Do you own a big car or SUV?

Bretrick

Bretrick

Well-known Member
Location
Perth Western Australia
Have been watching the American show, Columbo, 1968 to 2003. 69 episodes.
The thing that stands out in this series is the very large cars of the era.
From the Mercury Marauder, 5.3 meters, Dodge, Ford LTD, Plymouths, Chevy Impala, Cadillac, Buicks, Lincoln, Thunderbird, The Imperial Baron to possibly the longest of them all, 1975 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five. At 6.25 meters.
Everything is big in America.
Probably because of big families, low cost fuel, Bigger meaning safer?(crash wise)
My current car is a Ford Focus, labelled a small car.
Previously I have owned a Mitsubishi ASX, compact SUV, and a Toyota Rav 4, also a compact SUV.
 

I just bought my daughter's used 2017 RAV4...nice car. I also have a 2003 Lexus with 209,000 miles on it that I just can't part with. The owner of a repair shop told me that his friend has one that has 400,000 miles on it and it runs like a champ. I did have to put $1,700 into it recently to fix several issues but now it's all good again...except I need a new airbag. I told the mechanic not to bother because I grew up without airbags and sometimes they actually can hurt someone. He laughed at me :giggle:

It's the most comfortable car ever. I'd rather drive the old Lexus than the newish RAV4. The style has hardly changed over the years. I originally bought it because I would transport large canvases around that I had painted. Plus I had 2 dogs. I recently packed my belongings in it to move to the beach. It's amazing how much stuff I could fit in there.
 

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I have a small SUV......it's a Chevrolet Trax.
I love it because.....you don't sit down in a hole with your knees up to your ears.....then try and get out.
The seat goes high enough that you step up into it, not down.......remember, i'm only 5 feet, so for me stepping up into it would be not be that way for someone for taller people.
There how's that for a storey......;):):D:LOL::ROFLMAO:
 
Our two vehicles might be considered small SUVs, a Jeep Cherokee and a Dodge Nitro. We also have a truck with a pop up camper in the bed for camping. In the past I've had a MazdaRX7, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, used VW bug, etc. Never felt safe on the highway in that old bug, too low and dim lights, little power.
 
MickaC said:
I have a small SUV......it's a Chevrolet Trax.
I love it because.....you don't sit down in a hole with your knees up to your ears.....then try and get out.
The seat goes high enough that you step up into it, not down.......remember, i'm only 5 feet, so for me stepping up into it would be not be that way for someone for taller people.
There how's that for a storey......;):):D:LOL::ROFLMAO:
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Perfect sized vehicle for you. (y)
 
Aunt Bea said:
Nope!

I have a small ten year old hooptie.

My parents had enormous Detroit cars that were the size of modern day aircraft carriers.

My parents were part of a generation that believed those big cars were an American birthright.

Driving and parking them always made me a nervous wreck.
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I had the chance to drive a very large BMW Ghost but I refused because it was simply too large for me. I was frightened of misjudging the size and hitting something.
 
We have a 2006 Chevy Impala LTZ and a 1997 Dodge Dakota SLT...both low mileage, and in good shape. I intend to keep the Dakota until I'm too old to drive. If/when this current vehicle shortage settles down, we may trade the Impala for a compact SUV...Honda CRV, etc....however, until the dealers lots are overflowing again, and car prices cease to be ridiculous, we are staying with what we have.
 
Right now I have a smaller car--a Chevy Classic. I really prefer the larger cars. My last car was a Chrysler Concorde LXI and a very long one at that. I had it for 11 years. I liked very much the extra roominess of it inside along with the quality of everything inside and out. IMO, Chryslers are better quality cars than Chevys. Can't really complain too much about my Chevy, though, it keeps on running and it's pretty old.
 
My Dad had an 80's Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham. When they moved from my childhood home I encouraged him to sell it. He was left with a '99 Lexus LS400 (also big). He passed away in 2000, and although the Lexus was an amazing car I sold it because I didn't want something that big.

I've always preferred smaller cars. I've had my Audi A4 for 5 years and love it. We also have a Mazda CX-30 (subcompact SUV) and very happy we do due to current gas prices. When cars become widely available again, I'm probably going electric. KIA and Hyundai have just introduced some particularly nice small electric vehicles.
 
That's quite funny, everyone here thinks the US folks have HUGE cars because that's what we see on TV.. and everyone there thinks we in the UK have tiny cars... but its not true... We all drive SUV's..Honda Accords, Ford fusions, VW beetles... BMW's..Mercedes...Rav 4's..just the same as you guys...

ETA... and for the most part we drive the manual versions....:p
 
hollydolly said:
That's quite funny, everyone here thinks the US folks have HUGE cars because that's what we see on TV.. and everyone there thinks we in the UK have tiny cars... but its not true... We all drive SUV's..Honda Accords, Ford fusions, VW beetles... BMW's..Mercedes...Rav 4's..just the same as you guys...

ETA... and for the most part we drive the manual versions....:p
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Actually, a lot of US drivers DO own huge cars. I live in a neighborhood that is adjacent to a 'gentrified"area where Millennials and Gen Xers who have a couple of kids (soccer moms) drive big SUV's that are much larger than what they need. They are consistently on the phone and suddenly change lanes because they realize they have missed their turn.

Frustrating, but predictable.
 
dseag2 said:
Actually, a lot of US drivers DO own huge cars. I live in a neighborhood that is adjacent to a 'gentrified"area where Millennials and Gen Xers who have a couple of kids (soccer moms) drive big SUV's that are much larger than what they need. They are consistently on the phone and suddenly change lanes because they realize they have missed their turn.

Frustrating, but predictable.
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That's also precisely how it is here.... almost always the young women who drive Huge SUV's which take up half the road, and far bigger than they need.
 
I can remember cars of my parent’s generation that advertised “living room comfort” in the back seat during the 50’s and early 60’s. Then my parents decided to go sporty, and my knees would impact with the front seat back while riding in the rear of their Ford Mustangs. I learned to turn sideways so as to avoid bodily compaction.

My sister with several young children would haul them and their friends around in station wagons prior to the emergence of vans. Those vehicles could carry half the neighborhood, but wallowed like a boat and got terrible mileage...
 
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