21–30 of 194 posts
Cars should be taxed based on their weight and there should be much stricter standards regarding visibility. There is no reason why most of us should subsidise a few people’s status symbol and their entirely unnecessary use of public resources. Ultimately you should not be able to buy these, at least in their current form, as they serve no purpose whatsoever besides inflating their owner’s ego at a significant cost t…
Is this motivated by environmentalism or is this about class?
The most popular "SUVs" in Britain are small crossovers that are compact or subcompact cars by American standards. The Ford Puma is currently the best-selling car in the UK and while it's marketed as an SUV, it's based on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta. It has big wheels and an SUV silhouette, but the base model has a 1 litre engine with a mild hybrid system and 4 wheel drive isn't even an option.
There's a strong marketing trend towards taller cars with a more imposing road presence, but most of these cars aren't actually very big. The psychology is quite interesting - auto makers are trying to make small cars look tough and rugged without actually making them wider, heavier, less efficient or more expensive; this has in turn led to a lot of people feeling intimidated by cars that are basically just compacts in cosplay.
I’m all for fewer people driving them (most are just lifted versions of normal cars now, but more uncomfortable and inefficient), but I’m very sure messing essential safety features (correctly pressurised tyres) is not how you get that point t across.
While a punctured tyre will deflate, reinflation of the tyre after it has been adjusted with a drill or saw is unlikely to be a simple task.
Note to American readers: The most popular "SUVs" in Britain are small crossovers that are compact or subcompact cars by American standards. The Ford Puma is currently the best-selling car in the UK and while it's marketed as an SUV, it's based on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta. It has big wheels and an SUV silhouette, but the base model has a 1 litre engine with a mild hybrid system and 4 wheel drive isn't eve…
Cars should be taxed based on their weight and there should be much stricter standards regarding visibility. There is no reason why most of us should subsidise a few people’s status symbol and their entirely unnecessary use of public resources. Ultimately you should not be able to buy these, at least in their current form, as they serve no purpose whatsoever besides inflating their owner’s ego at a significant cost t…
But everything about road tax needs to change with the reduction of fuel duty due to electric cars. The public haven't seen this coming yet, but it's going to be a difficult transition.
They’re so bad that any MP or councillor who promises to fix potholes will get a lot of support.
But crossover are a good compromise. They’re still quite light, have efficient engines and aren’t really that different to their hatchback counterparts. I do think car manufacturers set their prices of this segment way too high, but the market has spoken (they sell tremendously well)
However I feel the need to feel more important and bigger is a considerable factor in their popularity too. They also reflect our growing waistlines.
Cars should be taxed based on their weight and there should be much stricter standards regarding visibility. There is no reason why most of us should subsidise a few people’s status symbol and their entirely unnecessary use of public resources. Ultimately you should not be able to buy these, at least in their current form, as they serve no purpose whatsoever besides inflating their owner’s ego at a significant cost t…
SUVs are typically shorter and lighter than mid to high class sedans. They just look big, but you can't fit a fridge inside, unlike many station wagons.
SUV means "Sport utility vehicle". The Sport part is straight up BS, but the utility part differentiates them from crossovers. An SUV is built on a truck frame or at least needs a strengthened chassis to give it some utility like towing or offroading.
Is this motivated by environmentalism or is this about class?
Class... is a tricky definition here in the UK. For instance, the richest person I will ever know drives a crappy wee Japanese hatchback, whilst SUVs are often high-monthly fee status symbols for people who could spend their money 'better' elsewise. shrug