The comparative size of cars

[CXRAndy]

My ex-Mrs had a long wheelbase Landrover, whilst it theoretically was a 12 seater minibus, there was a lot less space in the
rear section than you'd expect. Ok it wasn't cramped or anything, but my Mondeo estate could likely take a bigger item. It was bought to tow a horse trailer, which it did superbly, and she didn't do that much daily driving in it. It was reasonably reliable overall, given it wasn't in great condition when we got it.

The original land rover was an almost bomb proof workhorse. Agricultural, that's why farmers loved them

 

[CXRAndy]

It’s a Ford F650.
it isn’t really an SUV. It’s a truck, and probably illegal on UK roads.
Better compared to a cement mixer than a Range Rover.
View attachment 755286

A modified one might be , but an original F650 would likely pass and IVA with lights UK spec modification.

My F150 Raptor is an American import that I put through an IVA.

 

[Jody]

It’s a Ford F650.
it isn’t really an SUV. It’s a truck, and probably illegal on UK roads.
Better compared to a cement mixer than a Range Rover.

I think i've seen this type of thing with lorry hitch in the flatbed. Somewhere in between a pickup and artic

A modified one might be , but an original F650 would likely pass and IVA with lights UK spec modification.

My F150 Raptor is an American import that I put through an IVA.

I've found a couple of UK registered F650's. Although I haven't found any for sale

 

[Gunk]

Made me smile the other day when a motoring journalist described our Cupra Born as a “small electric car”

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Yes - the concept of a "small car" has increased a lot over the years

it iused to mean the old Mini and Fiat 500 - but now it is the modern Yaris and Micra

mind you - the manufacturers are partly responsible

they seem to start with a small car - like the original Micra for example - and then as time goes on new models come along and every one is bigger than the previous one
until the current Yaris or Micra is the size a Ford Focus was not that long ago - i.e. a family car rather than a small car

 

[Profpointy]

Yes - the concept of a "small car" has increased a lot over the years

it iused to mean the old Mini and Fiat 500 - but now it is the modern Yaris and Micra

mind you - the manufacturers are partly responsible

they seem to start with a small car - like the original Micra for example - and then as time goes on new models come along and every one is bigger than the previous one
until the current Yaris or Micra is the size a Ford Focus was not that long ago - i.e. a family car rather than a small car

and then they introduce a new small model at the bottom of the range.

And sometimes the big car at the top of the range gets dropped as the mid size model grows to replace it.

 

[fossyant]

Don't Ford Escorts look tiny these days - they were a family car.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I used to drive a Merc A class. I got it because it was very high for a smallish car - this was when my parents were alive and my then Corsa was too low for either of them to easily get in and out.

Fast forward several years and instead of being a compact car that was high for its size and at the big end of the compact range, the latest A class is now just another big blob. And if you read the blurb about the new one - which I did when it came out - what Merc were really excited about and pushing hard was "infotainment" and "connectivity". They weren't particularly fussed about any actual car-related aspects of the car.

 

[Profpointy]

Don't Ford Escorts look tiny these days - they were a family car.

We saw a MK2 Jag in the street recently, a sizeable executive car back in the day, but it looked quite small compared to many mid sized modern cars. OK I appreciate is was marketed as the "compact Jaguar" compared to the earlier MkVIII or the huge Mk10, but still ...

 

[cyberknight]

Yes - the concept of a "small car" has increased a lot over the years

it iused to mean the old Mini and Fiat 500 - but now it is the modern Yaris and Micra

mind you - the manufacturers are partly responsible

they seem to start with a small car - like the original Micra for example - and then as time goes on new models come along and every one is bigger than the previous one
until the current Yaris or Micra is the size a Ford Focus was not that long ago - i.e. a family car rather than a small car

same with the corsa, its about the same size as the old astra we had

 

[postman]

No matter what size prats here in Meanwood still cannot park inside thew bays of our super new Aldi.And the car park is brilliant.

 

[Drago]

Yes - the concept of a "small car" has increased a lot over the years

it iused to mean the old Mini and Fiat 500 - but now it is the modern Yaris and Micra

mind you - the manufacturers are partly responsible

they seem to start with a small car - like the original Micra for example - and then as time goes on new models come along and every one is bigger than the previous one
until the current Yaris or Micra is the size a Ford Focus was not that long ago - i.e. a family car rather than a small car

Not just manufacturers that are responsible.

Governments mandate for safety. The extra safety gear, those big old energy absorbing collapsible structures gotta go somewhere. Seems themselves become safety structures and even house airbags, and they get fatter, and on it goes.

And customers want more equipment, more space, and generally just more.

I'm sure car makers would love to be selling 1 litre Austin Metros and saving themselves a packet but everything has moved on.

 

[Dogtrousers]

And customers want more equipment, more space, and generally just more.

There is this.

In the 60s and 70s my long suffering parents would head off on holiday in a Morris Minor with three kids & a dog plus sundry suitcases, some lashed to the roof. We weren't poor but at the same time not rolling in it so this was a not unreasonable car for the job at the time. It was normal for then. As was the fact that the bodywork of the car was 60% filler.

I have some friends who do similar but somewhat longer road trips, with a marginally smaller family (just 2 kids, but still one dog). I've seen their family car, and ridden in it, but I don't recall the make. To me it's an absolute monster. But expect them to downgrade to something smaller and they'd point out the problems. Ask them to do it in something the size and power of a Moggie, and they'd think it was some kind of joke sponsored challenge.

 

[postman]

Now this might be a street myth.But it is said a car park in Leeds city centre last week.Had two guys with high viz waistcoats on ,turning away electric cars,it seems weight is a problem.

 

[Drago]

The British Society of Achitects claims it isn't a problem in most instances, or is at least being misrepresented. After all, a 1.7 tonne electric hatchback weighs rather less than a 2.2 tonne diesel Range Rover.