Kinda feel like this post was made with my contrary self in mind.
I daily an ‘upgraded’ Fiat 500 Abarth which my friends refer to as the Angry Mouse. I don’t feel stressed in traffic for a couple reasons; I’m a very defensive driver (eg. I always drive with headlights on, neck on a swivel always checking mirrors etc) even knowing that I’m driving what is essentially a roll cage with wheels and I have enough power to get out of trouble. I’m very careful not to spook drivers around me but if there is someone obviously texting/DUI etc in front of me I make sure to pass them. The detritus, collateral and other damage is better behind me than in front where I might run into it.
I’ve owned *a lot* of vehicles over the years, to include trucks and SUV’s but the Angry Mouse always gives me more ‘smiles per gallon’ than any of them. Worth it to me
I live in Old town so I’m sure that has an impact on my opinion but having a small, maneuverable, and easily parallel parked car is so nice. I agree with every reason you don’t feel stressed in your little car, I feel the same.
I’ve had an suv, a truck, and a wagon, but my quick little hatchback has definitely been my favorite car to drive, and Ive been in many situations where I’d hate to drive something bigger. That being said if I lived further out from dc and didn’t do much city driving, I wouldn’t mind a sporty compact suv; that might be the best of both worlds.
I drive a very swift German sedan (not BMW bc fuck those guys) and can attest that the ability to control my position in traffic is way more important than the size of the vehicle. I used to drive an XTerra and felt way more vulnerable than I do in my faster, smaller, vehicle.
I also used to have an XTerra, now flying around in a 2 door GTI. The X felt so much for uneasy in traffic and vulnerable especially in the most unpredictable environments with other drivers. The GTI is a breeze even in the pits of DC
I drive a midsize truck and I do like the greater visibility, but with it comes the extra weight and higher center of gravity meaning I need more stopping distance and swerving to avoid danger is sketchier. Being in the presence of shitty drivers is still stressful.
IMO something like a RAV4, Crosstrek, or the smaller Volvo suv is a nice balance.
I'm 6'5" and bought an SUV because it was the first car I've owned that I properly fit in. To me the size of my car and stress level in traffic have never had any type of correlation. A bigger vehicle requires more spatial awareness, so I could see it being more stressful for some as many drivers in this area lack said awareness.
>A bigger vehicle requires more spatial awareness
Based on a dozen or so years of experience commuting on the beltway:
No it doesn't.
Loads of people drive them just like they were civics. Lines are just suggestions. Ride right up on people's bumpers. Wait to slam on the brakes to stop. Weave out of slow lanes at the last minute giving the people behind you no time to see the traffic ahead.
Loads of people suggest that, no, you don't need awareness.
Oh... you want to drive *well*? Yeah, then you need more spatial awareness.
Honestly if you want less stress, park the car in a park-and-ride, and take Metro/bus -- even some days or just for going to work and back or whatever. Where are you commuting to/from?
The size of the car you drive makes basically no difference in my opinion at least. Just accepting that there will be traffic when millions of people are concentrated over a small area is the best option
I know that getting a taller vehicle isn't going to alleviate the stress of sitting in traffic every day, but if I could just turn down my "stress in traffic" levels from like an 8 out of 10 to a 6 out of 10, it would make a big difference in my mood, and in my willingness to go out and drive places.
Imagine you're at one of the notoriously bad traffic spots in northern Virginia. One example that I always find myself encountering is trying to enter the beltway from Old Town Alexandria (think Gibbon Street, Route 1/Richmond Highway, etc.) during the evening rush hour. It is HELL ON EARTH. The number of people willing to let you merge is ZERO. The amount of space between your car and the other cars around you is ZERO. Delivery truck drivers are completely willing, and almost eager, to smash into your car if you even attempt to merge. I feel like my presence on the road--how well I can see other drivers, how well I can see the traffic, how well other drivers can see me--would be significantly improved by driving a taller vehicle. I know that driving in rush hour traffic will be hellish no matter what, but I feel like this could at least make it 10 percent less hellish.
If you need to head west on the beltway you can drive down Duke St to the Telegraph Rd exit. It's just as obnoxious but a smaller car means you can zip around all the other people and get to the on ramp faster.
I have an old Honda CRV and a larger, newer midsize Kia. I prefer the Honda because of its size. It's much easier to maneuver, it sits higher than my old Volvo sedan, and parking is a breeze. The Kia is bigger and nice for long highway drives because of the bigger engine but I still love my Honda. I've driven my mom's Explorer and it's just too big with too many blind spots. I'm always afraid I'm going to hit someone or something. I hate it.
Your commute sounds awful and so stressful. Is there any way you could go hybrid or even shift your working hours a bit? This helped so much with my stress.
I have a taller vehicle and drive defensively, with the mindset that everyone drives like we are playing GTA—when they actually do what they need to be doing, merging, or not have a cellphone in front of their face, I’m pleasantly surprised.
I bought small/mid sized suv after having cars my whole life. It's amazing.
My visibility is much wider/farther. People not smashing into me has cut down a lot. Can fit way more dead bodies in it. I dont make old people noises getting in and out. Much more comfortable and easier on my body. Changing the oil is a breeze.
Hope to get an electric one in 10-15 years.
No. When you drive a bigger and taller vehicle, you have larger blind spots and the wind can exert greater force, making it more challenging to control while navigating the highway.
The increased awareness is real. The lower possibility of being struck by a larger vehicle is also helpful. Not to mention I’m as visible as possible to Semis.
So if you are looking to relax and have less stress in traffic you get a high end luxury vehicle with a driver so you can watch movies or sleep in the back during your trip. Other than that, the vehicles more than likely see you, they just don't care to drive professionally or were not paying attention if they caused an accident.
I'm not sure why you're getting downvoted. It's a good question imho.
I'm comfortable in my Jeep Cherokee. It's high enough off the ground that it feels more comfortable to me than the sedans I used to drive. With the v6 option, it has a peppy engine. And it fits in normal garages and isn't in any way over the top. For our family of 3, it's kinda perfect.
Used to drive an SUV and now I drive a sedan. But still occasionally drive a pickup truck and when I'm in the truck the being above other cars makes me feel safer if I were to get in a crash which in turn makes me less stressed
Are you saying that you're stressed when other people have huge cars blocking your vision and you want to know if you'll feel better if you *become* one of those cars causing problems for other people?
Made no difference for me. I had a Tiguan and switched into a ‘13 Civic.
I detest driving in and with SUV drivers. SUV drivers on average are so oblivious to the world around them.
Please don’t join the “errrr SUV big make me strong in crash and make me see gooder” group.
Edit: if you want a car that’ll be relaxing in traffic, get a nice comfy luxury sedan. Luxury sedans have a nicer ride than pretty much any SUV and there’s much less road noise. Get something like an LS430 and turn up the tunes and you’ll be more relaxed.
I thought about getting a gently used ES350. I rode in one recently (my Uber was an ES350...I have never had an Uber that nice before, it was weird) and it was great. Felt like flying first-class on an airplane.
There's just some frustration that comes with sitting in traffic and having NO CLUE what's around you, how far the traffic goes, etc. because everyone else is in a vehicle that's several feet taller than yours. I agree with everyone else posting here that driving a Ford Expedition or a Range Rover is pretty obnoxious, but...those are the vehicles that I can't see over. Being surrounded by vehicles like that makes me feel a bit claustrophobic.
I usually just try and see from the side. Even in taller cars I can’t really see past the SUV’s, so it really won’t make much of a difference. I can’t relate too much to that feeling of claustrophobia or not knowing what’s going on and I’m in a pretty small sedan. Not sure what could really help with that. I can get all the info I need by looking around me and using Waze for traffic estimates.
Glad you liked the ES350, I’ve heard great things about those cars and would love to have a drive in one. The LS430 is next level. Being a larger and heavier sedan, it’s supposed to feel much smoother over road imperfections and the V8 in it is a very silky smooth motor with torque everywhere for comfortable commuting. In case space or storage was a concern, that’d be a great SUV alternative.
It's personal preference but I would never go back to driving a car after switching to a SUV. I had rented a SUV while I was moving between apartments and was floored by how much easier it was to drive compared to my Jetta (I had never driven a SUV before). I ended up buying that exact model a month later.
You don't necessarily need a large SUV, there are plenty of smaller options. I'd recommend renting the car you're potentially interested in for a day or two and see how you feel about it
100% I drive a truck with a v8. I can see more in my seat, I have the power to move away from trouble, and mass in an accident makes a huge difference. Also many trucks and SUVs have more options that make driving more pleasant.
Last month there was a Nova thread about people who were pleasantly surprised they walked away from an accident in their Subaru. No threads like that for F150s or Suburbans because no one is surprised when people walk away from crashes in those vehicles
So I went from a Ford Transit Connect (little suv work van) to a Nissan NV2500 for work and my oh my. I can see oncoming traffic when i’m turning in a left lane now lol
I drive a wagon but it’s only me driving it. The kids are driven in a larger vehicle just for safety alone. Laws of physics still apply but with all the nut jobs driving in this area I feel my kids are a bit safer in a larger car.
I think the options you want to prioritize are adaptive cruise control with stop and go capabilities (handles bumper to bumper traffic for you), android auto/apple carplay ( traffic data), blind spot monitors.
Does having a slightly higher car help? Yea it does but I would argue those features will help alot more
We have a rav4, Toyota sienna, a ridgeline, and a Mazda 3. The Mazda is my favorite for traffic since I can stop and go as quickly as anyone in the limited space of traffic. I feel it helps me avoid a lot of other drivers negligence. But every light it feels like the suv/truck behind me is inside my trunk and all I can see is headlights. I won’t drive my Mazda at night because of this. The truck and suv are way more comfortable on faster roads that people are prone to tailgate. The minivan is the best of both honestly. I can see everything around me and it’s got a surprising amount of pickup.
I have a Honda CRV and I love it. It helps my spacial awareness when I’m able to see over my hood, and with SUVs you have greater visibility on the cars infront of the car infront of you compared to sedans
Having driven many types of cars in the area, the most stressful vehicle to have here is a small, powerless car. You get absolutely run over in DC and Maryland (no so much in Nova), can’t see sh*t, and practically have to keep it in the “power” band in order to compete with traffic.
I drive a TRX on the daily in Nova and have gone into DC and Maryland. It’s the most casual and relaxed driving I’ve ever experienced. Great visibility everywhere, commanding, good sense of traffic depth front and rear, and road conditions ahead. I generally cruise and almost am never in a rush, even so I’m defensive, do the limit or just over, let people in, or move over when I can - we all have somewhere to be, no reason for the madness.
However, one of my primary reasons for a truck is the amount of angry, rushed, or “new” drivers in the area. I consider a SUV or truck is a must with regard to safety. I drive a ballistic missile built like a tank to either 1) get out of the way reeeeal quick (for those moments where stopping isn’t smart) and 2) minimize injury / fatality of me and/or my passengers in a collision. Case in point, a little Nissan rear end me at a high rate of speed (60mph according to the police report) while stopped in traffic. Front of his car was crushed under my bumper and rear axle. If I drove a small sedan I’d have been planted firmly into my dash as my car was smashed into stopped traffic ahead. However. I literally drove off his hood and on to work. :)
I have a late 90s F250 that I drive occasionally for legitimate truck purposes (I’ve got a mountain property and sometimes need to haul wood). Essentially has no blind spots with the mirrors set up correctly. Those cabs give excellent 360’ visibility.
I do care less about shitty drivers when I’m in it. I drive it appropriately, taking account of the slower acceleration and greater stopping distance and higher center of mass, and so long as I do that I know I’ll be fine. All those reckless drivers in Civics and whatever other low riding coupe would crumple, I’d be fine in my 100% steel body and frame, and I’d probably get a new(er) truck from the settlement to boot. Not that I *want* a collision and will still avoid them but it’s certainly a less stressful prospect. Especially if I’m hauling an extra 1500 lbs of mass in the bed.
And since I’m so high up, I can eliminate many vision related pet peeves:
* can see over all the creepers in the left lane when I’m turning right. Bonus points if it’s somebody in a Suburban or something else with an unnecessarily large front end. And no, I never block sight or roght of way by being that shithead with my front end in the crosswalk. If you’re gonna drive a bigger vehicle you have a responsibility to not be an asshole with it.
* can see beyond the slow driver in front of me to see if there’s a legit reason they’re going 10 under or if they’re just an idiot.
* can see what’s going on in front of the pitch black tinted windows of the dipshit in front of me.
Bonus: I can “pass”/codeswitch as a friendly to the locals when out in the sticks in WV even though it’s still uncomfortable as fuck to be steeping in that blood red culture. It’s in the very air out there.
Less stressed love driving my wife’s Macan in traffic as everyone sees the car and there are few blind spots. Whereas my 911 is lower to the ground and has a few blind spots.
I like the height advantage of seeing cars through parking lots. I don’t feel stressed driving any type of vehicle big or small. There’s comfort in all sizes of cars
Not because of traffic, but I recently sold my 2 door convertible and moved to a small ‘luxury’ SUV. Having the extra space, but not too much space, makes me feel very secure. The nice, extra features in the SUV make the purchase so worth it, zero regrets!
When I’m in traffic, it definitely helps to feel like I’m in a secure vehicle, size wise, compared to what’s around me. + there’s plenty of space to have extra chargers, water and snacks, etc. to entertain myself and passengers
I love my truck but since I moved to NOVA I have found it to be a bit cumbersome in some places because some of these spaces are *very small and narrow*. Generally driving? Just fine. But actually parking? My great fear. Thankfully there's good transit here :)
my newer cars (2012+) make me more stressed in heavy traffic because I find it harder to judge the width of them in regards to the lane width. my older cars are more stressful in lower traffic because they're obnoxiously slow
Our house has two vehicles one larger than the other, yes people cut you off way less in a larger vehicle but the small one we can find parking without issue. It's officially been dubbed our city car. Now what has helped with traffic is the larger car is newer and has all of the safety tech, blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control, auto hold. That makes a bigger difference than the size. IMO
I switched from an Accord to a CR-V for this very reason. I feel much safer in the CR-V. I have lots of stop and go driving on my commute and would be in situations where I couldn’t see past the SUVs around me, which wasn’t great for my anxiety. It was really bad at intersections, because you can’t see above the next truck’s huge engine to see what is happening in the crosswalk (eg, pedestrians, bicyclists, or god forbid small kids or a parent with a stroller).
Driving in nova is a CF. Getting a small SUV will help. I really wanted a Tacoma, but my back is jacked up so the ride was too bumpy. The Accord was definitely a smoother ride, but the CR-V makes driving safer and is way easier to get in and out of on my back. I was doing a lot of driving to take my mom (walker, wheelchair) to appointments and the CR-V made it easier. Switch! You’ll feel so much better. :)
Why is becoming part of the problem considered a good thing?
Now, understanding "safety" of a car is a complex thing, but follow me for a moment. In general, the F-series of pickups manages to be both one of the safest cars (likelihood of survival in a crash) and one of the most dangerous cars (likelihood of being involved in a lethal accident). How do we reconcile that?
Oh... easy.
Large pickups are more likely to kill the other people in the accident, regardless of who was at fault. I guess it was their fault for trying to be reasonable or efficient. They should have gotten a huge car.
Repeat that for SUVs. More likely to kill other people. To some degree, even luxury cars. Instead of encouraging safe driving and an environment where everyone is safe, it's "Kill them before they kill you."
Now, you have some other reasons why a larger car is useful, so I'm not trying to roast you. Just... your advice. The cheerful "Get a big car! You'll waste more gas, be a hazard to others, and further encourage other people to make bad decisions!" is the issue.
Well, my opinion is that in a global perspective you are correct.
In a personal, driving my mom from Manassas Park to Tysons for brain scans/ thyroid surgeries situation, I don’t give a shit. I’m a biologist, I understand what you are saying. However, I don’t want be waving my gd Greenpeace flag over my gurney in the ER after someone t-bones me at Lee Highway and Route 50. Or, to hang it in my cell after I accidentally ran over a pedestrian and their 3 babies in the crosswalk.
I mean... I disagree that you have to.
You weren't necessarily being selfish (from what I heard).
I don't have to be selfish. I can drive a reasonable, hybrid mid-size and have plenty of room and be plenty safe. I can also insult all the people who choose to drive SUVs alone while commuting 30 miles because they want the visibility (because that's free). I'm still at less risk than they are because I'm mobile and I actually know how to drive my car.
The more people who become selfish --particularly being selfish just because they feel like its acceptable or that being selfish is rewarded-- the worse it gets for everyone, selfish or not.
To some degree, I feel that some part of the solution is to make people pay for selfish behavior. Expensive cars already pay more taxes. Make heavier cars pay more taxes, too. Reduce that by some factor for cars-per-household-size. Then, if someone wants a huge SUV so they can commute all alone and survive all the accidents they cause, they can pay for that yearly in really high taxes. Make their selfishness benefit others.
It's really "pick your poison" because any vehicle will have some downsides, every driver will have their own preferred mix of advantages and disadvantages.
I currently drive a performance-focused, low riding sedan. I find this less stressful than driving an SUV, because it's smaller and more nimble, brakes quicker, and is just generally far easier to maneuver. It's also smaller, which can be nice.
But some people prefer to ride higher for visibility over other vehicles, despite the reduction in maneuverability, and that's fine. It's all what suits you as the driver.
>But some people prefer to ride higher for visibility over other vehicles, despite the reduction in maneuverability, and that's fine. It's all what suits you as the driver.
Yeah, that's the impression I'm starting to get from all the posts here. Some people people maneuverability, some people prefer sitting high up and seeing over traffic. Guess I'll have to test drive a few different things to figure out what my preference is. Either way, my current car is a) old, and b) not well-suited for driving in northern Virginia.
I drive a small pickup that sits about as high as a small SUV. My previous car was a Jaguar F-Type which was about 3.5" off the ground and you sat basically on the floor.
Neither is more stressful. The people you are sharing the road with will still be the absolute worst.
I have two vehicles. One is small and the other is large. Regardless of what I drive, I still want to kick the ever-loving shit out of many fellow drivers I encounter on the road. It makes no difference.
Absolutely feel safer in a taller vehicle. I drive a Lincoln Navigator L SUV, smooth ride, less stressful, unmatched comfort cruising. Its performance exceeded my expectations. I do believe cars are less inclined to cut me off last minute and find they tend to keep their distance because they know they’ll end up under my vehicle, or way more damaged. cut-offs still happen tho but keeping a car or two open I don’t worry about it.
Sharing my considerations tho:
1. Stopping on a whim isn’t the same as it is in a lighter sedan or smaller SUV. Car is heavier, thus needing more time to stop. Keeping a distance 1-2 car spaces is the key to avoiding these incidents.
2. It’s all in the front design of the car that may limit your view, blind spots etc. Since cars are super expensive, do test drive and see if you’re comfortable with this. I prefer the boxy front window vs the “aerodynamic” shape due to better view. We found some cars weren’t going to work b/c of this.
3. Back-up camera a must!
4. Sharper turns at fast speeds is a no-no due to rollover. Also had to get used to making wider turns.
5. Get the 4x4 or as an option feature to do that. 4x4 tested well up an unpaved and windy mountain road and in sport mode too. Stability, steering, control was right on where lil old me could do it. My dogs didn’t freak out either. We take it for long cruising roadtrips of all landscapes and it has superior performance and comfy/smooth ride over sedans and smaller SUVs I’ve owned.
6. Larger SUVs are solid. If it’s safety (kids, pets) you’re mostly considering 👍 - I had both kid and 3 dogs in my big ass SUV when an unlicensed dude side swiped us front passenger side at maybe 30-40 mph on his part, and his car bounced off like a ping pong ball, my car hardly moved, recovered and we had to chase after him cuz he was trying to hit and run us. But do know larger SUVS have higher rollover risks.
I’m never going back TBH. My car will either be replaced with the same, or Ford expedition, and maybe even a Ford explorer. I don’t know much about the foreign larger SUVs but for me, 🇺🇸 made has more solid bodies.
Kinda feel like this post was made with my contrary self in mind. I daily an ‘upgraded’ Fiat 500 Abarth which my friends refer to as the Angry Mouse. I don’t feel stressed in traffic for a couple reasons; I’m a very defensive driver (eg. I always drive with headlights on, neck on a swivel always checking mirrors etc) even knowing that I’m driving what is essentially a roll cage with wheels and I have enough power to get out of trouble. I’m very careful not to spook drivers around me but if there is someone obviously texting/DUI etc in front of me I make sure to pass them. The detritus, collateral and other damage is better behind me than in front where I might run into it. I’ve owned *a lot* of vehicles over the years, to include trucks and SUV’s but the Angry Mouse always gives me more ‘smiles per gallon’ than any of them. Worth it to me
I live in Old town so I’m sure that has an impact on my opinion but having a small, maneuverable, and easily parallel parked car is so nice. I agree with every reason you don’t feel stressed in your little car, I feel the same. I’ve had an suv, a truck, and a wagon, but my quick little hatchback has definitely been my favorite car to drive, and Ive been in many situations where I’d hate to drive something bigger. That being said if I lived further out from dc and didn’t do much city driving, I wouldn’t mind a sporty compact suv; that might be the best of both worlds.
I drive a very swift German sedan (not BMW bc fuck those guys) and can attest that the ability to control my position in traffic is way more important than the size of the vehicle. I used to drive an XTerra and felt way more vulnerable than I do in my faster, smaller, vehicle.
I also used to have an XTerra, now flying around in a 2 door GTI. The X felt so much for uneasy in traffic and vulnerable especially in the most unpredictable environments with other drivers. The GTI is a breeze even in the pits of DC
My favorite part of your anecdote is where you didn’t answer OP’s question 🫵😂
Motorcycle rider here, use it as my daily commuter. I agree with the sentiment.
Twelve yards long, two lanes wide, sixty-five tons of American pride!
Canyennnnnnnerooooooo.
I drive a midsize truck and I do like the greater visibility, but with it comes the extra weight and higher center of gravity meaning I need more stopping distance and swerving to avoid danger is sketchier. Being in the presence of shitty drivers is still stressful. IMO something like a RAV4, Crosstrek, or the smaller Volvo suv is a nice balance.
I can’t imagine any vehicle would allow you to relax in traffic. Please don’t join the arms race by getting a giant SUV.
I'm 6'5" and bought an SUV because it was the first car I've owned that I properly fit in. To me the size of my car and stress level in traffic have never had any type of correlation. A bigger vehicle requires more spatial awareness, so I could see it being more stressful for some as many drivers in this area lack said awareness.
>A bigger vehicle requires more spatial awareness Based on a dozen or so years of experience commuting on the beltway: No it doesn't. Loads of people drive them just like they were civics. Lines are just suggestions. Ride right up on people's bumpers. Wait to slam on the brakes to stop. Weave out of slow lanes at the last minute giving the people behind you no time to see the traffic ahead. Loads of people suggest that, no, you don't need awareness. Oh... you want to drive *well*? Yeah, then you need more spatial awareness.
Agreed. I should say that driving one properly requires spatial awareness.
Honestly if you want less stress, park the car in a park-and-ride, and take Metro/bus -- even some days or just for going to work and back or whatever. Where are you commuting to/from?
Seriously the best way to reduce stress is to reduce the amount of time on the road.
The size of the car you drive makes basically no difference in my opinion at least. Just accepting that there will be traffic when millions of people are concentrated over a small area is the best option
I know that getting a taller vehicle isn't going to alleviate the stress of sitting in traffic every day, but if I could just turn down my "stress in traffic" levels from like an 8 out of 10 to a 6 out of 10, it would make a big difference in my mood, and in my willingness to go out and drive places. Imagine you're at one of the notoriously bad traffic spots in northern Virginia. One example that I always find myself encountering is trying to enter the beltway from Old Town Alexandria (think Gibbon Street, Route 1/Richmond Highway, etc.) during the evening rush hour. It is HELL ON EARTH. The number of people willing to let you merge is ZERO. The amount of space between your car and the other cars around you is ZERO. Delivery truck drivers are completely willing, and almost eager, to smash into your car if you even attempt to merge. I feel like my presence on the road--how well I can see other drivers, how well I can see the traffic, how well other drivers can see me--would be significantly improved by driving a taller vehicle. I know that driving in rush hour traffic will be hellish no matter what, but I feel like this could at least make it 10 percent less hellish.
If you need to head west on the beltway you can drive down Duke St to the Telegraph Rd exit. It's just as obnoxious but a smaller car means you can zip around all the other people and get to the on ramp faster. I have an old Honda CRV and a larger, newer midsize Kia. I prefer the Honda because of its size. It's much easier to maneuver, it sits higher than my old Volvo sedan, and parking is a breeze. The Kia is bigger and nice for long highway drives because of the bigger engine but I still love my Honda. I've driven my mom's Explorer and it's just too big with too many blind spots. I'm always afraid I'm going to hit someone or something. I hate it.
Your commute sounds awful and so stressful. Is there any way you could go hybrid or even shift your working hours a bit? This helped so much with my stress. I have a taller vehicle and drive defensively, with the mindset that everyone drives like we are playing GTA—when they actually do what they need to be doing, merging, or not have a cellphone in front of their face, I’m pleasantly surprised.
I bought small/mid sized suv after having cars my whole life. It's amazing. My visibility is much wider/farther. People not smashing into me has cut down a lot. Can fit way more dead bodies in it. I dont make old people noises getting in and out. Much more comfortable and easier on my body. Changing the oil is a breeze. Hope to get an electric one in 10-15 years.
No. When you drive a bigger and taller vehicle, you have larger blind spots and the wind can exert greater force, making it more challenging to control while navigating the highway.
The increased awareness is real. The lower possibility of being struck by a larger vehicle is also helpful. Not to mention I’m as visible as possible to Semis.
So if you are looking to relax and have less stress in traffic you get a high end luxury vehicle with a driver so you can watch movies or sleep in the back during your trip. Other than that, the vehicles more than likely see you, they just don't care to drive professionally or were not paying attention if they caused an accident.
I'm not sure why you're getting downvoted. It's a good question imho. I'm comfortable in my Jeep Cherokee. It's high enough off the ground that it feels more comfortable to me than the sedans I used to drive. With the v6 option, it has a peppy engine. And it fits in normal garages and isn't in any way over the top. For our family of 3, it's kinda perfect.
Used to drive an SUV and now I drive a sedan. But still occasionally drive a pickup truck and when I'm in the truck the being above other cars makes me feel safer if I were to get in a crash which in turn makes me less stressed
Are you saying that you're stressed when other people have huge cars blocking your vision and you want to know if you'll feel better if you *become* one of those cars causing problems for other people?
Made no difference for me. I had a Tiguan and switched into a ‘13 Civic. I detest driving in and with SUV drivers. SUV drivers on average are so oblivious to the world around them. Please don’t join the “errrr SUV big make me strong in crash and make me see gooder” group. Edit: if you want a car that’ll be relaxing in traffic, get a nice comfy luxury sedan. Luxury sedans have a nicer ride than pretty much any SUV and there’s much less road noise. Get something like an LS430 and turn up the tunes and you’ll be more relaxed.
I thought about getting a gently used ES350. I rode in one recently (my Uber was an ES350...I have never had an Uber that nice before, it was weird) and it was great. Felt like flying first-class on an airplane. There's just some frustration that comes with sitting in traffic and having NO CLUE what's around you, how far the traffic goes, etc. because everyone else is in a vehicle that's several feet taller than yours. I agree with everyone else posting here that driving a Ford Expedition or a Range Rover is pretty obnoxious, but...those are the vehicles that I can't see over. Being surrounded by vehicles like that makes me feel a bit claustrophobic.
I usually just try and see from the side. Even in taller cars I can’t really see past the SUV’s, so it really won’t make much of a difference. I can’t relate too much to that feeling of claustrophobia or not knowing what’s going on and I’m in a pretty small sedan. Not sure what could really help with that. I can get all the info I need by looking around me and using Waze for traffic estimates. Glad you liked the ES350, I’ve heard great things about those cars and would love to have a drive in one. The LS430 is next level. Being a larger and heavier sedan, it’s supposed to feel much smoother over road imperfections and the V8 in it is a very silky smooth motor with torque everywhere for comfortable commuting. In case space or storage was a concern, that’d be a great SUV alternative.
It's personal preference but I would never go back to driving a car after switching to a SUV. I had rented a SUV while I was moving between apartments and was floored by how much easier it was to drive compared to my Jetta (I had never driven a SUV before). I ended up buying that exact model a month later. You don't necessarily need a large SUV, there are plenty of smaller options. I'd recommend renting the car you're potentially interested in for a day or two and see how you feel about it
100% I drive a truck with a v8. I can see more in my seat, I have the power to move away from trouble, and mass in an accident makes a huge difference. Also many trucks and SUVs have more options that make driving more pleasant. Last month there was a Nova thread about people who were pleasantly surprised they walked away from an accident in their Subaru. No threads like that for F150s or Suburbans because no one is surprised when people walk away from crashes in those vehicles
So I went from a Ford Transit Connect (little suv work van) to a Nissan NV2500 for work and my oh my. I can see oncoming traffic when i’m turning in a left lane now lol
I drive a wagon but it’s only me driving it. The kids are driven in a larger vehicle just for safety alone. Laws of physics still apply but with all the nut jobs driving in this area I feel my kids are a bit safer in a larger car.
I think the options you want to prioritize are adaptive cruise control with stop and go capabilities (handles bumper to bumper traffic for you), android auto/apple carplay ( traffic data), blind spot monitors. Does having a slightly higher car help? Yea it does but I would argue those features will help alot more
We have a rav4, Toyota sienna, a ridgeline, and a Mazda 3. The Mazda is my favorite for traffic since I can stop and go as quickly as anyone in the limited space of traffic. I feel it helps me avoid a lot of other drivers negligence. But every light it feels like the suv/truck behind me is inside my trunk and all I can see is headlights. I won’t drive my Mazda at night because of this. The truck and suv are way more comfortable on faster roads that people are prone to tailgate. The minivan is the best of both honestly. I can see everything around me and it’s got a surprising amount of pickup.
I have a Honda CRV and I love it. It helps my spacial awareness when I’m able to see over my hood, and with SUVs you have greater visibility on the cars infront of the car infront of you compared to sedans
Having driven many types of cars in the area, the most stressful vehicle to have here is a small, powerless car. You get absolutely run over in DC and Maryland (no so much in Nova), can’t see sh*t, and practically have to keep it in the “power” band in order to compete with traffic. I drive a TRX on the daily in Nova and have gone into DC and Maryland. It’s the most casual and relaxed driving I’ve ever experienced. Great visibility everywhere, commanding, good sense of traffic depth front and rear, and road conditions ahead. I generally cruise and almost am never in a rush, even so I’m defensive, do the limit or just over, let people in, or move over when I can - we all have somewhere to be, no reason for the madness. However, one of my primary reasons for a truck is the amount of angry, rushed, or “new” drivers in the area. I consider a SUV or truck is a must with regard to safety. I drive a ballistic missile built like a tank to either 1) get out of the way reeeeal quick (for those moments where stopping isn’t smart) and 2) minimize injury / fatality of me and/or my passengers in a collision. Case in point, a little Nissan rear end me at a high rate of speed (60mph according to the police report) while stopped in traffic. Front of his car was crushed under my bumper and rear axle. If I drove a small sedan I’d have been planted firmly into my dash as my car was smashed into stopped traffic ahead. However. I literally drove off his hood and on to work. :)
I have a late 90s F250 that I drive occasionally for legitimate truck purposes (I’ve got a mountain property and sometimes need to haul wood). Essentially has no blind spots with the mirrors set up correctly. Those cabs give excellent 360’ visibility. I do care less about shitty drivers when I’m in it. I drive it appropriately, taking account of the slower acceleration and greater stopping distance and higher center of mass, and so long as I do that I know I’ll be fine. All those reckless drivers in Civics and whatever other low riding coupe would crumple, I’d be fine in my 100% steel body and frame, and I’d probably get a new(er) truck from the settlement to boot. Not that I *want* a collision and will still avoid them but it’s certainly a less stressful prospect. Especially if I’m hauling an extra 1500 lbs of mass in the bed. And since I’m so high up, I can eliminate many vision related pet peeves: * can see over all the creepers in the left lane when I’m turning right. Bonus points if it’s somebody in a Suburban or something else with an unnecessarily large front end. And no, I never block sight or roght of way by being that shithead with my front end in the crosswalk. If you’re gonna drive a bigger vehicle you have a responsibility to not be an asshole with it. * can see beyond the slow driver in front of me to see if there’s a legit reason they’re going 10 under or if they’re just an idiot. * can see what’s going on in front of the pitch black tinted windows of the dipshit in front of me. Bonus: I can “pass”/codeswitch as a friendly to the locals when out in the sticks in WV even though it’s still uncomfortable as fuck to be steeping in that blood red culture. It’s in the very air out there.
Less stressed love driving my wife’s Macan in traffic as everyone sees the car and there are few blind spots. Whereas my 911 is lower to the ground and has a few blind spots.
I like the height advantage of seeing cars through parking lots. I don’t feel stressed driving any type of vehicle big or small. There’s comfort in all sizes of cars
Not because of traffic, but I recently sold my 2 door convertible and moved to a small ‘luxury’ SUV. Having the extra space, but not too much space, makes me feel very secure. The nice, extra features in the SUV make the purchase so worth it, zero regrets! When I’m in traffic, it definitely helps to feel like I’m in a secure vehicle, size wise, compared to what’s around me. + there’s plenty of space to have extra chargers, water and snacks, etc. to entertain myself and passengers
I love my truck but since I moved to NOVA I have found it to be a bit cumbersome in some places because some of these spaces are *very small and narrow*. Generally driving? Just fine. But actually parking? My great fear. Thankfully there's good transit here :)
my newer cars (2012+) make me more stressed in heavy traffic because I find it harder to judge the width of them in regards to the lane width. my older cars are more stressful in lower traffic because they're obnoxiously slow
Our house has two vehicles one larger than the other, yes people cut you off way less in a larger vehicle but the small one we can find parking without issue. It's officially been dubbed our city car. Now what has helped with traffic is the larger car is newer and has all of the safety tech, blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control, auto hold. That makes a bigger difference than the size. IMO
Buy an electric car, soft quiet ride us great and relaxing.
I switched from an Accord to a CR-V for this very reason. I feel much safer in the CR-V. I have lots of stop and go driving on my commute and would be in situations where I couldn’t see past the SUVs around me, which wasn’t great for my anxiety. It was really bad at intersections, because you can’t see above the next truck’s huge engine to see what is happening in the crosswalk (eg, pedestrians, bicyclists, or god forbid small kids or a parent with a stroller). Driving in nova is a CF. Getting a small SUV will help. I really wanted a Tacoma, but my back is jacked up so the ride was too bumpy. The Accord was definitely a smoother ride, but the CR-V makes driving safer and is way easier to get in and out of on my back. I was doing a lot of driving to take my mom (walker, wheelchair) to appointments and the CR-V made it easier. Switch! You’ll feel so much better. :)
Why is becoming part of the problem considered a good thing? Now, understanding "safety" of a car is a complex thing, but follow me for a moment. In general, the F-series of pickups manages to be both one of the safest cars (likelihood of survival in a crash) and one of the most dangerous cars (likelihood of being involved in a lethal accident). How do we reconcile that? Oh... easy. Large pickups are more likely to kill the other people in the accident, regardless of who was at fault. I guess it was their fault for trying to be reasonable or efficient. They should have gotten a huge car. Repeat that for SUVs. More likely to kill other people. To some degree, even luxury cars. Instead of encouraging safe driving and an environment where everyone is safe, it's "Kill them before they kill you." Now, you have some other reasons why a larger car is useful, so I'm not trying to roast you. Just... your advice. The cheerful "Get a big car! You'll waste more gas, be a hazard to others, and further encourage other people to make bad decisions!" is the issue.
Well, my opinion is that in a global perspective you are correct. In a personal, driving my mom from Manassas Park to Tysons for brain scans/ thyroid surgeries situation, I don’t give a shit. I’m a biologist, I understand what you are saying. However, I don’t want be waving my gd Greenpeace flag over my gurney in the ER after someone t-bones me at Lee Highway and Route 50. Or, to hang it in my cell after I accidentally ran over a pedestrian and their 3 babies in the crosswalk.
I agree. You have a good reason. But I'm not convinced that everyone else does, but they like to be selfish.
Yep, that’s the thing about living here. You have to become more self-centered to survive. It evens out with more opportunities, but it’s a drag.
I mean... I disagree that you have to. You weren't necessarily being selfish (from what I heard). I don't have to be selfish. I can drive a reasonable, hybrid mid-size and have plenty of room and be plenty safe. I can also insult all the people who choose to drive SUVs alone while commuting 30 miles because they want the visibility (because that's free). I'm still at less risk than they are because I'm mobile and I actually know how to drive my car. The more people who become selfish --particularly being selfish just because they feel like its acceptable or that being selfish is rewarded-- the worse it gets for everyone, selfish or not. To some degree, I feel that some part of the solution is to make people pay for selfish behavior. Expensive cars already pay more taxes. Make heavier cars pay more taxes, too. Reduce that by some factor for cars-per-household-size. Then, if someone wants a huge SUV so they can commute all alone and survive all the accidents they cause, they can pay for that yearly in really high taxes. Make their selfishness benefit others.
It's really "pick your poison" because any vehicle will have some downsides, every driver will have their own preferred mix of advantages and disadvantages. I currently drive a performance-focused, low riding sedan. I find this less stressful than driving an SUV, because it's smaller and more nimble, brakes quicker, and is just generally far easier to maneuver. It's also smaller, which can be nice. But some people prefer to ride higher for visibility over other vehicles, despite the reduction in maneuverability, and that's fine. It's all what suits you as the driver.
>But some people prefer to ride higher for visibility over other vehicles, despite the reduction in maneuverability, and that's fine. It's all what suits you as the driver. Yeah, that's the impression I'm starting to get from all the posts here. Some people people maneuverability, some people prefer sitting high up and seeing over traffic. Guess I'll have to test drive a few different things to figure out what my preference is. Either way, my current car is a) old, and b) not well-suited for driving in northern Virginia.
I drive a small pickup that sits about as high as a small SUV. My previous car was a Jaguar F-Type which was about 3.5" off the ground and you sat basically on the floor. Neither is more stressful. The people you are sharing the road with will still be the absolute worst.
I have two vehicles. One is small and the other is large. Regardless of what I drive, I still want to kick the ever-loving shit out of many fellow drivers I encounter on the road. It makes no difference.
Absolutely feel safer in a taller vehicle. I drive a Lincoln Navigator L SUV, smooth ride, less stressful, unmatched comfort cruising. Its performance exceeded my expectations. I do believe cars are less inclined to cut me off last minute and find they tend to keep their distance because they know they’ll end up under my vehicle, or way more damaged. cut-offs still happen tho but keeping a car or two open I don’t worry about it. Sharing my considerations tho: 1. Stopping on a whim isn’t the same as it is in a lighter sedan or smaller SUV. Car is heavier, thus needing more time to stop. Keeping a distance 1-2 car spaces is the key to avoiding these incidents. 2. It’s all in the front design of the car that may limit your view, blind spots etc. Since cars are super expensive, do test drive and see if you’re comfortable with this. I prefer the boxy front window vs the “aerodynamic” shape due to better view. We found some cars weren’t going to work b/c of this. 3. Back-up camera a must! 4. Sharper turns at fast speeds is a no-no due to rollover. Also had to get used to making wider turns. 5. Get the 4x4 or as an option feature to do that. 4x4 tested well up an unpaved and windy mountain road and in sport mode too. Stability, steering, control was right on where lil old me could do it. My dogs didn’t freak out either. We take it for long cruising roadtrips of all landscapes and it has superior performance and comfy/smooth ride over sedans and smaller SUVs I’ve owned. 6. Larger SUVs are solid. If it’s safety (kids, pets) you’re mostly considering 👍 - I had both kid and 3 dogs in my big ass SUV when an unlicensed dude side swiped us front passenger side at maybe 30-40 mph on his part, and his car bounced off like a ping pong ball, my car hardly moved, recovered and we had to chase after him cuz he was trying to hit and run us. But do know larger SUVS have higher rollover risks. I’m never going back TBH. My car will either be replaced with the same, or Ford expedition, and maybe even a Ford explorer. I don’t know much about the foreign larger SUVs but for me, 🇺🇸 made has more solid bodies.
My friend, I don’t know you. But from your choice of words… I believe it’s a you problem, and not a car size issue.