Just stop buying new SUVs...

[Fridakahlofan]

Unless you REALLY need one. I live 1/4 mile down a muddy track and I do not have one.

In the Times today:
SUVs 'were responsible for all of the growth in oil demand, of 3.3 million barrels a day, from passenger cars between 2010 and 2018, with total fuel consumption from other types of car falling slightly'

Surely soon it will be shameful to own one!

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/soaring-demand-for-suvs-exacerbates-climate-crisis-kbpj5mpzg

We've got a RR Evoque. Because we want to. And because we live near a river which floods regularly, it gets driven through flood water every day at the moment which saves us an 8 mile detour twice a day..... thanks to the water level sensors.

It puts out far less pollution than our neighbours old banger which throws out clouds of smoke when he starts it up every morning. If we took all the old bangers off the road, we'd achieve far more than ranting at SUV drivers...............

Ah the irony of people needing suvs cos they live in flood zones

Thing is, on a motorway which are you more likely to survive in in a crash? A 4x4 or a fiesta? Newer ones are less gas gusslers and without them hospitals etc would struggle to get staff in in snow.

I agree some are status symbols - dfriend has a 7 seater suv when she has 2 dc. She's very much about showing she has money. Many people buy cars to give a certain impression rather than the basic type they actually need.

Yes and those people are idiots

@vulpine and the chances of those people ever ever realising it...

These are just facts. They're not disputable, its the simple truth about the vehicle class

It isn't though, it's just pure blinding stupidity to lump all SUVs together as the worst thing on the planet, when as people have clearly demonstrated, and on every other stupid thread there has been on this every few weeks on MN there is a huge range in size and emissions.

And if you have one, what should you do, scrap it? Not exactly environmentally friendly to do so. There are not enough used hybrids and electric cars around to satisfy everyone, and not in the right price range, and there are nowhere near enough charging points.

If you say "high emission gas guzzling overly large cars" that's fine, but utter stupidity just pick on a car because of its shape.

@shearwater the title of the thread literally says "stop buying new SUVs". Sure you have your own way of justifying your vehicle
choice. Just like everyone has their own excuses for not taking personal responsibility for myriad issues. Still get judged though.

Climate change isn't "someone else's problem because I have to drive through puddles and I've worked hard for my money so there". It's everyone's problem.

I stopped at Jackson’s ‘if you live in the countryside you don’t need one because you can grow your own food’. What planet are you on? Most working Families do not have the time to grow their own food ffs. What a totally stupid comment in a reasonable debate.

They are status round here too. We are semi rural but no cause for a 4x4. Someone I know genuinely said (of her big black range or Land Rover eith metal bars on the front) ‘if I’m in a crash I want to know my kids are safe’. Never mind the kids being crushed in the smaller car you wrap yourself around and come out unscathed due to the armour!

@shearwater

I am not lumping all SUVs together and saying every single one is a danger to our lungs. The Mitsubishi PHEV Outlander, a Skoda Kodiaq 1.4 petrol, etc, these are fine vehicles with low emissions and aren't going to give me particulates issues.

However the vast majority of the SUV class of car are diesel, because the torque and grunt offered by those powertrains tend to suit the vehicle. There are five times the number of 4x4s on Autotrader that are diesel compared to petrol.

What I'm saying is, does every purchaser of those diesel vehicles, need the low range torque and grunt to tow a horsebox or farm vehicle? Of course not. They don't even need it to get off their drive in snow or mount the kerb at the school.

It's become a defensive choice due to purchasing power and nothing else. The belief that "I can see high up, I'll be better off in a crash, no other vehicle will take my son's footie equipment, we have three DCs" etc... the emissions implication is immediately subsumed by these other "needs" and any other class of vehicle such as a MPV, estate etc, is relegated immediately

I'm afraid I'll be in the market for one once my current vehicle dies a death. The first hint of snow or muddy ground and it gives up.

@shearwater

No one is "picking" on a car for its shape.. however can you acknowledge that SUVs tend to be larger so require bigger often diesel engines to power them, hence more particulates are released hurting our lungs?

This is just the truth of the matter - you can point over there to diesel saloon cars, or commercial trucks, but the OPs article talks about the fastest selling class of car and the one which is making the greatest environmental impact - SUVs

I tire of the arguments on here when people go "no let's not talk about this, look over there!!". No amount of pointing at vans or saloons or whatever will ever refute the fact that a surge in sale of diesel SUVs is harming the environment and the air we breathe.

@ferrier

Winter or all season tyres get you moving and stopping on snow

SUVs with summer tyres can be downright dangerous in snow. I saw a Renault Kadjar (sp?) the last time it snowed, struggling horrendously on a side road corner. Was 2WD on summer tyres.

We have a 'pretend' SUV, Dacia Stepway, diesel, don't 'need' it, but like it. It was nil tax, now it's a few years old it's £20 or £30. Wont be getting rid of it any time soon. It's a great, comfortable, easy to drive and park car.

Also have a 2005 diesel Punto 1.9 turbo. It's starting to become a pain in the arse with repairs and we need to think about getting rid. If I could have any car I wanted I'd have an ex army LR Defender - not because I need one, but because I love them.

My parents can't get into the Punto - it's too low down for them. I'll be considering them when I get my new car, which will almost certainly be another pretend SUV (But not a defender because I can't afford one).

I won't even consider an electric car. Neighbour is having so many troubles with his, and has already been told that his battery was only guaranteed for 5 years and will cost around £5k to replace.

The 4x4s round here are all merrily ploughing through the snow when we less mortals are on Shank's pony .... i doubt more than the tiniest handful of them have winter tyres. I know one person in all my acquaintance who uses them.

@m0therofdragons not necessarily true. Being in an SUV can be much more dangerous for passengers and it is definitely worse for everyone else. See the link I posted earlier.
I would rather I was hit by a polo than a Range Rover!
It really frustrates me when people only think about their safety and not that of everyone else in our society (not saying that’s you because obviously I don’t know you)

Gindaddy I agree although I think when it comes to our carbon footprints parcel delivery really adds up. Amazon and having free delivery for example means it's up easy to order small bits here and there which result in 3 it 4 deliveries to one address. Not sure what the answer is

I think this thread gets the backs up of drivers of anything bigger than a small car is because there are so many ways everyone of us is fucking up the planet. None of us knows what any other poster is or isn't doing to make positive changes so aren't really in a position to judge.

I think unless you lead a carbon neutral life yourself you aren't able to call another person out on their choice of car in isolation to everything else.

I have one.
It’s soooooo pretty.

And I tow with it.
Manage not to be snowed in like other locals for a week in winter.
Manage to get my unnecessarily big dog in it comfortably.

Plus did I say it’s pretty?
I really truly don’t care if I look a show off to narrow minded people.

Also - it’s more economical than my other car which is a hatchback.

@zoomies1 all the deaths on the roads round here are 4x4 v normal car - those in the 4x4s are walking wounded but those in the smaller cars die. Only anecdotal but 3 staff members in one year died this way. (I don't have a 4x4).

I would rather I was hit by a polo than a Range Rover!

I'm not sure I would. I saw some research a while ago that concluded that the high bluff front of a modern SUV spread the impact forces and was less likely to result in head injuries from contact with the base of the windscreen or being thrown up in he air.

What @pardonwhat is saying is "I don't give a fuck about anyone except myself, bloated consumerism is just fine by me. Also I have a big car because it looks nice, that's all I know about it". Probably while making puppy dog eyes to men when the screen washer needs filling up.

all the deaths on the roads round here are 4x4 v normal car

All the road deaths? That sounds highly improbable. Which area are you referring to?

Batfurger

Why have you so much internalised misogyny?

I HAVE to have a 4x4 through winter where I live. My SUV is much more economical than a pick up which is the other option.

And it’s pretty

Writings on the wall for diesel anyway. Bristol going to ban Diesel engines from the centre imagine other places will follow suit and rightly so.