Why are there so many SUV's on the road?

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I've just had a wonderful cycle ride (we used to cycle a lot during lockdown but not since).
We really noticed how busy the roads were, which was unsurprising, but we also noticed that most people drive suv's now, which is a pita.
Why is this, and how do people afford them?

Not sure why I’m justifying having one but we gave a touring caravan and need something that is heavy enough to pull it plus we can afford it. We also live quite rural and need something to get about in the winter. We own it outright.

Just bought our first SUV today - never saw the need before but 4WD is very useful in our rural location and now having a family means that we want more room, especially boot space. Trying to cram the pram, change bag and car seat into the back of our 13yo Fiesta wore thin very quickly. None of our family live anywhere nearby either so we needed something capable of regularly carrying the necessary detritus of a baby and a disabled MIL long distances. SUV ended up being the best fit for us.

Fully electric and leased through work - the depreciation on cars is so quick that I no longer see the point in buying.

Your post is weirdly aggressive though, OP. Sounds like you need to relax a bit!

Gosh you’re really het up and taking it personally, hurling abuse at people, lol,

I love mine, if that makes me selfish so be it, least I’m not on line hurling abuse at randoms,

Seems you think it’s ok for you to use the roads for a hobby but not for others to do the same, somewhat hypocritical imo

I'm not seeing any insults from the OP at all, just someone who is sick of so many of these oversized Chelsea Tractors on the roads every day, many which are not needed, and are simply a status symbol.

Of course, the people who are defending these oversized beasts, (on this thread,) absolutely DO need one desperately, and could never possibly do without it, and they paid for it outright dontcha know, in cash of course. (No finance!) 😆

A few posters even have more than ONE! 😂

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Well quiite, yes. However your very entertaining answers I thiink most of sound mind would know are unacceptable.

I don't agree that the same applies with these cars tbh. All the ULEZ/ car reduction schemes have failed spectacularly in deterring the majority of motorists, TFL have acknowledged themselves that car use and pollution have risen in areas with traffic restrictions. I don't know what the answer is, I don't own a Chelsea Tractor, ours is a fairly standard small estate, chosen because it suited our needs. I imagine this applies to most large/SUV car owners. the fact is families are under more financial pressure, parents need to work (& therefore travel), this means many simply cannot rely on public transport and cycling tough a personal choice, is not a practical one on a daily basis.

Critical thinking is fine, but you are overlooking the time constraints, practicalities and logistics that many owning these cars are factoring into their decision-making. It's all very well adopting idealogical policies if you can, others don't have the same luxury, in some cases too I am sure they just think they are keeping up with others by buying one.

I’m also going to need a car with a bigger Boot next time - the back seats in my picanto have to go down if I take my wheelchair. So I’m going to get an suv so that I can get in and out and take my chair.

I have a Range Rover sport.. I don’t ‘need’ it nor really care what it looks like but it’s the most comfortable, easy to drive car I’ve ever had. Makes driving a pleasure.

ah calling people selfish, that they are giving everyone else a fuck you thay they don’t care about other road users, is not abusive to you. Glad I’m not your mate.

Get one, they’re great

Yes but think how much safer and comfier you’d all have been in an suv.

😁

Live in the country, have dogs, horses etc and cart feed and bedding around in it. It's a 4x4 which is necessary. It's fully paid off too.

I hate cyclists on country roads. They take up loads of room and are a pita.

Would love to see the squashed up childrens answer to this 😝

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Theyre not very expensive. If you put five grand down, you can get one on PCP for about £300 a month. A second hand one a few years old will only cost you twenty grand or so.

You hate an entire group of people due to their mode of transport, do you hate on other groups of people for similar reasons?

You have 3 children? Well how very selfish of you, did you not consider the impact on the environment? Child free me and my SUV have statistically far less impact than you do. Why are your choices better or more valid than mine?
And no, before you start, your children will NOT be paying for my care, I’ve already sorted that.

My favourite aunt had a Beatle back in the 1970s and we used to live go on holiday in her car, 4 of us in the back and the 5th over the back - it was great fun all squished in, I guess as children we didn’t see it in the same perspective as an adult

Why does it bother you so much what others drive . People are free to choose the car they want . I don’t care or comment on what other people drive . My SUV suits my needs , it’s fantastic to drive and I can afford it . No amount of ‘ guilt tripping ‘ will make me change my mind . I may ring the changes next time though and go from my nice big Audi SUV to a Porsche Macan , hmm decisions decisions .

No my point is I am considerate of them but I live in a tourist type county and often those two abreast cyclists who are without a helmet chatting away in holiday mode forgetting about tractors etc... It makes no odds to me. I do not live in a place that is in anyway practical to cycle in, no one who lives here cycles anywhere, it just isn't laid out like that. People, including some of my children cycle at mountain bike tracks through forests and such but I wouldn't let them cycle into town/school for instance as it's all small b roads and not at all conducive to safety. I used to cycle when I lived in the Netherlands for instance because it was kitted up for it but countryside cycling always seems to me to be a bit hazardous. It's their choice of course I just don't get it. And as I stated before the cricket bags are a thing but towing is a thing too and it couldn't be done with a small car. Should I have a small car and hire a van etc when I need big stuff or to tow something? If I lived in Bath or Bristol or London or Brighton I definitely would not have a giant car but I wouldn't live there anyway and still wouldn't cycle. Horses for courses. Even I wonder why someone in central London has a Land Rover because of the inconvenience of parking etc and the ULEZ, but each to his own. And for the record none of my cars are on finance (because I don't believe in it for depreciating assets) and the Audi is 19 years old. I think she's beautiful but hardly a status symbol even though she is the best car ever 🙂

As extended rear facing car seats often don’t fit in smaller cars especially if the are parents are tall so front seats need to be further back.

that wasn’t what you wrote though, you wrote most people are trying to get from a to b, whilst leisure cyclists are a pain riding round.

the roads are public for everyone to use, whether travelling to get to a cricket match or out for a leisurely ride. There aren’t restrictions on the reason people are using the road, work or leisure. Motorways restrict usage, not country roads.

as for clothing it’s up to the individual what they wear

I'm not seeing any insults from the OP at all, just someone who is sick of so many of these oversized Chelsea Tractors on the roads every day, many which are not needed, and are simply a status symbol.

SUVs aren’t just Land Rovers though

why do people think all SUVs are big cars? I’m going to drive where i
like and what I like. I frankly don’t care about what some people think. I don’t want their life and they don’t want mine, and that’s ok but all this jealous criticism! It’s utterly tedious.

why do people think all SUVs are big cars?

No idea!