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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not understand the obsession with 4x4s

449 replies

Midlandsmum42 · 26/01/2021 12:46

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!!!

OP posts:
DicklessWonder · 26/01/2021 20:56

My grandad had a motorbike and side car. When baby 4 came along he upgraded to a car. Grin

CakeRequired · 26/01/2021 21:00

@ParkheadParadise

When I was growing up, two kid families had a Ford Focus or a Golf, and we all survived the ride without suffocating!

My dad had a Ford Cortina he managed to fit all 6 kids in the backseat somehow 🤣🤣

Ah the days of cramming kids into seats and footwells. 😂
ketosavedmylife · 26/01/2021 21:03

@Starlight86

Higher up, safer, more space. simple
Exactly. Its like sitting in an armchair when driving. Lovely.
BarryWhiteIsMyBrother · 26/01/2021 21:04

@Starlight86

Higher up, safer, more space. simple
Plus they are much better in the snow!
CakeRequired · 26/01/2021 21:05

As for your 'lesson' on how I should behave when driving, thanks but no need. You clearly didn't grasp the scenario I was trying to convey. Do you need a diagram? I've never had a collision, in any vehicle I've driven, no ponies or small children have been harmed by me in the 28 years I've been driving. Unclench, FFS.

You're awfully upset for someone telling me to unclench. Grin Your description of your driving is worrying to me that's all, but perhaps you just aren't describing it well. I would just be worried about anyone driving who isn't looking around them when completing a manouver.

ParkheadParadise · 26/01/2021 21:08

@CakeRequired
It's mad isn't it 😆😆
My 4 siblings along with the backseat and my sister and I on top of them no seat belts required. Also, my dad would stop at the pub for 5mins🙊 but he always brought us out crisps and bottles of coke(that was a real treat) never mind that he probably came out pissed and drove home.

jambeforeclottedcream · 26/01/2021 21:09

I live in the country. I get some 4x4 I.e they have horses live on a farm, the older the better possibly not for the environment

What I don't get are the ones used by people with no kids, animals, live in a new housing estate and a very new car

Shmithecat2 · 26/01/2021 21:11

[quote ParkheadParadise]**@CakeRequired
It's mad isn't it 😆😆
My 4 siblings along with the backseat and my sister and I on top of them no seat belts required. Also, my dad would stop at the pub for 5mins🙊 but he always brought us out crisps and bottles of coke(that was a real treat) never mind that he probably came out pissed and drove home.[/quote]
Ah, yes, the good old days of drink driving, hilarious! Hmm And yet its us 4x4 drivers that are the real danger on the roads Confused

jambeforeclottedcream · 26/01/2021 21:11

Oh and where I live it snows every 5 years and even then nothing a decent estate probably couldn't handle

squeekums · 26/01/2021 21:15

@DinnaeFashSassenach

Does anyone on here who dislikes 4x4 own a sports car? Just curious.
DP owns both A mitsubishi pajero sport, it can easily tow our boat and caravan, fits our stuff like metal detectors, car fridge. Its so comfy for long trips.

He also has a nissan 180sx from his younger days, little rice burner, so much fun, goes sideways easily lol

He loves both, wouldnt sell either lol

Shmithecat2 · 26/01/2021 21:15

@jambeforeclottedcream

I live in the country. I get some 4x4 I.e they have horses live on a farm, the older the better possibly not for the environment

What I don't get are the ones used by people with no kids, animals, live in a new housing estate and a very new car

What is there to 'get'? It's really NOYB. Do you think they give a shit about whether you 'get' their choice of vehicle?

And their carbon footprint/environmental impact being childless with a 4x4 will be substantially smaller that the family down the road with a Tesla and 2 kids.

DinnaeFashSassenach · 26/01/2021 21:17

Why is it bad to have a "status symbol" 4x4 but my dad's convertible BMW status symbol mid life crisis was perfectly acceptable? At least my 4x4 has working indicators. I don't think BMWs even have them do they?

DicklessWonder · 26/01/2021 21:18

DP owns both
A mitsubishi pajero sport, it can easily tow our boat and caravan, fits our stuff like metal detectors, car fridge. Its so comfy for long trips.

He also has a nissan 180sx from his younger days, little rice burner, so much fun, goes sideways easily lol

He loves both, wouldnt sell either lol

Me too - very similar spec cars.

DD thinks she’s going to learn to drive in the rice burner. Shock

Mintjulia · 26/01/2021 21:19

They are great for blended families where you might need to carry four or five kids in one vehicle. Also good for carrying bikes, canoes, skis, camping kit, dogs etc.
They are great on ice, wet roads and snow. Also for towing caravans, trailers, boats etc.
My ex used his to collect sacks of chicken feed and bales of straw for his chickens. He wasn't a farmer, he worked in IT. Smile

BringPizza · 26/01/2021 21:20

@jambeforeclottedcream

I live in the country. I get some 4x4 I.e they have horses live on a farm, the older the better possibly not for the environment

What I don't get are the ones used by people with no kids, animals, live in a new housing estate and a very new car

Ah so those of us with ancient Land Rovers are ok as long as we have horses. People with no hangers on (2 or 4 legs) who have a nice new house should not have a nice new car of their own choosing. I hope you can hear yourself. You sound incredibly opinionated about what you think other people should be allowed to have.
ewwlynxafrica · 26/01/2021 21:20

They are safer, offer more space and you don't have to bend over backwards when fitting a child in it. DH has one and ds 2 loves car journeys in it as he is higher up and finds it entertaining whereas in my car, DS hates it where he is lower down. I prefer my own car which is a saloon and low down. I can park easily, don't need to worry about car park pillars and wing mirrors when going through narrow roads.

ParkheadParadise · 26/01/2021 21:23

What I don't get are the ones used by people with no kids, animals, live* in a new housing estate and a very new car

I'm ok then, live in a new house, have a child and have 2 massive cars on our driveway.

Iamclearlyamug · 26/01/2021 21:24

I think when it comes to driving in the snow it’s often more how you drive than the car you’re in

I have a Mini Cooper with a lowered suspension and very low profile tyres, and in all the snow on Sunday there were so many cars including 2 4x4s stuck at the side of the fairly steep hill I needed to get up - I got up there without a problem.

Having said that for practical purposes I’d love a 4x4 for work (horses) and although I could afford to run one I haven’t got the cash to buy a decent one so all the time the mini gets me through the snow, she stays 😂😂

DWPmisery1972 · 26/01/2021 21:26

I drive a Hyundai i10, I use them when I’m behind them to navigate traffic, like being behind an ambulance Grin (mostly jokingWink)

itwillbehormones · 26/01/2021 21:29

You try fitting four dogs in a small car! We've never been without a 4x4 mostly Landrover, until I got all excited and we got a Porsche Cayenne, beautiful car to drive.

But we were trashing the poor thing, it was far to pretty and clean for our lifestyle, so we sold up after 2 years and moved back to D3.

But I can totally see the status side of things, I love my mucky landie for so many reasons, the space, the dog capacity and the towing. But I do miss the look and feel and luxury of the Porsche.

Meecrowavay · 26/01/2021 21:30

We can't fit our three car seats in the back of most normal family cars. You're left with the option of the bigger 4x4s or a people carrier. Ridiculous really.

xoJellyBean · 26/01/2021 21:30

😂😂😂😂 I will sail past you tree huggers in my 300bhp PETROL 4x4 GOLF R 🤙🏻

itwillbehormones · 26/01/2021 21:32

@Midlandsmum42 you do know estate cars guzzle far more fuel as they generally have underpowered engines and they can be 4x4 as well. Mostly audis but I'm sure some Volvo estates run on 4 wheel drive.

springdale1 · 26/01/2021 21:35

How do you fit a dog, double pram and car seats in a smaller car? We have an old series 50s Land Rover plus our two normal cars, one an estate. We are going to trade our two normal cars in for a new discovery to stop us needing to take out two cars for a day out.

Last time we did a long journey in the estate I had to sit wedged between two car seats in the back with the dog on the front seat which is something I don’t have any desire to do ever again.

Meecrowavay · 26/01/2021 21:37

[quote itwillbehormones]@Midlandsmum42 you do know estate cars guzzle far more fuel as they generally have underpowered engines and they can be 4x4 as well. Mostly audis but I'm sure some Volvo estates run on 4 wheel drive. [/quote]
When we had just the two kids we had an Audi estate that was 4x4. We live in Scotland so most winters feature icy roads and at least some snow.