Why does everyone need a massive car these days?

90% of the time it’s a status symbol thing. Very few people actually own them, they are on a lease and they are paying £400/500/600+ a month for them to look the part. The ‘look’ being new leased Audi/BMW/Range Rover on the drive, new build house mortgaged up the eyeballs with a grey interior, two all inclusive holidays to Turkey a year, with a couple on very modest wages.

The world is full of people living off credit well above their means.

Nah, as a passenger, im looking at my phone
DH, the driver is looking at the road
DD is looking at her switch or a book

It suits our needs - pretty simple

We like the options it provides us
Can tow our boat
Can go long distance and have a fridge in back - also great for shopping in Aus summer, dairy and meat stays cold from shop to home
It gives the 3 of us all plenty of space, we hate being cooped up in small spaces.
Can go bush and off road easily
Hold all our christmas shopping
We only have to hire a $35 trailer if we want to bring home something big, not pay more for delivery

We dont see the need to have 2 cars, one for city/suburbs and one for going away

They've actually changed their mind and are bringing them back this year.

To be fair, it's not road tax, it's vehicle emissions. Some of these (newer, electric, whatever) might actually be quite good on that compared to other cars, despite their many faults, so shouldn't be penalised there.

It's really more about attitudes, like the driver feels safer, so behaves more dangerously around those who are more vulnerable, or someone really wants one, but actually can't manage to handle it well. A test in it (like a HGV...) to drive it might solve these things.

YES!!! We also have a Fiesta (we’re in London) and when on holiday in the West Country have more than once been the ones to pull over into a hedgerow of brambles so a huge pristine 4x4 can take up the whole lane without a smallest scratch to its paintwork.

However - it’s also very noticeable when driving home from the west country that the closer you get to London, and in London itself, the more “off road” cars there are.

Weird, that.

Status symbol. Was judged by someone in my NCT group by the car I drove. Ironically we're probably the wealthiest. Many will be paying a huge monthly payment for a depreciating asset to look rich.

SUV’s aren’t a status symbol at all. Unless you live in an area where car ownership is a bit fancy 😂

Well I drive a Smart ForTwo.... Very easy to park and as it's electric, super cheap to run. It suits me!

Leaving aside all the self-justification, the truth is: they enjoy looking down on other people - quite literally.

These threads come up frequently. People will list all manner of reasons as to why they 'need' massive cars.
Truth of the matter is, they like them and can afford them. That's it.
I don't get worked up about what other people choose to drive.

That said, I also live very rurally, and drive a Ford Fiesta. It does irk me that I'm the one pulling right into the hedgerow to allow huge fuck-off Range Rovers to pass!

Offroading my arse.

It’s usually a status thing, a keeping-up-with-the-Joneses thing. Not a ‘need’ thing.

This in a nutshell.

This is exactly what I think when I see them.

That’s because you’re on the inside looking out and not seeing what others can see - that’s your mentality ans you’re happy with it.

what others can see is huge cars blocking roads, badly parked and often dangerously driven.

Like I said - I think if you want to drive one of these monsters you should pass a driving test in one.

It’s usually a status thing, a keeping-up-with-the-Joneses thing. Not a ‘need’ thing.

IMO all those bloody enormous cars like tanks (not just Range Rovers, far from it) should be paying double road tax. It stands to reason that their weight must cause more wear and tear to the tarmac.

But they’re just so ugly.

All cars are bigger these days. They are loaded with crumple zones, air bags etc.
People choose SUVs because they like them and/ or they suit their lifestyle.

Personally I go with the motto, ‘if I can’t park it, don’t drive it) , but truth is cars have grown faster than car parks.

That said we changed our SUV for an estate car -to accommodate dogs - we had very few to pick from.

I have a large car but I live rurally and regularly have multiple children and dogs in. I don't drive it in the city. I too think there should be a test to drive them; lots of colleagues have them at work and struggle to park them; there are often emails going out where someone's has been scratched or dented as they can't park it in a bay without hitting someone!

Me in my little car getting bullied by yummy mummies on the school run in their big f*off vehicles so I'm considering one myself so I can bully them back

It’s comfier in a big one. I think over the years things have got more comfortable and physically easier, we’ve developed higher expectations. I used to drive a polo and it was a right squeeze. Now I drive a much larger vehicle and there is lots of space.

8 seater Landrover Defender here.

It's precisely because it's a big 'fuck off' car that I drive it.

Can't ever imagine myself being so invested in what total strangers drive to get irate about it - strange and sad.

They’re just available “these days”

This. Practical.

We didn’t “need” one. We wanted one, so we bought it. Top of the range fcuk off Range Rover.

We also don’t need a £3M house. We wanted one, so we bought it.

Need the high position for my back issues.

If you can find me a nice little car that is capable of safely towing, can reliably off-road, get through the villages ford happily and can fit the 4 kids and/or 4 dogs in then please let me know as I would consider downsizing.
But that said… I’ve paid for it. I like it. It’s mine. It suits me. Perhaps I just don’t really want a little car either?