to have expected a slightly more empathetic response from this Range Rover driver?

[TheOneWithTheNicestSmile]

It's pouring with rain.

The (shiny new) Range Rover is parked bang in the middle of 2 spaces outside my house with the engine running.

I park across the road, then tap on her window & say "you realise you're parked across 2 spaces?"

Super-groomed blonde perma-tanned woman driver responds "this is a public road & I've just paid £500 to tax my car"

Ha ha. I wonder if she's the woman from the end of my road.
Some people don't actually feel embarrassed about inconveniencing others, however annoying it may be.

If she was scruffy and pale, it wouldn't have been a problem?

Was her number plate B1TCH?

Did you need to park in an adjoining space? Or were you just annoyed because she was perma-tanned and driving a RR?

Would you have spoken in the same way to, for example, an elderly man driving a Fiat Punto?

Simply going by how you've described the situation in your OP, I would suggest YABU.

If you had needed to park next to her and had asked her nicely if she could budge up, I wonder if she would have been equally pleasant. Or was she simply reacting to the aggressive way you spoke to her?

She had just picked her daughter up from the primary school round the corner (so it serves me right for not leaving my car parked during school pick-up ) and the child was sitting next to her - nice message to send to her...

The school is pretty hot on manners & kindness to others. I do hope her child picked her up on it!

It's beautiful sunshine here

and your op is weird

I agree this thread is weird

Actually, that's not quite as funny as it sounded in my head..

But, to be fair, I wouldn't dream of speaking to a stranger like that unless I was really up myself. It's not cool.

What does the fact she was driving a rr have to do with anything?

you realise you're parked across 2 spaces

Yet it sounds as though your manners are not all that hot. Just maybe?? If you spoke to her as you've described it, I wouldn't have been too impressed either

She shouldn't have parked across 2 spaces obviously but all you had to do was cross the road to your house.

The type of vehicle and her appearance has nothing to do with the price of eggs.

No offence to 4x4 drivers but a lot of the ones I come across seem to think they have a right to park wherever they like. A lot of parents at the dd's school have them, they turn up to school late, can't park so they think it's ok to park on people's lawns, blocking entrances to house and blocking the main gate to school, oh and they think they can park in the bus stop. A few weeks ago my poor car was hit by a 4x4 outside the school, I have to say the lady driving was very apologetic and ashamed.

YANBU - People living in the city who own a Range Rover need to get a grip. Roads near where I used to live were clogged up with massive 4x4s owned by parents picking up kids from school. So often you'd see one parent, and one little kid in this huge car.

Personal opinion, but having such a big car never to use it in the countryside seems pointless and a waste.

Marne - lots of car drivers behave in such an abominable way, it is not exclusive to 4x4 drivers. I drive a RR and have never done this, but I've seen drivers of Smart cars (one who actually parked ON the zebra crossing in the school grounds, and he was a bloke) and other little cars parking equally badly, and committing various driving misdemeanours. Unfortunately, it appears that only the big cars get pulled up on it, just because they are more noticeable.

(PS - I hasten to add, I'm neither perma-tanned nor particularly well-groomed, and my car is very old, not shiny new). Does that make a difference?

Couldnt you have just politely asked her to pull up a bit?

Maybe she is on Nethuns talking about the scruffy mum in the old banger getting hostile with her...

Numanoid - where in the OP does it mention that this was in the city and not in the country? I seem to have missed that . . .
(Not that it really makes much difference)

I completely believe the OP. I've seen similar behaviour from 4x4 drivers myself .

£500 for tax! I thought my £120 was bad!

Also really bored of the anti 4x4 brigade.

I live in London and drive a 4x4. It has an enormous boot that I can fit bikes, buggies and other assorted kids shite in to. And its nice and drives well and is reliable and stylish.

The reverse snobbery is also always directed at nice top of the range big cars, too. If its a beat up old Renault Espace shit wagon its OK, yeah?

I don't understand why if you wanted to park there and you needed her to budge up you didn't just ask that?

Do you know I wondered about the type of people who get het up about these things.. I never see them.

Then I found myself at the ATM the other day and the woman in front of me used her card to make TEN separate cash withdrawals!!!! I was so mad! I actually said something.

SO now I see that people do get mad about these things. But it aint worth it.

Also, you have no idea what this huge RR picking up a child from school one day, may be doing the next. Tomorrow it might be picking up a whole load of hay for farm animals. Or delivering a huge load of supplies to a homeless shelter for instance.

The women I know who drive 4x4s definitely don't ever use them to pick up hay!