Convince me that having a larger car than you need is not selfish.

[Rooners]

Because I cannot think of a single reason why it's not. I'm talking about cars that are huge for the sake of it, not cars that carry wheelchairs, or loads of people, in a relatively compact and utilitarian manner.

But something that only has 4/5 seats yet is the size of a small tractor - and no, I don't think this is wrong if you live somewhere with poor terrain. But if you don't?

1. They take up more space when the last things we need on our crowded roads are unnecessarily supersized vehicles.

1. You can't see past them because they are often much higher than 'normal' cars - great for the person driving the thing, rubbish for everyone else

1. They tend to use a larger amount of fuel than a 'normal' car - which is, unarguably, utterly unfair given the fuel crisis the world is facing.

1. They don't fit into a normal parking space which causes untold problems in car parks.

1. They don't fit in a narrow road so cause hold ups as people try to pass each other.

So please convince me, if you can be bothered, that I ought not to be so cross when I am trying to use the roads and one of these massive tanks makes it difficult, dangerous or just really bloody awkward.

I am willing to listen. It's that or spontaneous combustion really.

'What a hassle. We just hitch our trailer onto the back of the LPG converted X5 and do it ourselves. Saves so much money.'

How would that save money (and I notice there are two of you, not one) if I am transporting a large item from 200 miles away?

So I'm guessing that people shouldn't have big houses either as it takes up too much land??

It's interesting that you are focusing on the exterior of the car as a main point of contention.

At the moment if you were to pass me on the road, you would love me as I'm driving a teeny, tiny very economically friendly car. However at different points of my life I have driven massive cars.

When I was driving the latter, I did an environmental impact survey and scored lower than most of my friends. Why? They were avid cyclists, they drove little cars when I was driving the equivalent of a tank but they flew abroad a lot; they flew across the UK often; they had tumble driers, etc, etc. The size of your car does not mean you are causing more environmental damage than someone else. You have to look at the overall lifestyle.

tbh I find your complaints about the size of other cars on the road being inconvenient to be a bit misguided. Roads are built to accommodate lorries, buses, etc, if you are finding your road difficult to travel because of large cars then I wonder how you cope with lorries, vans and pick-ups sharing your road space?!

"Having a larger car than you can competently park is a bug bear of mine."

Oh yes indeed. I have a 4x4. I don't need it - I could have got everything I need in an MPV. But I wanted it - it handles better than any MPV I tried. I cannot understand how people cannot park these vehicles. Seriously, it is easier to park than my previous MPV. I don't need two parking spaces, I don't take up two lanes at the roundabouts (the culprits for this sin as just as likely to be driving a smaller car - has nobody heard of lane discipline these days??) and I can drive it up the field to the horses

Rooners I find people who think their world view extends into the personal space and choices of other people extremely offensive, and could have put it more rudely if it seemed appropriate.

I have a big white 4x4 with tinted windows - sadly not a drug dealer - quiet possibly a twat

maybe I am selfish in the eyes of total strangers on the interweb, I'll try to sleep at night

My current car, the kind you would no doubt disapprove of (Volvo XC60) uses far less fuel than my old 2 seater. Newer cars are generally very efficient, even the large ones. I have never taken up two lanes at a junction and can fit it in just about any parking space.

It was bought because we have taken up a hobby that needs a lot of kit, but often there will just be 2 adults in it. When my husband learns to drive we will probably get a smaller car for when we don't need to carry the kit, but at the moment, we can't justify two cars.

I'm confused as to what car doesn't fit in a parking space?! Short of a hummer?! I've had various large 4x4 vehicles over the years (before you ask, I tow a 3.5t trailer on a weekly basis and had until recently two very large dogs. I also commute by train). But I have never driven a car that takes two lanes or doesn't fit in a parking space! And agree with poster above - my current vehicle (defender) is 15 years old and going strong....

Gosh OP, I hope you don't have a bigger house than you need. Let's say 4 rooms is sufficient, one bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and a living area where the kids can also sleep is perfectly sufficient for privacy and hygiene.

I hope you only have a standard double bed, not a king size. And only one pair of shoes because you can only wear one pair at a time.

I hope you don't have anything that isn't purely functional or spend any money on things you like and enjoy.

'Roads are built to accommodate lorries, buses, etc, if you are finding your road difficult to travel because of large cars then I wonder how you cope with lorries, vans and pick-ups sharing your road space?!'

No, the roads here are often NOT built to take these vehicles.

Perhaps this is part of the issue.

I will get out the way for a van or bus. I resent getting out the way for something that serves no purpose but to flatter the ego of someone who knows full well they could easily drive something smaller, but chooses not to.

We own a Land Rover defender, its about 20 years old. It is a works vehicle, that is used for travelling from a city to a city every work day, it is also used to travel down dirt tracks in the middle of the countryside every work day as well. (another car could do this but would need replacing after its been shaken to pieces) During the weekend it is used as the family car, and can be seen around our local city. You probably can't see why we would have it when we drive past you at the weekend, but then you don't know what it is used for.

It can be parked in a normal sized car space.

It also runs on LPG, Diesel and Veg Oil.

When its life has come to an end, when that is we don't know as its already at 200K on the clock, most of the vehicle can be recycled as its a lump of metal with an engine.

Hermione - I have conceded that personal possessions, the food we eat, etc, all have a minor impact on the world and as such need consideration.

Cars however (as I said before) have a direct impact on other road users. It's different.

We live in a two bedroom house and are actually officially overcrowded at the moment.

'Rooners I find people who think their world view extends into the personal space and choices of other people extremely offensive'

Me too - well perhaps not extremely, but fairly.

This is why I dislike oversized cars that don't have a proper reason for being driven.

and I have a standard double bed, because I co sleep, but once I don't, I intend to revert to a single.

No, the roads here are often NOT built to take these vehicles.

^^ this surprises me. Have you ever driven a large vehicle op?
I wonder if you're misjudging the space available on the road?

Rooners, well, you posted in AIBU so you expected to get flamed and every nitty gritty of your argument taken apart.

But actually I don't think YABU and we all have a responsibility to make what adjustments we reasonably can. We are privileged, in that we (most of us) live in developed countries and have access to the internet. We take that privilege without gratitude, consideration or responsibility. I do this - I'd go as far to say we all do.

I have long had an issue with cars - I spent my early years' of working, my raising a baby and toddler years car-less using buses and a child seat of various types on my bike. I remember DD at 3/4 asking me (in that piercing, toddler voice so many manage in public places) whilst on the bus why we didn't have a car. I explained to her that we didn't need a car, we could get where we needed walking or on the bus, it just took a bit longer, and that cars cost a lot of money, and were bad for looking after the world. An elderly gentleman lent across and I can still remember the encouragement and affirmation of my parenting that he gave me.

And then 2 years ago I had a massive injury that has left me disabled. We have a car - it's one that is higher up off the road, that I can get out of without struggling. It causes me doubt - of myself and my ethics. But it makes my life manageable. I feel like a considerable hypocrite, driving to the shops, the doctors, the hospital. But the bus stops are too far to walk any more.

It is a very efficient Peugeot 3008 that doubles as my husbands work vehicle, as he is self employed and drives lots of short distances all day long. I still feel the doubt though. I'm sure most people would tell me to stop worrying, that I need it.

It's want not need, really, though, isn't it?

Bookaboo - yes, my first car was a 17ft Mark 1 transit which I also lived in.

I am talking about local roads though. Not the UK in general. I live in a very old place and the roads are sometimes pretty tight.

i love the logic. big car bad, small car good. my kids still think that way too. maybe all cars bad, or high emissions cars bad? or is it just a dislike of any kind of luxury? good, spartan logic there.

I've got a big estate. It doesn't take up anymore room width ways than a fiesta. I can always fit into carpark spaces. I don't take up two lanes at junctions.

It averages 55mpg and is so green that road tax is £30 a year.

I can fit my bikes into the back of it without faffing with a carrier. It tows a caravan.

Its not any higher than an ordinary car.

Are you talking about 4x4s rather than big cars?

The mentality of some of these drivers with their larger cars is definitely selfish. As an example our next door but one neighbour has 3 large cars, including a Porsche 4x4 and one of those huge Audi q7. Our drives comfortably fit 2 cars, but because they have 3 and because they often apparently cannot be bothered to navigate their drive, they often park in front of my house and very close to my drive's edge. Because their car is so large and I only drive a Golf, it is very hard for me to see to pull out safely. In my mind that is thoughtless and selfish. Our gym carpark is full of 4 x 4s and the spaces are tight and there have been countless times when I have barely been able to open my car door enough to get my DS out. Having these oversized cars in tight spaces absolutely is selfish, as you make it hard for everyone else and are much more likely to damage the neighbouring car when you open the door. My husband had a Range Rover Sport when I met him, he lived in the country and did loads of driving. It was a beautiful car and I loved being in it, so I do understand why people love these cars, but I refused to drive it in London due to the impracticalities, he now has a much smaller car and it's so much more suitable.

Little, I would concur with others that you do need it - if it means you have enough energy to do the other stuff you have to do, rather than putting all your energy into getting around and being so tired from that that you can't do much else.

I daresay we could cope without a car, mostly - but it makes things far, far easier. We would have to downscale our expectations in other areas - my children couldn't go to parties, we couldn't get much shopping at once, or have the pets.

It's all relative. What I am objecting to here is the gratuitous use of supersized, unnecessarily huge vehicles that serve no real practical purpose but are just 'trendy' and 'privileged' and those are the reasons their drivers drive them.

We have a big, robust Volvo Estate. Strictly speaking, it's a bigger car than we need, (we have 2 children). We went for the Volvo because it's very safe, comfortable and it looks nice.
We could have gone for a smaller car for environmental reasons, but I like knowing that we're driving around in something modern and solid that will better protect us in an accident than a tiny economical car. If that's selfish, I don't care.

My DP's farming family all drtive smaller, sturdy cars. They laugh at the middle class incomers who all dtive 4 by 4's, and seem afraid to get any mud on them.

Oh god - they get laughed at - blimey I bet they all regret having lovely big cars with heated seats and digital radios now - the fools

May be people who drive Jeeps are more worried about the environment as when you include environmental impacts of manufacture they are the greenest you can get.