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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:
Pedallleur · 26/01/2021 21:43

Compared to estate cars they aren't as Big. Yes they have height but actual load capacity is less.

Shmithecat2 · 26/01/2021 21:53

@Pedallleur

Compared to estate cars they aren't as Big. Yes they have height but actual load capacity is less.
Unless it's a Landrover Discovery (3 or 4). HUGE capacity in the boot with the 2nd row in use.
tttigress · 26/01/2021 22:12

@Iwantmychairback

I drive a 4x4, but it’s the smallest one I could find. Suzuki Swift. Previously had a Fiat Panda 4x4, a Suzuki Jimmy 4x4. So it’s the 4 wheel drive I go for not the size of the car. Very little choice in small cars though. I wouldn’t have got to work this week in any other car, nothing but 4 wheel drive or tractors going through the snow until the gritters had been out.
These are actually the perfect cars for snow, not a massive 4x4 that is too heavy and therefore won't stop on snow (because braking has nothing to do with 4 wheel drive)
squeekums · 26/01/2021 22:12

@DicklessWonder

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

Oh god, there is NO WAY dd is learning in the 180 lmao
NellyJames · 26/01/2021 22:13

@Pedallleur, I’m not so sure. I could get a not too tall sofa into my old Volvo. DH used to drive a BMW 5 series estate and no way was the boot capacity as much as my XC90.

Shmithecat2 · 26/01/2021 22:22

[quote NellyJames]@Pedallleur, I’m not so sure. I could get a not too tall sofa into my old Volvo. DH used to drive a BMW 5 series estate and no way was the boot capacity as much as my XC90.[/quote]
I did my research, hard and long, before buying my Disco. With the 2nd row in use, there is NO estate vehicle available in the UK that has the capacity of the Disco (3 in my case). The XC90 comes very close to the D3 (and I do like them, but preferred the overall package of the D3).

CakeRequired · 26/01/2021 22:28

[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]
I know, decades ago when people didn't give a damn. It's insane what they did then, although people still do it sadly.

Osirus · 26/01/2021 22:31

My Freelander is actually shorter (although it is taller) than a Ford Mondeo.

I don’t judge anyone for the type of car they drive.

AdobeWanKenobi · 26/01/2021 22:55

I'm not obsessed with my car. I like it, it's not an obsession.

I drive it because I want to and I can afford to.

It's not brand new, shiny or a status symbol.

Judging people in the cars they drive is rather shallow.

unbotheredbutbewildered · 26/01/2021 23:18

Moved to the countryside and all the supermarkets require me to drive down narrow roads. So many arseholes about that I feel safer in a 4x4 than in my old tiny city car!

Surprisingly, insurance is £30 a month cheaper as well and more MtG!

fightingirish · 26/01/2021 23:18

Gosh I live on a new build estate and drive a Range Rover sport ! I love my 4x4 I bought mine for mobility reasons, serious back injury so it's easier to get in and out of, without it I'm housebound,

DicklessWonder · 26/01/2021 23:20

@squeekums

She’s got her heart set on a NSX when she passes. Shock My fault for taking her drifting around roundabouts when she couldn’t sleep as a baby!

fightingirish · 26/01/2021 23:37

@DicklessWonder @squeekums I had a Toyota ae86 back in the day, sideways and drifting heaven! God I miss that!

TramaDollface · 26/01/2021 23:41

Depends where you are. They’re very uncool at our school now... its all Teslas and audis here!

KathleenTurnerOverdrive · 27/01/2021 01:03

Tiny penises

gingganggooleywotsit · 27/01/2021 07:24

@KathleenTurnerOverdrive Grin yes I concur

Shmithecat2 · 27/01/2021 07:25

@KathleenTurnerOverdrive

Tiny penises
Or no penis at all in my case. Never had one.
FrostyChocolateMilkshake · 27/01/2021 08:07

@KathleenTurnerOverdrive

Tiny penises
I drive a Fiat 500. My penis must be huge. Grin
jambeforeclottedcream · 27/01/2021 08:18

BringPizza ok it's a bit of a generalisation, by all means have a brand new car but does it really have to be a huge 4x4? Why not get a smaller car which is possibly easier to reverse around corners in a narrow country lane.

redsquirrelfan · 27/01/2021 08:37

[quote Countdowntonothing]@redsquirrelfan

As many posters have mentioned though, many of us drive PHEV SUVs. Gas guzzling argument doesn't stand when charging the car with electricity from renewable sources! [/quote]
That is true, and they are an increasing number. It doesn't change the fact that you take up more space and increase congestion though which leads to more air pollution.

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

In what way is a smaller car not suitable? For example we have a Ford Focus. Families don't need massive cars, they just want them as status symbols.

DicklessWonder · 27/01/2021 08:53

@KathleenTurnerOverdrive

Tiny penises
🙄
Thehop · 27/01/2021 08:55

We have a 7 seater but I’d love a 4x4

Can’t afford to run one so that’s that.

DicklessWonder · 27/01/2021 08:56

In what way is a smaller car not suitable? For example we have a Ford Focus. Families don't need massive cars, they just want them as status symbols.

Depends entirely on what you do as a family. And whether you drive because you enjoy it or because you have to. A Ford Focus meets none of my requirements.

Shmithecat2 · 27/01/2021 09:00

@redsquirrelfan

It's not really for you to decide that most families don't need a large car. And why does it have to be about need anyway? People don't need to have children, who are way more damaging to the environment than my car.

randomsabreuse · 27/01/2021 09:11

We have big estate cars. Until recently the bigger one was my husband's work car and full every day with all of his work kit. Boot full to the load space cover. Could not have used a smaller vehicle.

Larger cars also have better leg room in the rear behind a tall driver. 4x4/SUVs give better space for taller occupants with a smaller road footprint.

I don't personally like driving an SUV type vehicle, prefer lower estates to the wallowing ride of a soft roader but others might like it.