# New Car Blues - A Pain in the Neck

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-car-blues-a-pain-in-the-neck/55038>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [September 13, 2010, 1:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-car-blues-a-pain-in-the-neck/55038 "2010-09-13T01:27:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![lucyisee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9dc877/32.png) [@lucyisee](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lucyisee)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 1:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-car-blues-a-pain-in-the-neck/55038/1 "2010-09-13T01:27:25Z")

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Hi,  
  
 I just walked away from totaling my Protege on the Turnpike and have been shopping for a new car. I started with the Mazda 3 and had done everything but pay for it when I discovered that the “active restraint” headrest is a killer for my rather finicky neck–it locks my head in a “forward” position and that soon makes my neck start screaming and my thumbs go numb (pinched nerve). I’ve GOT to get a car, but after running hither and thither for a couple of weeks, I cannot find one I like that doesn’t present me with the same problem! Any suggestions? I certainly don’t want to void my insurance by removing or otherwise messing with one that’s no good for me, but I’m hoping there’s a car – new or even “pre-owned” (at this point) that I can actually drive without killing my neck. Any reasonable suggestions will be much appreciated!