Letting other people drive
I love my mom, but I'm not happy. I'm down visiting and the last time I was here I let my dad drive it, since I trust him and I know he's a good driver. He had no problem handling the Z. So then my mom found out and got all mad that I didn't let her drive, and today I could tell she was going to throw a tantrum if I didn't let her. She used to drive stick but hasn't for years, but my dad picked it up like riding a bike. So I took her to a parking lot and the first thing she does is take off with the parking brake engaged... She gets all defensive about it so I let it go. She drove around the lot for a while and then wanted to take some back roads to the grocery store. I figured it was probably fine but I was really uneasy. She manages to get there fine but as she's parking she chooses a spot that's at a sharp angle and slightly uphill. She is approaching too slow and the engine is lugging and somehow we start to roll back so she panics and revs up to like 5-6k with the clutch burning to all hell. I could smell it burning from the inside with the windows closed... Not to mention we were a couple feet away from the curb and she was at 6k and if she would have dropped the clutch we could have rocketed over the curb and hit a tree. I made her clutch in, shift to neutral and turn the car off and then we switched and I drove from then on. She was pretty shaken up and I didn't want to yell because she is pretty sensitive, but the more I think about it the more I'm upset. Oh well.... Guess that teaches me not to let anyone drive the Z.
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2009 Nissan 370Z Touring, w/sport, 6MT, chicane yellow/black.
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