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!!!

And invariably can't park. They are always using them to drop off their kids at school (which they could probably have walked to), and parking illegally and selfishly

What a load of shite. What do you want people to drop their kids off to school in? If they have a big car they're going to use it . Only people with small cars allowed to do the school run now? 😂

Safer, high up, great for big families, MASSIVE boot that fits everything in, smooth drive, comfortable need I go on? I love mine!!

Are you actually talking about proper 4x4s or crossover type things, which look a bit like 4x4s but are actually 2WD and many are basically just slightly taller versions of standard hatchbacks?

Because if you are talking about the later, most are as economical to run as a hatchback but offer better visibility and more room inside for the same size of car.

I have trouble getting in and out of average cars; I'm mobility impaired so 'higher up' cars are better for me. Plenty of storage room for my wheelchair, too.

We live rurally, too, and the AWD has enabled my husband to still be able to get out to work when we've had bad snow. The Beast From The East did beat us, though.

I suppose there's a devision between people who think they are tacky. Then people who don't or don't care.

Pe asking why others are bothered, even if you claim they aren't bad for the environment they are. They take up way too much room in car parks, with people insisting on parking them as if they're a normal size car. Fuck you if you can't actually get into your car next to one. They are also more dangerous to other cars. They're higher up and way heavier so you're not going to come off well in a smaller car. Same for a bike or pedestrian. But yeah love your 4x4 and don't care what others think.

Not RTFT OP but I agree totally.

Air pollution kills thousands of people every year, but people still demand their right to a gas-guzzling SUV, to drive it short distances on the school run and to then sit with the engine running spewing out pollution - often on the pavement. Slow hand clap to you all. This is a topic where I cheerfully hoik up my judgeypants.

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion

It’s because 2 replace their parents so not increasing the headcount for that generation beyond what was there before.

Makes no sense because if the parents have 2 children, then they have 2 children, that makes 4 grandchildren so not replacing the number at all, it's doubling it.

You are aware that people die, right?

Replacement rate to maintain a stable population is about 2.3 children.

And yes, they take up too much room on the road and in car parks and add to congestion which in turn adds to more pollution.

I really wish they'd be banned except for certain uses like agriculture and first responders.

@redsquirrelfan

Not RTFT OP but I agree totally.

Air pollution kills thousands of people every year, but people still demand their right to a gas-guzzling SUV, to drive it short distances on the school run and to then sit with the engine running spewing out pollution - often on the pavement. Slow hand clap to you all. This is a topic where I cheerfully hoik up my judgeypants.

Ignoring the fact that what you probably think of as a 4x4 is actually a 2WD crossover with as efficient an engine as any hatchback, of course.

The fact that you don't understand is irrelevant. People will buy what they want to buy and don't need your approval or understanding.

As the sump is higher due to off road capability they don't have the same crumple zones as a car. As a result a collision with a 4 x 4 does the same damage to another vehicle at 30mph as a car does at 40mph.

You can survive a collision with a car as a pedestrian at 30mph because of the crumple zones, but the same collision with a 4 x 4 is likely to be fatal.

If you want to be high up get something like a Berlingo or a transit van. As for the women that abandon them in a mother and baby space at an angle it you can't park the fucking thing don't buy one. Except it's probably a tax dodge on hubby's company.

We have one with a modern engine and good after-treatment giving relatively fair tailpipe emissions (comparable to a cheap smaller car with no space or budget for a decent exhaust system or combustion development). The side roads here are the moment are lumpy with compacted snow and ice, the gritter doing the main road rolled the other night with the police sharing the photo online as a warning. It frequently floods here throughout the winter and a standard height car can't get through (usually plenty of failed attempts in the drink). We also have an old LandRover, which is a road-going act of environmental terrorism, but the Volvo isn't and I find it laughable when people with small but dirty cars try to take the moral high ground. The main reason we have it is the door shape means DH can get his (broken and twisted) spine in without too much pain- next time you get in your car pay attention to how much you move your neck/head, it's quite surprising, then try doing it without moving your head.

YANBU. Monstrous SUVs are heavily marketed by the car makers as they are more profitable than smaller cars.

They are not safer, they are in fact more dangerous and they lull their drivers into a false sense of security. They are lethal to pedestrians especially children, who the drivers are less likely to see from their "safer" high vantage point, as the body of the SUV blocks their view.

There was a backlash in Germany recently after the driver of a Porsche Macan SUV lost control of his vehicle and mounted the pavement, killing four people: a three-year-old boy and his 64-year-old grandmother, and two men in their 20s - www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/oct/07/a-deadly-problem-should-we-ban-suvs-from-our-cities

They cause excessive air pollution especially as they tend to be diesel. The other week I was nearly asphyxiated by a huge Audi Q7 diesel idling away in the car park of a children's playground while I was getting my 18mo DS out of the car.

They are selfishness personified as can be seen from the comments from their owners here. Which can be summed up as "I like my massive car and I don't care what you think".

As a parent and someone concerned about urban air quality, road safety and the climate, they make me really bloody angry.

Rant over

Ours is a hybrid and used regularly as a fuel efficient car. I prefer my Skoda on an everyday basis, but despite being in the south, we get cut off by snow and floods sufficient to necessitate a car with decent traction several times a year. Driving on ice on a very steep rural track is undoubtedly better in a four wheel drive car.

Sorry if this has already been said...
Not all 4 x 4 are big - look at the Fiat Panda 4 x 4
Not all huge cars are 4 x 4 - look at the BMW X5 there is a 2 wheel drive version.

These threads are always hilarious. Holier-than-thou types who take their children to school in homemade wicker shoes getting worked up by those who unashamedly love their cars big, fast and loud 😆

Won’t someone please think of the children! (And the environment)

So looking everywhere other than the actual road? Yeah, that's safer 😂😂😂😂

🙄

Anyway, I didn't buy the 4x4 solely to have a better view. I just love it and certainly won't apologise for it.

You're at a junction you said. Why wouldn't you look around you? You're telling me you don't use your mirrors to check behind you and at the side in your blind spot over your shoulder before moving off? I'm feeling very safe with you on the road. Not. You only check the road, that's pretty crap as it's not a full check. You should be checking pavements for any pedestrians about to walk or even cycle in front of you, the same for up the side of you. You should be checking everywhere when driving, yes even parked cars incase someone suddenly opens their door or a child runs out inbetween them.

Drive a 4x4 all you want, but don't try saying it's necessary because it's higher. It's not. I've managed for years along very dodgy roads and not managed to have an accident, so have many people. In a small car. It's not necessary. Not if you're checking correctly.

I think that if you want to drive one, you should have had to have taken your driving test in one. Not in a Mini or other small car.

Were that the case I expect many people would not have one.

@aintnothinbutagstring

Yeah, totally wasn't a four runner that skidded off a somewhat icy main road the other night and brought down a wall outside our local radio station the other night. So much for handling winter roads, though perhaps slowing down and paying attention might do a better job of that 🤷

If a dickhead is going to run off the road then they weren't driving to the road conditions, 4x4 or not, it would have had the same outcome.

@jwilf

YANBU. Monstrous SUVs are heavily marketed by the car makers as they are more profitable than smaller cars.

They are not safer, they are in fact more dangerous and they lull their drivers into a false sense of security. They are lethal to pedestrians especially children, who the drivers are less likely to see from their "safer" high vantage point, as the body of the SUV blocks their view.

There was a backlash in Germany recently after the driver of a Porsche Macan SUV lost control of his vehicle and mounted the pavement, killing four people: a three-year-old boy and his 64-year-old grandmother, and two men in their 20s - www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/oct/07/a-deadly-problem-should-we-ban-suvs-from-our-cities

They cause excessive air pollution especially as they tend to be diesel. The other week I was nearly asphyxiated by a huge Audi Q7 diesel idling away in the car park of a children's playground while I was getting my 18mo DS out of the car.

They are selfishness personified as can be seen from the comments from their owners here. Which can be summed up as "I like my massive car and I don't care what you think".

As a parent and someone concerned about urban air quality, road safety and the climate, they make me really bloody angry.

Rant over

There are little cars out there with dreadful pedestrican NCAP ratings too. One of the worst is the i10. I hope you are equally as shouty about how dangerous that is for pedestrians. As I hope you are vocal about diesel hatchbacks and other cars with the same problems as you state.

Point is, if you actually give a shit about urban air quality, road safety and the climate you aren't doing your research into why certain cars are better than others. Here's a hint - body shape doesn't actually have all that much to do with it.

@jwilf

YANBU. Monstrous SUVs are heavily marketed by the car makers as they are more profitable than smaller cars.

They are not safer, they are in fact more dangerous and they lull their drivers into a false sense of security. They are lethal to pedestrians especially children, who the drivers are less likely to see from their "safer" high vantage point, as the body of the SUV blocks their view.

There was a backlash in Germany recently after the driver of a Porsche Macan SUV lost control of his vehicle and mounted the pavement, killing four people: a three-year-old boy and his 64-year-old grandmother, and two men in their 20s - www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/oct/07/a-deadly-problem-should-we-ban-suvs-from-our-cities

They cause excessive air pollution especially as they tend to be diesel. The other week I was nearly asphyxiated by a huge Audi Q7 diesel idling away in the car park of a children's playground while I was getting my 18mo DS out of the car.

They are selfishness personified as can be seen from the comments from their owners here. Which can be summed up as "I like my massive car and I don't care what you think".

As a parent and someone concerned about urban air quality, road safety and the climate, they make me really bloody angry.

Rant over

Again, it's not the car that caused the deaths, it's the fact that there was a dickhead at the wheel. A smaller car could have had exactly the same outcome

@peak2021

I think that if you want to drive one, you should have had to have taken your driving test in one. Not in a Mini or other small car.

Were that the case I expect many people would not have one.

So if you take your driving test in a small car - which is quite common, as they tend to be cheap for instructors to buy and run - you then can't buy a car suitable for a family?

Yeah, that seems like an entirely sensible and workable idea.

UrAWizHarry no, it's too.much for my brain to try and calculate again the moment 😂. Just doesn't sound right.

*There are little cars out there with dreadful pedestrican NCAP ratings too. One of the worst is the i10. I hope you are equally as shouty about how dangerous that is for pedestrians. As I hope you are vocal about diesel hatchbacks and other cars with the same problems as you state.

Point is, if you actually give a shit about urban air quality, road safety and the climate you aren't doing your research into why certain cars are better than others. Here's a hint - body shape doesn't actually have all that much to do with it.*
All of this. There was something in the national press a year or so ago with the shocking revelation that a (new) Clio had worse emissions than a Discovery. I'm not saying my big car is better, I'm saying please do some research before you start shouting the odds. Until we're all walking or cycling everywhere then we could all do better.