I also think these 2 things are tangled up. The desirability of cars is so culturally pervasive that even if people say that it's just a matter of convenience and practicality that prevents them not using cars and keeps them buying nice shiny big cars, it's more complicated than that.
It would be good if there was just a standard range of cars (perhaps a communism state type of car). That would stop them being status symbols, you need an estate car, you get THE estate car, need a hatchback, you get THE hatchback etc. Remove the cult of cars.
I also think these 2 things are tangled up. The desirability of cars is so culturally pervasive that even if people say that it's just a matter of convenience and practicality that prevents them not using cars and keeps them buying nice shiny big cars, it's more complicated than that.