SUV Hatred

[Greenmantle]

carlo996 said:

I hate people, not cars

to narrow this down a wee bit. In the last 10+ years SUV drivers have increased exponentially.
unfortunately their driving ability / knowledge has decreased.
If I had a pound for every time I see low profile summer tyres on SUV's between October- March I'll be very rich by now.

[nickfrog]

Greenmantle said:

carlo996 said:

I hate people, not cars

to narrow this down a wee bit. In the last 10+ years SUV drivers have increased exponentially.
unfortunately their driving ability / knowledge has decreased.
If I had a pound for every time I see low profile summer tyres on SUV's between October- March I'll be very rich by now.

Why would it have decreased just because the shape of their car has slightly changed? st drivers in any shape car.

As for the winter tyre thing, if you don't need them, why would you fit them ? (I am a big fan of winter tyres btw).

[Crumpet]

I’m nearly a year in to owning an F-Pace SVR and I still love it. You will never tire of the noise.

I wouldn’t worry too much about what others think; I don’t recall having anyone say anything negative about it but lots of people will comment on it positively. I’d possibly go for a more subtle colour next time as it does attract a bit of attention in the Ultra Blue.

I’ve never understood the comments on SUVs being difficult to park or place on the road, the F-Pace has basically the same dimensions as a C-class Merc. I live in the countryside and on the narrow lanes you have to pull in to passing places regardless of what you’re driving so the extra 3 inches of width over a C-class doesn’t make a blind bit of difference. It also weighs the same as a very average electric car so by those standards it’s not even that heavy.

Just enjoy it (and get used to mpg in the teens).

[Gad-Westy]

Greenmantle said:

carlo996 said:

I hate people, not cars

to narrow this down a wee bit. In the last 10+ years SUV drivers have increased exponentially.
unfortunately their driving ability / knowledge has decreased.
If I had a pound for every time I see low profile summer tyres on SUV's between October- March I'll be very rich by now.

In fairness, I don't think the tyre thing has anything to do with SUV's.

[BS62]

Silvanus said:

Deranged Rover said:

BS62 said:

We should get rid of all full size vans because I've seen people manage with an astra panel van, and anyway they handle better.

Have you hustled a Transit down a twisty country lane recently? The damn things are one of the best handling vehicles out there, which is intensely annoying!

(Note - an empty one, obviously. Tools/plumbing supplies/ladders/car spares etc. tend to affect the weight distribution...)

I have, regularly. They are not one of the best handling vehicles out there, not even close. One of the best vans, maybe

Happy to say I've never had the pleasure, but although I detest transits and their competitors, I don't really think they should all be scrapped - I was just illustrating how stupid SUV hate is when based on idiotic arguments like "estates handles better" and "you could make do with a ka".

Edit to add: sorry OP, I've contributed 3 or 4 times now and keep neglecting to say congrats on the Jag. Hope you enjoy it

[Pan Pan Pan]

The problem with SUV`s, is that they are like sitting down in your allocated seat in the cinema, only to have a 6ft 6 bloke park himself in the sear directly in front of you!

[jhoneyball]

Greenmantle said:

to narrow this down a wee bit. In the last 10+ years SUV drivers have increased exponentially..

Significantly, yes
Exponentially, no.

[cerb4.5lee]

Crumpet said:

I’ve never understood the comments on SUVs being difficult to park or place on the road, the F-Pace has basically the same dimensions as a C-class Merc. I live in the countryside and on the narrow lanes you have to pull in to passing places regardless of what you’re driving so the extra 3 inches of width over a C-class doesn’t make a blind bit of difference. It also weighs the same as a very average electric car so by those standards it’s not even that heavy.

I really liked the Merc GLC350d I had size wise. It felt just about the right size(not too big/not too small). The Merc GLE400d that I have now does feel a fair bit bigger though in comparison. It is easy enough to park because there are cameras everywhere(not that I use them though because I'm old school and I still rely on my mirrors because that is what I've always done). My missus likes using the cameras though.

I just worry about car park dings a fair bit because it always seems to pretty much fill the parking space up though. As I've got older I do appreciate the comfort and the chilled out nature of an SUV(the ones I've had have made me chill out). I'd probably drive much faster in something like a RRS SVR/X5M/GLE 63S though!

[mwstewart]

As a keen driver I just don't understand them:

- Heavy
- Needlessly large
- High CoG
- Take up too much of the carriageway reducing visibility for those behind
- Too wide for the average parking space making it difficult for those parked next to them

I tend to look down on them but I don't begrudge the fact that we the choice open to us.

[nickfrog]

mwstewart said:

As a keen driver I just don't understand them:

- Heavy
- Needlessly large
- High CoG
- Take up too much of the carriageway reducing visibility for those behind
- Too wide for the average parking space making it difficult for those parked next to them

I tend to look down on them but I don't begrudge the fact that we the choice open to us.

They do come in all kind of sizes and weights, like other cars (estates, hatches, coupes etc...).

They tend to be a little heavier and higher COG than than an equivalent estate though but as a keen driver, those wouldn't appeal to me either anyway.

You make a good point about visibility, but I don't think it's a massive issue, compared to say, following a van.

[JmatthewB]

I just don’t understand why everyone needs so much space now? Ignoring the fact that most cars you see usually have one person in them, when did people need to carry so much crap around with them? Are child seats/buggies that much bulkier than they were 20years ago?

I recently had a lift with someone in a Qashqai and couldn’t believe how poor the ride felt to me. It just felt wallowy because of the height, but also a bit harsh, presumably because the suspension is stiffer to counteract the high CoG body roll and extra mass.

Edited by JmatthewB on Tuesday 27th September 12:36

[coldel]

We have a Qashqai, same footprint as a ford focus actually. So no real impact from that perspective of being large. However I do look at some of the massive SUVs that are around now and wonder why. The Qashqai for us the benefit is that it is more upright, so my wifes elderly parents find it so much easier getting in and out, and my sons various sports gear can be easily humped in and out of the boot. Its definitely more practical, but no worse than an average hatchback on fuel and doesnt take up tonnes of space.

I do know a few people with large RR etc. and they have said in general they dont actually need an SUV of that size, they just chose to. I guess I dont need my second car Z4 for fun, but I chose to, so I get it from a choice perspective. I dont agree that a barge needs to try and pretend its a performance car though, they look quite frankly stupid lumbering about trying to do something with the power vs the elegance a well balanced sports car does it.

[swisstoni]

I'm all for choice and for people not understanding why other people like different cars from them. I personally think that cars of all types have grown too big and feel sorry for some who've lumbered themselves with what is basically an HGV as their urban transport.

It's when people decide that the SUV is a reason that "the world's on fire" while simultaneously taking several international flights per year that the wheels fall off.

And we are left with the conclusion that these people like an easy target that deflects from their own activities.

[carlo996]

Greenmantle said:

to narrow this down a wee bit. In the last 10+ years SUV drivers have increased exponentially.
unfortunately their driving ability / knowledge has decreased.
If I had a pound for every time I see low profile summer tyres on SUV's between October- March I'll be very rich by now.

That's just a tenuous link, to suit a narrative.

It's a people issue, not a particular marque of class of vehicle.

[QJumper]

JmatthewB said:

I just don’t understand why everyone needs so much space now? Ignoring the fact that most cars you see usually have one person in them, when did people need to carry so much crap around with them? Are child seats/buggies that much bulkier than they were 20years ago?

Same reason why some people feel they need a car that goes faster than100mph, ignoring the fact that most drive at speeds slower than that. It's just personal taste.

I drive an SUV, I don't have kids, hardly carry any crap around, and mostly I'm the only person in it. I drive it for a number of reasons. Firstly, it's easier to get in and out of, and I prefer the higher driving position. Secondly, I can do an oil and filter change, as well as rustproof the underside, without the faff of having to jack the car up. Also, I occasionally travel to Europe with enough gear that wouldn't fit in a regular car, and so it saves having a seccond car, or having to rent one. I've had a variety of other cars, from brand new Jag saloons, to more sporty cars, and it's the most comfortable car I've ever owned.

Nor do I have any problems parking. If people park properly in car parks there's plenty of room and, if not, I'll usually just park in an end space.

I accept that they're not to everyone's taste, and it's just my personal preference.

[Gad-Westy]

JmatthewB said:

I just don’t understand why everyone needs so much space now? Ignoring the fact that most cars you see usually have one person in them, when did people need to carry so much crap around with them? Are child seats/buggies that much bulkier than they were 20years ago?

I recently had a lift with someone in a Qashqai and couldn’t believe how poor the ride felt to me. It just felt wallowy because of the height, but also a bit harsh, presumably because the suspension is stiffer to counteract the high CoG body roll and extra mass.

Edited by JmatthewB on Tuesday 27th September 12:36

I'm no SUV fan but the child seat thing might well be a factor. Rear facing seats take up a lot of room. Admittedly that is just in terms of length and doesn't automatically mean an SUV is the answer but they also weigh a tonne so I can see why parents might gravitate to a higher car to save on physio bills! Buggies can be bigger now but that is more to do with the convenience of 'travel systems' where the car seat, a normal buggy or a pram can attach to the same chassis. They're bulky but again, that doesn't immediately mean an SUV is the only answer.

On the rear facing seat thing, when we had our first 10 years ago, we had an E46 touring (330i manual, obvs! ) and the passenger seat had to be almost all the way forward to fit the rear facing newborn car seat behind it. I don't know what the law says now, but at the time our eldest became a toddler, a lot of people were going for rear facing toddler seats as well. That almost certainly wouldn't have gone in our E46 estate at all, which at the time was certainly a reasonably sized family car.

Agree with you about the ride. Probably goes for a lot of modern cars though, not just SUV's. I find the high SUV body seems to amplify all the little lateral movements so I'm always feeling more exaggerated body 'wallow' for want of a better word.

[eddharris]

mwstewart said:

As a keen driver I just don't understand them:

- Heavy
- Needlessly large
- High CoG
- Take up too much of the carriageway reducing visibility for those behind
- Too wide for the average parking space making it difficult for those parked next to them

I tend to look down on them but I don't begrudge the fact that we the choice open to us.

As a keen driver, I do understand them.

I agree with your 4th point, hence I tend to only drive at 3am when there are less vans and trucks on the road. It's a problem finding grocers open that late but better than death due to lack of visibility, eyes and driving ability.

[coldel]

QJumper said:

Same reason why some people feel they need a car that goes faster than100mph, ignoring the fact that most drive at speeds slower than that. It's just personal taste.

I drive an SUV, I don't have kids, hardly carry any crap around, and mostly I'm the only person in it. I drive it for a number of reasons. Firstly, it's easier to get in and out of, and I prefer the higher driving position. Secondly, I can do an oil and filter change, as well as rustproof the underside, without the faff of having to jack the car up. Also, I occasionally travel to Europe with enough gear that wouldn't fit in a regular car, and so it saves having a seccond car, or having to rent one. I've had a variety of other cars, from brand new Jag saloons, to more sporty cars, and it's the most comfortable car I've ever owned.

Nor do I have any problems parking. If people park properly in car parks there's plenty of room and, if not, I'll usually just park in an end space.

I accept that they're not to everyone's taste, and it's just my personal preference.

You haven't parked in Richmond Station car park then

I find most people park well in most places, its just that we have come accustomed to opening the door a tad, and squeezing out sideways and accepting that as a norm for having loads of room to park.

[gravitygravy]

Too many different cars under the 'SUV' banner and the edges of the category are too fuzzy to lump them all in together.

It might be confirmation bias, but certain larger models do seem to be overrepresented in the "owned by nobbers" stakes.

[Castrol for a knave]

F Pace SVR is a very nice thing. Not for me, but nice.

My wife loves them. That said, all 5 foot nothing of her would happily drive a tank transporter. She is desperate for a Defender 110 and gets excited if we see a Twisted.

As for the Tyre Extinguisher muppets. I have a mate who is probably one. He lectures me about our SUV (it's a Kuga FFS) and my other cars. I point out his 3 kids might have a greater impact on the world than my 33 year old Porsche. I believe that we are fking up the climate, but refused to be lectured to by people who have 4 kids and think they're on the side of the angels. .