to not understand the obsession with 4x4s

[Midlandsmum42]

I really don't understand why there are so many 4x4s on the road in cities and the country, half of the parents have them on the school run (when there was a school run). They are so bad for the environment and too big and unnecessary. They weren't needed in the past and aren't needed now. Completely understand why a farmer needs one or someone on construction sites but driving kids to school!!!

I think kids car seats fit in them better? Kids car seats are huge now and when you have more than two kids you need a bigger car

Higher up, safer, more space. simple

But why a 4x4? Plenty of bigger cars that aren't gas guzzlers.

Higher up, more space and also mine is a PHEV so not a gas guzzler! I LOVE it!

They are hideous things. You can't see the traffic in front when you are behind them, they are just too big.

We live rurally, we were snowed in for 5 days when we had the beast from the east, we manage without one.
If snow is forecast, we buy extra provisions, cheaper than running a 4x4 for those 'just in case' times.

They're involved in more fatalities, but it's usually people in the other car that die.

What's big and unnecessary to you might be just right for someone else. Personal choice innit

Why does anybody need to be higher up fgs? It's a CAR.

Status?

Status symbol mostly! Means you can afford to run it plus have off road parking as they are a nightmare to park on busy streets

We have one. DH loves it. I hate driving it. We both live in the countryside and pull a caravan with it.

Not many on our school run these days, but a significant increase in Teslas.

I live rurally and I have to say, I've had cars like a Fiat Punto, a Ford Fiesta, an Astra, a Suzuki Swift, a Zafira, a Landrover Discovery and even an old Landrover and my favourites to drive will always be the Landrovers. The 4x4's. Big, tough, high off the ground, spacious motors that laugh in the face of winter roads. Yeah they're probably not the most suited to cities but they are really nice to drive and as DH says, feel really safe. So I get it.

@larrythelizard

Higher up, more space and also mine is a PHEV so not a gas guzzler! I LOVE it!

Me too, love it

Well mine isn't too big or unnecessary for me. I need a big car. I need a 7 seater and I hate people carriers so 4x4 it is.

The worse thing is people think because they have a 4x4, they can drive in snow as they normally do.
Like they won't skid or anything. Idiots!!

They bear down on mere car drivers on the country lanes like we have to move out their way.
Nah, they've got the big wheels, they can manage the mud and snow drifts with them.

I live rurally too with a hatchback and don't need a 4x4 either. If you hit ice in a hatchback, you'll probably manage to stop it or control it if you know how. A massive 4x4? Good luck to whatever its currently aiming at as that's what you're about to hit. Lovely massive bill too for fixing it.

I would only buy one if I bought another trailer for my horse so that I could tow. Otherwise its not necessary.

Farmers and other rural dwellers often have children to drop off at school too...

My monstrous 4x4s are suitably covered in mud and general shite that they will never be mistaken for Chelsea tractors though.

I thought the same as you - hideous things - until my DH got me one, and now I hate driving a ‘normal’ car, sitting so low, can’t see more than 1 car ahead on country roads, feeling cramped and dark.

You could argue that lots of types of cars are ‘unnecessary’.

Love 4x4's and wouldn't buy anything else! Feels much safer than s smaller car.

Better visibility. More space for passengers and storage. Higher safety rating. Better on bad roads, just because we live in a town doesn't mean we dont go elsewhere. Easier to get in and out, being higher up with big doors. And I like it.

Live rurally, long commute, 3 kids, had an accident and so bought the safest possible car which ended up being a 4x4

Why do you care so much?

Would you be asking about my Polo which is our other car?

I don't care what other people think
I love my car 💕💕

I love them 🤷🏻‍♀️. High seating position, excellent safety features (mine has anyway), nice big boots, capable of towing things (like a boat in my case). I recently changed my trusty old D3 for a beautiful, shiny, newer M350 and LOVE it. And it's ULEZ complaint.

People have them to be able to partake in their hobbies too, we have one as DP shoots. Also convenient if you often have dogs in the car as quite often the backs are plastic rather than carpet so easier to clean. And agree, Land rovers a favorite to drive in our house too, we've owned a couple of defenders too. Also agree they're safer like @DinnaeFashSassenach says

I love mine. It has 7 seats for my large family and my mum doesn't drive.