American here, lived in France. French are typically appalled that anyone would spend one euro more than they needed for transportation. My French colleagues didn’t know a thing about proper car maintenance and were bewildered when I expressed my love of cars. They drove their cars into the ground and then bought a new one. And playing bumper cars is a real thing. It’s nuts. I’ve seen cars pealing out, trying to get in and out a street spot. Ah but alas, c’est la vie.

At some point, engineering can’t defeat physics. I had to buy the wife a larger vehicle because I didn’t feel comfortable with my family in a smallish SUV. I made sure that the vehicle had an excellent crash rating, air bags and it was just … bigger.

When folks around you are in duallys and is twice the length of a Sherman tank, it matters.