Escalade or smart car? When it comes to their vehicle of choice, many American drivers follow a “go big or go home” credo because size, indeed, does matter. We’re not going to say which side of the road we’re on, so to speak, but as someone who has driven compact cars and sedans over the years — with an occasional borrowed SUV or minivan — we admit to having a few gripes when it comes to the road’s tinier warriors.
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So you’re a very tall guy or gal. Perhaps girth is your issue. A small car can prove intimidating. It’s embarrassing to have to squeeze into it, belly brushing against the steering wheel. It’s even worse when someone suggests you sit in the back seat of a two-door compact car.
Some smaller cars ride so close to the ground that you can forget about simply hopping out after parking. Whether it’s a sports car or simply a compact model, you might need a hand to emerge, and that’s no way to feel like a spring chicken.
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We found the ideal chair at HomeGoods for a room we were redecorating and bought it, figuring it would easily make it home in what we drove. Pulling the compact up, we realized the car had the space, but the angles were off. The maneuvering that followed bordered on the comical. End result? Rather than cough up for home delivery (we were just over the border of a nearby state), we had the store rep take that lovely chair right back in for an immediate return.
This past year-plus has introduced many to bulk buying — and maybe panic buying — at wholesale clubs and the neighborhood grocery store, from multipacks of toilet paper to an abundance of rice and canned goods. Small-car drivers may pack the shopping cart to its limit, only to have to figure out how to get it all home. Is it wrong to call an Uber for the kids?
Forget those warm-and-fuzzy images of a family driving home with a freshly cut fir strapped firmly to a car’s generous, straight roof. One year we had to wedge our Christmas tree-to-be into a tiny trunk, which could not be closed or tied. One ill-advised fast turn later found me pulled onto the shoulder, walking back to rescue the tree from a lane of traffic. It survived. My pride did not.
Sometimes you really need to lay on the horn — Did they not see me? How dare they cut me off like that? — but small-car drivers really cannot intimidate. A tiny toot of a small car’s horn draws only a laugh, not remorse.
You can take a friend or two out or decide which of your kids can bring their friend along for a day out, but having a small car usually means accommodating only two or three passengers or an uncomfortable fifth person, making carpooling with the gang an unlikely option.
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“Oh, you chose the economy model…” Some people do indeed look at what you drive and make all kinds of assumptions about the state of your career, bank account, or even marriage.
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“She drives a Prius.” Some would translate that as “She must be a tree-hugging liberal who eats granola and takes yoga.” Since when did cars come to signify so much more than a way to get people from Point A to Point B?
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After cruising row after row in a parking lot you spot an open space about 10 cars ahead on the right. Fooled again: There’s a compact car already in place that you couldn’t see behind all the SUVs.
Road tripping by small car may limit what you pack as much as soaring airplane luggage fees. If you’re in a group, you may have to announce a one-bag-per-person limit to get the hatchback to snap shut. And a family may have to forgo bringing a lot of supplies from home, which forces you to buy more when you reach the destination, since a small car can’t fit everyone and their suitcases, water toys, groceries, and backyard games.
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We’ve heard complaints from a mechanic here and there that small cars mean smaller spaces under the hood, making their job harder. The last thing we want to do is annoy the mechanic.
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Driving at night can be stressful, especially when drivers are dwarfed by speeding 18-wheelers and other large vehicles. All drivers in small cars have felt that “whoosh” when a truck speeds by — it’s unnerving, to say the least.
It may sound like an old wives’ tale that a small car can be swept off the side of a bridge in high winds, but it is essentially possible. Small cars and tall cars, often lighter than heavy trucks and SUVs, surely don’t flip off bridges often, but driving one in high-wind conditions can make for a terrifying trek.
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It’s hard enough to have to move, even when it’s just across town. It’s even harder when you are trying to do it yourself. When your car is small, a couple of trips can stretch into a very long day filled with short tempers and stress.
Pull down the back of the truck, set up a grill, and let the buffet begin? Small cars do not lend themselves to tailgating parties. Their owners will find themselves promising to bring extra beer and chips so they can park nearby and still join in with the “big boys.”
It can be hard dipping into a drive-thru meal in any car. A compact offers even more challenges — and mess — for road trippers or those simply short on time, who will probably go on finding fries strewn across the car mats for the next week.
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Compact cars and drive-in movies are also not an ideal combination, whether it’s trying to fill a car with kids in PJs or getting romantic at the end of a date.
Did you ever notice that antiques dealers often drive an SUV, truck, or van? It’s a practical choice, since they are always on the lookout for a “cash and carry” deal — if they can’t take it on the spot, the seller may balk — and need to later set up wares at fairs and shows. Having a car that suits a career choice is a plus, whether it’s as a masseuse with multiple tables and accessories, a mobile dog groomer, or a woodworker who has to deliver their own goods.
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