SUVs

Grantanow

They have better headroom for tall drivers and all the modern additional safety features require wider bodies to fit in and a heavier car is likely to protect its occupants more than one of the lightweights of yesteryear. I don't drive one ( we have a Volvo V70 estate) but I can see their advantages.

Heaven help us smaller car drivers then when we get hit by an SUV, or have an accident because we are dazzled by their lights or are unfortunate enough to see a pedestrian, child or bicyclist mowed down and more badly injured by the size and weight of the things.
The heaviness of an SUV also damages the roads, creates and enlarges potholes, damages verges and causes more pollution and noise pollution. We were walking at the edge of a country road recently and the noise as each of these tank-like vehicles roared past made it impossible to hear each other speak. Still, the occupants would have been safe inside.

Our Rolls Royce Silver Shadow does take up an enormous amount of space, which is why we tend to use the Aston Martin DB5 when we need to park in town out of consideration for others.
When no large parking space is available the chauffeur will drive around the block until we are ready.

Granatlast007

Grantanow

They have better headroom for tall drivers and all the modern additional safety features require wider bodies to fit in and a heavier car is likely to protect its occupants more than one of the lightweights of yesteryear. I don't drive one ( we have a Volvo V70 estate) but I can see their advantages.

Heaven help us smaller car drivers then when we get hit by an SUV, or have an accident because we are dazzled by their lights or are unfortunate enough to see a pedestrian, child or bicyclist mowed down and more badly injured by the size and weight of the things.
The heaviness of an SUV also damages the roads, creates and enlarges potholes, damages verges and causes more pollution and noise pollution. We were walking at the edge of a country road recently and the noise as each of these tank-like vehicles roared past made it impossible to hear each other speak. Still, the occupants would have been safe inside.

Electric cars are much much heavier than petrol vehicles so will cause a more damage to roads and pedestrians!

LauraNorderr

Our Rolls Royce Silver Shadow does take up an enormous amount of space, which is why we tend to use the Aston Martin DB5 when we need to park in town out of consideration for others.
When no large parking space is available the chauffeur will drive around the block until we are ready.

That's why we gave ours away, LauraNorderr.

The Aston Martin too, rather difficult to emerge from it elegantly now one is rather less agile.

We used to have a Yeti. Great car , comfortable , reliable and economical, high enough for OH to get in and out of. It was easy to drive but it had to go when I became the only driver. If we had had an accident I would have smashed my knees or choked myself.
I do miss my little Jimny which was everything we wanted in an SUV going through 3ft snow drifts in our long drive.. The only drawback was the cost of tax and insurance. not sustainable when we no longer needed a second car.

We’ve got one covered in mud as my other half goes off road when he is out shooting. 5 Labrador retrievers in a dog box in the rear. Bought second hand and 06 registration so not expensive. Our is a necessity so I do not judge others with similar vehicles as I don’t know why they need them. It isn’t always obvious.

I have an old Corsa which we use for shopping etc, no need to take the monster truck the .

Foxyferret I agree, unless you know the driver and their lifestyle you have no idea why they have a large vehicle.

GrannyGravy13

PaynesGray

How stupid it all is, this need to be seen to be wealthy

You have no idea why most people need a larger car, it’s not all about money!

As for parking, maybe people should learn how to park correctly?

I m 5’2” can park our large 4 wheel drive car in a standard parking space, with room to get out of all doors. Whereas I often come across small cars parked over the lines, at odd angles, too far forward or back…

These vehicles are an absolute necessity to go to Sainsbury's & tear around their car park at 40 mph while texting.

Much as I harrogate but Where I live they are driven , badly, by entitled women !! One reversed into my mini and didn’t even know until I told her ! They are the scourge of the roads

Had one over many years. Basically for towing a caravan. Used all over Europe. Also had a runaround but onmy own now with a SUV. Woukd be reluctant to have a small car now as I like being higher to try to spot the idiot on the road. Not many SUVs are guilty of speeding or cutting in when there is no space, mainly smaller cars and now EVs who can afford to speed. Never noticed a problem with parking spaces. Also I live where there can be a lot of snow in winter so SUV more useful than a standard saloon. SUVs have been on the market for decades, why a problem now.

You can pick-up a decent Rangie for less than £10k these days. They're no more a status symbol than a BMW, Merc or Porche.

It might have been your old Roller Allira, bought it second hand. We never buy new dahling.
There was a tiara left in the glove compartment with a diamond encrusted A in the central decoration. Was it yours dear?

LauraNorderr

It might have been your old Roller Allira, bought it second hand. We never buy new dahling.
There was a tiara left in the glove compartment with a diamond encrusted A in the central decoration. Was it yours dear?

Oh, that old thing! So that's where it went!!

At least I still had it for the Coronation. It's fine, you can keep it, I have several others to choose from. 👸

Personally I don’t think the SUVs are the only problem and I’ve no problem in how people spend their money. DH had a company car, I drove a 2seater sports car, so we needed a third vehicle/SUV for the working spaniels. We’ve had a Hi-Lux, Jeep and finally a twin-cab to keep the smelly dogs away from the passengers. We needed that type of vehicle but it was also safer for me to take the DDs to school in during freezing weather.

What seems more relevant is that even the smaller entry level cars are so much bigger now - the Vauxhall Corsa is now the size of the old Astra and a new Polo is as big as a Golf - however, in many cases it’s the allocated spaces in carparks that are from the 60s and 70’s which cause problems. Unfortunately, as it’s cost per space, it’s unlikely NCP will reduce the number of spaces by making the bays wider. Similarly on street parking where spaces are designated can prove difficult for some drivers - it’s not always the car to blame.
My friend moved into a 10 year old house recently and isn’t able to get her new small used BMW in the garage - it’s too narrow.

Cabbie21

Can anyone recommend a car which is a bit higher than most, so easier to get in/ out, but not a SUV?

I needed a new car. My beloved mini was 13 years old and the mice had chewed the electrical wiring.
My mum (97) was coming to live with us so I needed something a but bigger for the wheelchair . Off I went with a tape measure.
I’d looked at various different models then we went into the local VW garage to look at a Polo. My husband’s eye was caught by a small SUV in the corner but I said that was far too big.
The lovely salesman told me it was a Polo on stilts! It really did look bigger so I got the tape measure out and he was telling the truth!Lots of room for the chair and it’s so easy for mum to get in and out. It’s a t-cross. Apart from the bells and whistles which I think all newer cars have it is perfect.
I suppose it’s a SUV but a small one.

Had 35 cars in 42 years (some company cars). The last 3 were SUV's and they were the most comfortable, safe, and easiest to drive and park. If I have to drive my friend's little manual car I hate it and feel too low and too vulnerable.

Allira

LauraNorderr

It might have been your old Roller Allira, bought it second hand. We never buy new dahling.
There was a tiara left in the glove compartment with a diamond encrusted A in the central decoration. Was it yours dear?

Oh, that old thing! So that's where it went!!

At least I still had it for the Coronation. It's fine, you can keep it, I have several others to choose from. 👸

You two are making me laugh 😆

I drive an SUV, it used to pull a caravan and now carts about two large dogs and numerous grandchildren, it’s not posh or exceptionally large, it is the same length as an average estate car, I pay more in road tax than a small car which I’m prepared to do. My car weighs less than many electric cars so is less likely to cause pot holes and wear and tear on roads, frankly I couldn’t give a toss who it bothers , if you live in a terraced road parking is always going to be a problem.

I live in a town with a lot of SUVs mainly Range Rovers. I hate them because even though I try not to park beside one, they will often be driven into the vacated space. It is really difficult to see around them, sometimes open the door and the lights dazzle at night and they are, where I live, a status symbol. They can also do more damage in an accident particularly to pedestrians.

Cabbie21 apart from my suggestions earlier, today I drove past a rather smart looking Porsche Macan. It looked taller than average but not so clumpy as most SUVs.
I don't know about the height for sure though.

rosie1959

Can’t say I dislike them my DH has one but he chose one the make it easier for him to get in and out it’s not particularly longer or wider than our previous car just taller. Not really sure why SUVs are charged more to park as I said it takes up no more floor space than our previous saloon car.

Exactly! Our several Land Rover Discoverys took up the same space as a regular 5 door family car but were so much easier to get in and out off and I, being a short person, loved the high up seating position which gave me the confidence to drive it when he worked away during the week

NotSpaghetti

Cabbie21 apart from my suggestions earlier, today I drove past a rather smart looking Porsche Macan. It looked taller than average but not so clumpy as most SUVs.
I don't know about the height for sure though.

A family member has a Porsche Macan, good looking car, comfortable and very safe.

I drive on the M25 often, I feel much safer in DH’s large 4 WD than my soft top sports car.

Forgot to add DD1 drives a big SUV - no dogs, but she works on a building site, often axle deep in mud!