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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not know why people drive Unnecessarily Big Cars?

155 replies

herecomesthetide · 16/02/2011 20:42

So, the thing is, lots of people I know have started to buy what I call Unnecessarily Big Cars (henceforth known as UBCs). One example would be a VW Tourag (not totally sure how you spell that). Not the space wagon one, the sort of four wheel-y drive one. Or another family we know have just bought a Landrover Discovery. These are families with two or possibly three children. They live in a very big city. They do not regularly if ever drive 'off-road'. I just really don't know why people buy these cars, so this is a genuine question. Is it because they need the space? Because we have two children and don't feel that we do. If it's something else, what is it? I just ... I don't know, if I'm totally honest I find these cars a little obnoctious. And the funny thing is the people we know who have bought them would have laughed with us a couple of years ago about wallys driving around in Chelsea Tractors but now they are the ones driving the tractors and I'm too scared to ask them what changed! Any thoughts?

OP posts:

SarahStrattonHasNiceBears · 17/02/2011 10:39

I have a Suzuki Grand Vitara. I had a Discovery until I killed it. The Suzuki is adequate most of the time but there is so much I can't do with it that I could with my old car. And it carried 7 people comfortably, and frequently did so - I did the school run and made sure I filled all the seats. It was 12 years old and going strong when it died. That is far less of a resource drain than a new car IMO.

RIP Big Blue Bus, I miss you :(

MrsBethel · 17/02/2011 10:46

Those stupidly big Audis make me laugh.

They look like there was a mix up between imperial and metric.

Bunbaker · 17/02/2011 15:44

"Surely just because you can AFFORD to leave every light on in the house with one person at home, doesn't mean you necessarily would/should. That attitude would clearly cause huge problems for society at large if subscribed to by too many people."

Spot on. I totally understand why some people need a big car, but don't get the arrogant attitudes demonstrated on here by:

Vallhala "stuff the environment. I used to earn a (very good) living working with fast cars. I paid my taxes too and I'd be a hypocrite to start sobbing about the environment now."

and

limpingbint "I can afford to drive something lovely, safe and stylish and pay for the privilege in tax and fuel. We do use it a bit off road at our place in France and we pull a trailer a lot but actually we have it because we like it.

Fundamentally I find the whole people carrier thing so fucking absolutely mediocre.

DH has a Range Rover too, massive thirsty 4 litre petrol thing and we love it"

It is these attitudes that unfortunately demonstrate the streotypical 4x4 driver and give them all a bad name. I have also noticed how defensive these replies are as well. Perhaps a nerve has been touched?

I know seceral 4x4 drivers and none of them think have such an insultingly arrogant attitude like that.

We don't drive a small car because OH has very long legs and managed to get cramp after driving my Honda Civic for four hours. However he manages very nicely in his Mondeo, so we will stick to that and only wish we had a 4x4 next time it snows.

Seona1973 · 17/02/2011 16:10

I have a 7 seater and 2 kids but regularly go trips with my sister who has 3 kids so we can fill the whole car. It saves my sister having to beg a lift from my mum as my sister doesnt drive/own a car. I am therefore helping cut down emissions as we only need to use 1 car rather than 2!

trixymalixy · 17/02/2011 16:20

1 We live at the top of a large steep hill in Scotland and get snow much more frequently than people even a few feet below us and were fed up of having to walk part of the way home carrying 2 kids every winter.

We need something capable of towing 3.5 ton trailers with classic cars on them.

We need 7 seats for when it is used as a support vehicle going to classic car rallies and for transporting grandparents.

mayorquimby · 17/02/2011 16:43

Because I like my big car better than I would a smaller one.

Avantia · 17/02/2011 16:54

I have a 7 seater - two kids and a dog - we rarely fly abroad as a family for holidays as we camp - I recycle and pick up my dogs poo - most days we walk to school - am I forgiven

I would love a landrover discovery though !

and perhaps a mini cooper for running errands

Asinine · 17/02/2011 17:00

I have ubf Therefore need ubc

Asinine · 17/02/2011 17:01

Ubfamily, but you knew that..

OTheHugeManatee · 17/02/2011 17:59

4x4s make the road more dangerous? I don't agree. Having an overpopulated country with too many cars on the road makes the road more dangerous.

In my experience of driving, both in London and the countryside, the hierarchy of bad drivers tends to be (worst first)

Country:

Sales reps in Audi A5s
Scrawny yoot in 15-year-old Golfs
Ancient doddery old dears in Vauxhall Corsas

Country 4x4 drivers can be a bit slow but aren't particularly annoying or dangerous.

Town:

Minicab drivers in Ford Galaxies
Drug dealers in BMWs
Toyota Prius drivers (no idea why, but they're always just slow, dithering and dreadful)
BMW X5 drivers (because they're arses as a rule)

City 4x4s can be a menace, but generally only if I'm on a bike as they've typically got Tarquin and Tilly in the back trying to gouge each other's eyes out and hence aren't checking the nearside mirror. But when I'm cycling I work on the assumption that all other road users are actively trying to kill me all the time anyway, so I don't really notice.

lexxity · 17/02/2011 18:07

mine is lpg too.

Boohooyou · 17/02/2011 18:14

single parent
1 ds
freelander

......because I had to drive round in a fiat punto with the back seat permanently down to fit the pram in.
The other reason was I wanted to buy off someone I knew and a friend was selling so I bought.

I have never owned a tumble dryer and haven't been abroad for over 5 years.

So I don't give a monkeys chuff what anyone thinks

Kryshees · 17/02/2011 18:23

I have to giggle. If hubby saw this he'd get all arsy...

he's a landrover freak, he likes off roading in places where it is ok to do so..

I have a regular run around car which he uses for his daily commute, and I get left with the landy..

We can get the world in it when we go away on hols in france or over to rellies for xmas.

hubby's geeky landrover club ran stats on the overall vehicle inpact on the environment compared to a 'normal modern car' and whilst I 'la la la' when he goes off on one, and actually the landys were better off, mostly as they lasted for ages...

the fuel economy is better than my friends bmw. It cost less to actually produce and make..perhaps I should actually listen to him next time and perhaps give a better explaination.

ps....I do rather like driving the thing!!

iwastooearlytobeayummymummy · 17/02/2011 18:24

I hate my big car now, an 8 seater Previa, 10 years old but can't afford to change it

It used to invaluable when I had all 4 at home and assorted friends and lift shares piled in, now it just me most of the time, rattling around in it.

But still very useful for helping DD1 move in and out of student houses!

SarahStrattonHasNiceBears · 17/02/2011 19:47

He's right though Kryshees, they do have a much lower environmental impact. It does make me wonder when people bang on about their lovely new Prius and how enviromentally friendly it is. I totally fail to see how buying a brand new car, with all the energy and materials sed to manufacture it, can be better than buying one that is pre-used and will go on for another 10-20 years providing it is serviced and cared for correctly.

NotHerAgain · 17/02/2011 20:04

As someone who cycles in London everyday with dd on a trailer bike, the worst cars to run into on the morning school run are often the 4X4. Feeling so safe inside...
Their high bonnet does make them more of a hazard for cyclists on city roads, especially for little cyclists like dd (And don't anyone tell me she has less right to be on the road!) Yes buses and lorries are also like this, but at least they have a good reason!
So yes we know to give them a wide berth... same as buses, vans and lorries, but at least the buses, vans and lorries are not right outside the school gates !

And it would be nice to be able to cycle without being constantly bullied !

fishie · 17/02/2011 20:05

our vast huge car was bought to replace a van - it has the same storage capacity but is no longer than any estate car. is diesel. it is 19 years old.

it is now rather held together with duct tape and the air con hasn't worked for 15 years. But i have never had such leg room and it doesn't make me travel sick like all the french cars do.

tell me that your little neccessarily small cars last that long. we use ours once or twice a week - we walk a lot. I bet tiny car users drive EVERYWHERE.

fishie · 17/02/2011 20:07

nother it would be lovely to be a pedestrian without being bullied too. I am particularly loathing the way that it is now acceptable to drive (and yes ride a bike) straight through a pelican on a red light if it was orange when you first saw it.

onceamai · 17/02/2011 20:12

It is perfectly legal to drive an insured and MOT'd large car and providing it is driven in accordance with the rules of the road then I have no objection whatsoever because at the end of the day it is a matter of choice. I don't remember the last time as a driver or a pedestrian that I nearly was involved in an accident with a 4x4. A totally different situation when thinking about cyclists who do not have to be insured.

Dawnybabe · 17/02/2011 20:12

Mamamary small cars do not do quite the same job.

When my Passat estate went to the garage they saw fit to lend me a three door Polo, knowing I had child seats. It took me ages to get them in the back and then I had to take the parcel shelf out to get my stroller pushchair in. Where the hell you're supposed to put change bags, school bag, shopping, not to mention the dog, god only knows.

I drive a big car because I Need The Space.

SarahStrattonHasNiceBears · 17/02/2011 20:18

I hold a serious grudge against a couple of cyclists round here

AnnoyingOrange · 17/02/2011 20:23

LOL Dawnybabe

I had a Beetle once as a courtesy car, and I couldn't get my high backed boosters in it at all.

mumsgotatum · 17/02/2011 20:26

OP I'm with you on this one but that is mainly because I have zero interest in cars, or expensive cars. Cannot see the point, more expensive insurance, expensive to run, and depreciate in value as soon as you've brought one. But I guess other people are just into them. Also maybe something about a 'big' car makes them feel safer on the road.

Edinburghlass · 17/02/2011 21:57

For lots of people, I think it's the illusion of pure status, nothing more complex than that. For others I can accept there is a valid reason eg if they have lots of passengers

notrightnow · 17/02/2011 22:10

I drive a big car because it's hard to fit an adult, two teenagers, a double bass, and sometimes a dog into a VW Polo. I know, because I tried with a Streetcar :)

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