"Green" policies are destroying this country

While I agree with you that some folk are out of their depth on country roads (I had a similar experience and had to reverse the Massey a good 250m with a full silage trailer behind me), I don't think it would matter if it's an SUV or a saloon. I've had the same issue when I met the milk lorry, c'est la vie - tis but an opportunity to hone my reversing skills. There's a lot of size variations within the umbrella term of "SUV", anything from the size of a Yaris to the size of a monster truck. In my experience, a lot of of them aren't particularly wide, they're just taller.

Their needs may be different to your views of their needs. They may require increased cabin space or desire a higher driving position or simply their perception of a safer cabin. What exactly is wrong with any of those needs?

Most of the SUVs you are talking about are of no functional use to a farmer.

Most cars deemed to be in the SUV class for marketing and protest purposes are not SUVs. Ive yet to hear of a protest against crossovers.

Makes sense really as in effect they are but tall hatchbacks. Much more difficult to stir up popular revolt against such a boring and innocuous term

"priests and doom merchants", "crusade against cars", "high priestess Greta"

These sound like terms used by people brainwashed into thinking "15 minute cities" are on the way to control us.

No an attack on you personally, clearly aimed at your post. Maybe a more clear and balanced view would be better.

Seen this today:

I have to say, I am fully behind this.

I try to be as "Green" as I can but would not really be a supporter of the Green party. But this in my mind is hugely important. The amount of stuff I've thrown out over the last X years because it wasn't economical to repair it is a REAL bug bearer of mine. Electronics is a KEY offender here along with things like household appliances.

Replacement furniture parts is another one.

I really hope this one goes though. We have a throw away society at the moment and that needs to change.

Most people can't tell the difference, they go around talking about SUV this and SUV that and in reality it's Crossovers they are talking about.

An actually SUV is supposed to be able to go off-road and proper off-road while also been able to get used as an everyday car. It was also supposed to have 4-wheel drive. Proper 4 wheel drive and not the AWD version which is put onto Crossovers which wouldn't get you out of a wet paper bag

Think of a Toyota Land Cruiser and that's a SUV.

As you correctly say the issue is not really with SUV's but with the huge influx of Crossovers

This is great news, at the moment you buy something and two years later if it breaks it is impossible to fix wihtout bending over backwards and normally easier to just go buy a new one

Why would you not keep the diesel Golf?

Even if the government continue with their plans and banning new diesel cars it will be 2030 and it will be many many years after that before diesel cars are totally out of the market. At least 2040 and more like 2050

Personally I don't think diesel cars will ever get banned but the sales will be massively reduced for alternatives. Will that be electrics or hybrids or hydrogen I don't know but in my opinion diesel cars still have a space in the market for a set of customers.

Clo-Clo,I agree with you,it's just I feel the govt is pressuring people into forking out €50,000 or whatever mad price these ev's are,using the big stick of impending hikes in fuel prices or like in London banning cars older than 8 yrs etc from our larger towns.And all the while the 2013 diesel Golf keeps getting me and my family around in safety and it's still affordable to fill the tank every time it's empty.Plus we have'nt got the funds for a new car,whether ev or fossil fuel powered!

It was on Newstalk that the average price of an EV/PHEV is €60,000 new.

They are extremely expensive, and not everyone can afford one. There is also concern with regard to 2nd hand cars as to how well they will work after 6 or 7 years. ICE cars will on average (if looked after) work for 15 years at least. EV's haven't really been around that long so no one really knows.

As someone who lives in Dublin, it bugs me that first I was told to buy low CO2 car, now the CO2 car I was asked to buy emits lots of Sulpher and Soot and I need to change that for an EV or PHEV, now that I bought that I'm being told, please use public transport instead of your car if it's available, so I did that too and now for areas where Public transport is poor I'm being told to use "Active Transport" (Walk or Cycle).

If the government don't want cars in DCC just ban them, grow a pair of balls like. Gas thing is that the odd time I do drive into Dublin there is nearly always at least 3 people in the car and it's always on the weekend. This makes is more green than a half filled Bus or Train, yet they're still making it as difficult as they can for me.

As already mentioned if I paid €60,000 for a car I'd be using it for everything!

Absolutely. 95% of the components are still perfect but the item is needlessly binned.

Or worse still they seal the battery in and when it degrades it's nearly impossible to replace so you've to buy a new one. I can't wait for user replaceable batteries to return.

my magimix blender has a 30 year parts availability (admittedly cost a fortune) (€199)

my miele dishwasher/vacuum have 25 year parts availability (€899/249)

to be honest probably still cheaper to throw them than repair. the legislation has to address ease of repair otherwise it's pointless. (to be fair I think it originally was supposed to but don't know if that made it through)

having said that I have an old tefal actifry and that has a 15 year parts availability and got a new lid recently)

so if you look products are out there but they cost.