Big SUVs in the city?? (Seattle, Highland: fit in, camper, garage)

[seattlecoming]

Originally Posted by happyhunting

This is true. The problem we've been having is while backing up in parking lots and you can't see until you are half way out, the spots are tiny, not much room for error. The sheer amount of parking for compact only..... narrow streets. In the city, going into downtown DMV parking, we barely cleared the ceiling and the curb. It's just a massive PITA I am not used to (coming from Vegas with wide open streets, large lots seemingly built for Hummers and such). Can't wait to trade it in for a car When in Las Vegas you can live your whole life never parallel parking or paying for parking. Even on the strip and the center of the city. I am simply amazed at how all of you can get your cars into those "back-in-only" spaces, on a hill and at a slanted angle, mind you. I just can't do it yet

Same thing in Phoenix, but Las Vegas is a near-clone of Phoenix, only smaller with better night life and lots of flair. Anyway, I'm glad I never bought a vehicle like that knowing I don't need something that big, and knowing how expensive the fuel costs are. My little chugger saves me lots of money, and I was warned that gas prices are higher here than in Phoenix so it's best to have a smaller vehicle.

[seattlecoming]

Oh and those of you that drive those big tanks, quit complaining about how small the spaces are or how much of a pain in the ass parallel parking is. Nobody forced you to buy something that large, you could have saved money and settled for something more compact. You made your bed, so lie in it. I'm sorry to sound blunt but that's just the way it is.

[Inkpoe]

No one is complaining. The small spaces and parallel parking were fair warnings, given the layout of the streets here.

Originally Posted by seattlecoming

Oh and those of you that drive those big tanks, quit complaining about how small the spaces are or how much of a pain in the ass parallel parking is. Nobody forced you to buy something that large, you could have saved money and settled for something more compact. You made your bed, so lie in it. I'm sorry to sound blunt but that's just the way it is.

[Malloric]

Or learn how to drive. When I moved my stuff up I made the move in my dad's truck (RAM 2500 crewcab 8' bed) and had it up there three weeks until I could drive back down. It mostly sat in a parking lot on First Hill but I never found it to be a problem as I lived downtown and had little need to drive it around the downtown area. Obviously, you'd have less trouble finding a parking spot for a Honda Fit, but unless you don't know how to drive, navigating Seattle's streets in a full-size SUV (a good 5-6 feet shorter than a full-size, full bed pickup) wouldn't be that difficult.

[happyhunting]

Oh and those of you that drive those big tanks, quit complaining about how small the spaces are or how much of a pain in the ass parallel parking is. Nobody forced you to buy something that large, you could have saved money and settled for something more compact. You made your bed, so lie in it. I'm sorry to sound blunt but that's just the way it is.

No one on this thread is complaining. The OP asked if she could get by in Ballard with a big SUV Suburban (not what I have by the way). We all agreed yes, except perhaps a little more searching for a good parking spot to parallel park. Some peoples SUVs are paid off, owned outright for years in other states where they actually used them for towing, like we do. They are simply moving to a new environment and up until the time they can trade it in for something smaller and more efficient, they want to know if it's doable.

[Woof]

Public parking has some size and other restrictions, which you can look up on the city parking site. I know my van is too tall to park overnight most places. Google Maps "parking near Ballard, Seattle, Wa" for a look around.

[west seattle gal]

There are SUV's aplenty in Seattle.

[SpikeDurden]

I have a passionate hatred for SUVs. Everyone in Seattle seems to think they should own one for snow and terrain purposes... but it only snows a couple times a year, most of the bad crashes that happen in the snow are SUV drivers who are too stupid to realize 4 wheel drive won't help you slow down faster, and they never use their cars for off road purposes anyway. Just giant, gas guzzling, prone-to-flipping-easily, pointless cars. Seattle is the seemingly the capitol of SUVs. You'll be fine.

[west seattle gal]

There are also a lot of Subaru station wagons in Seattle, which I think is the ideal car for this area.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by SpikeDurden

I have a passionate hatred for SUVs. Everyone in Seattle seems to think they should own one for snow and terrain purposes... but it only snows a couple times a year, most of the bad crashes that happen in the snow are SUV drivers who are too stupid to realize 4 wheel drive won't help you slow down faster, and they never use their cars for off road purposes anyway. Just giant, gas guzzling, prone-to-flipping-easily, pointless cars. Seattle is the seemingly the capitol of SUVs. You'll be fine.

I agree with the downhill snow driving, but living in Sammamish my 4x4 sure helps me get back home in snow. I think most people I know driving large SUVs do so more because of the people and cargo hauling capability. They do not want to be seen driving a minivan, for some reason those have become a big embarrassment lately.