Discussion
otolith said:
nickfrog said:
Personally I find it quite easy to choose a car despite the marketing around it. Not that the marketing around it necessarily means that the product doesn't also fit the bill brilliantly for the school run. As for other people's motivations for choosing a car, I will freely admit I am not too fussed. I can't see myself getting worked up about the motivation for someone buying say a focused sports car and never do a track day with it and therefore never ever get anywhere near the limits of lat grip or traction. Perhaps they're just victims of marketing after all, but that won't mean I dislike their choice of car.
You are obviously immune to marketing, but the difference in perception of sprog vans and pseudo-off road vehicles doesn't come from nowhere.He agreed with the above comments that few things were a better family wagon that an MPV (and he has three under 12s), but that as this was his only car, he was left driving a 'van' by himself for 90% of the time, and the Discovery was a far nicer place to sit - the main difference being headroom - the MPVs had huge headroom (even the lowered S-Max, tried for the same reason), headroom is great when transporting restless little ones, but makes for a van like driving experience without the team. The Disco is a lot more car like but still has the practicality.
Rob 131 Sport said:
Julian Scott said:
otolith said:
nickfrog said:
Personally I find it quite easy to choose a car despite the marketing around it. Not that the marketing around it necessarily means that the product doesn't also fit the bill brilliantly for the school run. As for other people's motivations for choosing a car, I will freely admit I am not too fussed. I can't see myself getting worked up about the motivation for someone buying say a focused sports car and never do a track day with it and therefore never ever get anywhere near the limits of lat grip or traction. Perhaps they're just victims of marketing after all, but that won't mean I dislike their choice of car.
You are obviously immune to marketing, but the difference in perception of sprog vans and pseudo-off road vehicles doesn't come from nowhere.He agreed with the above comments that few things were a better family wagon that an MPV (and he has three under 12s), but that as this was his only car, he was left driving a 'van' by himself for 90% of the time, and the Discovery was a far nicer place to sit - the main difference being headroom - the MPVs had huge headroom (even the lowered S-Max, tried for the same reason), headroom is great when transporting restless little ones, but makes for a van like driving experience without the team. The Disco is a lot more car like but still has the practicality.
otolith said:
Yep. I mean I really, really don't want a Discovery, but if it were a choice of that or an S-Max, bring me the tractor. I couldn't take the joyless utilitarianism of the van. I accept that this is not a rational choice, though.
I've got a few friends with the new Discovery, I'd have one over a RRS. The P360 is lovely for what it is.
otolith said:
I think an MPV would give me Angry Dad syndrome, like having a message flash up on the dash every day saying "CAUTION - VASECTOMY MISSED"
The irony to this is that, the luxury vehicle of choice for the use rich/celeb/etc has gone from Chauffeur-driven Limo, to Chauffeur-driven large SUV to, now, a Chauffeur-driven luxury Mercedes V-Class/Vito 'MPV'.Cold said:
Square Leg said:
Yahonza said:
I like the new Defender - is that an SUV?
Could definitely see myself posing in that.
It’s just a UV.Could definitely see myself posing in that.
Not much sporty about them….
Who_Goes_Blue said:
Its funny how defensive SUV owners/drivers get over the choice of their vehicle. Insecurity much. Guess that's why they drive an SUV in the first place
If you read, it's typically those who don't like SUVs that get heated & defensive, trying to scientifically prove that SUVs owners are wrong and that their dislike is based on irrefutable factual evidence mat205125 said:
Julian Scott said:
Cold said:
Square Leg said:
Yahonza said:
I like the new Defender - is that an SUV?
Could definitely see myself posing in that.
It’s just a UV.Could definitely see myself posing in that.
Not much sporty about them….
Old Defender is farm/military equipment that people enjoy appropriating for SD&P usage too ..... Nothing wrong with that.
Kinda gets a bit silly when someone is running a Hummer on 24" rims as their inner city daily driver ......... which is what SUV haters see when they spot an X5 or Discovery in Asda, I guess???
Strangely Brown said:
Harrison Bergeron said:
J4CKO said:
Because nobody really desires a van with windows, the Espace was the first modern MPV and it was properly cool and desirable for a short time, what a fantastic idea, and all the others cottoned on and brought out their own versions and pretty soon they had zero cool factor.
If you are spending 20, 30, 50 80 grand, you want to want something, and though we had a Galaxy, which we paid a lot of money for, it was a need rather than a want. I knew it was the most practical, cost effective option for us at that time, looked at an XC90 but it was nearly ten grand more.
People will stretch a bit from what they need, to what they want, and their wants arent any less valid than our own as middle aged car enthusiasts, you can only go on the knowledge, needs, motivations and budget you have come purchasing time.
Like you, I like a Jag saloon, but can see why a 30 year old woman might not want an XJ or XF, stuffy old mans car, not on the radar. We know it will be lovely, but a Audi Q3 would do pretty much the same job, or an Evoque and it would be more desirable to her, and thats all that matters.
I do think there is a temptation to overbuy, i.e. get something unnecessarily large, but have done that myself on occasion, and I find myself looking at ten year old Jag XJ's which take up more floor space than most SUVs.
Its easy to despise SUVs but I think if you actually own one they make a lot of sense, and are enjoyable, just in different ways to a saloon, hatch or sports car.
There’s no point spending a load of money on something if people don’t know you’ve spent a load of money on it. See handbagsIf you are spending 20, 30, 50 80 grand, you want to want something, and though we had a Galaxy, which we paid a lot of money for, it was a need rather than a want. I knew it was the most practical, cost effective option for us at that time, looked at an XC90 but it was nearly ten grand more.
People will stretch a bit from what they need, to what they want, and their wants arent any less valid than our own as middle aged car enthusiasts, you can only go on the knowledge, needs, motivations and budget you have come purchasing time.
Like you, I like a Jag saloon, but can see why a 30 year old woman might not want an XJ or XF, stuffy old mans car, not on the radar. We know it will be lovely, but a Audi Q3 would do pretty much the same job, or an Evoque and it would be more desirable to her, and thats all that matters.
I do think there is a temptation to overbuy, i.e. get something unnecessarily large, but have done that myself on occasion, and I find myself looking at ten year old Jag XJ's which take up more floor space than most SUVs.
Its easy to despise SUVs but I think if you actually own one they make a lot of sense, and are enjoyable, just in different ways to a saloon, hatch or sports car.
Deranged Rover said:
GT9 said:
You need to help me out here, you have an SUV listed in your garage, yet you seem to be saying that other people let the side down if they buy one, particularly if they are a woman.
Firstly, no I don't - I have a Range Rover which, as I've previously explained, I do not consider to be an SUV.Secondly, my comment was in response to the suggestion that women buy SUVs because they have the 'right' style. I was merely highlighting that, in terms of the women I know, this is mostly not the case. The one who does have an SUV bought it for practical reasons, although it's plainly obvious she should have bought a Series 3 Land Rover 109" instead, which I've told her. Her justification for not doing this was feeble, frankly - something to do with speed, comfort, noise, age, ugliness, price, fuel economy, reliability or somesuch.
I trust you slapped her most vigorously to ensure she will tow the line in future. Women <tut> who do they think they are these days? They'll be wanting the vote next.
Deranged Rover said:
Julian Scott said:
How dare she buy the car she wanted, rather than the car you told her to buy.
I trust you slapped her most vigorously to ensure she will tow the line in future. Women <tut> who do they think they are these days? They'll be wanting the vote next.
Of course not. What sort of Neanderthal do you think I am? I consider myself a gentleman so I wrote her a strongly -worded letter expressing my displeasure. I trust you slapped her most vigorously to ensure she will tow the line in future. Women <tut> who do they think they are these days? They'll be wanting the vote next.
And, ironically, as I mentioned earlier, she didn’t really want it. It was her other half, who doesn’t drive but who pays the bills, who decided what ‘they’ should have…
Either way, I hope she took the strongly-worded letter and shoved it up your tweed covered arse, preferably using a red hot poker ;-)
Strangely Brown said:
Julian Scott said:
Strangely Brown said:
Harrison Bergeron said:
There’s no point spending a load of money on something if people don’t know you’ve spent a load of money on it. See handbags
What if you've spent a load of money on something because it's good and you don't really give a toss what other people think?
AmyRichardson said:
Jaguar steve said:
They certainly seem to be going that way, and it's very much to be regretted that the simple and minimally equipped van with seats and windows concept has been bought low and turned into a fashionable lifestyle accessory.
It was always going to happen, I've seen a couple of US-written articles alluding to the same.Basically you're 40+ if you remember being a "victim" of the 80s/90s MPV/minivan high, so (increasingly) it's not our "angry Dad" prejudices that drive the market.
On the flipside those now entering the market were kids in an an era when SUVs were ubiquitous wagons for tedious Dads and embarrassing Mums....
McAndy said:
Julian Scott said:
Both my kids encouraged my purchase of an SUV, my daughter (14) in particular refused to look at any car on days trawling round dealerships unless it was an SUV.
Al three of the members of my immediate family have stated a preference for increased ride height when in a vehicle. My daughter refers to a reduction in travel sickness symptoms having ridden in friends'. Rob 131 Sport said:
However each to his own when it comes to what they drive, as long as it’s piloted with courtesy, which with the ‘Get out of my way Brigade’ in their huge intimidating 4x4’s and ‘Angry Dad’s’ is unfortunately not always the case.
Are the ‘Get out of my way Brigade’ and the 'Angry Dads' less of a problem when they are in their 'large powerful German saloons' or their 'noisy popping and farting turbo hot hatches' or their 'faster-than-anything-on-the-road Diesel estate cars'?Edited by Rob 131 Sport on Tuesday 25th October 08:36
5s Alive said:
Julian Scott said:
Are the ‘Get out of my way Brigade’ and the 'Angry Dads' less of a problem when they are in their 'large powerful German saloons' or their 'noisy popping and farting turbo hot hatches' or their 'faster-than-anything-on-the-road Diesel estate cars'?
That's quite an extensive personal bias framework! 
Strangely Brown said:
RichardHMorris said:
I said:
Maybe when I can kid myself they look better and/or I can't bend down, I'll get one, but I'd probably go for a 4x4 instead.
From the qualification on your getting one it sounds like you'd go with an SUV.
So what's an SUV and what's a 4x4?
RichardHMorris said:
However...
I really do like the look of the Cupra Formentor
Can't help feeling that sounds like some kind of unknown X-Men character.I really do like the look of the Cupra Formentor
4x4 - 4 Wheels, all 4 driven
SUV - Sports Utility Vehicle
WonkeyDonkey said:
Hol said:
Mrs Hol has recently changed from a Mk3 TTS to a newer Q3 (her choice, not mine).
She mentioned that she noticed that cars now tried consistently to pull into the usually nonexistent road space in front of her at slip roads, rather than the much bigger road space behind her, that they typically did when she had the TT.
I borrowed her car this last weekend and I noticed an increase in the number of cars that cut me up for no appreciable gain, other than having a Q3 behind them, and not in front.
I don’t know if that is hatred, or fear that an SUV might hold them up on the next stretch of road.
It's because the majority of Q3's are driven by people who slam on the brakes for a 1° bend on the road. She mentioned that she noticed that cars now tried consistently to pull into the usually nonexistent road space in front of her at slip roads, rather than the much bigger road space behind her, that they typically did when she had the TT.
I borrowed her car this last weekend and I noticed an increase in the number of cars that cut me up for no appreciable gain, other than having a Q3 behind them, and not in front.
I don’t know if that is hatred, or fear that an SUV might hold them up on the next stretch of road.
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