To not understand the obsession with SUVs/4x4s?

[GinDaddy]

I'm genuinely curious to hear people's views below. Nearly every parent I know in my area has a 4x4 car of some sort. That's dozens of folk. The car parks at our local supermarket are covered in the things.

My AIBU is to ask, what is the obsession with these things? Why are they the "default" choice for parents now, considering so many folk can't park them properly, and our roads aren't set up for them?

I watched in amused horror yesterday as a lady with a Vauxhall Grandland X (yep...me neither) tried to park head-first in a bay in our local supermarket. The width of the thing was the issue, but once "parked", the rear of the car was practically touching the front of the neighbouring vehicle.

It was just absurd. Why is this car any better than an Astra estate, or in the same price category, a Skoda Octavia estate, both of which are narrower and better on fuel, and the Skoda which has extraordinary amounts of luggage capacity and legroom?

I think the answer is simple, it's an image thing. People feel their life is more exciting with DCs if they're in something that looks like it could climb a mountain at the weekend.

Only problem is, my DW and I find public car parks absurd at the moment as I find more and more of these hideous things parked terribly at every juncture.

The beauty of living in a capitalist economy is the prerogative of choice, helped by dollops of PCP finance handed out by every car dealer, meaning anyone can get into a boxy car on stilts.

But for goodness sake can people learn how to drive and park these things if they're going to be bought by everyone? Driving down streets with parked cars on either side is a game of "my car is bigger than yours, so move over", which is just embarrassing.

NOTE: I have no issues with envy here; we have a 6-year old estate car from a well known Bavarian marque with a three letter acronym. I don't ride 2mm off people's bumpers, and it serves our family's needs well.

My SUV is narrower and shorter than my previous car which was an estate. I like the higher position and it's easier to get in and out of

I like being higher up so I’d get one. Well a compact SUV not a massive one.
I’ve got a qashqai which isn’t a true SUV just styled as one, but it’s a small/medium car and fits nicely in parking spaces. Also bought outright as I needed a new car and someone at work was selling theirs.
I think it’s quite easy to understand that the car industry is reacting to what sells well and then the market is flooded with that type of product so it’s hard to buy anything else! Just think of the ‘grey’ fad - everything is grey.

I have a berlingo and live in rural cumbria. We often have bikes inside and out, kayaks, canoes, dinghies attached to it either on roof or tow. Muddy dogs and kids inside it. Live down a country lane and often get snowed in in winter.

Not once have I ever felt the need for a 4x4. You’d also be hard pushed a boot on a car bigger than a . My inlaws drive a mitsubushi 4x4 and the boot is tiny in comparison despite the car being much bigger all over

Yeah, sorry I can't agree with you op. I've been blocked in plenty by all manner of shite parking over the years, in all manner of cars. I've had times I've had to climb in through thr passenger seat because someone in a small car has parked too close.

So no, I'm not with you. Shite parking is shite parking and that's about the driver not the car.

I suspect you know that and are just desperately reaching,

*you’d also be hard pushed to find a boot bigger than a berlingo on a car.

@bluntness100

“desperately reaching”

Wow..that’s not blunt, that’s just goading someone a bit surely

Why would I be “reaching” when I am describing my actual lived experience?

Oh I forgot. There are posters on Mumsnet who deny people’s lived experiences because it makes them feel uncomfortable or angry.

Anyways... my point was valid I feel and simple

• Yes all manner of drivers park in a shit way. Not just SUVs

• However the size and width of SUVs when driven in built up areas with pressure on parking INCREASES the likelihood of issues

• Therefore it’s not beyond the wit and ken of humankind to imagine that an explosion in the amount of larger cars in the same small parking spaces could bring chaos

Agh have I wasted my time typing this? Feel like you’re being deliberately obtuse

@Itsfineactually with the rear seats folded, indeed, the Berlingo is great for boot space. If you do however need the second row of seats for passengers, the boot is fairly average.

I do agree with the OP. Where I live there are so many 4X4 drivers and it is amusing to watch them park!

I don't necessarily need my SUV but I have always loved them (even from being a young child). I bought mine outright and saved damn hard to be able to do it. I chose to have one as I like being higher up, it feels safer and I enjoy driving it and I can park in it just fine!

We do have a Vauxhall Corsa which we use to just pop into town and if we are going somewhere locally as I don't see the point in taking a big car to places like that. We as a family are very outdoorsy and that is when SUV really helps us out.

I have a friend who has just bought one who doesn't need one at all, single, no kids, does not need the space - but it's her choice.

I think another problem is now smaller cars have gone up a lot in price in recent years and a second hand SUV is not much more. There was a much bigger gap years ago. (Like a lot of things I guess).

Lol ^. Showing that money doesn’t buy class

You're gonna hate me OP - we live in 'the leafy borough' in SW London on a tiny narrow street, and have a massive 4x4 which does a princely 18 miles per gallon (12 mpg if you floor it). Each fuel tank costs £130 to fill up, but God does it shift when I hit the accelerator. A shout out to any fellow Porsche Cayenne drivers out there?

So why do we drive it? Well, we love it basically. We don't get to drive it often - we all cycle to work / school, and have a Ford Focus for doing errands during the week.

But when we need to use it, it takes a family of four, a week's worth of camping equipment, a dog and a roofbox. And whisks it all off to 70mph in about 7 seconds, thanks to that ridiculous engine. It's a total joy to drive, excellent handling, and it's just FUN. Even carrying all that load, there's plenty of space inside. Wide leather seats, awesome sound system, in a way our Ford Focus just couldn't ever be. It's a mix of comfort, load handling and power.

Why's power important? Ever been stuck behind some selfish twat doing 45 mph down a single carriageway road for miles and miles, oblivious to the fact there's about 50 cars behind him, and nothing in front? What happens when the single carriageway turns into dual carriageway for 3 miles (A330, I'm looking at you here)? In the Focus, we scramble to try and move up the queue 3 or 4 cars before going back to single carriageway. And we've normally got people waiting to overtake us while we're overtaking. In the Porsche, different ball-game. After 3 miles, you'll be in front of the lane-hogger / tractor / lorry etc., guaranteed. From wherever in the queue you start. Then you have open road in front of you, which is much more relaxing.

Another point, whilst we're talking about BMW drivers? In the Focus, they're right up my arse. Even if I'm doing the same speed as the car in front, and there's no prospect of overtaking. In the Porsche, they just instinctively hang back. Not sure why, but you just get given more space in a 4x4 as opposed to a small hatchback.

Now, I'm not saying this is OK - powerful cars are my personal guilty pleasure, and I wouldn't recommend them to everyone. Especially not at 18 miles per gallon (ouch!). But the OP asked what the obsession was, and I hope I've described why they really do hit the spot for me (and maybe others).

shirley I’m not alone in reading that in a brummie accent ‘we are considerably richer than you’

@MosquitoInAJamJar

Same, I'm in Riyadh most of the year. Buggered if I'd drive round in a saloon or hatchback

@Leafyhouse

Great post and you really bring to life the power of the Cayenne (presume it’s the Turbo?) I’ve always been curious about them simply because of the mind bending power on offer from something that’s the automotive equivalent of a small cathedral in size. They’re a real feat of engineering.

One small thing - we weren’t talking about BMW drivers as such, more that I happen to drive a BMW and mentioned it.

Mine doesn’t hang 2mm off people’s bumpers, I don’t respect anyone who drives like that.

I don’t have privacy glass, mine is on 17 inch rims which came with the car, and the stereo is the stock Harmon/Kardon which doesn’t blast out the latest in afrobeats/trap/drill at high volume hehe

Oh and I don’t hate you! Or all SUV drivers. Not one bit

It makes the thread far more interesting to read posts like yours. Your car sounds like an awful lot of fun

People drive SUVs because they like them. Simple as that.
Personally speaking I don't know why people choose to drive BMWs because when I see one I am reminded of BMW's history with the Third Reich and their profiting from the Holocaust/slave labour camps.
But I appreciate not everyone knows that nor thinks of such things.

I have a Discovery and despite all the gadgets/cameras/park assist etc I bloody hate parking it but I need seven decent sized seats and I couldn’t get that in a smaller car, if I could, I would have bought it! We have a VW Polo that I take out if I’m going somewhere alone and it’s a dream, so relaxing to drive and park.

"No one ever comes on and says 'yeah, I don't need one at all, I just like being flashy'!"

Ha well a few people have actually said that (in other words) and have no shame apparently!

18mpg 😱
Our Octavia does 50-60mpg and we have no issues overtaking on the motorway, even with a full car and boot.
Surely engine power is relative to the weight of the car?!

@TrainspottingWelsh

Totally agree op. I know 3 people off the top of my head who have this style of car and have absolutely no need for it. It’s just a style thing.

Personally I prefer a smaller car. My golf is perfect for me.

I love these threads for the people who come on to say that they NEED a 4x4 because they sometimes drive in what they think are rural areas (Surrey doesn't count)

Like another poster I grew up in rural Shropshire. My mum drove a Fiesta and we were fine. I now live in rural Scotland and drive an equally tiny car. Somehow despite this terrible handicap I manage to survive the potholes (hint: if you look where you're going you can avoid them) and mud. I've taken it on long camping trips to even ruraller bits of Scotland. It even, shock horror, goes on the motorway and is able to overtake safely.

Unless you actually need to drive off road YOU DO NOT NEED AN SUV. If you want one, fine, that's capitalism, but don't pretend it's anything other than a choice you made to drive an unnecessarily polluting vehicle that is more likely to kill anyone you hit with it. And for the love of god learn to park it.

Our next car will be an SUV for the following reasons:

1. The pot holes near us are so bad we have lost 2 tires and had to repair our suspension countless times.

1. Both me and my DP get car sick and bring in a higher car helps this.

1. I drive people a lot for work and it’s more comfortable to drive 3 adults in an SUV

1. When it snows a lot of roads around here are off bounds to non SUVs.

I have a Ford Kuga, not sure if that qualifies as an SUV or not. Only 2WD mind you. I had a Focus before that.

I find it's nice sitting a teeny bit higher up and it's easier putting DS into his car seat. I liked it and wanted it. Plus it actually worked out cheaper than replacing my Focus with another Focus 🤷🏼‍♀️

I have driven a little citroen for years. Dd has a Toyota aygo. We manage potholes and proper rural roads fine. The truck is useful in terrible weather and to tow. Dh would much rather have a flash BMW though