To not understand the appeal of 4x4s

[purplesquarepurple]

I live in a suburb with flat roads yet a huge percentage of cars driving about the area are 4x4s. Genuinely interested to know why people who live in areas like that drive cars like that. The negatives I can see are: more expensive, worse for the environment, much more likely to kill a pedestrian if you hit them (recent incident in Germany where a 4x4 killed 4 pedestrians), much more likely to kill driver/passengers in other cars in a collision, not actually safer for driver of 4x4 as more likely to roll in a collision, reduces visibility for other road users, takes up more space in bay parking spaces...and I'm sure there are lots more. I completely understand that they are necessary for certain people - if they live in a rural area or have lots of dogs for example - but that definitely isn't the case for most people in my areas. Just wondering, I suppose, what the positives are that outweigh all those negatives?

What @W0rriedMum said.

Yes, there are several examples of false arguments on this thread.

Fallacy of relative privation, also known 'appeal to worse problems' or 'not as bad as':
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listoff_fallacies

I love these threads! They always bring out the most convoluted excuses for owning a 4x4.

The fact is, for a lot of people, they are a status symbol.

I mean, why else would you buy a Range Rover, when it's a notoriously shit vehicle?

So the positives for town-living 4x4 drivers seem to be: more comfortable for tall people/those with bad backs, better road position (at expense of others), status symbol (if you're impressed by that kind of thing). Still don't understand how any of these things offset the danger to pedestrians/other road users and damage to the environment. Struggling to reach any conclusion other than that town-living 4x4 drivers are not particularly nice people! 🤷‍♀️

They always bring out the most ridiculous faux ignorance as to why people might want one too.

I live in 3rd world part of the UK known as Linolnshire, our roads are shit, we need a 4x4 so we own one, I'm a double whammy driving wanker though as it's also an Audi.

I have mine as I tow a caravan. It's a fab tow car with the added bonus of fitting absolutely anything in the boot. I can fit a full single divan and mattress in my car with the seats down. My husband bikes with my daughter so v useful!

I use mine as a utility vehicle as well as a daily drive.

I would happily have a large estate too but my husband prefers the drive of the 4x4

Dogs ✅
Wood burners ✅
Intensive farming tick ✅
Antibiotic resistance tick ✅
School buses ✅

All massively harmful to children as well. Why single out one sort of vehicle?

You’re far likelier to be hit by a silent electric car (eco nightmare also) than a noisy SUV.

I don't need it I just like to have it and I can afford it so I bought it.

“Struggling to reach any conclusion other than that town-living 4x4 drivers are not particularly nice people!”

Oh fgs OP. Think that if it makes you feel better, but I hope you drive the most minuscule electric car possible when you’re not on your high horse. or better, still get the bus?

There are all kinds of vehicles on the roads and all shapes and sizes of families. You do realise there’s an electric Range Rover now? I don’t even have a Range Rover, but I still think this kind of thread is petty and daft. Why don’t you start one about other types of people carriers - like those Vianos or something. should we ban white vans while we’re at it because they’re hard to see around / through aren’t they?

I am reminded of the South Park episode in which the town started to choke on smug...

Means I can get to work in the snow.

Means I don’t hurt by back every time I get in/out of the car. I had a small car for a week and it took my back 3 days to recover.

One of the safest cars on the road for passengers and pedestrians.

Tall family, so fitting 2 car seats behind 2 tall adults is hard, but not in my car.

I can park it, I’m always central in a space and there’s room either side as long people park the same way.

I drive efficiently, my average MPG is 50.

We do the school run on foot.

This topic has been done to death. It's tedious. I have a 4x4 because I like it. People shouldn't have to justify what car they choose to drive.

I live in a town on a massive hill. I don’t have a 4x4 at the moment but by next car will need to be one because any snow and I can’t leave my house.

I hope wanting to get to work doesn’t make me too unpleasant

Hasn't this just been done? To repeat, a small percentage of owners actually NEED one, the others like to feel superior or are selfish twats. Done.

I was given one as a rental car (not my choice) while I'm waiting for a new car. It's ridiculous, I need a step ladder to get in it and I feel like a 5 year old driving my dad's car, I can barely see over the steering wheel.
Can't wait to get my little car back.

@Lanaa, but we're facing a climate crisis, so arguably people should feel accountable for their choices.

I don't have a 4x4 but a lot of people in my (non rural) town do. (I've got a fairly standard hatchback)
I'm not sure why they are singled out ? If you have a sporty car or an Audi tt for example, a lot of the features on that are wholly unnecessary for shopping, commuting or dropping a kid to a party. If you have a convertible, most of the time (in the uk) you wouldn't use that feature so fairly unnecessary.
Some Mercedes and other luxury (non 4 x 4s) are more fuel guzzling ....

My SUV is 10 years old. My AWD sports car is 14 years old.

My neighbour has 3 dogs, fitted a wood burner, bought a massive camper van and changed his car 4 times in 12 years.

Which one of us is the more eco friendly?

Actual 4x4's or SUV style vehicles in general?

I have an SUV as i needed the bigger car.

I like the higher driving position, and makes it easier to get children in and our of car seats

Why do you care?

Did you miss the safety, environmental etc reasons?

OP, you needed to have added the disclaimer about rural hill farmers / caravan tow-ers etc.

London is packed with massive cars with a spec far in excess of the drivers’ needs or use. They use more space to park, create more jams trying to pass each other in narrow streets, make it hard for pedestrians and cyclists to see over and round them, it is ludicrous.

And the environmental thing isn’t just about the fuel and emissions, it is the sheer amount of resources needed to build the things.

I see it as being part of a wider obsession with consumer goods, looking good (though I find many hideous), and want, want, want leading to ‘I can have it so I will’. Driven by the market, and companies who push this stuff day in day out.

So many get imported from East Asia, at further environmental cost, the manufacture and labour has not been an investment in this country, etc.

This is true if all foreign built cars of course, but the more expensive the model the greater the impact.

I see car culture as deeply decadent.

Because trying to manoeuvre my tank down a narrow Victorian street to deliver my babies to school without a drop of rain melting them before risking my life and limb in the Sainsbury's car park is more important than you lowly minions.

Or it could be the fact we live a mile outside town on a steep hill, spend our weekends out in the countryside, drive in the Alps in the winter, sometimes need seven seats, frequently have to load the car with Scout gear...

Nope. Definitely because I like looking ridiculous on the School run. (Btw it's a LR Disco Sport, which are relatively small)

I stand by my opinion that 95% of people with one have no need, and a separate extra driving test for them would reduce their number greatly.

Struggling to reach any conclusion other than that town-living 4x4 drivers are not particularly nice people!

They are selfish, yes. Which means they're pretty much the same as everyone else. If you've any luxuries in your life at all- a bigger-than-you-really-need house, a TV, a holiday, a games console, wine, anything at all really, you're putting your wants ahead of someone else's needs by increasing your own carbon footprint and by using the wealth you're lucky enough to have accumulated excess of for your own selfish desires, rather than spending it all on people who don't have enough of the basics. We're all selfish in our own ways. And, no, that doesn't excuse 4 X 4 drivers- I accept that I'm selfish in many regards. But so, in all likelihood, are you. But stick your head in the sand and feel superior because of your car choice if you like.