To irrationally resent SUVs ?

[SavoirFlair]

For those who have impossibly avoided the term, I’m talking about “fake 4x4s.”

A car that would have been a hatchback a dozen years ago, but is now wider, higher up, with fake 4x4 styling (flared wheel arches, roof rails, big plastic moulding).

I can’t stand them.

As someone who has owned two generations of Range Rovers when we lived off a track a mile or so from the main road, I realise people are free to lob back at me. but those cars had a purpose. We wanted to be comfortable; but we absolutely needed the traction and clearance that vehicle gave us.

Does anyone need what a Grandland X offers? A Mokka? (Jesus save me from that awful car. Worst on sale today - just buy a Corsa and stop being previous). Who needs a Sportage or a Qashqai? (the hallmarks of the aspiring, when years ago a Focus or a Golf would have done just fine).

The worst offenders for me are actually the so called luxury ones. BMW X5 is an abomination - can’t do anything off road, is massively wide on road, and two mums at our school park terribly with them and block the road for the other direction.

And that’s the thing - a large segment of folk who own them, can’t drive them properly. I go to the hospital car park twice weekly with my DD. If someone is careless (often are) and parks close to or on the white line… renders the next space completely useless. Which when hunting for the one or two spaces available for my vulnerable DD, can be infuriating.

We don’t need these things, but I get people love them for

• being “high up” (still doesn’t make the drivers any better at driving)

• Being “high up” to load DCs and allow elderly parents to get in and out without bending back

• some of them have a big boot

Ok, but my answer to all these three is..

an MPV. Cars like the Ford Galaxy, S Max, Touran, Alhambra - all high up seating, easy to get in and out of, massive boots.

But no.. the truth is fashion. Why buy a Corsa when you have a jacked up version. Why buy a 5 series when you can have an X5 and dominate the school run.

Meanwhile the greater fuel consumption, the materials cost to make the thing …

AIBU to irrationally hate these stupid wide massive things?

"I 100% realise how fortunate I am to have the ability to own this vehicle."

Mumsnet at its finest😂

Why do I need a packet of biscuits because my car has a price tag??

It’s a car that’s designed for a purpose. It seems as if I’m going to have to explain “aspirational” to some folk so here goes -

If something is well designed for its purpose (Range Rover) and becomes massively popular as a result, then you’re going to see lots of little clone cars with jacked up bodywork and cladding, wider stance on road, etc… but the cars themselves have puny 1.0 litre engines and can’t do anything off road whatsoever.

To me that’s “aspirational”. You’re projecting an image of adventure and country life but your actual life is nothing of the sort, it’s an image.

The Taycan isn’t “aspirational”. It’s a car! It’s designed to be aerodynamic, fun as an electric car to drive, it’s designed to do the things it’s set out to do. I don’t own it as a status symbol, I own it because it’s the very best tool for the job I want.

It's the people saying they buy SUVs instead of estates because the boot space is better than an estate. This makes me laugh.

The average SUV would struggle to fit in all the canvas tents and boxes we get in our estate.

Yeah, fair play. I guess I'll just have to let go of the status and keeping up with the Joneses and slum it in a Porsche like OP.

Nah not really: any of us with some form of wealth have to write such pathetic disclaimers to avoid being savaged by the human tall poppy scythes that come barging onto a thread

I own it because it’s the very best tool for the job I want.

I suspect many SUV owners would say exactly the same thing.

No. They're not allowed to, because OP doesn't think that way.

If YABU, then IABU too. I hate them and everything they represent. They are a giant shiny badly driven "fuck you" to everything and everyone else.

Hayliebells
Have a look at the Nissan NV200 Accenta Combi. There is an electric version....don't know what your budget is though 🤔 Got a massive inflatable boat plus oars, massive canvas tent, about 8 duvets and all the other associated gubbins for a 3 week camping trip around France in there last year, with room to spare. Judging by their top boxes, all the shiny SUVs on the ferry.....didn't 😆

Again, classic AIBU forum behaviour - wilfully missing the points I’ve made.

Of course people are “allowed” to own SUVs. They’re the most popular car segment in the UK, dozens of folk I know have them, and it’s a free country.

but I’m “allowed” to pass judgement on them, or criticise their existence. Because again, it’s a free country to speak on such things.

If you’re referring to my argument’s basis (I choose to own a good electric car for my needs, why can’t someone own an SUV for theirs?) I get folk like higher up positions, sense of safety, they can take dear parent in law etc.

But I just can’t stand the silly aggressive styling and the pointlessly wide stance, driven by folk who were bearable in a Golf years ago, but who now can’t ever, ever reverse the bloody things on a country road or a congested side road.

Worried that they'll scratch your (almost) £100k car are ya @SavoirFlair ?

Well, yeah. The cost is irrelevant though. No one wants their car scratched?

Depends what SUV some have really good boots if you take out the false floor or parcel shelf. I bought a smaller car as though I didn't need a big car I love the car but hate the lack of space. Wouldn't drive an estate as I just don't like them, so looking at an SUV. Most do more MPG than my current toy!

I get what you're saying, but I don't think it makes much difference if idiot in Golf can't reverse or in SUV. Still blocks the parking lot. I even agreed that I don't get SUV-styled cars with tiny engines, because they're not fit for purpose (get very tired where SUV shouldn't feel a thing and those engines are wreck after few years anyway). The only thing concerning to me is that idiots in suv make more damage in accident than idiots in peugeot 207 because of mass.

Ah, so you are allowed to have a (checks internet) car with a 91k+ price tag as it "suits you" but other people are not allowed to own 25k Hondas CR-Vs/ Kadjars and the like because they are "aspirational" and take up too much space on the road, despite the fact they take up less space than your car if you actually compare sizes?

Ok then.

i can drive my car. It’s a tool for a purpose. I don’t fear reversing, or three pointers, or anything else.

What I’m saying (which is being wilfully ignored) is that years ago, folk who drove badly could still just about get past in their 1650-1700mm wide hatchbacks.

Now that everything is a bloody SUV with 1800-1900mm width and flared arches and loads of other stuff which helps no one, then it exacerbated a problem that now leads to Mexican standoffs on side roads etc where the person should reverse due to a passing space behind them, but they won’t. And their silly car choice makes it ten times worse.

so no this isn’t about me owning X and others owning Y and it’s “not fair”.

It’s about a compounded problem of SUVs being the most popular class of car, yet driven so often by absolute weirdos who will never ever reverse and who hug the centre line with their right wheel, no matter the road surface.

If something is well designed for its purpose (Range Rover) and becomes massively popular as a result, then you’re going to see lots of little clone cars with jacked up bodywork and cladding, wider stance on road, etc… but the cars themselves have puny 1.0 litre engines and can’t do anything off road whatsoever.

I don't drive my 'puny' 1L off road though, or even in the countryside. I have absolutely no reason to. It exists primarily for me to go from home to medical appointments, of course I use it for other purposes but I can assure you none of them are inspired by a Range Rover.

To me that’s “aspirational”. You’re projecting an image of adventure and country life but your actual life is nothing of the sort, it’s an image.

It's not an image for me, it's a life changing piece of equipment.

To people like me, who know little about cars, a Porsche is a posh expensive car. Is it not?!

I mean, I hate huge cars as much as anyone but a Porsche is aspirational surely. Or have things changed and is it the same as my Polo?! Want to swap?!

What I’m saying (which is being wilfully ignored) is that years ago, folk who drove badly could still just about get past in their 1650-1700mm wide hatchbacks.

Now that everything is a bloody SUV with 1800-1900mm width

How wide is your car OP

pisses self laughing

People are bigger than they used to be. Why is it a mystery that cars are?

Translation of the OP: plebs shouldn't be allowed anything bigger than a Fiat 500. And they should get out of the way of my £90,000 silent pedestrian killer as I barrel through the streets of London.

I've owned one of the cars you named and currently have a slightly bigger one that you haven't.

I love it.
Fits multiple kids and dogs in.
I can get everything I need in it (and a roof box) for holidays.
I have very bad knees so it's great for getting in and out of without pain.
And I like big cars.

It's got a bigger boot, is more comfortable to drive and isn't dramatically wider than many hatchbacks. I know this because I had a fucking spreadsheet to know what would fit where I park.

As a Range Rover driver, I don't think you really have much right to bitch about environmental impact etc. At least you don't drive an Audi I guess. 👍

But I just can’t stand the silly aggressive styling and the pointlessly wide stance

?

Nissan Qashqai width: 1,835 mm

Porsche Taycan width: 1,967 mm

I know there are lots of comments here saying, ‘it’s not the car, it’s the driver’. But honestly on the roads near my kids’ school, it is simply about the size of the car. Narrow roads with limited London parking. Big cars make both parking and driving more difficult for all. However great the driver. I am just grateful those days are over for me and my kids can get the bus/car back home.

Oh and people carriers are the ugliest cars I've ever seen. Truly awful and no better for the environment in any way.

Cars are wider, longer, and heavier because customers demand better crash protection, and more toys.