Cars are getting far too big.

I was late arriving at a meeting last week and the car park was full. However there was one tiny space up against the fence that my little Fiat Panda slid into with no trouble. And in spite of fitting into small spaces it is big enough for my very tall male relatives.

Some years ago there was a TV programme about the safety of the large FWDs. People were saying they were choosing them because they were safer. Some of them were shocked when they were shown how easy it was to miss small children who were walking behind these big vehicles. One man was very insistant that he had to have a Chelsea Tractor because it said something about the sort of man he was. One could only say "Exactly"

I was was shocked when a friend gave me a lift in her "Mini". It was like a tank compared with my real Mini in the 60s.

I think the obesity epidemic is partly fuelling the demand for over-large cars.

Logic dictates that the bigger the driver the bigger the transport. If someone has gorged themself to Michelin Man proportions then, say, a Fiat Uno is certainly out of the question. Hence the popularity of SUV's.

Look around a supermarket car park on any Saturday and observe the evidence.

Yes cars really are getting very big. A couple of days ago I saw an original sized old mini outside a garage, obviously awaiting restoration, and was reminded that as a young adult I went on holiday in one with 3 other full size young adults. How we all fitted in along with our luggage I can't imagine.

We have an older Fiesta and all these huge cars with blinding headlights really irritate me. They take up all the parking space and more, hanging over the lines thus denying access to spaces left between for smaller vehicles. I sometimes have to climb into my car from on the passenger side which is awkward given my age, because of the inconsiderate parking of these monsters. I am far too old for this indignity.
For all the extra safety it may give the owners of these huge cars it makes for more danger for those of us in small vehicles.

Northerntownlass

yes and they probably put extra weight onto the roads ( pothole makers ?!!!!)

It is the so called eco friendly electric cars that are putting extra weight on the roads. They are considerably heavier than petrol or diesel cars, even the big ones.

.... also why so many cars park on roads.
Homes may have garages, but very few cars fit in them.

yes and they probably put extra weight onto the roads ( pothole makers ?!!!!)

We have a mini and a large 4WD, the large car can park itself and also much to my relief dips the lights automatically when it’s triggered by oncoming traffic.

We use the mini for local stuff and the other car for longer/motorway journeys.

We have worked hard and like to have nice cars, I will not apologise for them.

Cars are definitely bigger. My Toyota Auris 2013 looks small compared to more modern cars. Yet it is only 2 inches less wide than a Ford Granada I drove back in the day.

Cossy

I don’t think “status” has anything to do with size of cars.

Many people drive large cars for many different reasons.

I agree.

We both drive larger SUV to haul grandchildren safely.

There have always been bad drivers no matter what size or make of car they drive.

I am more than happy that modern vehicles have far more safety features than previous models, and therefore bigger.

Things evolve and cars are just part of that.

As the driver of a Mini I am tired of being hemmed in by big cars! Plus, here in my little town we have people driving “Chelsea tractors” who have no idea what they are doing. One reversed into me and had no idea she had hit me or was even aware I was behind her! Rant over !

Unfortunately not all strokes are the same, my husband is very disabled after having one then a brain tumour following, at the stroke rehabilitation class there was a lady who drove herself there it also could be because the stroke was right side bleed unlike the majority
But who knows after 3 years after tumour he's still here time to improve and e will have our micra or maybe try a Jazz

Cars larger than a mini have been around for decades.. I have had long wheel basesl vehicles, 4 x 4s usually due to needing the power to tow trailers and caravans. Car park spaces have not changed for even longer. When my DH was using a wheelchair, I found it difficult to find a small/standard car that didn't have a "lip" on the boot making it difficult to lift the wheelchair up and over so had to go for a SUV. A lot of people feel safer in a larger car in case of crashes. Horses for courses probably.
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Horses for courses! An individual's decision to drive whatever they want, doesn't bother me one way or another. As others have said parking spaces are way too small but that's unlikely to change because of the revenue.
I have to say that at the wknd a huge car reversed into a really awkward spot next to me superbly. When the woman got out I actually said to her that I wished I could reverse into a spot as well as she had done!

Cars have also got bigger due to modern safety standards.

Ar parks near me ( not the UK) have larger spaces in some parts of the car park but they are more expensive and the larger vehicles are not allowed in the area for smaller cars. There is also a section reserved for women after 6pm with more security features alarm buttons.

When my children were young we could get all three in the back - youngest in the car seat and only needed a big car when our fourth was born. My daughter had to buy a seven seater for number three as car seats are bigger and they should/have to have car seats for much longer.
There are more wheelchair users who want better lives and normal cars rather than the little blue "handicapped cars".
Plus we are getting fatter.
I loved my original mini probably not the safest car - but even minis are huge now.

Looking at us you would think a small car would suffice but we often have to move furniture, find room for extra people and large dogs. I need room for a wheelchair and/or a walker. We use a hybrid to try to reduce our carbon footprint. Once upon a time we used to use an estate car which was perfect but I find the driving position of an SUV far more comfortable to get our of and it also gives me a better driving view. I don't judge people for what they drive, please don't judge me.

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Another reason that I love shopping at Costco. All the parking spaces are really wide to allow for Small Business Owners in their vans to be able to park easily.

Even if my slim Estate Car is sandwiched between two humongous beasts there's plenty of room to get in and out of my vehicle.
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Car Park spaces are now too small for most of the huge cars that people drive.
We have a Skoda Fabia estate, which accomodates the dogs too. Not big, but gets dwarfed by some of the enormous ones, even a big Mini nowadays

I'm a pedestrian. cars are a nuscience full stop. The air is polluted, you can't cross the road and yes they too big. Rant over.

They certainly are, and some of them are totally silent and the same colour as the road. Heaven help us.

Sadly, I think they are. A multi-storey carpark in a nearby town is in the process of enlarging all the spaces, in order to accommodate them. Luckily, our little car fits easily in a standard space.

LaCrepescule

I detest SUVs and agree that they should be taxed at a higher rate. They take up more space and definitely make driving more difficult for everyone.

Petrol and diesel SUVs are taxed at a higher rate.

New electric ones are now taxed £10 in the first year and £200 in subsequent years.