to take the piss out of 4x4s

[JoanBias]

Picked dd up from school today, she pointed at I think a Landrover Freelander (I'm not an expert) in the car park, and said 'why is that there?'

I said 'maybe they're a farmer'.

Said vehicle had clearly been the subject of regular waxing, leather interior, and so on and looked the shiniest vehicle in the car park, so this was obviously not the case, certainly not in this area.

DD said 'maybe they built that building there?'

'Maybe', I said.

I could say 'because some people make inappropriate and antisocial car choices'.

But taking the piss seems better?

My husband has a 4x4, I say my 'husband', at the first sign of a frost it becomes 'our' 4x4.

Well, mine.

Lots of people have 4x4s round here, it's hilly, in the country and it's easy to get snowed in.

Tractors are very much a status symbol here, everyone knows and talks about it if you are spotted with a new one on the lanes. And we also have a Discovery because DH is a farmer. But occasionally I drive it on the school run, or we go away to visit other people who live in towns or cities, and. I don't really expect to be judged by some idiot. Should he leave a note saying "I am allowed to drive this car because I am a farmer, so stop passing your ill informed observations"?
although maybye its constant odour of cow shit would give away the fact that it belongs to a farmer

Yes that trike is very visible, it makes you shine out because you look like a pathetic ridiculous little cock. What a joke.

I have a wide back truck like the GMC for onshore site inspections, it's brilliant and I wouldn't compromise my safety in any little saloon. try hitting a camel on a loony laydown trike.

I have a particular SUV for the simple fact that it has the most amount of legroom in the rear seats than any other car I tried except an estate car made by the same manufacturer. Legroom is the key factor as we are a family of tall people and we intend to keep the car at least 5 years by which time even the youngest dc will be teenage and he's already noticeably tall for his age. I also have back problems at times and getting down into a standard car seat and back up again can be painful, SUV is higher and hence avoids the bending etc.

My Dad, SIL and brother drive estate cars which are all longer and wider than my SUV. The estate car option would have been incompatible with where I park at home and at work.

Have you seen the mpg you can get (even discounting the manufacturer's published rates somewhat) with a great many modern Mercedes, BMW, Audi and VW engines ? I'm spending less on fuel than I did with my modest petrol hatchback ! The car also has longer service intervals which is naturally more convenient for us although having researched the matter with probably cost the same overall as shorter intervals.

Half of my family live in various parts of "the middle of nowhere" and that includes my parents (who still live independently although they are almost 80) whom I need to visit more and more regularly these days and I was worried about being able to get to them quickly, whatever the weather/road conditions if they call me with a problem so I made sure the SUV has a 4 x 4 option.

MY POINT ???

You have no idea how ignorant the comments were from some school gate mums when I started turning up in the SUV (it wasn't even new, second hand if you please for better value for money).

"Chelsea Tractor", (We are nowhere near London)
"Ooh get you and your monster truck",
"Credit crunch clearly not biting yet in your house if you can afford the fuel for that thing eh ?"
"Midlife crisis arrived early has it ?"

Plus at least 3 lectures on how I must be so much more careful reversing etc as I won't be able to see the children in such an unwieldy vehicle. The car has parking sensors, I'm much more aware of proximity to objects now, particularly on dark winter mornings and evenings but explaining this was boasting apparently.

OH NO, WAIT......
you do have an idea how ignorant the comments were......don't you.....you just smugly think yours instead of saying them out loud.

Just for you I'll get the kids to clean it fortnightly rather than monthly so that it looks waxed/polished/shinier whatever it is that wound you up.

Some people might make inappropriate and antisocial car choices just like some people might be making inappropriate, ill-informed and anti social judgements about the cars others drive.

Taking the piss is fine but do it ill-informed and you become the joke yourself.

I firmly believe that a lot of sniping about other people's car choices is plain jealousy ( even though it's often dressed up as "environmental or road user/pedestrian safety" concern).

[hgrin]

My husband earns lots.

He bought me a brand new, mahooosive American Dodge. For no reason other than I luffs it.

If I see you cycling around in the cold and wet, I shall point to my 2 cosy kids and say, 'oooh, look at that poor quinoa eating peasant'.

Same shit, different perspective.

meh, just fuck off

Certain cars are driven by some to give an illusion of wealth.
Massive blingy 4x4s are sometimes the choice of leased by Mr and Mrs Average because its the only way they can show that they have 'made it'. Young men do the same, they buy crappy BMWs with 300K on the clock because they think it makes them look wealthy.

Really wealthy people don't need to try hard.

I own a large shogun as I take part in a hobby which requires offloading and carrying large amounts of gear. Most people eho take part in it have vans but I live in the country, with 3 kids and a 4x4 is a better choice for the family. .

My usual commuting car is a two seater convertible merc. It's a better drive in London and uses less fuel (56 mpg v 35). In winter, I take the shogun as I'm 25 miles on back roads before motorway. I've pulled other cars out three times.

Makes me laugh when I get up at six, struggle on ice or snow, get into London around 9 and hear people say 'no place for those cars in London'. What are we supposed to do, have a valet meet us at the m25?

So a big 4x4 or a statement sports car. Does it matter which car I use if I pick up my youngest from school? Or do you make judgy comments about any choice which does not mirror your own.

Amazing how defensive people get over their precious cars! And how nasty they get when it is implied that their car choice makes them look like a nob!

Alisvolat, I should have worded my post better! I meant I'd be too scared to park it in tight spaces as I'd probably end up scraping it against other cars.

Yanbu. Freelanders aren't proper 4x4's

Anyway. Sneer and take the piss all you want, call them anti social for gaps buying a car...

Just remember when it's snowing and labouring mums can't get to hospital, doctors can't do their rounds, meals can't get to the elderly and brides can't get to church that it'll be your local 4x4 club volunteering and helping out. The anti social fucks.

Is the OP the one that started the "if you dive a car you are an idiot" thread?

Indeed. Mates in mountain or cave rescue must all become rich enough to have two cars. One for the necessary offloading and passenger carrying. One to go to school in to avoid piss taking from ignorant school gate princesses.

I have a massive fuck off discovery. I call it the bus, tank or big Bertha. It is a pain in the arse to park, painful on the pocket to fuel but I love it. I have this car because I frequently off road due to having horses, and I often need to fit several large bags of horse feed and a dog in the boot. It also has space for 3 car seats in the back row so we can all go out in the same car with the dog and have enough space. You find me a non 4x4 that can do all of the above, and doesn't drink fuel like a drunk sinks whiskey and I'll be a happy woman. It also has a private plate because I'm a bit absent minded and frequently lose it in large car parks, with the number plate I can spot mine a mile off.

I have a 4x4 as need the space to carry my work stuff. I feel safe being up high.The vision is good. It is fantastic in slippery conditions. It is very old and has over 100k. On the clock. I love it.
Op you are very Judgy

I defend them but we don't even have one on the road. 2 old discos at a mates farm for off road fun!

Why would the children in a white Audi Q7 be "bratty"? In my experience the brattiest children are those who have awful judgemental parents who make snide comments about things like people's cars in front of their children. Don't pass your own prejudices onto your children.

I'm a cyclist too, and you're doing us all a huge disservice with your ill-informed nasty comments.

kitty, I think old small cars covered in Thorpe Park stickers are nobby. Not because I am defensive but because they are.
Fuel 11p a litre here, I actually have no idea how my Cadillac performs, Hummer does about 11mpg apparently. So obviously I wouldn't have one if I lived in London but I wouldn't judge anyone who could afford to if they did, who cares? Better than a wimpy tricycle any day.

Certain cars are driven by some to give an illusion of wealth.
Massive blingy 4x4s are sometimes the choice of leased by Mr and Mrs Average because its the only way they can show that they have 'made it'.

Actually, that's sort of true. Even though I live in the country, round here 4x4s are a bit of a status symbol with people over the age of 30 - along with clothes from Boden, White Stuff and Fat Face. It shows that you're middle class, one of the movers and shakers and you have organic veg boxes and shop at Sainsbury's. Unlike the peasants who shop at Tesco and H&M, or shock horror whispers shop at Asda or Primark. I know people who are like this, and they're lovely, but I'm still at such snobbery.

Of course you shouldn't judge people by their cars. I've got a shitty old car, but I'm young ish and have already paid off my mortgage. Back of the net!

theodore I actually don't mind 4x4s.
You've got to see that driving a hummer (unless you run a stag/hen car hire company ) makes you look a bit nobbish though?!

I don't get the bit about the building in OP...I'm a bit confused

Well if i was in salisbury and couldn't afford to put petrol in it then yes. In the desert? No. I have had several head ons with camels and have been unharmed. 3 colleagues I have worked with have died in similar accidents in the 10 years I have been here. So I don't think I am a nob, in normal countries where middle aged mums don't give a fuck what car you drive a 4x4 or truck is a perfectly normal mode of transport.

i'll give up my jeep cherokee if you can find me a none 4x4 that can tow a horsebox
but my 4x4 wouldn't have caused so much offence as it is coated in a fine layer of mud from driving through a field this weekend

I have a massive fuck off estate car that takes up easily as much space as a 4x4. Am I allowed?

I've concluded that dad must be allowed his 4x4 as he has a HGV licence and can therefore properly drive the behemoth, and slap only ever parks it in disabled spots where he has plenty of space.