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!!!

@PattyPan

I knew my accidental 3rd was likely the death of me but now I can also legitimately tell her she'll be the death of the planet too!

Good thing we're switching to electric for our next car

@DicklessWonder, there really isn’t anything these days. I did look. Trying to find a car with room for two isofix car seats in the second row and space for another child and dog in the other row plus getting a pram and luggage in just led us to the Volvo.

@aintnothinbutagstring

And seems to be a correlation on here at least between those that have 2+ children and 4x4 ownership so guessing that people with big fuck off cars generally not too concerned with environment anyway.

Yes, this is what I was trying to say!

@NellyJames 2 is replacement rate, any above that requires additional resources

@DicklessWonder, firstly families are getting smaller so in many cases our grandparents had 4 or 5 children but those children only had 2 each. In the uk, contraception allowed couples to limit their families to suit themselves so we’re all having less children. It’s just that we’re living longer.
Plus, there’s no denying that wanting snd having 2 children is seen as the norm. Most people I know only wanted 2 children. It’s really not the case that must or even many of them really wanted 3 or 4 but stopped at 2 to help save the planet. They stopped at 2 because they didn’t want any more children.

[quote NellyJames]@DicklessWonder, firstly families are getting smaller so in many cases our grandparents had 4 or 5 children but those children only had 2 each. In the uk, contraception allowed couples to limit their families to suit themselves so we’re all having less children. It’s just that we’re living longer.
Plus, there’s no denying that wanting snd having 2 children is seen as the norm. Most people I know only wanted 2 children. It’s really not the case that must or even many of them really wanted 3 or 4 but stopped at 2 to help save the planet. They stopped at 2 because they didn’t want any more children.[/quote]
Fewer.

@PattyPan, but replacement rate needs to be 2.1 just to sustain. Look at Germany. They’re facing a sharp decline in population due to the trend for sticking to 2 children. It’s why government policy is to encourage immigration as much as possible to help sustain the generation before via taxes.

I have a warrior pick up, so 4 x 4 and a beast. Absolutely love it. It fits 3 car seats in the back easily for days out with my mate and her 2 kids plus ds. We have horses and an allotment so use it for stuff that needs moving around. Dh is a builder and uses it for the odd job that needs materials. And we live in Sheffield and he often commutes to Manchester, so this time of year when woodhead can be a bit tricky with the weather it's ideal for him to use for work.

It's always flithy, inside and out so very much not a Chelsea tractor. Compared to driving dhs car it's a lot easier if you are a short arse, especially when people park right up to junctions making it difficult to see. I love it and it's useful in a way a normal car wouldn't be.

Yes, indeed! I do know we use fewer when it’s quantifiable. I’m just lazy.

I felt the same as you

Moved to East Sussex. DH has a Jag saloon. In 10 months we have had 3 tyres replaces at 169 a go. One was the same one within a month and paid for 2 wheel repairs at 60 each.
We are trading it for something that can deal with the atrocious roads.

Maybe Because were allowed a personal choice of what we want 🤷🏻‍♀️

I didn't know so many people have horses. The housing estates in the local town must a horse in each garden. You live and learn!!! yep. We keep our horses and ponies in the garden. We don't drive to livery yards.

Because we don't give a shit what you think and want space for our families.

Why do I have one? Simple. I have livestock and horses. Can’t tow a trailer with a Mini as it wouldn’t be safe ... or even legal. We live on the edge of a hamlet, at the top of a very big hill. When it’s icy or snowy cars can’t get along our lane. I don’t want to risk being cut off. As it is, I can shop for elderly residents who can’t get out in bad weather and I can tow other cars out of the ditches they’ve skidded into! Have I got your permission to own one? If not, what do you suggest in place of it?

@Midlandsmum42

We have two DC and try to be as environmentally friendly as possible. I want to have as minimal impact on this planet as i realistically can.

I've only got 1dc. My car has a carbon footprint of approx 2.7t pa. Where as your second child adds an extra 58.6t pa.

Blaming 4x4 drivers for the demise of the planet when you have multiple children is either wilfully ignorant or massively hypocritical. DFOD.

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.

I honestly look at 4x4s now and think they look so dated. Round where we live there hundreds of them. It's probably confirmation bias, but people have them seem to be them most selfish and incompetent drivers ever. 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.

That on top of the environmental cost, I don't know how anyone can justify having one.

Personal choice. Tree huggers can fuck right off!

Because I can't get up my farm drive in this snow without one.

Out of our 6 staff 4 have them for the same reason. The other two we have to go and pick up!

For those that live in the country, it's a different matter. I'm talking about people who own them in large built up cities.

I see lockdown is tipping people over the edge again and now 4x4's are having it 😂

I had an Hyundai Tucson as a courtesy car and absolutely loved driving it. Wasn't 4x4 but most of the cars people think are probably aren't.

Fantastic on fuel compared to my Focus and out of curiosity I checked and cheaper on tax so the question for the environmentalists here is have you actually checked if these new SUV's are actually greener than your car? I think people would be surprised.

Why do people feel the need to come on and give reasons for why they have a 4x4. It's none of anyone else's business, and to be honest it's just quite amusing seeing so many people get their knickers an a twist about what type of car someone else drives. It's only ever 4x4s that take a hammering on here.

@ilkleymoorbartat

I honestly look at 4x4s now and think they look so dated. Round where we live there hundreds of them. It's probably confirmation bias, but people have them seem to be them most selfish and incompetent drivers ever. 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.

That on top of the environmental cost, I don't know how anyone can justify having one.

No one has to justify one 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Starlight86

Higher up, safer, more space. simple

Not safer for all the people not driving 4x4s.

We have one. It's a hybrid and generally pootle around on electric but will need unleaded for motorways.
We like our car. It's roomy. It's far more economical than our old Zafira.
It's guaranteed to traverse the worst that the weather can throw at us. Our son lives in East Anglia and my frail mum lives in the West Midlands. We need to be able to to get to our mum easily, whenever... we live in Kent.
It's not a status symbol at all as we're old enough to not be bothered by such silliness.

I find cheap , disposable clothing that's manufactured in the Far East, for a pittance, that has caused untold desecration of rivers with the toxicity of their manufacturing methods ( this has been well documented on tv etc...) far more abhorrent. Whole towns and villages are suffering from severe health issues because of this.
Sorry... I could really rant over this issue .

@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.

But children have 2 parents. If everyone has 2 children, the number of children is equal to the number of parents, and the number of grandchildren is equal to the number of grandparents. If your 2 children have 2 children, you have 4 grandchildren, and they have 3 other grandparents.