Buying a car - why the interest in SUVs, 4x4 etc

[malumbu]

As someone who has a professional interest in this sort of thing it would be good to hear from those who have bought, thinking of buying, or decided not to buy a SUV vehicle.

This is not an opportunity to slag off Chelsea tractor drivers. We can all do this. But those who chose (or not as is the case) to buy one due to practicality or whatever. I wont offer any criticim and it would be great if others act similarly. Including not commenting on use, occupancy, school runs or whatever. My flag of truce is up.

I'll explain more later but there is no hidden agenda here (beyond a better understanding of purchasing decisions).

There is already data and researcg out there.

Also any objective views are welcome from interested observers. Leave talk of bikes, car clubs, publc transport, congestion and obsesity to another thread.

[KidKruger]

I've been looking very closely at Landrover Defenders, namely models 90 and 110 (particularly the station wagon).

The 110 can have 7 seats or, if it's (I think) pre-2009, even a couple of bench seats in the back meaning you can seat potentially 9 (or 10 if the front seat is a bench seat too). Many seats is useful to me.

However, I've recently tried a mate's Landrover Discovery 3 circa 2009 (seats 7). Wow. It does everything a Defender does, but with modern technology. No wonder they've stopped making the Defender, it's (as my mate says) "barn-door technology".

The comfort is better than my living room and it's a fair bit cheaper than Defenders. I'm fairly practical with cars though and chief reason for wanting a vehicle like this is for use on some land that I've got and to haul separate tools to top fields and haul field shelters etc. without having to borrow tractors. I can fit a winch and it's obviously got enough clearance for rough terrain, which most road cars don't. If I didn't have the acres I would not even think of this kind of vehicle.

I am also considering Ford Rangers for same reasons, but of course there I'll be well limited in the seats. I'm in no hurry to purchase as I'm getting by with other means for time being. I believe the longer I think about it the better decision I will make.

Having just re-read the OP though, an SUV is not the same as a 4x4 (which is what a chelsea tractor generally is regarded as), nor is it a 4x4 such as I am interested in, but having written this I would be crushed to have to delete it all so here it stays.

[Henry_17]

Malumbu,

IMO most of what is sold in the UK aren't really SUVs but rather Cross Overs. But leaving that technicality aside I agree that globally there has been a marked uptick in demand for SUVs / cross overs in recent years, and those automakers without a strong SUV model line up have lost market share.

Demand can be broken down into two components - desire, and financial capacity. I can tell you that with respect to financial capacity, in the US credit growth in the vehicle asset finance segment has been robust and granting criteria loose - it really only ranks behind student debt as a likely candidate for the next credit downturn. Given similar monetary environments it would not surprise me if the same applies to the UK. More recently, lower oil has meant lower gas prices, which has materially lowered the total cost of ownership, lowering the entry bar for "gas guzzlers".

As far as desire goes, this is more difficult to comprehend in the case of London, where distances are relatively short, and stops and starts relatively frequent as compared to the US - the practical advantage seems much slimmer here. Nonetheless these vehicles have proved increasingly popular, perhaps it is a case of people not wanting to be the smallest guy on the road.

[jacks09]

I'm not sure I get why 4x4's SUV's get such a bad rap? Certainly if you are buying new then the green credentials are as good as most saloons...

[Jules-and-Boo]

we had a Toyota Hilux and it was really just awesome.

completely reliable and my main thing was if someone hit us, we'd be safe....rather than get squashed.

oh - and also because of work - tools - equipment.

[Earl Aelfheah]

I cant understand why people have started Driving around in pseudo military vehicles. Not that long ago, people mocking he American s for their ridiculous oversized SUVs. In London they make no sense at all from what I can tell. If you need the space, get an estate, easier to load, faster, better looking (imo) and easier to get the kids in and out.

[Earl Aelfheah]

I cant understand why people have started driving around in pseudo-military vehicles. Not too many years ago, everyone laughed at the ridiculous oversized cars they drove in the states.

In London SUVs make no sense at all from what I can tell. If you need the space, get an estate, easier to load, faster, better looking (imo) and safer.

[Ellem86]

My partner and I recently bought a new Kia Sportage after driving a 12 year old ford fiesta. The fuel economy is brilliant and it has lower emissions than a lot of other small SUVs. We bought it because we do a lot of motorway driving and I was tired of being blown around in a small car and also because we spend a lot of time out in the country. My partner is also American and has a natural inclination towards bigger cars.

[Seabag]

I own an SUV and always will I reckon. It's got all the space, 6 seats and goes like SOAS. It's also a way nicer ride once you're used to the size. And with the standard of spec it's right up there with a family car. Mine's a long wheel base VW T5 with a 7 speed auto box, and the only draw back is parking it sometimes.

As Henry says, there is an argument for 'positioning' on the road.

I also own a mini, and that is fun, but much like driving a dodgem car. For nipping in and around town, it's lively and can park in a micro sized space. That said, you really have to 'calmly' hold your own in one, less you get shoved around.

[Ellem86]

I definitely used to get shoved around in my Ford Fiesta.

[Jeremy]

I'm thinking of getting one. Basically because there's lots of space (both cabin and luggage), it's easier to get kids in and out of car seats (I have a bad back), and I like the high driving position.

Downsides - as RRR says, an estate would be better to drive. And most SUVs are diesel which seems impractical in London (modern diesels are fitted with DPFs, and designed for regular high speed driving).

[Townleygreen]

The cars companies love 'em because they make a huge profit on them compared to "normal" cars. I agree, they don't fit well in London. I don't get bullied by them. Most don't seem to realise how wide they are and can't cope in an average street width.

[ruffers]

It's an arms race innit? Personally I can't stand being behind one on the road as I can't see around / over it as much as a "normal" car. Solution - my next car will probably be an SUV.

For others it's perceived safety - "If I get hit by one I'll be worse off, so my next car will be..."

You get the picture.

[rendelharris]

My mother was thinking of replacing her standard estate with one, then saw an article in the BMJ which said a pedestrian knocked down by a 4x4 is four times more likely to be killed than a pedestrian knocked down by a normal car, which rather put her off.

[Earl Aelfheah]

ruffers Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It's an arms race innit? Personally I can't stand

> being behind one on the road as I can't see around

> / over it as much as a "normal" car. Solution -

> my next car will probably be an SUV.

> For others it's perceived safety - "If I get hit

> by one I'll be worse off, so my next car will

> be..."

>

> You get the picture.

It does seem to be an 'arms race', I think that's a good analogy. There is definitely something about the psychology of them... 'not being pushed around', 'coming off better in an accident', 'high driving position'... the military 'look' of them. It all a bit siege mentality.

[Mick Mac]

rahrahrah Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I cant understand why people have started Driving

> around in pseudo military vehicles. Not that long

> ago, people mocking he American s for their

> ridiculous oversized SUVs. In London they make no

> sense at all from what I can tell. If you need the

> space, get an estate, easier to load, faster,

> better looking (imo) and easier to get the kids in

> and out.

What we found, 5 years ago as a family of 5, was that if you have three children, and at least tow are of car seat age requirement, an estate will not have enough width for the three to sit comfortably across the back seats in a normal saloon or estate.

A seven seater, ignoring the back two seats, has more width, and the three children could sit across the middle three seats with space

So we bought one.

When I was young I was a child in a family of 5 and we had a mini. It was fine.

[JohnL]

I want a Pickup - Maybe a Ford Ranger.

At my age I think I'm allowed :)

[Jeremy]

Aren't some people getting confused between an SUV and an MPV?

[Earl Aelfheah]

Jeremy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Aren't some people getting confused between an SUV

> and an MPV?

Yes, I think so.

[Earl Aelfheah]

rahrahrah Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> ruffers Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > It's an arms race innit? Personally I can't

> stand

> > being behind one on the road as I can't see

> around

> > / over it as much as a "normal" car. Solution

> -

> > my next car will probably be an SUV.

> > For others it's perceived safety - "If I get

> hit

> > by one I'll be worse off, so my next car will

> > be..."

> >

> > You get the picture.

>

> It does seem to be an 'arms race', I think that's

> a good analogy. There is definitely something

> about the psychology of them... 'not being pushed

> around', 'coming off better in an accident', 'high

> driving position'... the military 'look' of them.

> It all a bit siege mentality.

....personally, i quite like driving, but some do consider it a form of urban warfare.

[titch juicy]

I don't get the appeal living in London at all. To be honest I don't get the appeal living in the countryside either, unless you're a landowner or live somewhere prone to regular harsh winter conditions.

I spend a lot of time in the Lake District and the Highlands and a small car is much easier to get around in. Those tiny lanes are a nightmare for SUV drivers and other road users encountering them.

[Mick Mac]

Jeremy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Aren't some people getting confused between an SUV

> and an MPV?

aren't both likely to be 4x4 ?

[Jeremy]

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> aren't both likely to be 4x4 ?

Nope. The MPV almost certainly won't have 4WD, and SUV might do, but not necessarily.

SUV:

MPV

 

[Mick Mac]

and this one?

Audi Q7 3.0TDI Quattro S Line 240 7 SEATER MPV 4X4 ULTIMATE SPEC FSH 22" A1

[Jeremy]

SUV with 7 seats.