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.

Lincolnfield I don't think people driving 6 year old Foresters are the focus of the OP's post. More likely, it's talking about people with 19 plate X6s which are only used for school runs and probably do about 10,000 miles in the 3 years they're owned before being traded up for the next new plate car.

I have a “mini” suv, 4wd. I got it to replace my hatch back after the suspension literally snapped!

We live semi rural, where the roads are all B roads, bendy and hilly, some don’t even have tarmac! My hatch back lasted 6 months post move and my mini suv has been going strong for 3 years!

Posted too soon, but when I drive to my office job in an out of town business park I probably look like a bit of a tosser...

It has all the mod cons though and basically parks itself

Most of your post is really about people's problems with parking. If you have driven a 4 x 4 you will know that generally parking spaces are too small, in fact for most SARS nowadays. I have a 4 x 4 as I tow, live in a rural area where snow can be a problem, have room for 6 passengers (often help out in winter) and seem to be the unpaid removal vehicle for the family. In 4 x 4s you are higher up and have a much better view of the road when driving. I also have a 1100 cc car that I use most days. Do agree 4 x4 seemed to be the 'must have' for townies to take their treasures to school in but I thought that had gone out of fashion with the 'must be seen to be green' brigade. Haven't noticed bad parking though.

I drive a 4X4. It's because I live in mid Norway and cannot get a regular car up the hill to my house in the winter when the ice comes. I had a VW passat before the 4X4 and did really well with that before I moved to my castle on a hill. I do love my SUV though, I like the size, it makes me feel a bit safer (irrational I know).

Two thoughts: I have a caravan so a 4x4 is a sensible choice for a towing vehicle...especially for those wet grass site moments...

As to why people with no towing requirements buy them- I think it’s no more than an example of the ‘vehicular arms race’... in other words, in an accident I’m going to be alright...the hell with others...

That is why...

I live in a rural area, always have. It's often cut off when it snows.
I have two children, a dog and drive a Corsa. Before that a Ford KA. Both drive perfectly well in bad weather. I honestly feel like the only mum in the world who drives a small car.
I have a slightly unreasonable hatred for 4x4s, based on the type of people who usually drive them.

To those suggesting that winter tyres are the answer to dealing with snow in the UK... with respect, they are not. Quite aside from the practicalities of actually buying the things, which are not widely sold, is the problem of storing the summer tyres in the winter and vice versa. In places where it is commonplace, such as Germany, it is usually the tyre dealer who stores them if you are unwilling or unable to store them yourself. There is literally no such provision here.

More importantly, when the temperature rises much above about 8 celsius winter tyres become problematic - they wear faster, cause more damage to roads, and so on. It is not uncommon during UK winters to have four or five days of snow, ice and sub zero temperatures, followed by weeks of 10 degrees upwards during the day.

Winter tyres are just not appropriate for our climate in order to provide a bit of traction for six days a year when it snows. Four wheel drive, on the other hand, can make the difference between staying mobile in the snow and being stuck, without being inappropriate (or dangerous) the rest of the time.

A quick word too to the PPs who pointed out that shock absorber damage to a hatchback is the same as shock damage to a 4x4 from potholes and speedbumps. 'Tis true. However, a decent 4x4 will have better ground clearance and angle of attack/departure capability than many cars which is what I will actually be looking for. Since I moved to my particular suburb and its mahoosive speed cushions and potholes I've lost one front airdam despite driving over a cushion at virtually walking pace. My next door neighbour got rear ended at the same bump because we have to almost stop to go over it without grounding the front of a typical family hatch.

I personally would like to see a thread on why British people in particular see a 4x4 and think 'chavvy', 'flashy', 'ostentatious'.

I'm not going to address 'chavvy' because I don't use that word. However flashy and ostentatious are exactly the words you'd use to describe an SUV or 4x4 with shiny paintwork that's never seen a mud track or had a tow bar attached so ¯\(ツ)/¯

Otherpeoplesteens

'To those suggesting that winter tyres are the answer to dealing with snow in the UK... with respect, they are not. Quite aside from the practicalities of actually buying the things, which are not widely sold, is the problem of storing the summer tyres in the winter and vice versa. In places where it is commonplace, such as Germany, it is usually the tyre dealer who stores them if you are unwilling or unable to store them yourself. There is literally no such provision here. '

Just to point out if you're interested, Kwiksave offer that service. They will store winter tyres for you in a climate controlled warehouse and swop over your summer tyres when you need to. It's not cheap as chips and you have to get tyres from them but it seems a pretty good service.

I run on all year round tyres on the Scooby and they're fine winter and summer.

I did chuckle though at the person who says 'we lived abroad, in a country where we had snow . Proper snow not an inch or two of UK snow.' We frequently get depths of over two feet in the winter and, of course, no council snow ploughs. Fortunately the farmers will clear some of the tracks or we'd be well stuffed.

I'm surprised that somebody living in Norway got away with a VW golf - although, of course. parts of Norway are like the Netherlands - very flat.

In Austria, it is law that people have to put on winter tyres from Autumn through to Spring and they have to carry snow chains as well.

Winter tyres are no more difficult to acquire than summers, if you're in the habit of shopping around to get the best price anyway... all our tyres come from black circles or similar, direct to a local garage who fits them.

SUV type vehicles are only seen as flash in the UK because the UK culture sees having a new car as much more important than most European countries. In France there is a minimal second hand market because people buy cars new, run until dead then replace - there isn't the same obvious age indicator on the number plates - all the region's are on different numbers because it depends how many cars have been registered in the region not the year!

GinDaddy, I'm with you I live in suburbia and cannot understand the obsession with these SUV's, and I don't envy their owners. When you come to a junction if they are turning one way and me another I have to wait until they have excited because I cannot see the road because of the height of their cars. These, mainly 30 somethings, are banging on about waste and energy and they drive gas guzzling cars with as previously said, only one child on board quite often. You are right they quite often cannot park to save their lives. Another thing is that if you are parked with one either side of you in a car park, when reversing, you are absolutely blind again because of the height. I drive a perfectly normal car that has elevated seats but is no higher than a normal car and I get by. It's all about uniform, they have one so I have to have one.

It was a passat @Lincolnfields :D It only worked out because we had spiked winter tyres AND chains. I much prefer the 4x4 for winter driving, far less sliding and better traction on the icy hills! (this part of Norway isn't even slightly flat, woe is me in the cycling months!)

I'm thinking of getting rid of my Dodge Nitro 4 x 4, Mitsubishi L200, Ford Ranger, Lorry and 2 Vans to get a Hummer. So much better in car parks, because you can push all the little cars out of the way park on top of those infuriating bicycles and run over Climate Change whiners.

🤣

@IWouldPreferNotTo
That's not quite true. I've driven the 1.2 3008 and it's not underpowered at all. This is because Peugeot have reduced the weight of the car considerably so it can have a more economical engine. The 3008 that I've ordered is actually a 4WD with a 1.6 petrol engine. I've driven a diesel for years and wanted to change back. I'm very happy with my choice and can't wait for delivery ☺️

Way back OP said "I could rock up to a dealership today and walk out with one of these things on a nice PCP rate, it's not a big achievement."

Yep - this is why I have one. I think they were trying to get rid of them as a "facelift" version was coming out later in the year. It was an absolute bargain. It also fits the (large and hairy) dog, all our holiday kit plus the family. I can park it - it has cameras, sensors and great visibility.

We live semi-rurally and the roads are potholed and crap although I find the ride in my SUV just as hard as in my DP's BMW M4.

Next time I'm thinking of a Ford Ranger pick up - just to really piss people like OP off

Incidentally I saw a man reverse park perfectly first time into a Tesco car parking space with his BMW 7 series the other day - awesome bit of parking as those things are as big as boats!

I’ve got a standard SUV/4x4 car, it’s not a looker or for a status symbol by any means but I bought it for the heated comfy leather seats and the high boot as my back is starting to falter

I was driving this morning and saw 2 incidents - both of 4x4 drivers (Audi Q7 and Range Rover). One was pulled across the road and stopping traffic in both directions, despite having no right of way. The other was a tight residential road with room for one car to pass and necessitating some give-and-take. The RR just kept coming and would not pull in at all, resulting in congestion and upset drivers as traffic was backed up and had to manoeuvre to let it past.

No-one responded to my idea but what about a new test for larger sized cars? Estate car drivers seem fine - it's the height and width that seems to be the issue, not the length.

To the rural and semi-rural posters, I don't begrudge them their 4x4s.
It's the city drivers who are the issue.

I like 4x4 because they are high up.

I'm very short and don't feel safe in a small car as I don't feel like I can see the whole road.

It's probably psychological but I do feel safer. It's also because hubs used to own a Grand Cherokee and when he was teaching me to drive he said: don't worry love, this car is made of steel, if anyone hits you they will bounce off like a tennis ball... I felt totally safe and it's stayed with me.

And this is partly why the planet is fucked. A very fuck you jack as long as I'm alright attitude.

Well said Karen!

I drive a VW Tiguan, it's not a ridiculously large 4x4, it's the right size car for our family - including a large dog. I like that shape of car.

When you can get a family sized electric car, same performance for anywhere near the same price as a three year old VW, and there are enough electric charging points across the country, then I'll get one.

It’s a status symbol like many others. Why did you choose a BMW instead of a Vauxhall?

I think lots of women like them because like it or not, driving a bigger car means less likely to be pushed around by aggressive drivers. Unfortunately this often goes hand in hand with then becoming a less careful driver themselves.

You could also move away from your affluent area if you don’t want to see so many