car size in Scotland

One of the reasons we don't drive in the UK (and Scotland especially) is that many of the roads are VERY winding and VERY VERY VERY narrow. Some of the roads in the highlands are still single track, with 'passing places' periodically. We've done lots of day trips with tour companies and once we drove through the Caringorms and the Caithness area with Scottish friends one year- I have to deliberately focus on the distant scenery at some points, and I'm just a passenger. That said, many on this board love driving the 'wee roads' of Scotland. Pamela is espeically devoted to them and seems to be very knowledgeable, too. If she doesn't respond to this post, I'd be very surpised. I'd take her advice if I were you. And if she doesn't respond, find one of her other answers, and private message her.

The whole business is in your mind. The big Hummer is 86 inches wide; a Ford Focus 79 inches wide. The seven inch difference doesn't make a whit. There's going to be times when you have to pull over and almost stop to let somebody slip by no matter what you drive. I use the smallest, cheapest thing I can find now since it serves my needs; when I had kids, I used a van; when we travel with others, we often have a full-sized car. If you have to pull over, you have to pull over. You know they drive farm trucks, delivery trucks, buses, etc, on those wee roads, right? The only advantage I've ever noticed with a smaller car is that's it a bit easier to fit into a tight parking space.

Um, a Ford Focus is just under 72 inches wide. Personally, I think 14 inches makes a big difference in the driving experience.
That said, pretty much any car is going to feel large on those tiny Scottish roads, esp. if you are used to the wide open spaces of Montana. I would opt for a balance between comfort and size of car.

We just got back from the UK yesterday. We had reserved a Focus-sized automatic for pickup in York, drop-off in Orkney, but when we picked it up, they only had a minivan-sized Peugot as their only automatic in stock! We tried to swap it for a smaller automatic in Edinburgh, but none were available there, either. So, I drove that behemoth on all the tiny roads in Scotland. It took a long while to get even slightly used to it, and I will say it was my only problem I had with driving on my first trip abroad. I tended to hug the left edge of the road too much, giving oncoming traffic too much space. When we would encounter an oncoming truck or tractor, I would slow almost to a stop to let them by. I probably drove locals behind me crazy, but I would rather that than an accident!

'Um, a Ford Focus is just under 72 inches wide.' Beats me, I looked it up on a UK website since I don't memorize these things and it said 1998 mm. Slightly different body, mirrors ? For the Hummers, I just walked out in the driveway and measured both of ours. I would have measured the third one, but it's in the shop.

Most of the cars I've driven have been smaller cars, but at least one time I got a four door as ther were three of us. Yes the roads are smaller than the US, but once you're in the north or west there is less (little) traffic. And as others have pointed ou the Scots drive buses--full size--and trucks on these roads. Cars should not be a problem. You tend not to have the walls and hedges right up to the curb as you do in England. On the single-track roads there will not be a shoulder, but there will be passing places. I think we had something like the Vauxhall Astra. One year I had something even bigger, but I had no problems with it. All that said I would go with as small a car as your husband can sit in comfortably. Maybe this a question to ask on Top Gear? ; ) Pam

Hi Kathleen. Go with the smallest car that meets your needs. A car like a Toyota Camry will feel rather large and somewhat challenging to manage on some of the narrow roads with some driveways in Iron Horse being wider. Outside of Edinburgh and Glasgow, driving can be pleasurable. Know that driving times are much longer than on our interstate highways and you must pay much more attention

Hi Kathleen, I just came back from Ireland on Friday and I totally understand what you mean about the narrow roads. The major difference in Scotland is, although the roads are just as narrow, there are regular, designated passing places. Depending on how busy the road, they can be every 100 yards or so. They are clearly marked with white diamond signs saying.... "passing place" Very literal, we Scots! Very polite too, you will find when you start to use the passing places. Don't forget to wave every time you pass another car!! That opens up all sizes of car to you. I recommend the full-sized car, such as a Ford Mondeo or Vauxhall Insignia. You will love Argyll, but make sure you get out to the many beautiful islands, because that is the Real Scotland. Islay is my favourite. Remote, beautiful, friendly, miles of empty beaches, great hill-walking AND 8 distilleries to visit for tours and tastings. Mull, Oban, Colonsay and Jura - they are all completely different and beautiful. Have a great time! Willie Wallace

I spent two weeks in the Highlands last fall, I booked a VW Golf, but was given a BMW estate wagon, instead. (Think a 320i station wagon in American terms.) A very nice car. But, I would not have wanted anything larger. The Golf was listed as a "medium" car, too.