How big is too big...
Discussion
I can't say too much about this because I daily commute in a Jaguar S-Type, whilst my mk4 Golf gets used at weekends for popping to the shops and doing donkey work.
In theory, I could slash my petrol bills by a third and drive something almost two and a half feet shorter.
I like big cars, and I own one for no other reason.
In theory, I could slash my petrol bills by a third and drive something almost two and a half feet shorter.
I like big cars, and I own one for no other reason.
simonrockman said:
MC Bodge said:
monkeychild said:
I have a love hate relationship with my Abarth 595 (2nd car). I love it as it's small & quick, but hate it as it's small & harsh
Small cars with a more suitable ride and composure for the road are available.Are you both Simonrockman and monkeychild?
Car parks and narrow lanes are where excessive girth really show. I was driving round Norfolk yesterday and it was surprising how many people in SUVs couldn't keep to their side of the centre markers even on the straights. Artic lorries just managed it, of course. So it's not the vehicles so much as the drivers who buy something that needs to graze the kerbs and verges but refuse to risk their donk-wheels.
Section 8 said:
ETA: what I really don’t understand is the car manufacturers say they are making cars bigger, because that is what customers say they want. Yet, the same customers are not buying the bigger cars, they buy the new models added at the bottom of the range that was added because the car above it became as big as the car above that. See VW Up > VW Polo > VW Golf > VW Passat.
Ford have just announced they are killing the Mondeo, why? It doesn’t sell, I very much doubt anybody will be surprised it is now bigger than the Granada/Scorpio, which funnily enough was killed off because it got too big and didn’t sell!
Edited by Megaflow on Tuesday 22 June 11:33
Edited by Megaflow on Tuesday 22 June 11:35
David87 said:
My Ranger Raptor is fairly massive. Parking it next to normal SUVs only highlights its ridiculousness. 
Manageable, but kind of annoying in certain situations. Balloon tyres that make the wheels impossible to kerb are a big bonus.
I thought my Discovery 4 was large (it nearly fills a standard parking space) until I was at a car wash and a Ranger Raptor pulled in - it made the Discovery look small! Manageable, but kind of annoying in certain situations. Balloon tyres that make the wheels impossible to kerb are a big bonus.A good example of how cars have grown is my 2005 Alpina B5 (5 series estate) is much tighter in the front than my 2018 6 series. I'm a big lad granted but even with the seat all the way back and the steering wheel all the way up the gap between the wheel and seat is snug getting in and out (once I'm in its fine) whereas with the 6 I don't need the seat all the way back and there is still loads of room.
It's a trade off though as although neither feel big on a normal road I am more aware of the size of the 6 on a country lane (made worse by the long bonnet, although the inclusion of 2 extra side 'nose' cameras for pulling out of junctions was a genius idea of BMWs and I use this setting quite regularly).
It's a trade off though as although neither feel big on a normal road I am more aware of the size of the 6 on a country lane (made worse by the long bonnet, although the inclusion of 2 extra side 'nose' cameras for pulling out of junctions was a genius idea of BMWs and I use this setting quite regularly).
recently purchased a 2nd hand X6 as it was a very good deal - but christ it feels wide - it doesn't fit in supermarket spaces very well, although i do find people don't park as close as they did to my previous Boxster. Its lovely inside and great for long distance cruising - not very good for country lane driving though.
From one extreme to another - i also had a 1992 mk1 Mx5 which i sold a couple of weeks ago - rose tinted glasses from owning one 20 years ago - that is tiny! it handles well but driving on the motorway is "interesting" as everything else feels so much larger in comparison. You do notice the lack of crumple zones and padding that the modern cars have.
From one extreme to another - i also had a 1992 mk1 Mx5 which i sold a couple of weeks ago - rose tinted glasses from owning one 20 years ago - that is tiny! it handles well but driving on the motorway is "interesting" as everything else feels so much larger in comparison. You do notice the lack of crumple zones and padding that the modern cars have.
Megaflow said:
Ford have just announced they are killing the Mondeo, why? It doesn’t sell, I very much doubt anybody will be surprised it is now bigger than the Granada/Scorpio, which funnily enough was killed off because it got too big and didn’t sell!
It is also to do with a new preference for SUVs and the desire (and resulting low depreciation/good lease deals) for Audi/BMW/M-B and even VW rather than Ford if they want a big-ish car. Jules Sunley said:
A good example of how cars have grown is my 2005 Alpina B5 (5 series estate) is much tighter in the front than my 2018 6 series. I'm a big lad granted but even with the seat all the way back and the steering wheel all the way up the gap between the wheel and seat is snug getting in and out (once I'm in its fine) whereas with the 6 I don't need the seat all the way back and there is still loads of room.
It's a trade off though as although neither feel big on a normal road I am more aware of the size of the 6 on a country lane (made worse by the long bonnet, although the inclusion of 2 extra side 'nose' cameras for pulling out of junctions was a genius idea of BMWs and I use this setting quite regularly).
I currently have a MK7 Fiesta, its pretty much exactly the size of a MK2 Golf.It's a trade off though as although neither feel big on a normal road I am more aware of the size of the 6 on a country lane (made worse by the long bonnet, although the inclusion of 2 extra side 'nose' cameras for pulling out of junctions was a genius idea of BMWs and I use this setting quite regularly).
I have had big cars, just no need now as no kids needing carting about and a Fiesta is plenty big enough for anything I will do, we had aCitroen C1, managed with that but it was a little big too small.
Section 8 said:
I was going to say something similar, I have an E46 (not M3 though) and it's just the right size, no trouble on the narrow lanes where I live, easy to place on the road and no problems parking.Plenty of room inside for the front seat passengers, not huge in the back though.My father had a Mk 3 Granada Scorpio hatch. I borrowed it once and it felt like a huge, unwieldy barge. I wondered why anyone would buy one.
Years and years later, I bought a 2018 Insignia B which is significantly longer and wider and even taller but drives like a modern car should and disguises it's bulk. Still very long though when parking.
Years and years later, I bought a 2018 Insignia B which is significantly longer and wider and even taller but drives like a modern car should and disguises it's bulk. Still very long though when parking.
My (company) daily is a 530e, very capable car but large.
Recently bought my 17yr old daughter a Peugeot 107 and it's turned into my car of choice at weekend's for local journeys. It really puts into perspective how "bloated" the 5 series is, and that's not even the worst offender in large size cars
Recently bought my 17yr old daughter a Peugeot 107 and it's turned into my car of choice at weekend's for local journeys. It really puts into perspective how "bloated" the 5 series is, and that's not even the worst offender in large size cars
mattman said:
MC Bodge said:
Driving a small car, unless you need to carry a lot, is great.
right up to the point you get hit by something bigger 
That's what i don't like about the C1/Aygo type stuff - rear seats are so close to the rear of the car - would not fancy being in one of those
mattman said:
right up to the point you get hit by something bigger
That's what i don't like about the C1/Aygo type stuff - rear seats are so close to the rear of the car - would not fancy being in one of those
makes sense to get a h2 imoThat's what i don't like about the C1/Aygo type stuff - rear seats are so close to the rear of the car - would not fancy being in one of those
especially the 6.2
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106183...
WCZ said:
That's awesome and awful in equal measure!! 
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