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.

X-post with Crowler.

4x4's are useful round here. Very useful.

They let me know exactly where the twats amongst us are

Not sure if my point is for your op or against it!

I like big cars because they are safer.
If there is an accident, it is going to take a big bang before the metal at the front or rear of the car is crushed sufficiently to hurt me and the other occupants.
Is that a need, or not?
I think it is a need. Probably.

Less - Icelanders go to the interior where you do need a 4 by 4. That is totally off road and means you probably have to drive through streams. To go on the ring road and small roads off it, you don't need a 4 by 4.

once again, a decision made by someone who has no idea of what my daily drive is, under what conditions, that I do not need the car I know that I need.

If I don't 'need' my 4x4, could you please tell me how I was one of the few people actually able to get to one of my dc's schools recently, and on a weekly basis (given recent weather)? I had to ferry half the school children out and up to where they could be picked up safely by others. Good job I had that 4x4, and extra seats.

But no, along comes someone with no clue as to circumstance, and tells me I don't need it.

Goodo. I'll just leave my child at school next time I can't get there safely, I'm sure that'll work out just fine.

(and no, I'm not an incompetent driver. I drive well, and have driven well in a variety of conditions and environments)

I have a 4x4 - we bought it because our hobby involves carrying a lot of heavy equipment places and we wanted a car that was sturdy enough to last years, and it has.

We have been called on a number of times in bad weather to help get people to work, deliver goods to people unable to get out of their homes etc.

I hate the attitude that because my choices are different to someone else's that I'm selfish. No, I've made decisions that work for my lifestyle just as you have.

How do you know they could drive something smaller? You're seeing a snapshot of someone's life. If you saw my DH driving to work and back in his almost 15' long tourer, how do you know whether he's a single man and just likes the leg room, or he has a family who fills it, on the weekend? The engine size isn't displayed prominently, so how do you know whether he's averaging 40mpg or 20mpg?

Err, there are two "main roads" across the interior that tourists use, although they are also allowed to hire vehicles and go into the interior. We were advised it was risky in a non 4 x 4. I'm guessing the locals know what they are talking about. Even ok looking roads can turn into streams if it rains heavily. The road from the boat at Seyisfojour wasn't tarmacked on the first bit either. True, you don't need a 4 x 4, as long as you don't get stranded...

I got the impression a 4 x 4 big enough to take a tent attachment at the rear was the dream of many Icelanders...

I have a 4x4 as I can't tow a trailer in a mini.

I would like to point out that there are four by fours and there are faux by fours.

A qashqai isn't really a 4x4, it's designed to make people feel all safe and cushioned in it. You'd never be able to go off road in pretty much any of them!

My car, though a 4x4 looks shit and is filthy. It's really a working vehicle that I have to drive everywhere. Quite frankly I couldn't give a shit what anyone else thought of me driving it. Though a few people have been thankful for me helping them out in the snow we've had. And the floods.

I just don't know what this jealousy obsession is on MN on what other people drive. If you can't cope with a large car on the road, what do you do if you have to drive past a van, or lorry?

There are no main roads across the interior. No car hire company will insure you to drive a non 4 by 4 in the interior. It sounds like the road you drove in is not in the interior. For those roads they recommend 4 by 4's, but they aren't necessary.

I think this thread smacks of jelousy.

It could be argued that having a nice detached house is selfish as some families with 10 kids are crammed into shitty one bed flats. Prehaps its selfish for someone to have a larger pay packet than they strictly need and spend their hard earned cash on luxury.

Okay, just looked on the net. What is now being called interior roads in Iceland, did not used to be classed as interior roads. I have driven on them without a 4 by 4. They are very basic roads. The interior was basically the middle bit that had no roads at all.

I have a large 7-seater, I drive it even when it only me in it! I love it, I have driven it daily for the past 11 years and will trade it in for another high vehicle as I like to see the road. I always offer to take my car on trips as we can squeeze more in it, fab for camping and for 7 ladies on a night out!

It could be argued that having a nice detached house is selfish as some families with 10 kids are crammed into shitty one bed flats.

I agree 100%.

I had a 7 seater but had to get a smaller one for work. I couldn't afford the petrol and insurance on it as my job requires a lot of driving. I have five children so it does mean that I can't take them all out at once and if we want days out we have to get a train instead but apart from that it doesn't cause many problems.

Ideally, I would have two cars, my small one and a 7 seater but that isn't going to happen any time soon.

I don't give a shiny shit what anyone else drives.

nicknacky I agree my neighbour is an arse, he must be, he's a banker;), and would park any car I front of my house! but if it were a smaller car it wouldn't make it so dangerous for me to get out of my drive, that's my issue with it. Oh and not Audi bashing, my husband has a small Audi, just dislike that huge tank being parked so i cannot get out of my drive safely with my little boy in the car. Plus not sure why they really need it when they have a family of 4!

Anyone who has a bigger and nicer house or car than me is incredibly selfish. Not to mention those who earn more than me. How could they possibly need so much cash?

They should use £1k a month to live on and give the rest to charity. Selfish b*stards

I don't think this thread is brought on by jealousy, actually.

I do think that badly-driven big cars are more noticeable than small cars - it's a damn sight more intimidating having a Audi Q7, for example, sitting halfway up your arse than a Smartcar. However, the fault is the driver not leaving adequate space between the vehicles, not the size of the car per se.

I sometimes wonder if cars are starting to make driving too easy, so people take on a big vehicle without actually having the experience to drive it. I learned to drive when cars still had chokes, power steering was unheard of, ABS was only on luxury cars. I would not have dreamt of taking on a large car when I first passed my test as I was not experienced enough to drive it. Nowadays, you can get in a massive car and whoosh, off you go. I would have needed a lesson in using a 4x4 properly, as you needed to be able to set the differentials, transfer ratios etc. Nowadays, there's a button in the car that you set to the correct terrain and off you go. It's almost encouraging people to take on cars that they don't know how to drive.

Why should I have to convince you? You may not approve of bigger cars and I think people who drive around in old shitters are prats. Who cares?

Don't have a 4x4. Do have a big saloon. However it is reliable, not very new. When we do travel, not that infrequently since family live away, we stay for a few days and take stuff with us. We like cycling and can strap bikes to the car. It handles well on the motorway.

However we only have one car. My Dh has a 30min commute to work, which has to be done by car, but apart from that we walk everywhere.

Swings and roundabouts.

I love the fact my Escalade would be frowned at by twitchy middle aged women.

My 10 year old Rav4 is actually smaller (width and length) than a:

Ford Focus
Toyota Auris
Vauxhall Meriva
Audi A3
BMW1 series

Because I like having the space, boot space and the extra seats (so do all my friends funnily enough when they ask to borrow my boot for moving their stuff or furniture).

Biggest thing is the safety aspect though, I feel vulnerable in small cheaper cars.

To be honest, there are very few very large cars on British roads, as the manufacturers don't sell them. An Xc90, for example, is not a big car. It's pretty similar to an estate in length and width. It's just taller. A Grand Voyager is the same length as DH's saloon.

There are very few Escalades, Suburbans and other full sized SUVs on British roads, so I don't really know what the fuss is about.