Just as wagons were becoming palatable to me...

[Jim_mk7.5]

Watts -  Seen that scenario in Bali and Mayalsia!

I tend to find most proper haters of SUVs are people who would never afford a luxury SUV in first place. Not saying that's true for anyone on here but to be so extreme in points of view, there's normally something deeper behind it. And concern for the environment doesn't count when you are posting on performance hatch site or you'd be posting in the Toyota Prius forum!

It's a segment that accounts for a huge amount of sales and includes many types and sizes of vehicle. I don't have any problems with them. I borrowed a Jag F Pace 3.0d recently and was hugely impressed. Very little body roll, effortless pace, very responsive throttle (no need to modify with a pedal box!), great visibility and plenty of room. And best of all, didn't feel like driving an SUV.

[fredgroves]

I won't park too close to you in a car park, I'll be at the far end, miles from anyone else.

...the only place you could find two spaces to fit it into? At least you won't scratch my Golf by trying to jam it in next to me and then have your kids open the doors into my car...

[dubber36]

The only time I need 2 spaces is when they are in tandem because I have a trailer on the back. People needn't worry about getting their doors dinged or scratched by my lot. And as for me scratching another car when I'm parking, my truck has the same paint as your Golf, so I'd quite like it not damaged either. Big mirrors, a camera and sensors make the job a cinch.

I like cars, which is why I'm found on car forums, so my kids have been taught from a very early age how to get in and out of a car. If a space is a bit tight, everyone gets out before it gets parked. The reverse applies when getting back in. It's a shame the vast majority of people in all sorts of cars don't use the same common sense.

Next.

[weytf]

Dub - this 'next' business makes you look like you're taking this all very personally. I'm sure nobody is saying that you're a bad driver. I'm sure you're great - you're on a car enthusiasts message board after all.

What is being said though, is that yes - there are bad drivers everywhere... but bad drivers in large vehicles compared to bad drivers in small vehicles are two very different things. A badly parked Fiesta is annoying, but a badly parked Range Rover is fu**ing infuriating! If I get T-boned by a A-Class, I'm going to have a bad day. If I get T-boned by a Qashqai it might be my last day.

It's not personal.

[scanesare]

Dub - this 'next' business makes you look like you're taking this all very personally. I'm sure nobody is saying that you're a bad driver. I'm sure you're great - you're on a car enthusiasts message board after all.

What is being said though, is that yes - there are bad drivers everywhere... but bad drivers in large vehicles compared to bad drivers in small vehicles are two very different things. A badly parked Fiesta is annoying, but a badly parked Range Rover is fu**ing infuriating! If I get T-boned by a A-Class, I'm going to have a bad day. If I get T-boned by a Qashqai it might be my last day.

It's not personal.

This whole weight argument must be a joke right?  It must have been a long time since you checked weight figures. An average petrol Qashqai is below 1400kg, that's similar or even less than most family estates like Golf Estate/Passat, A4, 3 series etc. which would be the traditional alternative. And it makes sense as these compact/small size SUV that the majority is going for are essentially raised versions of their hatch/sedan brother platforms, not 2-tonne Range Rovers.

If you drive a modern safe car, it should not be your last day in neither case.

[weytf]

It's not the weight that worries me, it's the fact that it's sitting so high. Maybe a Qashqai isn't the ideal example - maybe an X-Trail would've been better. The point remains though - big cars being driven badly scare me more than smaller ones!

[dubber36]

There there. There's nothing to be scared of.

Perhaps you should get one next. You might actually find you quite like it, and understand why these cars are so popular now.

[weytf]

There's me trying to be polite and sensible. 

[dubber36]

Dub - this 'next' business makes you look like you're taking this all very personally.

I'm not taking anything personally. What I don't like is people that do their best to justify their own dislike to something with invalid 'arguments'. You might not like larger vehicles, but whatever you have to say will not make people that do, change their minds. As in my previous post, don't knock anything until you've tried it.

[weytf]

That's what makes you look like you're taking it personally - I'm not trying to change anybody's mind, I'm stating that I don't like the things, for the reasons listed.

The ones I've tried really haven't endeared themselves to me. Too rollypolly for my tastes, and as I said before, when I'm driving a car - what do I need any extra space for? My head doesn't hit the roof in an A-Class, and my shoulders don't knock my passengers' in a Fiesta.

For me and my tastes, something that big has to try incredibly hard not to look showy or gaudy - and they generally fail. I find the Bentayga to be absolutely revolting, same with whatever the RR one is too. Ostentatious chic isn't my style.