Reduce number of SUVs?

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Err, that perfectly describes so many of the threads on any forum - why would this one be different?
Actually in some ways this thread is a bit different. So we have had two people support SUVs because of their circumstances - that is, true experience of the benefits of SUVs. So they definitely do know what they are talking about.
And then we have had some who are less pleased about SUVs because of where they live. They can see and explain the downside of SUVs where they walk or drive. So they also know what they are talking about.

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During my time as a courier, I drove all kinds of vans and small lorries. My own vehicle was a Citroen Berlingo and was possibly the most comfortable vehicle I had ever driven. The advantages were many. It would carry a 600 kg load and the doors would open and fold back to the sides of the van, making it possible for a fork lift truck to deposit a fully laden pallet in the back. It was a 2 litre diesel and although sluggish when overtaking and motoring up hills, my first Berlingo covered over 300,000 miles with not a scrap of bother, and was still going strong when I eventually sold it to buy a brand new Berlingo. ( I drive a Citroen now because I was so impressed with them)
Because it was a diesel, I serviced it myself, and with a diesel you only need to change the filters and oil every ten thousand miles and they will run forever.
And finally, because you were sat higher than in a conventional vehicle and can see more of the road ahead, not to mention the ease of getting in and out as you grow older, I chose a car similar to the lofty sitting position of a van. Although I wouldn’t consider a Citroen C3 Aircross a SUV. It will probably be my last car…

The SUV does not make the smaller car much less safe. I’m sorry but I can follow that logic. It’s the Driver that makes any vehicle less safe.
Then look at all those (class B vehicles) small trucks that make deliveries in and around towns and villages. They are the same thing as SUVs.
Those SUVs can go anywhere those delivery trucks go.

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I don’t understand the hatred towards, so called ā€œSUV’sā€. Do I drive one ? , apparently so. I drive a VW Tiguan. The reason I bought it is because I need a large boot and I also want a car that’s a comfortable height to get in and out of it with ease. Is the engine bigger than most other cars ? No, Does it take up more space ?, No. In fact its actually shorter than many hatchbacks including the Kia EV9, Ford Mondeo, BMW etc, Does it create more emissions ? No, and again it produces less than many of the hatchbacks in the similar price category. Maybe before tarring everyone (or every vehicle) with the same brush they should clearly explain which so called SUV’s we are talking about, I’m assuming it’s the expensive so called Chelsea tractors, being the (Range Rover, BMW X7, Audi Q9, Mercedes GLS) which are still the minority of all SUV’s on the road)

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Another downside to the internet…People ordering stuff online has closed all the big stores and filled our streets with max Verstappen’s flying around in Mercedes Sprinters… :009:
:truck:

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Perhaps a bit of jealousy Anthony…
Who wouldn’t like a …

If they could comfortably afford one and the diesel/petrol to get it off the drive…
:astonished:

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Ha ha I feel for your problem, little Texas would fit a couple times inside WA. :icon_wink:

I am keeping my Dmax.

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Your wife was speeding on suburban streets. I hope you had words with her.

SUVs make more sense in the USA where you have wide roads, regular long distance driving and an unpredictable climate. They don’t make sense in many English towns where we have narrow roads, tight squeeze parking and 20 mph limits in many city centres.

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super wide ā€œchelsea tractorsā€ are so annoying in supermarket car parks. The parking spaces are made for normal sized cars. I can squeeze in between the tiny space they leave for me to open the car door, but the overweight must struggle.

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Hi Annie. I agree you with the ā€œChelsea Tractorsā€ I have had some cars that were more efficient than those big vehicles.

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Bruce
Her speed was 25 MPH at point of impact not 33mph as you insinuate. I bet anyone would have trouble keeping below a 30mph speed limit without taking their eyes off the road to check.
Sue happens to be a very good driver even in a big SUV.
In that video not only did the driver not stop at a T junction but came out ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD . He didn’t even look both ways. If you look more closely the car driver even took his hands off the steering wheel or so it seems,

That doesn’t matter does it? speeding is speeding and is breaking the law. Speeding causes accidents as she proved.

The popularity of SUVs has increased immensely over the years, a bit of a ā€œstatus symbolā€ over here, but in our small town, SUVs are really out of place, too many narrow, winding roads, tight parking spaces and it’s so nerve-wrecking when there’s one right in front of me , blocking my view and I have to get ready to turn at the next junction! On the other hand, I see them as being suitable for families who often go on trips and use the car a lot for shopping and taking kids to school , going to work, transporting bulky goods, and so on. I would still prefer a stationwagon, though, in my experience, they are the cars that have been more useful as a family. Just my personal preference, I suppose.

We had a Nissan X-trail (the older type), years ago when kids were very young, which was considered more of an ā€œoff-roadā€ - we wanted a robust vehicle to get through the harsh, snowy, icy Winters we used to get, up here in the hills. Guess what? It never snowed while we had the Xtrail! :open_mouth: The fuel consumption was abominable, but again, I’m talking about more than ten years ago, I know car production has come a long way now,with regards to comfort, safety and fuel economy.

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Actually in law she wasn’t speeding, over here the police tend to give leeway of 10%+2, so to be speeding she would need to be doing 36 mph ( I’m assuming it’s a 30mph limit on that road) however it’s just a guide to allow for the inaccuracy of the speedometer, in this case, I doubt the police would be interested unless either driver was noticeably under the influence of something…

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Most of the SUVs or people carriers around here are owned by young Mums to run Alex or Alexis to and from school and still insist on stopping as close to the school gates as possible to drop them off and usually on the yellow zigzag no parking areas.

I’ll try to help you with the logic. First by correcting my own phrasing. A small car deemed safe in a normal collision (i.e. with a similar vehicle) would likely not be deemed as safe in a collision with a larger, heavier and more robust vehicle (e.g. a large SUV or as you point out a truck). So the small vehicle becomes significantly less safe when faced with a collision with another ā€œcarā€ that happens to be a bit like a truck.
Now, you raise an interesting point about the role of the driver. If you drive a very robust and safe car - might you just be super-confident about the minimal consequences (for you and your passengers) should an accident happen? And might that confidence mean you risk driving a bit more recklessly? Certainly this will not apply to most SUV drivers - in the same way small car drivers are not necessarily always super cautious and vigilant (see earlier video for evidence of that). But some small car drivers are very aware of the safety limitations of their car and some SUV drivers are reckless given the large, heavy car they drive.

Are you suggesting that we re-name the Texas Pro-SUV Argument? Looking at the map the claim that Texas is so big that you need an SUV seems somewhat reduced in credibility?

Car design rules require that speedos read low.

It’s a slippery slope, allow such criminally to go unchecked and next thing you know they are ramming your car into the local bank and you have a stolen ATM in your lounge room. RS needs to nip this in the bud immediately

Not sure about oz, but here and Europe cars speedos always over read so for example the speedo indicates 30mph, the actual speed could be 28/29…

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