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Why does everyone need a massive car these days?

289 replies

Britishsummertime22 · 02/03/2025 11:22

Tesco this morning. Full of people who don't know how to drive or park their fuck off range rovers.

OP posts:
KoiTetra · 03/03/2025 13:07

2 young kids so that includes a pram, 2 dogs and a weeks worth of "stuff" that gets driven from the south coast to Scotland at least 3 times a year.

We have a very large estate rather than an SUV but we need every inch of space we can.

CleverButScatty · 03/03/2025 12:53

AquaPeer · 02/03/2025 13:21

How is it not affordable? You can afford £800 a month it’s affordable. You can afford your mortgage can’t you? Is it unaffordable because you haven’t bought it outright?

no one wants anyone to be envious of anyone else, frankly, but if you walked into a dealership with £80k cash for a car they would think you were a wally, yes.

Well I think the difference (although I'm happy to be corrected) is that when you take out a mortgage you are buying a house, an asset which will grow in value, but conversely when you buy a car it depreciates in value.
There must be an opportunity for profit (interest or equivalent) on the leases it the manufacturers/dealerships wouldn't offer them.
So if you are paying cash you are saving yourself that?
If you have been convinced that paying cash makes you a wally have you not just fallen for their sales blurb? All sounds very 'emperor's new clothes' to me!

Digdongdoo · 03/03/2025 12:39

Flatulence · 03/03/2025 11:42

I used to have an Up! And yes, two car seats, a couple of suitcases and a buggy would all fit. Obviously not enormous suitcases, but the items listed would all fit. They're great cars, including for families, and every inch of space is used cleverly. The boot space is a lot bigger/more sensible shape than lots of SUVs I've used.
I drove mine all over Europe and it was an absolute dream. The only issue was transporting adults over about 5ft 10ins in the rear seats - they'd fit but it wasn't the comfiest ride for them.

Well that's me impressed then! DB has an Up, and I'd never imagine fitting all that in, it's really tiny!

namechangetheworld · 03/03/2025 12:38

countingthedays945 · 03/03/2025 01:20

@namechangetheworld well that's skewed logic if ever I've heard it!

The roads are getting more dangerous ( because people are driving bigger cars that they can't actually manoeuvre) so I will get a bigger car too!

Many drivers cant control bigger cars, but I can't say I hear about many fatalities caused by reversing out of a parking spot or around a corner. If a lorry is going to smash into me I would much rather take my chances in a bigger car than a smaller one.

Borracha · 03/03/2025 12:33

Lolarowan · 03/03/2025 11:59

Because it actually made me laugh imagining someone thinking a Jeep Wrangler looked cool.

But you haven’t answered my question - I’m glad it gave you a laugh, but why write it? In any case, I’m ok with someone on the internet not thinking my car is cool 😎

Littlebitpsycho · 03/03/2025 12:08

I have a large 4x4 because I need to tow and anything smaller just wouldn't cut it.

I can also park it safely and accurately absolutely anywhere, with or without the trailer hitched on.

Having seen so many drivers of large 4x4s who clearly can't drive or manoeuvre them, I do think you should have to prove you can before you can buy one (though I know this just wouldn't be possible in practise)

Lolarowan · 03/03/2025 11:59

Borracha · 03/03/2025 11:41

Genuine question, what motivated you to write such a snarky comment? Was it meant to make me feel a certain way?

Because it actually made me laugh imagining someone thinking a Jeep Wrangler looked cool.

Anonimouze · 03/03/2025 11:54

We have a massive dog! Only reason which you wouldn’t know from looking at it in Tesco car park.

Yourinmyspot · 03/03/2025 11:51

I can’t drive big cars as I just can’t see out of them! I’m awful at parking in my Picanto. I just completely lack spatial awareness. So many cars are just huge these days. We have a very narrow junction in our town and if you get two bigger cars they have a job getting past each other. I know some people who have range rovers as ‘look at me i drive a Range Rover’. I live in quite a rural area and there are a lot of range rovers around.

Flatulence · 03/03/2025 11:42

Digdongdoo · 03/03/2025 09:07

2 car seats, suitcases plural and a pushchair? In a VW Up? No you did not.

I used to have an Up! And yes, two car seats, a couple of suitcases and a buggy would all fit. Obviously not enormous suitcases, but the items listed would all fit. They're great cars, including for families, and every inch of space is used cleverly. The boot space is a lot bigger/more sensible shape than lots of SUVs I've used.
I drove mine all over Europe and it was an absolute dream. The only issue was transporting adults over about 5ft 10ins in the rear seats - they'd fit but it wasn't the comfiest ride for them.

Borracha · 03/03/2025 11:41

Lolarowan · 02/03/2025 20:00

I can assure you right now, a Jeep Wrangler does not look cool 🤣

Genuine question, what motivated you to write such a snarky comment? Was it meant to make me feel a certain way?

MooDengsFatRolls · 03/03/2025 10:30

Had a scan of the thread and saw someone point out that you're safer in an SUV in an accident whereas pedestrians and cyclists come off much worse however this didn't factor in how higher your chances of rolling in an SUV are opposed to a regular car. No one seems to want to think about this when they're being pushed by the car manufacturers into thinking bigger is better. I get there's a small percentage who need an SUV but it's mostly for show.

If you need the space there are some nice estates out there if you put in a bit of effort with a search.

PontiacFirebird · 03/03/2025 09:37

I grew up in a family with multiple children ( rare today) and we have one of those old Volvos with 2 sets of seats. Like a longer estate car. It was roomy but not wide or high. I don’t understand why, in a country where roads are so narrow, they don’t make more cars like that? They look tiny these days when see them ( they last decades!) next to the tanks everyone is driving now.
It’s 100% a status thing. I live in a suburb where everyone has 2 kids and a dog and you see more SUV s than anything. There are loads of country lanes near me and they are bloody awful for country driving generally as there’s no room to pass, yet because these drivers are in tanks they just barrel towards oncoming traffic, forcing them into hedgerows to avoid being hit.
Very few people need a car like that that. I wish the government would tax the ever living fuck out of massive cars and car manufacturers would start making long estates again.

Purplebunnie · 03/03/2025 09:25

I drive a 4x4 and I live rurally. I know how to drive down country lanes and move over safely to allow others to pass. A lot of drivers go rabbit in the headlights when driving down narrow lanes and absolutely refuse to even put an inch of their tyres off the tarmac. I'm quite happy to pull off onto the verge.

Notwithstanding this I have to drive on major roads as well and have you seen the size of the Pantechnicon lorries? Bloody hell I don't fancy my chances in my car against some of these let alone a small car, so I'm hanging on to it at the moment. I'll probably give up driving in the next few years and get my free bus pass (but that's another thread on here he he)

Digdongdoo · 03/03/2025 09:07

MikeRafone · 03/03/2025 02:40

weve been on holiday in the VW, pushchair, suitcases and car seats with 2 under 2. The dog went to the MILs for the week

2 car seats, suitcases plural and a pushchair? In a VW Up? No you did not.

Lovelysummerdays · 03/03/2025 06:24

SlaveToAGoldenRetriever · 03/03/2025 02:27

Park car, let child out. How else would it work? 🤨

I don’t even park tbh. Just stop for a couple of seconds and children leap out of the car.

taxguru · 03/03/2025 05:59

GreenTeaLikesMe · 03/03/2025 03:29

I’ve said this before but the UK needs to decide which way to go on transport.

If you want a society where people drive almost everywhere and everyone has as big a car as they like, then fine. But you need to be prepared to do what America, Canada, Australia etc. did in the 20th century and rebuild your cities around cars (which involves knocking down most lovely old buildings, creating rather charmless ugly cities that are full of enormous car parks and great big roads, and accepting that cities will need get much, much bigger, meaning that loads of green fields will need to get concreted over).

Or: if you want a society that preserves more of its lovely old buildings, has charming city centers and preserves its remaining countryside by keeping its cities compact, you can do that instead, BUT it means accepting that you need to density cities and build upwards, shift massively towards public transport, walking and biking, and restrict cars - both reducing car usage in cities, and pushing people firmly towards smaller cars unless they live in rural areas.

The UK is trying to cram ever-growing numbers of car journeys by ever-growing numbers of drivers in ever-more massive, heavy, space-hogging, road-crushing vehicles….into cities that have never been designed around car use in the first place. The result is parking turf wars, road congestion that is getting worse each year, and road surfaces that are pockmarked with holes and falling to pieces, because you have got way too much car grinding away on way too little road space.

One way or the other, seriously. Hard choices and trade offs need to be accepted here.

I agree, but everyone wants it to be someone else who gives up their cars, not them as they have special reasons to keep theirs! It’s the usual hypocracy. Like however wants higher taxes for better public services, but for others to pay, not themselves.

Loafbeginsat60 · 03/03/2025 03:37

We have a defender and a Range Rover.

The defender tows our livestock box, various trailers and gets filled with all manner of stuff for the farm and DH's work. It is a nightmare to park in a normal car park because it's so wide so I don't tend to take it anywhere too towny

The RR is my car - I drive this so I can get out during the winter - very often snowed in, plus it's safe for me and the kids and I like a bit of luxury. It's easier to park in town but we hardly ever go there as it's an hour away.

I recently had to take the defender to a big city as dh was in hospital and I happened to be driving it when he took ill. Trying to park it in a multi story wasn't easy and made me think if we lived somewhere more urban, I would definitely get a wee car!

I don't think these cars are suitable or needed for town life.

GreenTeaLikesMe · 03/03/2025 03:29

I’ve said this before but the UK needs to decide which way to go on transport.

If you want a society where people drive almost everywhere and everyone has as big a car as they like, then fine. But you need to be prepared to do what America, Canada, Australia etc. did in the 20th century and rebuild your cities around cars (which involves knocking down most lovely old buildings, creating rather charmless ugly cities that are full of enormous car parks and great big roads, and accepting that cities will need get much, much bigger, meaning that loads of green fields will need to get concreted over).

Or: if you want a society that preserves more of its lovely old buildings, has charming city centers and preserves its remaining countryside by keeping its cities compact, you can do that instead, BUT it means accepting that you need to density cities and build upwards, shift massively towards public transport, walking and biking, and restrict cars - both reducing car usage in cities, and pushing people firmly towards smaller cars unless they live in rural areas.

The UK is trying to cram ever-growing numbers of car journeys by ever-growing numbers of drivers in ever-more massive, heavy, space-hogging, road-crushing vehicles….into cities that have never been designed around car use in the first place. The result is parking turf wars, road congestion that is getting worse each year, and road surfaces that are pockmarked with holes and falling to pieces, because you have got way too much car grinding away on way too little road space.

One way or the other, seriously. Hard choices and trade offs need to be accepted here.

Mamathebest · 03/03/2025 02:41

It should be easier to manoeuvre a new SUV due to all the driver assistance & tech available. If you can't manoeuvre with all those aids, then you shouldn't be driving anything at all.

MikeRafone · 03/03/2025 02:40

Ketryne · 02/03/2025 20:00

It's an iCandy with a carry cot attachment, but I also have a dog that has to go in there too, and god forbid we should want to go on holiday and put a suitcase in there too.

We only have the one car, if we had a second it would be smaller.

And like I said in my post, I'd only consider a Kia Niro to be medium sized.

weve been on holiday in the VW, pushchair, suitcases and car seats with 2 under 2. The dog went to the MILs for the week

Mamathebest · 03/03/2025 02:37

I've only ever heard all this stuff about SUVs on MN. There is a general abundance of poor drivers on the road. Lots in small cars, big cars and everything in between. If you drive dangerously and awful in a SUV, then you're not going to be an excellent driver in a fiat 500 either. A shit driver is a shit driver.

Realistically, how would you fit 3 small children and two adults (with massive car seats and a double buggy) in a small car? Safely? Today I had to deal with a driver in a Golf that was breaking to 5mph on a 30 every 2 minutes for no reason. Plenty of awful drivers.

Anyways, I'm incredibly short and I find it so much easier to see the road in an SUV than a small low car. Which is a lot safer then having to double up on pillows to see above the car. Couldn't care less why/what others drive. I just hope they can actually drive.

SlaveToAGoldenRetriever · 03/03/2025 02:27

allfurcoatnoknickers · 03/03/2025 02:11

As a city dweller who hasn't driven in years, this thread is fascinating to me. How does school drop-off in a car even work?!

Park car, let child out. How else would it work? 🤨

allfurcoatnoknickers · 03/03/2025 02:11

As a city dweller who hasn't driven in years, this thread is fascinating to me. How does school drop-off in a car even work?!

countingthedays945 · 03/03/2025 01:20

@namechangetheworld well that's skewed logic if ever I've heard it!

The roads are getting more dangerous ( because people are driving bigger cars that they can't actually manoeuvre) so I will get a bigger car too!

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