[Closed] why are SUV's so much more popular than estates ?

Insecurity.

People feel more secure in a car than they do out of it. Hence all the road rage, but not person rage. Bigger car makes people (and in particular mums, but plenty of men too) more secure.

Personally I much prefer a lower car with less weight. Better handling and performance. I would consider a suv if I found one that was better (and the same price) than the estate/hatchback version. So far I haven't.

The Kuga is bigger than a 3 series - its based on a Mondeo estate chassis and a Mondeo estate is a bigger car than a 3 series touring. Quite a bit bigger. 3 series touring have tiny boots - not much bigger than your average hatchback.

Cars are like bikes, you don't have to be able to justify them. I no longer look on cars as toys and nice things to have but as practical tools which is why I think these big 4x4 cross type cars are a bit of a nonsense. They do have small interiors relative to their external size - they have to be to fit in all the 4wd stuff (which is redundant dead weight for the vast majority of the owners) - the engine has to be further forward to fit in the gearbox and all the 4x4 drive train. They are heavier again due to the 4x4 gubbins. But if they're big enough for your needs then that's all that matters.

It's just a shame that in this day and age where cars really need to be getting smaller, lighter and more efficient the exact opposite seems to be happening - and in most cases its all to do with vanity, fashion and ego stroking (yes like most cars but just bigger and even more pointless). Still, I think we should enjoy them while we can. In 10 years or so cars will be banned and we'll be swanning around in driverless pods looking back on the days of self drive cars in the same way we look back on TV's before remote controls and outside toilets.

I'll probably pop along to the local pay'n'play and ask a few of these SUV drivers what they're like, I'm sure there'll be plenty of them there. 😛

My TV doesn't have an outside toilet.
I feel like I'm missing out now.
😐

MkI Kuga was based on the Focus Iirc. Not as long as a Mondeo and definitely no longer than my old 3 series tourer - fits in the drive even with all the damn wheelie bins

MkII Kuga may well be based on a Mondeo and I know it has a bigger boot than the MkI. Blander though

My TV doesn't have an outside toilet.

My car has TV for the back seats. No toilet, though.

You all have to sit in the back of the car to watch Happy Valley?

You lot are weird.

So, if I've got a TV in the outside toilet, am I posh?

My car has TV for the back seats.

So, if I've got a TV in the outside toilet, am I posh?

You have a TV in your hedge? That's not posh that's weird.

on our 2nd yeti so I'm a double twunt.
initially got one because wanted something different and they were getting great reviews, plus the fact the passat had got stuck on (or couldnt get up) the hill outside the motherinlaws 2 year on the trot.

Thanks to me getting a yeti we havent had any real snow in Manchester for 3 years now. 🙂

Anyway....nowt intimidating about a yetio, great little cars.

I can categorically state the kuga is based on a focus. mk1 and mk2. 100% ten foot of concrete guaranteed. The evoke is off the old mondeo platform.

Oh the engine is in the same place too.

Is a Yeti an SUV though, really? Is dissapointed. I always it more as Skoda's answer to the Peugeot Partner/Tipi/Doblo type things. They look a lot more sensibly proportioned than the Tiguan/Kuga/Mokka/q3/GLS type jelly mold samey thingies.

They do have small interiors relative to their external size - they have to be to fit in all the 4wd stuff (which is redundant dead weight for the vast majority of the owners) - the engine has to be further forward to fit in the gearbox and all the 4x4 drive train.

[img] [/img]
[img] ?itok=sbp74gie[/img]

I think this post has convinced me to go with nice 4x4 estate 😀

Iainc. - go for a scooby 🙂

The yeti isn't an SUV. Too subtle and sensible. Looks like postman pat's van really....

Perhaps Fiat had the right idea with the Multipla? 😉

So explain this, then...

The picture of the Fiat was taken in spring, whereas the one of the skoda was winter time.

All this chitter-chatter about SUVs makes me wonder why these aren't more popular.

I quite like it..

[img] [/img]

Am I the only one thinking this is a bit pointless...? Getting wound up by the type of car that someone else drives won't change a thing.

Live and let live is sometimes a good maxim.

Live and let live is [s]sometimes[/s] [b]always[/b] a good maxim

FTFY

Quite ironic that in the non predjudiced, liberal, do-good, holier than thou world of STW, people are described as insecure, self-important, selfish, vile human beings for driving their car of choice.

^^^^^ possibly, but the thread title and initial post is simply examining why they are so popular and what the benefits are over an estate car.

^^^^^ possibly, but the thread title and initial post is simply examining why they are so popular and what the benefits are over an estate car.

I've no problem with the threads intentions, just the following judgemental drivel

It's a willy thing. Can't see a 'supermini versus a small hatch' debate generating the same views 🙂

Live and let live is sometimes a good maxim.

Except when some people's choices adversely affect everyone else. Like, for instance, trying to park and drive something the size of a bus in a built-up area.

Of course, if we are being sensible, we'll forget SUVs and estate cars.

There is a solution which gives a high driving position, and can swallow a large family and all their bicycles. It's highly manoeuvrable, adequate speed and handling, and fits in a normal carpark.

Ford Transit Tourneo.

Being unsuccessfully trying to convince the missus it would better than a Volvo for years now. 🙂

But everyone's choices always affect everyone else, so I'm not really getting you here.

The same argument can be applied to driving an Mondeo estate (which is massive!) rather than a fiat panda.

Oh and a Mondeo is longer and wider than my Touareg - selfish bastards driving those massive cars....

more profit

Development costs for small car vs extended platform:

SUV, generally are modded small platforms, no real heavy-duty components] are much the same, however the selling price is hugely higher. The difference in profits is HUGE, with many supermini's making 1-5% profit only!

It's also an arms race, better visibility.....until every other car is equally huge and tall.

[img] ?w=774[/img]

It's funny how one person mentions looks over an estate car. I think the opposite, much prefer a an estate car aesthetically. SUV look like a 4x4 want to be, a pretender. That is the thing with aesthetics, very personal.

I generally prefer the look of a estate car over it's saloon version. And there is another thing - what the hell is the point of a saloon car these days? Just why would anyone buy a saloon - they must have taken leave of their senses. I'm so outraged i'm going to start another thread!

I think it's a perception thing. For a family or a person who needs to carry a bit of stuff then logically an estate car is the best choice. If you enjoy driving rather than just getting from A to B then there are many estate cars these days that are as fast as proper sports cars with handling to match.

SUV's by comparison are normally heavier, less fuel efficient, less practical, worse handling etc, etc. Often they are not real 4x4's, just styled to look like them. They're not sports cars but often have shouty extra fake exhausts etc. They block visibility on the road for anyone following them. So not really a good choice then - but then people seem to love them - go figure?

Guessing that the glitzy marketing and blingy accessories offered by SUV manufacturers kind of appeals to a certain kind of person. The higher up driving position creates a fake sense of safety and superiority. The people who buy them are probably generally the sort of people who don't enjoy driving for drivings sake, don't really know much about cars or driving, but the opportunity to cruise round in the latest crass bluetooth chariot (on lease or PCP of course) kind of appeals? Guessing it's probably the same type of person who follows fashion and who changes their iPhone to the latest model every 6 months.

Don't get it myself, give me a well sorted estate car any day.

For a family or a person who needs to carry a bit of stuff then logically an estate car is the best choice.

Yet so many manage with just a family hatch.

It's all about personal choice nothing more but people get sucked into thinking that they need bigger. I like an SUV but neve bought one as they're more expensive to run with no real benefit.

I think it's a perception thing.

Its a belonging thing. A form of conformity.

A friend of mine moved to the cirencester area a few years back, and he could be best described as a pinko commie compared to the locals. He now owns a range rover to take his offspring to school, got a gun licence for his shotguns, and I learned recently that his wife who does baking for dinner parties etc, that its is frowned upon to buy your pastry already made from a supermarket, you have to make it yourself.

I love the way people can "frown upon" certain things, when in reality they are being back stabbing bar stewards when you are not around. Middle england is full of snipers.

I wouldn't last five minutes there without extending my middle finger at everyone and everything.

Its about whatever class or social circle you want to belong to. Its about fitting in, its sameism and its a little bit shallow.

Yet so many manage with just a family hatch.

I've just carried 20 scaffold boards home in my Smart ForFour 😀

The few SUVs I've been in, I've been surprised at how cramped for space they are.

[quote=bencooper ]
I've just carried 20 scaffold boards home in my Smart ForFour

building site next door

[img] [/img]

hmmm

I've just carried 20 scaffold boards home in my Smart ForFour

I've just carried 20 scaffold boards home in my Smart ForFour

Is that the Skoda skip joke of the 80's brought up to date?

building site next door

😀

All legally bought from Glasgow Wood Recycling. And they're only 4ft ones, so all went inside the car, no problems.

[URL= http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o42/Citroenxsara/597ADA7B-B13E-44BE-A535-C7F817D62913.jp g" target="_blank">http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o42/Citroenxsara/597ADA7B-B13E-44BE-A535-C7F817D62913.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

New reason discovered, so I can keep my fingers by not having to try and fold this lethal contraption, it goes in whole.

Ah, SUVs are for carrying SUV-buggies 😀

My sister in law bought an SUV because their buggy didn't fit in their car. Should've thought of that when you bought the buggy...

tail wags dog

Ah, SUVs are for carrying SUV-buggies

😆

Yeti owner here. Bought 6 months ago. Might have gone for something more practical I suppose, but seats come out, it swallows bikes, drives well, I like the high position, and I like the look of it (in black). Is all of this somehow "wrong"?

Mildly amusingly, in London I saw one behind a black cab. Not entirely different in look.