So It Goes: Not car-ist, but

One could say I was car-ist, but I think that in my equal disdain, one cancels out the other.

I know that big cars are a necessity for big families but in a world where a family of four is the norm, I wonder just how many of the seven seats get filled on a regular basis. My own children contribute to the trend towards SUVs and I have been squished into the fold down granny seats on two occasions - each time testing my flexibility (none) and modesty levels (rapidly diminishing). Let's just say the getting in and out of the dicky seat is dicky at best and requires much creaking of limbs and averting of eyes.

But that is not my issue. Big cars require space on the road and bigger car parking spaces. At no place ever have I seen car spaces widened to accommodate those cars of today.

I must admit that I do admire these feisty little women who having dropped off their two children, deftly hoist themselves into the driver's seat and skillfully manoeuvre these modern tanks out of some fairly tight spaces.

But they have technology on their side and barely glance at the rear vision mirror, choosing instead to scan the little screen on their dash which shows what's going on behind them. We of the medium sized and techno deficient car, have to squeeze ourselves into the narrow margins, relying on beeps and percussive driving. On exiting, we offer prayers to the carpark Gods, emerging gingerly between the boxes on wheels and hoping the way to home is clear. All visibility is blocked behind enemy tank lines.

And so it is with a little patter and a leap of joy in our hearts that we drive towards that easier car space. But no, it is a small car, deceptively hidden among the tank-like SUVs, taking up a space clearly meant for a car about my size. These cute little innocents with their fuel efficiency and bubble-like characteristics are the infiltrators behind the enemy lines. These are the cars that dash all hopes.

They say that size doesn't matter. They say that might is power and that good things come in small packages. But in the battle of the car park, the enemy lines are drawn. Big or small, I hate them all.

- Linda Muller