If you buy a massive 4×4 SUV...

Because until 2023, car parking spaces were set at 1976 dimensions.

Small family cars (the kind acceptable to Mumsnetters like VW Golf) are at least 1/3 bigger since the 1970. A current VW Golf only has 20cm clearance either side in a car park bay now, it used to have 40cm clearance either side when car parking space dimensions were set.

And you don't agree with the move away from fossil fuels?

Our neighbour has one, he has a special grabbing stick to get things he can’t reach from the far end of the boot 🤣

@bravefox I confess to driving a big, long wheel base 4x4, it's the ONLY car we have, and is also used to tow quite heavy stuff, some for work reasons. So we can't go without one. I do take it to the supermarket and I know the longer car parking spaces, and there are some a fraction wider than others. I only ever park EXACTLY half way between the markings, so it is not me you are referring to . If I don't park in a favoured size spot then I'm the one who will park right next to the trolley park, for no reason other than I can reverse park right next to it with a folded in mirror (ie blind), thereby freeing up a further 6 inches the other side, meaning next door has more room than ever.

What I object to is the rest of the planet with smaller cars who cannot park for toffee, do not park square to their space, and when I'm in the next to trolley park spot insist on encroaching over the white line into my spot solely because I parked so far over (aware of poor parker smaller car's need) so I then have to get in the car via the back door (not elegant), because I am too fat to shimmy in a 6" gap, which wasn't my fault in the first place and makes me wonder why I was so generous to give extra space.

Smaller car owners are just as bad at parking if not worse IMHO. (Don't get me started on the length of time it takes them to badly park either!)

How do you know it's not required? I have never stopped people from parking, I have 2 toddlers 18 and 32 month old so I always use family spaces where possible. We also have a husky so need the boot space. If I don't have the kids I park as far away from the entrance of where ever i am going as possible.

Yes, I am well aware of reality - it’s not a big issue and we only have one car on our own drive so don’t need the space. It is common sense and common courtesy however to use your own driveway, not buy two unnecessarily large Chelsea tractors to the point that they don’t fit.

If he was always the one reversing it suggests he was on the incline that meant he was supposed to.

To be fair it’s not just SUVs. I had a Ford Mondeo estate for 3 years and that thing was a beast-it often had to be left hanging out of a space because of its length

Ah you must be one those people who live a 10 minute life or close to public transport unlike the majority of people in the UK.

SUVs are not designed for city driving. These monsters should be banned from city limits.

Ah but the reality is they are allowed to park anywhere on a public road even if that happens to be the piece of road outside your house.

You are spectacularly missing the point here ( maybe just for effect , who knows )
This isn't a thread abut "Should we have a car or not"

It is "Should we have SUV or not"

At the moment ( I live in East London ) we have Congestion and ULEZ .
In years to come there won't be anything except Electric , which are heavier . Hence fewer or less ( I cannot be arsed looking up which is correct) spaces .

I am not forced to own a car .
I have to carry a load of stuff to work .I have used buses /trains but it's not easy

Or , should I give up work ? I'm not forced to go to work .

same happened to our old car, was sick of spending dead money getting it fixed from pot holes and country roads just not road worthy at all. we now have a SUV plus 3 kids one disabled and sometimes 5 dogs in the boot! (kids obviously not in the boot 😂)

What car would you recommend I have on the farm then? 😂😂😂 fucking hell.

Its implicit within the post that the person needs a car.

I wouldnt be able to do my job or see family and friends without mine.

So my circumstances force me to have a car, yes.

You park in disabled bays, don't lie 😛

Are you forced to own a car?

When we are forced to give up our petrol or diesel for electric then.

Better ?

Yes I have 2x SUVs.

Very proud to have worked my socks off for them.

Like I said, car manufacturers spend millions on customer research into creating vehicles customers want to buy.

And overwhelmingly, its SUVs.

Simply supply and demand. Get over it.

All cars are wanky child killing machines, and always have been.

I saw my 2 yr old brother being run over in 1983. Believe me, that car was not as big as today's but still as deadly.

Who's 'forcing' you to own a car?

I e got a little fiesta that I have to drive rurally everyday. ( not a farmer) I have had to have the suspension fixed twice because of pot holes, bumpy country lanes uneven roads.

I'm considering getting an SUV so that the suspension can take it, then I look at the other huge ones in car parks and on roads ( when I'm pushed into the hedge because of their precious car) and wonder if I'm giving in to the madness.

When we are all forced to buy electric cars /vehicles , they are heavier than petrol/diesel , the multi storey car parks will not be able to cope with the extra weight .

But they won't spend ££ strengthening them. They;ll make fewer spaces . Maybe bigger ? And charge more as they need to make up the shortfall.

So you might get the bigger space you want .

I’m surprised you can only access one of the larger 4x4 SUVs if you have spinal/lower limb/joint issues requiring a higher entry. (noting my assumption of mid-lower body issues rather than upper body with other requirements- apologies if I’m wrong)
By chance I’ve also a lot of experience in this area and most patients prefer a mid range size SUV model for a higher sitting position, not the larger size. Curious.
Did your service advise bigger and higher? Obvs extra vehicle width is irrelevant as even electric wheelchairs fit normal width vehicles but do need extra parking Soave length for exit (apart from the few who are side exit).
please let me know if any of these assumptions are incorrect.

A local fit lad was killed outright last year, his body landed 100 metres from the accident.

I don't think a normal size car would have had such an impact.

Accidents happen. I completely understand why driver's want the safest car for their family, however the risks to the other person.

If every jumped on the SUV bandwagon, there would be no space.

My Dsis has the X trail. It's a monster vehicle.