To think modern cars are getting too big?

[cunningartificer]

First world problem… We’ve been thinking about getting a new car, hoping to get hybrid or electric perhaps (usually keep cars for 100,000 miles or so, so it’s time). Big issues with supply chain means we’ve had a lot of time to think about it and look at different types. Trying to downsize a little from seven seater to SUV that will fit adult children and luggage etc and all the options seem to be so big! Looking at eg RAV 4 from a few years back and those sold new now, they’re huge! Keep seeing cars on street I like and when I look at same in garages they’re the new versions and seem vast in comparison.

When we’re trying to think ecologically surely cars should be getting smaller? It’s really annoying. At the moment we’re just going to keep going with our old car, as I can’t bear the idea of ‘downsizing’ to one of these beasts. Why are cars getting bigger when it just makes parking, narrow roads and country lanes more tricky? Genuinely don’t know why anyone thinks it’s a good idea except as some kind of weird status symbol (obviously different if you live totally and need something sturdy… but these are apparently ‘designed for the city’!

With you OP. It’s not as if new car parks or any parking facilities have bigger spaces to accommodate everyone having bigger cars - it makes no sense!

They definitely are. We have a small staff car park which has functioned fine for years but 5/6 people have replaced their cars recently with big ones, and if there is a couple of them parked next to each other, the spaces are too narrow for them to open their driver doors to get out!

You're absolutely right.

Definitely. A lot of them aren’t even more spacious inside , just the body work is chunkier.

It's largely down to increased safety both for occupants and pedestrians

The Vauxhall Corsa's of today are nothing like the 00 plate one I bought when I passed my driving test. DH says it's increased safety measure which makes sense but only to a point. SUVs are incredibly popular with anyone who has children around here. When I was a kid most parents had a saloon car but it's no longer the norm.

We've been test driving some electric cars but have realised we need to get our driveway widened to fit one. At the moment I climb from the passenger seat to the drivers side to get out anyway (there's a wall on one side and the front garden is built up with a few bricks on the driver side). The electric vehicles are so wide it won't be possible to park.

Yes, that’s my concern, also just fell in one of these you can’t get round some of the streets near here safely without risking clunking other cars—now I realise why we’ve lost wing mirrors from passing motorists before now!

Safety for whom? Not those on the outside if vehicle surely?

I walked past a VW recently and had to look on the back to see whether it was a Polo or a Golf. The newer Polos are about as big as some of the older Golfs

Don't get me started on Mini's! Hardly mini, the Countryman is quite chunky

@learnasyougo

Safety for whom? Not those on the outside if vehicle surely?

Er yes. They tend to be softer and squishier to do less damage to pedestrians. That means they have to be bigger so the plastic bits can deform more before they reach the hard metal frame.

It’s ridiculous isn’t it, OP? Not only are fossil fuel SUVs more expensive to run and bad for the environment (I think a recent UN climate report singled them out specifically), but the size of ALL cars is becoming insane. More cars on the road AND they’re getting bigger- it just leads to endless parking angst and road rage. I spent ages looking for a multipurpose vehicle that isn’t mahoosive and ended up with a Nissan NV200 van, which is relatively compact and nippy, with a 1.4 engine (there are also electric versions, but still too expensive for me).

And the indicators, if used correctly are getting smaller.

I agree OP. Once a week, I have to park in an average sized outdoor car park. The majority of the cars are SUV/4x4 type cars. We live in a very built up suburban area. We do not live anywhere near the type of environment 4x4s are meant for and I can say with certainly these cars will never put their tyres on grass.

School pick ups take longer because if there are parked cars at the side of the road, two of these large cars cannot pass each other, resulting in jams and beeping of horns. The majority of drivers of these silly cars wear sunglasses on top of their heads even when their windscreen wipers are in use.

Completely agree - we live on a narrow victorian close, and when 2 of these park on either side it doesn't leave enough room to squeeze an ambulance or fire engine through, which is very worrying with how popular they're becoming.

Er yes. They tend to be softer and squishier to do less damage to pedestrians. That means they have to be bigger so the plastic bits can deform more before they reach the hard metal frame

That may be, but the tarmac isn't any softer when you're slammed into it. The taller a car's bonnet, the more chance of a kid getting head injuries if the worst happens.

Agree. I have a polo which is fairly small (but not like the old style ones!) and sometimes I really struggle getting out if I'm parked next to a large car
I actually used (don't shoot me) parent and child spaces post spinal op as I needed to be able to fully open my door and swivel on a cushion, and if there wasn't an end space I couldn't get out

It's largely down to increased safety both for occupants and pedestrians

This.

About 3 years ago we were involved in a multi car crash on the motorway. Not our fault. We were in our average size hatch back. The car that ran in to the back of us was an SUV. Thankfully we had no serious injuries, DD was taken in to A&E with suspected head injury but stitched up and discharged a few hours later. Our car was completely written off, no question of it ever being driven again. The SUV that hit us didn't look too badly damaged.

It was a terrifying experience. But when we came to buy a new car we bought an SUV. Sorry, but when you have been in that position you appreciate the feeling of more car around you.

Yep I agree. And for this reason I have a dinky red corsa!

I work in a few gp surgeries and my dinky old corsa gets lost in the staff car parks amongst all the huge tractor like vehicles…. It makes it very clear I am not a GP 😂

I agree. I don’t understand how people can stand to fanny about looking for parking or be forever reversing on rural roads in these mahoosuve wide cars. I get that it’s about status and Obedience To The Marketing Department, but it’s all just a bit... silly.

Agree! It’s bonkers. Doesn’t help that car seats each seem to be the size of a Fiat pinto so you practically need to own a bus to get 2+ in..!

on the flip side housing is getting smaller so people need more boot space 😆

I agree. The width is the main issue I struggle with. Where I live the council like to have one more lane in the road than there’s space for, which is challenging for my ‘small’ car never mind these enormous wide cars and SUVs. I don’t know how I haven’t had the side of my car scraped yet.

Absolutely 💯 on this....its ridiculous, the amount of huge cars on the roads that weren't that big to begin with. And don't get me started on the roads that have just been narrowed to promote social distancing on pavements