4x4 cars

[Dontknowwhattodo2024]

just reading about those two girls that where killed a year ago in their school
grounds by an out of control driver, it’s utterly heartbreaking. Apparently the driver had an epileptic episode but had never had one before, I wonder if she’s had one since? The car was a truck! Why on earth do people drive these stupid 4x4 trucks. They’re everywhere. So bad for the environment, and so dangerous. What’s wrong with people. If you’re a farmer or live in the country fair enough but I live in a city and these selfish people use them to zoom around to the shops or drop thier kids off at school. Walk people! Tw*ts

The one thing (amongst others) that has driven the increase in size is car seats, it would be impossible to get three in the back in a traditional-sized car.

@Ifailed thats a fair point! Perhaps buy smaller cars seats? I have two in the back of my small car (we have one small car between the two of us which we use once every couple of weeks). And I can still fit a person comfortably in between the two seats

Still though, should we be driving 3.5 tonne trucks around? It’s utterly appalling

I don’t buy this at all. There are plenty of cars that can fit 3 car seats in a row. I live in central London and I can guarantee the twats driving around in 4x4 cars don’t have 3x car seats in the back. It’s purely about status.

That case has always haunted me. I can’t understand how these cars are allowed in busy cities. But more importantly why on earth you would want to drive a tank. I live close to a big city and it’s ridiculous. Parking must be a nightmare always trying to get into tiny spaces. I mean you will get people coming along and saying electric cars are worse. But these tanks are simply bought as status symbols with zero practical value.

There are very few cars that have three isofix points across the middle and very few that fit three across even if they're not isofix. I did a LOT of research on this as we've not long had our third.

You dont need isofix (it's not safer than belted, just easier for some people). Ive got an Octavia that fits 3 (which is not a small car but it's crucially not the high bonnet of 4x4s), im an ERF for as long as possible person as well.

That might be true about the space for 3 car seats but as pp said the vast majority of people driving these don’t have 3 kids. Where my family live (home counties) they are everywhere & often there’s only one person in them!

Whether the vehicle has 4 wheels powered is practically immaterial it is the WEIGHT of the vehicle overall and far more importantly the DRIVER understanding it is a vehicle that will try to continue in a straight line (Newton's Law) and relies on good contact with the road to make it actually turn. Electric vehicles are often heavier than many 4X4 vehicles which are only about 1 passenger 'heavier' than an equivalent 2X4 vehicle. A Renault Espace or similar is as Heavy same length and more 'thirsty' than my Landrover freelander.
Demonising 4X4s because they have an extra propshaft and differential is simply lazy brain, worthy of a Sun reader (Other toilet paper is available):

It wasn't a truck though, was it?

Keep it real.

I hate these cars and mainly because they are so often driven by people who think always have right of way regardless.

I agree with this. The attitude of the drivers of these types of cars is usually so entitled and bullying of other road users.

You’re conveniently overlooking the extra danger posed by the height of 4x4 cars which is well documented.

I'm going to answer honestly.

One of our cars is a 4x4. For me, it's an arms race. If other people are driving fuck off big cars than I want that option too for my family. I feel safer in it and l also experience a LOT less aggression from other drivers when I'm in the 4x4 compared to our small, runaround car.

I do have misgivings about it and have actually been using it a lot less recently. But in poor road conditions I will use the 4x4.

Our 4x4 is around 12 years old and was chosen for safety and practically, and definitely not as a statement. Personally I really dislike the trend for very high bonnets which almost seem to have been designed to cause maximum damage to pedestrians as possible. I would never, ever drive a Range Rover. I know that's a bit pot/kettle.

Eta - we live pretty rurally which is also a factor. I'd like to think I wouldn't drive one if we lived in a city.

This simply isn’t true. I know several families that fit 3 car seats in regular cars. They don’t all need to be isofix.

What cars?
I'm aware they don't have to be isofix but if you want isofix then options are far more limited.

There are plenty of Peugeot and Citroen cars that have high bonnets that are not 4X4 The important aspect is that you look where you are going and anticipate problems and take defensive measures. This has worked well for me when driving extensively in the USA, Canada, Australia and most of Europe. The last 48 years.
I spent 8 years doing the 'school run' where my Landrover defender was used on the return journey from the school to collect say 6 bags of building sand or a dozen lengths of timber for building work.

My personal opinion is instead of ULEZ cities need legislation against oversized, luxury cars.

I have a landrover, so maybe slightly hypocritical... but we live in a village. We have used the mud and snow modes (DH has towed vans and cars out of snow and mud with it too!). We use the trailer, and take stuff on top of it.

I hate driving it in the city though. Car parks especially.

You can’t tow a trailer with a Nissan Micra.

Land Rovers are really nice to drive, my favourite every day car to own, I’ve been driving them since the 90s.

google tells me she wasn’t the first driver to have an epileptic fit and kill someone, that’s why epileptics that have uncontrolled fits aren’t allowed to drive.

I agree. They are dangerous for other road users and pedestrians, bad for the environment, cause pot holes due to their weight and difficult to see around.

Outside of the countryside there is no need for them. I think they should be very heavily taxed with exemptions only for farmers.

We live on a very rural farm and need them for towing trailers etc and getting to civilisation. We have Landrovers and Hilux as we get a lot of snow in winter and as it’s rained nearly all summer it’s mucky. Apart from that, since I was nearly ran off the road in my mini a few years ago by a fuckwit motorhome driver I prefer to feel safe when they descend on us.

Laughing at the argument about 3 car seats. You've already done your part to ruin the planet by having more than 2 kids. Those massive cars should have to pay a premium to drive in urban areas. They destroy roads, kill people, are so polluting.

It’s not just about what you can and can’t see/antipicate. Other road users, include cyclists, are put in danger because they can’t see over the top of your high bonnet at junctions. And if you are involved in an accident, the damage caused by heavy 4x4 is considerably more. But I’m sure you are aware of this because it has been frequently documented. You, however, choose to ignore it.

I agree with you op. And if electric cars are as heavy then that's another reason I'm anti-electric cars as well.

I think you are being unfair against 4x4 when what you really dislike are large SUVs. I drive a 4x4 and you wouldn't know by looking at it its a 4x4, it is no taller or heavier than any other estate car but underneath it is a 4x4 set up so I can get up our very slippy muddy driveway in winter.
As pp have mentioned the problem isn't really with 4x4s per se but with people buying very large SUVs that they cannot drive properly. And in this incident I do wonder if a smaller car really would've made much difference, a mini plowing into a playground at speed is also very likely to have killed someone.