Rise in ‘bigger’ cars

[Hannahblueberry]

Driven by women specifically. Prompted by a conversation between my friend and I today after witnessing a woman trying (and failing) to park a ridiculously large car in a shopping centre car park.

What do you think the rise is driven by? Cars being made bigger in general?

My friends theory was that due to Covid and hybrid/WFH policies, couples sold one of their cars and in the main, the man kept their car which tended to be the bigger one.

Women like big cars as well as men. A couple of my friends have SUVs despite not really needing them because they like the height (and the perceived kudos).

I drive one for several reasons. i inherited this car from DH when he died, i kept it because I feel safer driving it and do not get intimidated by men, its really useful when we flood (often) or get snow etc. (Everyone seems to expect me to be the go to driver). It holds loads of shopping, tip waste, gardening supplies. I could live in it if necessary (nearly was). It’s much more comfortable on our potholed roads to drive plus I can see what’s coming over overgrown hedges and roundabouts etc. I can tow with it (caravan or trailer).
cost wise, it’s marginally cheaper than my 1litre citigo to run.

Yes I have noticed too,... huge increase in big cars on the road. Also noticed more mature drivers are favouring big cars, seen a fair few elderly drivers parking huge cars around here.

I think it all started under Blair when diesel cars were being promoted as cheaper to run, car tax was in their favour and they were said to be better for the environment. Of course this was bullshit based on only looking at CO2 emissions - they emit a million horrible toxic things but less CO2 so let's pretend they're better for the planet yay! Diesel cars tended to be bigger cars so more people started getting bigger cars.

Having a bigger car came to be more and more common and then more and more expected. It's terrible for the environment and they're much more dangerous for cyclists, pedestrians or other car occupants that might be in a crash with them - but hey who cares about any of that when you can feel like you're important?

I have a big SUV car.

That being said, I can parallel park it in tiny spaces (and take great joy in doing it in front of people who are smirking away and clearly expecting me not to be able to park) and have four adult dogs (and a puppy) and two DDs. So I need a big car. I also needed all wheel drive. But, even without 4 adult dogs and two DDs, I'd still have my car.

Ultimately, if people can afford it and can park it and drive it, no one should really be commenting on it. I've seen just as many people try and fail to park tiny cars (Fiat 500s and Ford Fiesta's usually) in huge spaces that I have then fitted my SUV into.

Because more and more companies are primarily or only making big cars? Lots have stopped making their small entry level cars - citroen c1, ford fiesta etc.

Also because people are generally getting bigger!

People assume theyre safer?

Popularity of pcp deals etc meaning status cars are easier to afford.

Women tend to drive the family car.

kids have a lot of shit that needs schlepping around.

my mum had an estate and my dad drove a hatchback.

i have a Volvo xc90 and my ExH had a jaguar saloon that wouldn’t even fit their PE kit in.

Environmental selfishness. Also, once everyone else has got one, you feel like it’s the thing to have. So silly when many roads are not created for them. I saw a mini up close recently and was shocked at its size.

Because I’m the only driver in the family and it’s easier to get my disabled relative in and out of.

Because they’re nicer and easier to drive and women have just as much right to drive cars they enjoy driving as men do.

Oh and we need a car of this size to carry camping / hiking / water sport stuff around in.

Because in spite of the cliche I can drive and park it perfectly well.

Its called supply and demand.

Customers want bigger cars, OEMs supply them. Thats the beauty of free market economics.

Gender of the owner or capability of the driving is irrelevant because piss poor parking can easily be done in a small turd of a car as well as an SUV.

YouTube is awash with videos of small car drivers failing to park/drive etc.

I drive a massive truck . It’s mine . I bought it because I like it . No other reason . I don’t need a big truck - I just like it .
and I can park it too !

Why shouldn't people comment on it? SUVs consume more fuel than smaller vehicles, are more dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists (heavier, so impart more energy in a collision, plus taller, so more likely to slam into them at vital organ height, rather than 'sweep' them over the bonnet) and reduce visibility for other road users at junctions etc. I'm sure you love yours, but they have a number of drawbacks for everyone else.

Applies to phones too. I loved my iPhone mini but they stopped doing them. While I’ve adjusted to the bigger one, I still prefer the smaller one.

Same with cars. I just bought a Hyundai i20 because I’ve no interest or need in a big car.

Some interesting thoughts - I hadn’t really considered the ‘insta’ effect, but that’s definitely going to contribute!

Even small cars are big. I'm dreading the day my trusty fiesta dies and I need a new 'small' car. Big cars drive and park selfishly but my fiesta will not be intimidated.

I saw a TikTok video the other day of a woman driving a brand new Range Rover down a country lane, absolute refusing to drive through a gap more than big enough for her car. There was a bit of a stand off. The man filming had pulled his car almost into a hedge but she wanted him to back u
What on earth is the point in driving a 4x4 if you can’t even use it for what it’s designed for..off roading!?

Modern cars are enormous. And there are several reasons for that. Firstly, safety. Modern cars have to pass incredibly stringent crash protection tests, which inevitably mean that cars have to be bigger & more robust than they were even 20 years ago. 1980s cars now look tiny.

Secondly, globalisation. Europeans used to drive completely different, and much smaller cars than North Americans. Now, we are much more likely to drive the same cars. The Toyota Prius & Rav4, Tesla Model 3 / Y, BMW 3 Series etc are top sellers on both sides of the Atlantic so they have to work in all markets.

Thirdly, China. The Chinese aren’t interested in making different cars for their home market, the Americans & Europe so everyone gets the same global models.

In all seriousness though, I need to replace my old xc90 soon.

i need to get a wheelchair in it which really does limit you to bigger cars. My friend has a full on van which has been adapted.

‘Insta effect’ trying to find any reference to that and wondering if you are just on a wind up

I think it started a good while before Covid and is just a current trend. When looking I found that there are less smaller cars available from new than there used to be.

You friend's theory might have some merit.

I used to drive a small car, a Corsa. DH had an SUV type vehicle (Hyundai Tucson). When we retired 4 years ago we decided we really didn't need two cars so we got rid of mine because the bigger car is much better for long journeys. Hence, when I drive now it is in the Tucson. And, yes, I hold my hands up to still find parking it a challenge!

Yes, I have family in America and visit often, when I used to go as a child/teen one of the immediate striking differences was the huge cars over there and tiny ones here. Have just been for a visit this last summer and upon landing back in U.K. realised it’s no longer as much of a difference and there are many more large cars here now.

Safety. Someone crashes into you, you have a better chance of survival.

It's an issue.

Most of the car ferries on the west coast of Scotland are between 25 and 40 years old, and one of the reasons they (almost) all need replacing is that cars are now bigger and so the ferries now hold fewer cars than they did when they were introduced.

Lots of people buy a bigger car for a certain period of their lives ie kids seats etc and once you’ve had a big car in my experience you tend to stay at that size , plus cars are generally bigger now anyway . I don’t know anyone who sold their second car during the covid / WFH era , aside from my immediate elderly neighbours everybody in our road has multiple cars including people like us where one of them works fully from home . The issue is car parks were built back in the day when cars were smaller and lots of people can’t actually drive very well .