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.

I wouldn't even regard half of the cars mentioned here as SUV's and most of them won't have 4 wheel drive kugas and a Grandland x ffs 😂

I have a Mazda CX-5. We have 2 large
Dogs and needed the boot space. Plus I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and getting in and out of it makes my life a little bit easier on bad days. When you live your life in constant pain, those little things become hugely important.

OPs post doesn't read 'envy' to me. that is such a typical response from someone who drives one of the bloody things. the amount of small/average houses you see with one of these in the drive is huge, my point it doesn't indicate wealth as any sod can have one on lease.

i think they are a pain in the bum to other drivers although i appreciate that they are great to be in ie comfortable. If one parks next to you it takes up most of the paring space & makes viewing harder when reversing out. They can see into your car if they are nosey as they are higher up. My main gripe really though is that so many seem to be driven by people who drive aggressively ie too fast & tail gate. At dd's school where they are the car of choice, they stop/turn/park where ever they like which is basically two fingers up to everyone else. and no, i am not envious, we could afford one if we wanted but tbh, i would be too embarrassed to drive one as i think they are pretty naf

Well we have a rather gorgeous Defender. A great choice for a dozen practical reasons, but mostly because....well it’s a Defender.

Had an Evoque as a courtesy car, whilst above mentioned Defender was in the garage (I know, I know). Bit of an eye opener really, absolutely fabulous luxury ride. Keep hinting to DH that we should maybe trade in.

We are shameless nouveau riche though.

My inlaws are mid to late 60s and rarely have more than one grandchild at a time but they upsized from a Ford Focus to a Kia Sportage mainly because it was easier for MIL to get in and out of, but also because FIL is a nervous driver and he feels more confident on motorways in it. So he tells us anyway.

I have an estate and when it goes it'll probably be replaced with another estate. No interest in or need for an SUV.

Why are people buying these big cars because of potholes? You do realise that suspension can be damaged on any car right? The bigger ones just cost more... All you're doing is making your repair bill bigger.

We have a Zafira as we're a family of 5 with three car seats and a double buggy. I would like a 4x4 as we live in a rural area (Welsh valleys 1000ft up so actually rural) and the last few years snow has prevented me getting to work. But I see so many twats driving X5s on the school run that I don't feel I could.

I like my SUV - that’s why I have it. I live in London too. Have two children, two dogs. Serves us well when I drive to visit dhs parents who live far away. Yes. I can park. No it’s not a status thing. And no - I don’t care what you think of me either - it works for our family.

Op - you would hate my best friend, as a family they own 3 range rovers 😂

I have a kia Sportage because I have a dog and a ten month old! By the time I've got them both in with the pram and all the stuff I have no room for another back seat passenger!! If we have another baby (or another dog!) I will have to get an even bigger car.

Before getting pregnant I had a mini - but I can assure you I can park this just as well (probably easier as it has wrap around cameras and sensors!)

@NinetySixer

Fair points and of course your choice. Could I reply please with how I cope with a few of your points?

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

The suspension repair costs on some 4x4s can be eye watering - google some of the Land Rover (Discovery 3/4, Range Rover L322 etc) costs, worn bushes and the like, it’s no fun and potentially twice or more in terms of costliness than a normal car

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

Why are E/S Classes, 7 Series etc still the car of choice for transporting execs? A well set up saloon with proper suspension and small wheels will always be more comfortable in my view

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

Goodness. Ok. Well if that’s a ground clearance issue due to deep snow drifts, fair enough. But my car on winter tyres works fine in snow. It’s the tyres that tend to immobilise cars I find, not the drivetrain itself.

@dowehaveastalker

Again... [sigh] my post wasn’t specifically aimed at you, or to make you feel bad for your life choice.

I’m glad your car serves you well as you traverse all that terrain to get to your dh’s parents.

I don’t hate you or anyone else who drives one or chooses one.

I am however allowed to put forward an alternative viewpoint, and that’s all I’m doing.

My BMW is just shocking in the snow OP, do tyres make that much difference?

TinklyLittleLaugh if its rear wheel drive nothing will help you. Snow tyres might make it a bit easier but you'll still probably slide.

I have one because I like it. The footprint is the same as a saloon but with more boot space. I could have an estate but I think they're ugly personally. I live in a town on a big hill and it's useful for the boot space with all the kids stuff. I did have a bigger one, an ML which was too big for some car parks especially in my line of work, so I changed it. I now miss the extra boot space and would like to go bigger again 🙈. My car is a low emission diesel and I get 50MPG on motorways which I do a lot of driving for work. What's not to like?

@GinDaddy

Oh gosh! Thank you so much for your help. I’ve now completely changed my perspective. That’s despite the fact that I’ve thought thoroughly about my requirements over the past year.

Just to counter your incredibly patronising post:

1. Having researched SUVs and pot holes they aren’t as likely to suffer from the same suspension issues from deep potholes.

1. It is far more comfortable to have sit in the back of an SUV when travelling for over 5 hours and having to work. High end Saloons might be the choice of car for transporting execs a short distance but it will usually be a 4x4 merc or Range Rover that turns up for the longer journeys.

1. Yes, I live in a very hilly, rural part of the UK. Even with winter tyres on my car I have struggled to get into work due to snow drifts. My suv driving colleagues don’t have such problems.

You clearly hate SUVs but there is no need to respond so snootily to other people’s reasoning.

Blue yes it is.

Our road is unadopted. We wouldn’t even get off it without our 4x4.

I find this amusing as I adore my Shogun. When my last one died we looked around and all newer cars (other than the land cruiser) are soft 4x4s and useless where we live. The beast from the east rendered our village accessible only by tractors, defenders and our Shogun. All the pick up trucks struggled due to the lightness in the back.
You're complaining about the increase and I'm complaining that cars aren't made as they used to be, not proper 4x4s.
Ours is used for towing, SUPs on the roof, dog crate for 2 large dogs in the back and ability to make it 7 seats. Both kids are teens now and space in the rear is important.
We bought the newest we could afford in the hope it lasts us at least 10 years - we've just ordered an electric car for our everyday usage to off set the carbon damage!

TinklyLittleLaugh That's your problem then sadly. I didn't get a BMW for that reason.

For me it's the height. I'm 5'9 and with 2 heavy toddler boys it's been a godsend on my back not having to stoop to load and unload them. Same for lifting heavy shopping / stroller out of the boot. Husband has a much lower BMW and I HATE having to load it.

You think that’s bacon the supermarket car parks, OP. Over here it’s quite normal for people to take a Ram 3500 to the supermarket. My husband occasionally takes his Ford F-250 super duty.

Bad in, not bacon!

I notice this at the school gates. Along with a trend for white as the colour of choice for many of the mums' cars.

I drive a big 4x4. I tow a horsebox and like to have the extra help along the dirt tracks and in the snow near the house and the horses etc. So I'm not one of the people you describe. But once you get used to being elevated and having so much space I think it's hard to go back. I had a hatchback as a courtesy car recently. Virtually brand new, lovely little runabout. But I was so glad to have mine back. And DD was grumpy about being cramped brat.

I think cars are just a nice luxury thing for some people. Their choice really.

OP I actually agreed with your original post but you’re coming across as a bit of a patronising arse in your subsequent replies. Quite an air of mansplaining about some of them.

Not sure why you’re posting in MN if you find it so tiresome 🙄.

I like them so I'm higher up than everyone and look down on people snootily.