Its not just people getting obese

I smiled at that M0nica.
For years I drove older cars, ones lower on the road, without any luxury features, because that's all I could afford. I was grateful for four wheels to get me from A to B.

As the children grew and I became Mum's taxi service, ferrying them and their friends around, I invested in a bigger, family sized car which had seven seats. That was it. I could never, ever go back to a low slung car. I liked the high driving position. It gave me a much better view of the road and the traffic around me. I sold it once they became adults and now have what's called, I think, a small SUV. OH has an older saloon car, lower on the road, and I really don't like being a passenger in it.

Not all vehicles called 4x4s are off-roaders. Many, including Toyota Rav4 and Landrover Freelander, are colloquially called "soft roaders". They'd be useless actually off road. Most people never take their '4x4' off road. They just want a high seat for a better driving view and good carrying capacity.

Look at the road clearance, how high the underneath of the vehicle is above the road. The soft roaders are not very high compared to real off roaders like Jeeps, Landrover Discovery, Toyota Landcruiser. That tells you a lot without actually knwoing much about the technical details.

Pets are getting obese too apparently.

Meant to add that yes, I see your point. The roads are full of Range Rover type cars and some even bigger. My friend has a massive Mini. Surely that enormous model is due for a name change? Not only that there is so much congestion on our roads now that we will have to think about the nonsense of HUGE cars carry one or two people. OH and I had a conversation about the ways in which road traffic will have to be reduced in the future. It's quite common now for households to have three cars on the drive.

But if most cars were smaller you would have the clear view without needing a 4x4. Now driving a 'smaller' car, you are hemmed in by these obese vehicles.

2 of the top 3 safest cars are not 4x4s.

Baggs these obese vehicles have far less carrying space than many saloon cars, let alone estate cars. We run an antiques stall and have always found that we can get far more stock into a good big estate car than we can into any 4X4.

Once again, from ferry queue observation, many of the biggest cars have great big boxes on the roof to carry luggage as with 4 people inside luggage room is so restricted. That costs more in ferry fares because of the increased height.

I wasn't extolling the virtues of large cars or higher seats, monica, just saying that's what people want.

Or maybe that's what car manufacturers have convinced people they want.

I used to pack masses of stuff into my old Fiesta.

Back in the early nineties I drove a friend's Mitsubishi Space Wagon (she had five kids) though and it was nice to have a higher driving seat.

Driving a Landcruiser is also just fun.

cars now are like vans.

Is it just that fat people need fat cars

Yes, I’d say so. It’s fun watching fat people trying to get out of fat cars in car parks ? usually complaining about how small the parking spaces are.

Thank you oldmeg

It’s not just cars- handbags are big enough to take a midweek shop these days!

It's not so easy getting in something like a Toyota Landcruiser when you're getting a bit less agile! I find that with DD's (yes, she does need an off-road 4 x 4 and she's a size 10)
I like my little car but I must say sometimes when I am hemmed in on a motorway by huge Chelsea tractors or lorries I feel a bit vulnerable.

My daughter has a 4x4 for the rare days she manages to get out of her home.She has multiple health issues and a "normal" car is very difficult for her to get in and out of .Shame so many of you can only complain about what some people NEED to make their lives a little easier .She has 3 children who are always in the car with her on her once in a blue moon trips out .So now she'll have to be prepared for bad attitude about her car as well as her blue badge .No wonder old people get a bad press if this is their attitude.

I drive an MPV because I need to be able to take my mobility scooter to enable me to get about. It allows me to have my grandkids with me too. A semblance of a normal life .

I get better mileage than I did with my aged car, and it’s more environmentally friendly .

Bit disappointed OldMeg with your comment about how much fun you get watching fat people getting out of fat cars.
We no longer make fun of black people, immigrants, the disabled but fat folk are fair game ?

Perhaps you were just joking?

I agree MOnica, I always notice how big cars are when I get to the UK (or to Ouistreham ?).
OH has arthritis and finds it difficult to get in a normal car so we have a Peugeot 3008 which is a medium size hatchback, good load-carrying, high off the ground and very easy to get in and out. A disabled friend from the UK was amazed by it and went back planning to buy one.
It is probably one of the most popular cars in France.
I also notice how new cars are in the UK given how people hang on to them for years round here. I imagine it is because leasing is more popular in the UK.

Oh dear Nanaand Grumpy have I hit a nerve?

How can you equate fat people with black people and the disabled? That is so rude to those who cannot help their colour or disability.

Yes, I find it mildly amusing that those who are far because they choose to stuff themselves to the point of obesity then struggle with the results of their lifestyle. I also get cross about the disproportionate amount o NHS funding that is gobbled up by those whose illnesses are mainly self inflicted.

And to be frank, I’m sick and tired of those who do not take responsibility for their weight. Now I expect we’ll hear all the usual excuses, and yes some (just a few) are valid, but in general those I know who are fat are the same ones I watch overindulging.

I have every sympathy for those like Mame’s DH who struggle with conditions like arthritis.

The other things I notice on arrival in the UK are the number of food outlets, portion sizes, lots of people eating and drinking in the streets and how many people seem to be fat or obese.
I think there must be a connection. ?

I accept that there are reasons why some people need big cars. But at the ferry port yesterday about half the cars were whoppers. Looking at the cars delivering children to the primary school opposite our house, the majority are humungous.

Let us say that 10% of large car users have a proven need. What about the 90% who don't? Why do so many of them need to drive around in these over-inflated vessels, which are difficult to get into, I know, I've tried and I have no disabilities, limited space for luggage and now I learn that some 4x4s are 'soft' 4x4s and are not suitable for off roading

Well lots of people were very grateful for our 4x4 s in the recent snow, who was it that helped elderly neighbours get to their appointments? And helped to tow others out of ditches?

Stop complaining, we all pay our road taxes so we can drive whatever cars we want ^and ^we can see the views over the hedges.

If I’m driving on a motorway, past umteen trucks, I’d rather be in a 4x4 than a mini.

what business my dress size has to do with anyone or what car I drive, is beyond me.

I doubt if 1 in 100 4x4s did good service in the recent snow and those were likely to be in areas where more people might have good reason to own one.

The few exceptions only prove the rule that the vast majority of these huge overweight vehicles are a waste of space, money and scarce resources.

We have driven a series of solid Swedish estate cars that have quite effectively coped with all types of conditions from driving miles along unmade roads, up hills and down dale in storms and snow. and have yet to find ourselves stuck or unable to get anywhere because of adverse conditions.

Ordinary sized cars, including the modern mini are quite comfortable to drive around lorries, if they cause a car driver a problem perhaps they should think about whether they should be driving.

This is meant to be a light hearted thread. I am not against 4x4s. Just wondering why there are so many about.

thing is though you were in a ferry queue!

you dont see so many low income dtivers in a ferry queue so they will be disproportionately mid & upper range cars!

I see a lot of small cars about