Yes, Why Are SUV's Getting Even Bigger?

Deedaa

Perhaps Chelsea Tractors wouldn't be so unpopular if they weren't usually carrying one small blonde woman.

There was a TV programme about them some years ago. It was when many of them were fitted with Bull Bars and experts were trying to demonstrate how dangerous they were to pedestrians, especially small children. They were also demonstrating the way small children disappeared if they walked behind the back of one because the rear windscreen is so high. Some people started to rethink what sort of car they wanted, but I remember one man saying firmly that he needed his giant 4X4 "Because it shows the sort of man I am!" I wondered how many other viewers were yelling "Yes it does! That's the point!"

Ohhhhh….I drive a large 4x4 and would love to be a small, blonde woman, but sadly I am a large brunette one!

Lots of judgy comments on here. Evs are considerably heavier than ice cars, very dangerous if they crash and catch fire as the batteries are almost impossible to put out. Also, I have yet to see the research showing how their dust to dust footprint is “greener” than other vehicles.

There are inconsiderate idiots and bad drivers in all types of cars- I see your 4x4 driver and raise you the BMW driving rep racing from place to place, or the young bloke in his souped up car with loud exhaust and noisy sound system blaring as he shows off .

We drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee- it’s a diesel. It’s actually no bigger than a decent sized saloon or people carrier, (I’ve measured it!) although the styling makes it look bigger. It’s 15 years old, comfortable, fits our 2 big dogs, 6’4 husband, me and all our stuff when we travel. But also it has a 3.5 ton towing limit, vital if you tow a big trailer and want to stay legal.
And yes, we can both park it, and know how to drive properly, not like idiots.

People are getting bigger each generation. I was taller than my mum. My daughter's are taller than me and granddaughter is taller than her mum!! Then there's the growing obesity problem. Buses too are getting bigger and wider.

I have a lock up single garage with my flat. When I will buy a new car in the future, the problem will be getting it into the space through the sides of the door.

Yet new houses being built are so much smaller. Presumably we need to live in tiny boxes but to drive a Sherman tank. Perhaps is all about compensating for a lack of room in newly built houses.

There is a retort to that but I am too much “aLaydee” to post it.

My niece is a consultant paediatrician and hates these ‘Chelsea tractors’ because of their size, height weight etc. and the damage they can do to children even at slow speeds.

Perhaps these cars should be banned from roads under a certain width.

Negotiating most rural roads now is bad enough with having to contend with ever- larger farm vehicles, but at least they are a necessary evil that benefit us all one way or another.
Many urban and suburban roads are equally unsuited these over-sized cars.

That would put the cat amongst the pigeons!

I’ve had a buy a disables van for my husband but it’s no wider or longer than a small suv car., but because that a bit of a trundler, I’ve got myself a mini and love it small, nippy, easy to park. Can seat 4 but compared to mini’s of my youth it’s enormous. Xxx

Fallingstar

Yet new houses being built are so much smaller. Presumably we need to live in tiny boxes but to drive a Sherman tank. Perhaps is all about compensating for a lack of room in newly built houses.

Maybe it is. Maybe buying or leasing a larger car is easier and cheaper than buying a big house

I totally agree with TheatreLover upthread with her statistics. I'm going to watch the footie now on my large sofa 😊

They don't have to be bigger you can buy small cars still, the reality is that many of us have cash to spare and buy a larger car. The car became a status symbol many years ago, how on earth did we manage years ago without satnav, aircon, carphones and all the other gizmos. Car makers only build cars that customers want to buy, dont name them.

Oldnproud

Perhaps these cars should be banned from roads under a certain width.

Negotiating most rural roads now is bad enough with having to contend with ever- larger farm vehicles, but at least they are a necessary evil that benefit us all one way or another.
Many urban and suburban roads are equally unsuited these over-sized cars.

That would put the cat amongst the pigeons!

Especially if you use one for work like my son does mind you he can manoeuvre his large Ford Ranger better than some can with small cars

The problem with many is not so much the size of the car, but the fact that many of those who drive larger vehicles do not seem to have any spatial awareness. They either expect everyone else to get out of the way for them, or hesitate when there is plenty of space for them to get through.