To wonder why we allow the sale of so many cars that don't fit a standard space?

[Bussesrus]

We are looking for a new car that will fit all 6 of us plus our dogs. Having looked at many options just about everything with a third row and boot space will hang over into another space by anything from .2 to nearly a meter. Where exactly are you meant to park these SUVs and vans?

Well said, I'm sick to death of these massive vehicles dominating everything.
Most of the occupants are also massive because they don't walk anywhere 🤬

Surely the problem is your lifestyle choices?

4 kids and a couple of big dogs requires a very big car.

We have a zafira, it fits in a standard space with no problem.
However the 6th and 7th seats fold out from the boot and are quite cramped so not ideal for every day use (there are only 4 of us so only gets used occasionally) and you sacrifice boot space when in use.
But possibly an option for you?

Large cars do my head in in general. I drive a normal size vw. I'm not far off 6ft, as are 3/4 of my household. We fit easily.
Large car next to me at roundabout: I can't see what's next to you.
Large car in car park: lucky in slim enough to squeeze in to my car.
Large car driving down the lanes: doesn't fit on its side of the road.

And they're so often driven by women who seem unable to see over the steering wheel.

It also begs the question, why are cars so big these days?

I think I might get two elephants and then demand that car park spaces are made big enough to accommodate the lorry that I'll need for the huge beasts.
I hope (for the safety of the people in Cornwall) that those two canines aren't Pitbull type dogs.

I think car parks may need to introduce a percentage of wider bays. These should be charged at a higher rate.

This. Everyone should drive as big a car as they can afford as they are so much safer in a shunt.

Road tax should also be charged at a higher rate for larger and heavier vehicles.

There's 6 of you and dogs. You don't really want it too small

To fit 6 people and two dogs in

That's what's led us into the current arms race of bigger and bigger vehicles.
What we need is for all vehicles to be kept under a certain size and weight.

This is what I don’t understand. I have a Yaris and I easily fit 4 passengers in it (normally 4 large footballing teenagers!) for running about. I see people driving range rovers doing the same tasks I am doing and they don’t hold anymore. I just don’t get it. I am all for managing a maximum size of cars in cities now and taxing based on weight.

Not necessarily, I have a citroen grand picasso which is a 7 seater but it's only 4 cms longer than a standard Vauxhall astra.

Genuine question but how often do all of you plus the dogs and the luggage need to be in the car? Would it not be more sensible to buy something smaller and rent a big car when you really need one?

You probably need to look at a japanese import. They do a good line in mpv ugly narrow square van cars with 8 seats. Nissan, honda, mazda, hyundai, toyota all do lovely narrow van cars, narrower than a ford fiesta, that are not sold in the uk. Often much cheaper than equivalent non grey import cars but you do have to go through annoying brokers for insurance and end up paying a bit more.

What happens when the car parks are rammed e.g. at Xmas

My 6 ft 4 uncle used to drive a mini in the sixties! Tall people can fit into smaller cars. Might not be the most comfortable but completely possible!

Sliding doors are worth adding to the list of 'would be super helpful to have'.

In my experience people with big fancy cars park them across 2 spaces.

Yes! Or gull wing doors.

At The Trafford Centre there is now Premium parking with larger spaces but to be honest I think its just a money making exercise as I have no trouble using the spaces there BUT there have been quite a few times when I have to drive past an empty space in quite a few different car parks because if I use those then either my fat arse isn't squeezing out or the person next to me isn't getting in. Recently I had to climb over from the passenger side (much to Ds's amusement as he didn't believe I could do it) and the person next to me had parked in such a way that I couldn't get in, although we were both well inside the lines.
I just try to park on an end or make sure there is no car seat in the car next to me and/or my drivers side is next to their passengers side.
I don't even have a 4x4 though, my car is just big

No, what we actually need is some cars to be bigger than they currently are, preferably with a big V8 under the bonnet. 😍

This would also have the added bonus of annoying the eco-mentalists.

What maddens me is how much more dangerous these huge cars are if they hit a child, but they are all driven by people "for safety"