Well, depends which one, but if you have a car that is not very high, it is quite annoying. My Peugeot 206 is not especially low, but I get SUVs headlights are the level of my windows/mirrors.
I should have takent a pic few days ago of my 206 between the Volvo XC90 & Kia Sportage of two colleagues on the parking: the car was looking so small in that scene, it was funny to see.



Sure, but usually these are used for their original purpose. People do not use refuse truck or delivery van just for carrying kids to school

Let me explain Neptune, when I'm in my car (of ordinary height), usually when I'm behind another ordinary car, I can see through the windows, so I can see the traffic in front, so I can tell whether everyone in front of me is slowing or braking. It's helpful. But when it's an SUV, I can't see any of that because the rear window is too high. Plus SUVs tend to be bulkier all round, so it's harder to see past them (If I was behind your massive Expedition, I wouldn't be able to see bugger all!) Granted, buses, lorries and vans block my view as well, but as antp explained, those things exist for a reason. When it's someone in an shiny new Range Rover or other big, fancy SUV, I know damn well that thing's never going offroad, so I think "why does that *@#!% have to drive that thing?" And don't forget that European and British roads tend to be narrower than American ones.

Also when I'm on the motorway, large lorries only tend to use the slow lane, so I can choose to use other lanes, thus lorries usually aren't that much of a visual obstruction.

Not recommended for off-roading.! (or for any steep inclines.!)

Well said G-Mann, I have to agree with you because you're right. I would never own a SUV just for the sake of it without using it to the full potential (ie off-road). Just like it is silly to own an F350 with dual tires in the back and never transport or tow anything.

Let my correct myself, when I say full potential I mean to the extent of staying safe and keeping it in one piece (because I don't have a winch and sometimes go out alone).

"A SUV is not a truck" - the newest judgement of the highest German courthouse. It goes for SUV's over 2.8 tons. This means, that an owner of a big SUV has to pay up to ten times higher yearly taxes.

Don't forget the G-wagen.
I think the Cayenne is suprisingly capable off road, but I don't know that it could handle doing 'work'. I'd guess not.

You're absolutley right about that, Neptune which is part of the problem. The other part is that cars in the US & Canada shrunk during the late-1970's, making driver seek vehicles that could do the jobs that cars were no longer able to do, and SUV's were among the light-duty trucks that served as replacements. G-MANN is also right about the European vs. American view of what's considered big, since we've had bigger cars and trucks in the post-war era than they've had.

At Goodwood yesterday I went to the Land Rover stand and sat inside a Range Rover, and actually it's very nice inside and it had more space than all luxury sedans I sat in (including a Merc S-Class). I thought it would be a nice car to be a passenger in on a long journey (although I didn't actually ride in it). And it's still a highly capable offroader than can tow 3.5 tons. BUT I still wouldn't buy one (not that I could afford one, not anytime soon) unless I needed to go offroad, I have to stay true to my principles and on the outside it's still too brash, it would be a bugger to park and I wouldn't want to be mistaken for an overpriviledged parent on the school-run. But then again every glamorous car could be associated with rich idiots (footballers, socialites, talentless celebrities, trophy wives), so what can you do? But if I HAD to have a luxury SUV I guess it would be a Range Rover.

Probably becuase all the cars in Europe, even luxury ones, are tiny. Besides even if you want that kind of space, just get a minivan instead, it's better and more practical.

Only if you're a fat Yank

Anyway taxiguy, have you seen the photos I posted in the "interesting/funny/special cars sightings" topic?

That's me all right

But really, I'm not criticizing small Euro cars I'm just pointing out that they are quite a bit smaller than SUVs and Vans




Which ones would you be referring to now?

Oh wait, I see the ones you mean now. I saw them but I hadn't even noticed that it was you who had posted them

Yeah, they're pretty nice cars. I like the Rolls Royce the most. I could fit my "fat yank" self into it more easily than a Porche or Ferarri.