Huge Cars for Suburban 4 Person Families

Sitting at the netball with my wife, and i cant help but dread the great exodus at The end of the game. Hundreds of cars leaving the poorly designed carpark- one third of which are gigantic 4x4s.

Why do one third of households in suburban Adelaide require these giant monster trucks? None of them appear to possess any sign or added features implying their use for off roading. Most of the families driving them only have 2.5 children + dog.
So ill break down my assumptions.

1) the family are giants. Standard cars are inadequate for their unconvetionally long and thick limbs
2) they need all the ridiculous space to carry a bag of soccer balls twice a week to their kids training.
3) they 'like the height' on the road and it makes them feel safer
4) having such a large, imposing vehicle makes them feel safer in a crash situation (never mind the damage they may cause others- because they're perfect drivers and deserve the advantage!)
5) they have an unhealthy amount of spare cash to buy a car that costs over $70k (while planing the younger generation for being entitled)
6) they once went off road and thought they might maybe try it again one day
7) they tow a boat (that also cost $70k…bloody baby boomers)

I know its a hackneyed and tired discussion. But it really baffles me that a standard SUV ISNT somehow space and power adequate for the Joneses

As i squeeze and terrifyingly navigate my way through the slowest moving carpark traffic since the last IKEA sale, i cant help but hold a grudge at the tanks that just took 3 minutes to reverse out of the standard sized parking space it apparently once managed to insert itself into.

Would love to hear other peoples thoughts! Always a fun discussion.

Comments

  • Marketing department says that you MUST buy SUV if you have kids, right? Marketing department can't be wrong.

    • +1

      No kids (yet!!) And i drive my 98 Toyota starlet deathtrap. When kids come along very excited for the i30 wagon.

      I have two adventurous dogs, too.

  • +4

    What sort of SUVs? You make it sound like they're driving big Escalades from the states, when they're what, Landcruisers, Grand Cherokees etc?

    Besides Commodore wagons, the big SUVs could tick the boxes they were after. Maybe they needed 7 seaters? Do you think everyone should drive Dualis +2s or something?

    OP I can guarantee that whatever you drive, someone thinks that's overkill.

    Stop worrying about what others have.

  • +1

    Stop worrying? I literally explained the reason it annoyed me re: carpark. Im not worried, im annoyed.

    • +3

      30yrs ago those soccer mum's were driving XD/XE/XF wagons - serious tanks.

      10yrs ago they could be driving Crewmans and Aventras - again, long and chunky with shit turning circles

      The fact remains, people have driven large cars for years. Sure, they're getting taller, but that has no effect on you and getting around them

      In short, toughen up princess. 1 day you'll be a grey nomad looking at a 4x4 and remember the naive forum post you made when you were younger.

      • Sure, they're getting taller

        That's actually my main problem with such vehicles. It makes it more difficult for drivers of smaller vehicles to see through their windows, which is very useful when reversing out of a parking space or in other confined areas.

        • +1

          I've driven Suzuki Swifts and recently a Subaru BRZ. And can still manage the whole driving and parking thing ;)

        • +1

          @Spackbace: I'm surprised you fit in a Suzuki Swift. They look tiny (from the outside)!

        • +1

          @Jar Jar Binks:

          Surprisingly well actually :) Comfortable enough that I'd drive one if it was just me, or me +1

        • +1

          @Spackbace:

          Comfortable enough that I'd drive one if it was just me, or me +1

          What would you get if it was you + 1… + a labrador + a baby on the way and money was tight? Asking for a neighbour who just find out that she's pregnant. Thanks.

        • @Jar Jar Binks:

          Whatever I could get with the budget I had set lol

        • +1

          @Spackbace: what can you get for $10k? :(

        • +1

          @Jar Jar Binks:

          They'd need to sit down and work out what they want/dont want. Different people like different things, and I'm not going down this path sorry.

    • +1

      Let me apologise on behalf of all the the SUV drivers of Australia who have the audacity to drive a huge tank and inconvenience you for 3 minutes of your day. I will also recommend all the overwieght people of this nation to trim down so you may have an easier passage on our footpaths and trains. Good day Sir.

      • your apology is accepted

  • I get annoyed at the mothers at the school car park who can't reverse their Prados into car space.

  • +2

    I thought everyone just got automatically issued with a white Landcruiser when they had a baby?

  • +4

    Not this old tired argument again. A car is not always just something that get you from A to B. It can be a personal stylistic choice that may be nothing more than 'I want a big car'.

    I mean really, do we need supercars that can reach 100 in under 3 seconds on our roads? Probably not but there is a market for it and people are willing to buy it. Who am I to criticise their choice?

    An SUV is just another style of car.

  • +2

    Back in the good old days you didn't need to have a seven seater, jamming a few extra kiddies in the back seat was completely normal, then if you really filled up you could put a couple in the back of the wagon.

    We've got a family of 5. To take extras along we need 7 seats, fairly regularly too. Then when there is 7 seats in use we also need a bit of storage space

    We also like going on holidays, and towing a camper is the cheapest holiday. I also wanted a car that would comfortably tow our camper. My old forester can do it, but it works hard. Buying a 4wd made sense for towing.

    The forester is also getting a bit small for a growing family, so it's head is on the chopping block and there is a new truck in the driveway, getting a ute seemed like a good upgrade.

  • You do realise you can wash dust/dirt off a 4WD, right?

    • Why would you do that, it shows you aren't driving a show pony!

  • +1

    Do you play netball?

    • No i'm awful. wife coaches a senior team.

  • We have a family of 4 but have a station wagon which converts to a 7 seater when required. It's useful as it has plenty of storage for when we go on holiday and sometimes we've borrowed a trailer to pick up large items we've purchased or for when we go camping. The car is also useful if we want to take our kids and their friends on outings. We can also car pool when going on trips to extended family functions.

    I used to play netball back in the days when seat belts weren't compulsory and you could fit the whole netball team into a station wagon. Do families still car pool to sporting events? Perhaps this is why many of the families have large vehicles which can transport more than 5 people.

    • Do families still car pool to sporting events?

      I can say they do. Not so much to the game as the parents like to support their kids, but more often than not we are carting someone else's kids around to training, as are others in the team. This is occurring more and more as younger siblings start their own sport and parents need to send kids to multiple locations. (Most of the kids in my son's soccer team are the first child)

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