Aaaand relax....
 

I've had a fraught week due to the wife's car being in for body repair and her requirement to use mine for work for 7 workdays. I finally got her A4 back yesterday and washed and checked over my 8 last night, gladly finding nothing scratched / dented / marked +++

I had the sense to set her fingerprint up before she started using it which removed the need for her to understand the start-up process when using the key and meant it stayed in her bag rather than being in her hand when she opened and closed the door, like they do ;)

She's only driven it a few times in the time I've owned it, usually back from a night out, so I was apprehensive as I'm sure you can imagine. Equally, she knew I was apprehensive so has taken extra care when parking, warming up and avoiding kerbs, bless her.

It leads me to the question, do your wives / partners have regular use of your 8's and does it become easier over time, or are most for the exclusive use by yourselves and only used by A N Other only when essential?

Mrs Peach is more than welcome do drive the S8 (I trust her implicitly), however she simply refuses. I had to take her Jeep to work a couple of weeks ago to get a new battery and parking sensors fitted by a local auto electrician and she insisted on getting a lift to work from a friend rather than drive mine. Shame really, I'd like her to have a go, but she's a little scared of damaging it I think. She did drive my last two cars on very rare occasions, but they were both more function over form!

:Confused:

We only have the one car so it's our daily driver and the other half drives it more than I do.

Doesn't stop me getting annoyed when she kerbs the wheels, but in fairness to her I think when it comes to the wheels I am a bit more careless :o

For a wee lass she does a great job of driving and has an air of confidence that's reassuring, she's even capable of checking oil, water etc and knows what goes where and how much.

I have friends whose other halves can't make it round Tesco with a trolley without crashing it, one of our friends is such a scatter brain she has openly admitted that since the husband bought their latest car (Tiguan) she won't drive it because she's intimidated by it.

My spouse is NEVER in my A8, it's my car not hers...

It was my wife's desire to have an automatic due to her illness /mobility issues which led to me getting the '8 and I have in general been quite happy - and encourage her - to use it as she was previously used to driving and parking large cars (e.g. Volvo 740/V70). Although she usually tears off up the road with her foot to the floor just to wind me up, she is very sensitive to the fact that I would be devastated to get it damaged and so is very careful about parking. Its one good thing about disability parking spaces if you can find them - they are BIG!
The one thing she finds difficult (being vertically challenged) is not being able to judge the extremities of the car when parking (the old Volvos were easier) and so is reluctant to use it around town so we are looking for a second hasnd, small auto town car.

I have no issue with the wife driving my cars, she's careful and gentle with them really. She's had Q7's for years, so size isn't a concern.

However, letting the kids in my car..... :tuttut:

and for that reason, its very rare anyone other than me drives them... +++

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending how you look at it) my other half doesn't drive so, apart from the occasional mechanic, nobody drives my S8 but me.

I do find non-drivers make better passengers though. Like most drivers I think, I'm a fairly nervous passenger, yet Lyn never complains when I'm driving, even if my engine and tyres are protesting loudly.

SWMBO refuses to drive mine, claiming that's the only way she can be sure that some OCD nit-picker who loves his car as much as her (can't think who she's referring to, perhaps the gardener/chauffeur?) can't blame her for any dings, scratches, flies on the windscreen and so on. :o

The only reason that she's insured to drive it, is that having a spouse on the policy makes the premium lower.

And as to the kids - what? Are you mad? :tuttut:

Kids, there again, my car is my daily drive, which means I take the kids to school/nursery three times a week. My 8yr old is car obsessed, so is fine, but my 3yr old little girl has taken to climbing down out of the car and then wiping there seats and door frame sill and saying things like 'keeping the leather clean daddy'. If only she was this thoughtful in all aspects of life! :love:+++

What about your dog Jim? ;)