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[Grandadrob]

I was down the local dump yesterday in my 1960 88 inch. Pulled up behind this relatively modern 110. It was seriously tricked up. Really high, huge winch, tyres wide as a sideboard. My 88inch looked really small, was it always this small ?. Although alongside the 86 inch it looks big. Must be my old age paranoia about things shrinking 

[Clifford Pope]

Age certainly makes cars look smaller, compared with modern ones, because cars are enormous now.

My 1949 Ferguson tractor looks like a garden tractor now, my Triumph 2000, still called Triumph's "Big 6" is tiny.

[Old Hywel]

Q.  Dear Deirdre, someone I met has one that’s longer and wider than mine.

A.  Don’t worry, yours will get to places his can’t.

 

[TimV]

When I was small and Christmas trees were tall (cue for a song) ...

An 88" is a small car, it's shorter and narrower than my wife's Corsa. And don't even start comparing it with the modern 'Mini'.

[Craig T]

The Defenders never changed size over the years. Panels from the last of the real Defenders are still interchangeable (more or less) with a series II / IIA
They can appear bigger when fitted with huge tyres, lifting springs, roof racks etc.
Not stood near a "new" Defender so no idea how they compare.

The one I noticed a few years ago was the Range Rover when they released this picture for the 50th anniversary. The classic still feels a big vehicle to me. My P38 is a bit bigger but still okay to drive. My parents L322 Range Rover is like a barge, the newer ones must be more like driving a battleship!

Craig.

[Bronze Green]

Tuscan Blue, my favourite colour for the original Range Rover.

[Grandadrob]

Yeh, but it’s a great battleship… 

[w3526602]

Hi,

Do we still have Sloane Rangers, who run their kids to school in Range Rovers ... apparently because they feel safer in big cars?

I believe a regulation parking bay should be 8ft (2.4 metres wide) but I don't know if there is a recommended length. I know of a LINE of parking bays that might be that wide, but I'd hate to have to park even an original Mini between two medium length cars.

602

[Wittsend]

You may be right with the 8' width, without going out and measuring some.

Thing is the planners and supermarkets might say their car space sizes meet the current regulation - the problem is the regulations were set in the days of the Austin 7 

The thing is car parks are a source of easy money - they want to cram as many in as possible. Then they can try and "fine" you if you overstay your time. You pay for 3 hours but only stay for 2 - so they make an hours money on your space, when another car slots in when you go 

In the old days you could pass your ticket on.

It's going to be fun with EVs - 4 hours to charge the batteries - in a car park where you'll get "fined" for staying over 3 hours 

Which way do you park in the space ? front in or front out. If you reverse in then some clown will drive in behind you, right up to your bumper. There's precious little room to push a trolley of shopping round to your rear hatch door 
Best to drive into the space I think, as 99.9% of drivers can't reverse, or at least manage it 2 or 3 hours 

I like the American herring bone pattern parking - policed with guns.
I'm guessing their spaces are bigger than ours ?
Anyone over there got a tape measure

Not just parking spaces, look at the garages they build on these new housing estates.
You can get the car in - but no room to open the doors 
You have to climb out through the rear hatch (if you have one).

This is why garages are used as fancy sheds and the cars are parked in the street.

Age does make things appear smaller.
The hill outside our house seemed quite steep to us kids when we went tobogganing.
Nowadays it just seems like a gentle slope.

[GHOBHW]

ive noticed this too, next to a modern mini cooper, my 88" is about the same size, length wise, almost as tall too

[Grandadrob]

Funny you should mention supermarket car parks. I was waiting for SWMBO the other day, parked out of the way in the S2. People/car watching. The amount of people who drive in with their reasonably tidy Euroboxes, stop, fling open the door, bang…. onto the car next door. No thought for their own, or that car next door. Then just walk off. Er-indoors always moans about me parking of the far reaches of car parks……..

[GHOBHW]

Funny you should mention supermarket car parks. I was waiting for SWMBO the other day, parked out of the way in the S2. People/car watching. The amount of people who drive in with their reasonably tidy Euroboxes, stop, fling open the door, bang…. onto the car next door. No thought for their own, or that car next door. Then just walk off. Er-indoors always moans about me parking of the far reaches of car parks……..

ive noticed this too, also had my land rover slammed by a door, while i was sat in it..
most cars are on a lease these days, so in another few years, they will have another one, so i guess people dont care as much, as it isnt really 'their' car

and car parks are crazy, the series fits into them near perfectly, new SUVs are struggling to get in now, wonder if cars will keep growing?
found this image online of a new defender next to a series 1

[TimV]

i noticed when I was at the JLR dealership just how wide the parking spaces were. OK, so they have the latest JLR car in them, but also I don't think they want any scratches/dents in their new cars.

[Wittsend]

2 very good reasons for parking in the far distant reaches of a car park 

1) With luck it gets you away from the bad drivers or people who don't give a *&%^$ 
Maybe they are in company or lease cars.
And you have a better chance to park with one side next to bushes/garden at the end of a row. At least one side can't get bashed up.

2) The long walk is healthy and adds to your daily activity target.
I love pushing a trolley between the cars - Oooops I might have hit something.

That said, just driving quietly through a car park minding my own business this February some idiot drove straight out in front of me and wrecked my front end, their car was written off
(I was in my little euro box)

In car parks you need your wits about you.

[crumbly65]

very good reasons for parking in the far distant reaches of a car park

1) With luck it gets you away from the bad drivers or people who don't give a *&%^$ 
 just driving quietly through a car park minding my own business this February some idiot drove straight out in front of me and wrecked my front end, their car was written off
(I was in my little euro box)

In car parks you need your wits about you.

So true!
I'm shocked at the speed some drivers go through car parks at, and it seems when I'm in the Eurobox, no matter how far away I park, somebody ALWAYS turns up and parks right next to me, even when there's loads of empty spaces nearby......