To not understand the appeal of 4x4s

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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?

It's generally people who like to look down on the rest of us who just drive normal cars or pricks who like to show how much money they have.

Another poster who has a touch of the green-eyed monster methinks!

“ Loving the outraged reactions to my suggestion that people should feel accountable to the planet for the choices that they make.”

I’m not accountable to the planet though. I never asked to be on it.

We need restrictions on vehicle size otherwise it will turn into an arms race

@Dongdingdong not envious in the least. I could afford one if I wanted but I don't.

I’ve got a vintage jeep, and even though it’s not a luxurious drive, quite a fight actually, I really like being up a bit higher. I recently had to drive a VW Golf and it was so low and hard, I didn’t like it at all.

My son plays the cello. I can't fit 4 people and a cello into most standard cars. Am I 'allowed' to own a 4x4 or should I force him to give up his hobby??

That is the best reason for driving a 4x4 I’ve ever heard!

I actually don't think there is one house in my village with at least 1 4x4 on the drive.

All the 4 x 4 drivers who enjoy being up high and the feeling of safety from being in a large vehicle, what would you do do if lots of people start getting even higher larger vehicles?

I think it’s jealousy.

Give me a lovely environmentally friendly Land Rover PHEV over a diesel old car anytime

I've noticed that all threads that start with a wide-eyed innocence post where the OP protests that they "genuinely" want to know the answer to something that's potentially going to be goady, usually come from unpleasant people that feel the need to act superior over others.

A bit of a generalisation there but no more than assuming that all 4x4 drivers are unpleasant people. What an idiotic thing to say.

Some people must walk / drive around with such narrow-minded stereotypes on their head. “Oh because they’re higher up than me in their car, they think they’re better.” It’s very basic kind of envy when you think about it.

If someone is going to spend £60k or £80k on a vehicle, then that’s what they’re going to spend. So why is a Range Rover any more if a “status symbol” than another car of the same value? There are sports cars on the road worth much more than Range Rovers - where are the threads about them - “Oh my neighbour’s friend’s cousin once had to back up for a Ferrari. All Ferrari drivers are therefore x,y,z.”

DONE TO DEATH. You do know the appeal, you just want a pat on the back for judging people. If you genuinely wanted to know, you would read the replies.

Because I'm a GP, and patients don't stop expecting home visits when it snows.

We've got a RR. Bloody love it. We've driven boring mundane cars for most of our lives, chosen by practicality alone. My years of driving a 7 seater "mum bus" still make me shudder. Now we've paid our mortgage off, and the business is doing really well, we've got a RR.

It's luxurious and beyond comfortable, drives through minor flooding (we live in a tiny village by the Severn) saving us extensive detours, and means we can get to work in the snow whereas we've had to work from home before - less than ideal when you're the owner. We've both done the Land Rover off roading course and know what all the buttons do if that redeems us at all

Is it status? Status to me would be an Aston Martin, Ferrari or Lamborghini....... not a bloody RR. Half the county owns one round here!

I have a big 4x4, live on the edge of a town, spend a lot of time on the countryside. Dodgy roads where you'd need a 4x4, I also use it to tow my horse about/take the family camping/move furniture/pick up large loads of feed/use horse trailer to help friends move house. It is the most useful vehicle I've ever owned, I use it to pick fellow NHS staff up in the snow in winter so they can get to work. And as far as I'm concerned it is safe for me and my family, absolutely minimal damage to the car and to me when another (speeding!!) driver caused a head to head collision.

I can however see how owning a large 4x4 would be absolutely unnecessary for someone who lived in the centre of a large city/town. I can't see the point in owning one unless you are going to actually use it for what it is designed for.

Always amuses me that not a single person will admit to owning one as a status symbol.

maybe cos thats not why we own one
its the practicalities of one, it suits our lifestyle and our wants

But again most of those posting here have genuine reasons why they need one - remoteness, job etc. But that's not the average Range Rover/Audi Q7/Porche Cayenne driver in this country.

Definitely not a green eyed monster here as I could afford practically any car I want, bar super cars. In any case, most are on lease deals. But I think I have a social responsibility not to have one in a town/city.

Well I feel like this thread came along at the right time as I was almost wiped out earlier today by an idiot in a Nissan quashqai who went to change lanes without seeing me in my little mini and was millimetres away from careering into the side of me. My mum sitting at the side of me actually squealed and me and the other driver both sat there for a couple of seconds after before moving off as I think we were both in shock. They are a hazard and any old idiot shouldn't be allowed to drive them.

@amibeingacunexttuesday
I was wandering whether my Qashqai counts as a 4x4
I drive it carefully but love being high up. I occasionally drive a vw polo and not only find it uncomfortable for my old bones I feel so low down and extremely eye strained by being right in the siteline of the car in front’s lights. I try and be aware of the people around me (no sitting on brakes, signalling clearly and always driving below the speed limit.
in apology for my fellow Q driver.

I’ve got a 4x4 and it absolutely isn’t a status symbol. 4 seats, smaller footprint than a mini, costs under £15k brand new etc.

Although I don’t need it for work it makes life much easier. It’ll go anywhere in any weather and whilst it’s not the most economical small car it’s certainly not the worst.

Oh the irony of “ better in floods and adverse weather” type arguments. Climate change caused by ...

Over population, air travel, driving any hydrocarbon fueled vehicle...

Let the person who has no children, has never driven a petrol or diesel car and has never used air travel cast the first stone.

I have one as a) I have 3 children and b) I live rurally often going through flood water and down country lanes to do the school run. I suppose my car does look quite flash but I hope the mud sprayed sides show that it does more than just drive around town. I don't understand why people have them aside for people with more than 2DC, those who live rurally and those who require a large boot. My nice saloon car is a better drive but sadly useless for the children and flood water.

@PhoneLock, that argument is used unfairly against XR protesters - 'Oh, well, if they really wanted to fight the climate crisis, they wouldn't have smartphones etc.'. When in reality, they're part of modern society, and are likely to live some / most of their life in a way that reflects that. It doesn't make an XR protester wrong when they tell you that the world is on fire, just because they have a smartphone in their pocket when they say it.

It's such a rubbish argument - it's either unconscious deflection (at best) or conscious obfuscation (at worst).

It's such a rubbish argument - it's either unconscious deflection (at best) or conscious obfuscation (at worst).

Have I hit a nerve?