Its not just people getting obese

We live on a farm in the heart of the countryside. We don't own a 4x4 but drive a very comfortable convertible in good weather & a clapped out old small car when the roads are more challenging - it's more than up to the job. I do find that the ex-townies who live in the local area, often in barn conversions, favour the "Chelsea Tractor" but haven't a clue how to drive them or don't want to spoil the paintwork by taking to the verges to move out of the way on the single track lanes. I also notice few of these models seem to have reverse gear....

OldMeg
Just for future reference, laughing at, criticising, or publicly humiliating fat people is classed as a hate crime.
I'm a chubster, worked full time for thirty eight years, am early retired due to paying for a good private pension, have never cost this country a penny because I'm fat, still do voluntary work now (adults with learning disabilities) and drive a big car because I can afford to!
I could criticise skinny insignificant little women, but I wouldn't be so rude.

beigecardigans, Your post implies all drivers of 4x4s are men!

When I last looked I didn't possess a willy but I do have a 4x4. It suits my needs and even if it were a sex status symbol, (it isn't) I pay my road tax so it's nobody's business but mine what car I own.

Many years ago I had a Peugeot 406 which had MASSES of very deep boot space and ran like a dream. I've always liked cars with 'clunky' doors and deep boots. I wish they still made that exact model.

I'm also astonished at this. I've heard the question, "How many horses?" re to new cars - why does one man need 700 hp or whatever?
Many larger cars haven't actually been parked within the lines of a parking space (often over one side with loads of space on t'other) which would be a fail at the driving test!
I'm sure you've also heard the phrase, "The bigger the car the smaller the w({!)y!" That sums it up really.

Quite a few people driving old cars on here....lots of nostalgia, but don't you want the safety features of the newer technologies?

Do remember years ago that there was talk of cars having to be smaller, what happened to that. None of the cars you buy today will fit into a normal size garage.

I'm on my second small 4x4 SUV, and never want to go back to a low slung car. Nothing to do with whether I am fat or thin. The road holding is the answer to the (mostly) ungritted winter roads round here and fact that we live up a bit of a hill. And the high driving position lets me see over the tops of the drystone walls at road junctions. It's safer and makes journeys a pleasure.

Have to say I’m not a lover of those big 4x4’s in fact the very big ones are quite ridiculous. We do have one of those ‘large’ Mini Countryman’s though and we love it...we’re on our second. If you loved the old Mini’s the dashboard is replicated. They’re great for getting in and out when you’re not as young as you used to be and the luggage space is fantastic. They’re good at road holding and cornering in fact perfect for the 2 of us and can comfortably seat 5. (Think I should be selling them)?

We also call these huge beasts "vans". I find that its not only difficult to open our car doors next to them in car parks, but also they make it difficult to get a safe view of approaching cars when you want to pull out. The blacked out rear windows don't help either.
We have two old cars (25 and 18 years old) and find that our old estate is often in demand when friends and family want to move big loads.
I find the "entitled" driving style of these van drivers irritating too, expecting you to stop when they try to force their way onto your lane or out from a side road.
I've got nothing against the smaller ones really, other than that they are ugly and really not any larger than a standard car. I suppose they are bought for the look and the high seating.

In this day and age is a car really a status symbol ( unless it’s something like a Bugatti Chiron of course ?)?

A car - whatever size you choose - is a necessity for those of us that live in the middle of nowhere. Public transport is limited and inaccessible with my very necessary scooter .

I agree with the poster that spoke about the height of a bigger MPV or SUV being better for creaky backs , hips or knees.

some people LIKE cars ..should we all adopt Hitlers Volkswagon so we're ALL the same?Patently ridiculous.if people want to spend THEIR hard earned cash on a bigger carwhatever the reason its damn all to do with anyone else.Oh and I do remember when those swedish cars you are so fond of were seen as a status symbol too...is that whats wrong? Your car not seen how it was so you want to belittle anyone who has something different.Or newer or better .

I am sorry but we are talking status symbols here. The biggest car we have ever had has been a Ford Sierra, commonly known as a rep's car.
As long as it transported us from A to B it was fine.
I remember my H's assistant turning up at our house to take my H to a meeting in his BMW.
The last car we had before my H had to give up driving was a Peugeot 308, fine for what we needed.
We never needed a boost to our status, we knew what we wanted to be, ourselves.

I drive a Nissan Qashqai which my sil thinks is ‘bit of a beast’ it really isn’t it just is higher driving position than a saloon car which with my two hip replacements and various other Arthritic joints is essential for comfort and ease of entry. I also get a better all round view and I’m often driving alone so just a lone driver in what appears to be a bigger car.

Ah pollyperkins I see. However while looking after the DGDs aged 3 and 20 months while their parents were away I had both child seats (Maxi Cosi) in the back of my Skoda Roomster and there was only just room for our snake hipped size 6 DD2 between the seats for a very short drive!
It’s not the number of children but the size of the baby seats!

I'll bet Donald Trump has a really big car.

30 years ago I could easily fir three children on the back seat of a "proper" mini. Nowadays it seems to be one small blonde child in each Chelsea tractor.

We have awful problems with parking on the estate where I live. Things are even worse now because over the last couple of years everyone seems to have invested in massive people carriers which have no hope of fitting onto the tiny garages that come with our houses.

My point about the Touran was tbat it doesnt have to be a 4x4 to get 3 children in the back.

So what about all these mums who drive the Chelsea tractors on the school run, clogging up the roads?

I must say that, when I have been in a country where there are a lot of 4x4s, of necessity, I have noticed that the children nearly all go to school on the school bus. Here we see about 3 or 4 children using the school bus and the roads around the school are clogged with cars of various sizes.

No, I watched a Stephen Fry sketch some years ago (before 4x4s. Doctor tells man in hospital bed that the accident he has had means he has lost his penis, but not to worry he would be supplied with a perfectly satisfactory replacement.

The clapped out white van was parked outside, someone would be delivering the Alsatian later and they were arranging for bleached blonde girlfriend.

Now, of course the car would be a 4x4,- the dog and the blonde girlfriend - that wouldn't have changed.

I've been told that the size of a man's car, or the power of its engine or it's price tag tend to be in inverse proportion to the size of his penis.
They drive them because of the reason varian mentioned and because they are as big and overweight as they are.
Have you been doing a survey varian and M0nica

Bigger people, bigger cars, bigger buggies (some are the size of a fairground bumper car) yet new houses are tiny and the show homes have special small furniture to hide their pokey size.

But the big flashy car just might be compensating for something harrigran

Cars age, and those driving old large cars, do not have wads. They drive them because of the reason varian mentioned and because they are as big and overweight as they are.

I can quash that rumour*varian*. The size and price tag are in direct relation to his bank balance, a man has a big powerful car and wad ... Nothing else matters