The War On Ridiculous Cars

Photo by Magnus D

A couple of months back, I was standing in the car park of York station on the phone (it's the quietest part of the station!) when I burst out laughing. I was watching a man trying to park his oversized 4x4, and making a complete mess of it solely because the damn thing was too big.

When I say it was oversized, I'm not exaggerating. It was taller than me, and looked like you'd need a step-ladder just to get into it. The guy noticed me laughing, and was scowling at me as I explained what I was watching over the phone. Much to his annoyance, I kept up my running commentary, deliberately calling his car "the tank".

There was no need for the size of his car, particularly in an urban setting. Even if he was a farmer, he would have needed to never run it on the road to justify it, but he quite clearly wasn't a farmer. And the "car" was spotless.

Photo by b a r t

There's been a sea-change in recent years which has seen 4x4 and SUV "Chelsea Tractors" ridiculed by the mainstream, a far cry from the early 00s when no self-respecting Sloane would be seen dead in anything else. I'd like to think it's because of the planet, but I know that realistically it's because a) oil prices are high, and b) fashions have moved on.

The war against ridiculous cars has stepped up a wee notch in Edinburgh, too. The Council is to, finally, propose introducing variable parking charges throughout the city. Rather remarkably, a majority of parking permit holders were in favour of the scheme which will see charges double for the most polluting cars, and prices fall if your car doesn't pollute too much.

Perhaps it will make those who insist on driving a living-room-on-wheels think twice about whether they actually need it.

Photo by IndyDina with Mr. Wonderful