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’ve got a qashqai and it isn’t any bigger than my old Vectra….in fact the boot is much smaller. I just got it because I needed a second hand car and it certainly isn’t stylish. They’re usually driven by people in their sixties.

It wouldn't be bigger, it's from a smaller segment.

Vectra = D segment = large car

Qashquai = C segment = mid sized car

If you want to make size comparisons at least make them in the same level.

Oh OP you do just keep on giving.

So your car - which is 4.96m long and 1.96m wide - is fine and 'fits' the UK and is definitely not an issue, but these 1800mm-1900mm wide cars lead to Mexican standoffs?

My hated Volvo takes up way less space on the road than your 'hatchback'. Even if I upgraded to the XC90, the footprint would still be smaller.

This has to be a windup, right? No one is actually this clueless?

I would honestly stop driving altogether if I had to get an MPV. I aren't your target btw I have a hatchback

How infantile

Your forget the op can drive. Which apparently no suv driver can. Although the op was an suv driver while it suited her purpose (or rather comfort). So presumably as soon as she got her Porsche she also learnt how to drive really well. She also doesn’t have the same fear of scraping her expensive alloys that suv drivers do as it’s well known that Porsche alloys cost no where near Qashqai alloys…. That’s what all those attainment seeking qashqai owners get for driving their expensive status cars.

We have a Tesla X (which I happily reversed around corner this very afternoon in order to save another driver who seemed nervous from needing to reverse) and even I think this is one of the most shockingly tone deaf and lacking in self-awareness posts I've ever seen on here, OP. The cognitive dissonance is truly impressive.

Very true, very true.

I suspect OP would have done better just saying 'I don't like the way these cars look and I don't like the people I perceive to be the target market.' Because that's the crux of it.

I would see you in my Wrangler Jeep. Idiot.

Consumer Reports gave the 2019 Jeep Wrangler only a 12/100 in terms of reliability. It also made the top three of the website’s Least Reliable Vehicles of 2019 list. Reviews. 😂 enjoy your jeep wrangler most reviews also give it a meagre 3/5 nothing to brag about.

😂Another one.

Absolutely idiotic thread.

I drive 3 different vehicles depending on my mood and home.

I am super glad one is HUGE

It is a work horse for us. And not a brag at all.

I could brag if I wanted to.

🙄okay........

I've got an SUV and quite frankly I love it. It fits 5 of us in fully comfortably with 3 full rear seats, has a big boot and is extremely comfortable for driving which given I do 1,500 miles a month, is important to me.

I don't see that it's anyone else's business what I drive, but everyone's entitled to their view I suppose. However, as another poster has said, it'd be a dark dark day if I had to drive an equally wide and long MPV - I'd probably just not bother.

We’ve had one most of the time for over 20 years! Discovery for horsebox towing and latest one is a hybrid with great safety features. We make no apology as at least we’re able to drive them properly. My pet hate is the (usually women) drivers, bumbling along in the middle of the road so they don’t scrape the sides wearing sunglasses regardless of the time of day and whether or not it is bright outside! Guaranteed there is also a coffee in there in the cup holder and a large designer handbag to be carried in the crook of one arm!

YANBU I blame the advert for that bloody Dacia Duster going through the forest, these cars aren't any better off road than any normal car. Get a much better made estate, stick on all terrains or really good snow tyres in winter and it's a much better overall experience than cheaply made SUV's with no actual benefits of any 4x4 they are trying to emulate. Don't get me started on the 2 year service plans 😳

I love my big tank. Great for weans and dog. And I'm an excellent driver....🤣🤣🤣

It’s a Nissan Leaf. One DC in the front with airbag off. Boot space absolutely fine. Zero emissions. It’s great.

My mum has one. She has a cleaning business, and a big dog. It suits her for both.

They are all in proper car seats. If you’ve got 4 kids, or regularly transport a large family, I can understand why you need a 7 seater, but everyone else really doesn’t.

A small hatchback will fit most people’s needs, but not their ego.

No @JassyRadlett , no one is so clueless that they would overlook the entire sense of the post just to focus on the size of my car.

Do you understand how problems can compound over time if more bad drivers start driving bigger cars?

That’s my problem. That the default car for most consumers, is far bigger than they can handle. Witness the dozen or so comments on this thread of people exasperated that a person in an SUV can’t reverse 200 yards

This increase in SUVs then exponentially causes blockages and standoffs on side roads as people can’t manoeuvre in and out as our roads demand of us.

This is real. It’s my observed experience.

so no I’m not saying me, a big car owner, is the only person who can own a car that’s large

I’m saying, the more bad drivers there are who are attracted to cars they can’t handle.. the worse it gets for us all on the roads

But yeah make this an envy thing @JassyRadlett or a class thing or whatever, poke me about my Porsche if it makes you feel good.

The ostentation on this thread is getting a bit boring now!

I asked before but it got lost in the mass showing off. Would anyone with a ‘high up’ car still love it as much if everyone drove a similar car?

Have owned a few range rovers and discoveries as I tow my horses, found them to be crap. Also had an X5, towed better, looked better, drove better and didn't break down like Land rovers 🤷‍♂️

I asked before but it got lost in the mass showing off. Would anyone with a ‘high up’ car still love it as much if everyone drove a similar car?

I expect so. I didn’t buy mine because it was “high up”.

I had to sell a much loved hatchback because the dog couldn't sit up comfortably in the boot.