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?

Yes they don't want to look like two marshmallows squashed into a matchbox, so they need a shoebox sized vehicle.

Because people don’t feel safe in smaller cars with less height. Not me personally I am still perfectly happy in my ten year old A3.

Mostly that's because the Land Rover takes up the space and the people in smaller cars are wedged in by it!

I park next to land rovers and range rovers daily and they do take up a full space right to the edge

There's nothing inherently unsafe about smaller lower cars, they are only unsafe because of all the bigger heavier higher cars.
In other words it has become an arms race.

If I parked in between two land/range rovers there would not be enough room for me to open my door to get out.

Well, I guess the one time of the year I do the Christmas food shop can’t dictate the car I need year round. I have a few vehicles for different reasons but with several children, several dogs, towing, living ritually etc a hatchback physically wouldn’t be possible.
I’ve honestly never had a problem though.

Here is where they park.

https://x.com/wankpanzer?lang=en

small cars are bigger than they were but my Yaris is tiny compared to a Range Rover and yet it holds the same amount of people and has also gone through the safety testing required. Yes there is less boot space but on the occasional journey where we need more space we could either a) hire a car or b) put on a roof box.

You’ve answered your own question there.

@Drfosters yes technically you might fit the same number of people but you can't fit two kids in car seats and an adult in the back can you?
Nor is it comfortable for 3 adults.

And a Yaris won't cope with half the conditions a Range Rover would so you are not comparing like with like

I’m sure a Yaris could cope equally well with any conditions one might come across in a city.

I agree with this. Sometimes I see the massive cars bearing down on my wee Zoe and think fucking hell they could crush me. They make the road unsafer for me. So while they are banging on about being so much safer in their big cars they are actively making things unsafe for what were normal cars and pedestrians.

We have no need for a massive car, getting one just so we can do battle in the event that a massive car smashes into us seems ridiculous. Where does that end?

Luckily our car is 6ft 2 inch. Mind buses tend to be a bit wider, and they cope with majority of roads. There’s a few rural roads we have been down that would be a challenge for a bus, Cornwall, Devon, parts of Yorkshire. Being high up is handy as well, you can see oncoming traffic quicker, and can get into a passing spot to let others come by on really narrow roads. As I said, plus and minus to lots of choices.

I feel your pain OP I have an SUV and parking is a nightmare in most places .

But a 2014 vehicle is already a bigger vehicle. They started getting bigger mid/late 90's

Yanbu. Our ex council estate has dinky 1960's size car parking spaces. Even my small modern car only just fits.

Holy shit, those are some big dogs.

@KimberleyClark we don't all live in cities or even towns for that matter!

The driver's compartment is often fine in many cars, even for tall people. It's the back seats that are more the issue.

But anyway...6 foot 4 is still small compared to my dh and teens. The majority of ordinary cars are very unsafe for back passengers who are 6 foot 6, especially when seated behind my dh who is 6 foot 8.

Presumably it’s your choice to live rurally. Choices have consequences.

That can land you with a fine - which may not be legally enforceable but will cause you hassle.

Bit of a squash. But room in a Golf to restrain 3 children and dog went in the well, presumably. I had a Golf in the 90s and it was very roomy. Fairly big for a 90s car, too.

Shit I've forgotten how to emoji properly

Because people make allowances for the bus. If everyone drove a bus it would be an issue. When two buses meet, it’s an issue.
luckily there’s only one every x minutes not every other car is one.

these wide cars are built for other markets, like China.