along the lines of 'jeebus you drive like sheyat!' ?