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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that 4x4 drivers are the most selfish w@*&(*&s ever???

836 replies

redrobin · 03/03/2008 19:33

It makes my blood boil! They drive their big childcrushers whilst on the phone, they tailgate other smaller cars, they use enormous amounts of petrol, they block up roads, they look threatening...how can people choose to drive something like that? Do they have ha a selfish gene, do they think they are just better than other people so rules don't apply to them, or are they just thick?

(NOTE this is only about town drivers, i appreciate that they are useful in the countryside).

Sometimes, I think Jeremy Clarkson is winning.

OP posts:
muppetgirl · 04/03/2008 11:09

In fact the landrover freelander has the same rating as a mini!!!

Rhubarb · 04/03/2008 11:09

muppetgirl, for us all to be safe we'd all have to drive 4x4s.

I can't afford one, forget the moral arguments of not getting one, I cannot afford one, so does that mean mine and my kids lives are less worthy because we cannot afford to arm ourselves with a tank?

Oh but of course, this is the way the world works isn't it? The poor get spat on all the time. As Xenia says, it's in our genes so we must deserve to be treated as second class citizens.

handlemecarefully · 04/03/2008 11:09

In answer to the OP only (not having the energy to read rest of the thread)

Yes yabu, you are also a complete twat

muppetgirl · 04/03/2008 11:10

Smartarse - I agree you can't see much in a Porsche Boxter...

Rhubarb · 04/03/2008 11:11

Funny how 4x4 owners get ever so defensive when defending a piece of metal on wheels.

Why so defensive? A prick of conscience perhaps?

muppetgirl · 04/03/2008 11:11

Rhubarb, you are making some wonderful assumptions about people who drive 4 x 4's income. Where is your evidence for these assumptions?

muppetgirl · 04/03/2008 11:12

No, I think it's more of a case of you say something, we give you our reasons, the truth or evidence but you want to still get personal about us.

I don't give two hoots what you drive, why should it bother you so much what others do?

Rhubarb · 04/03/2008 11:17

Then everyone is allowed their opinion muppetgirl. The OP is allowed to rant about 4x4s without getting torn apart for doing so. Kerrymum is allowed to voice her opinion without someone twisting her words and trying to back her into a corner.

Round here most 4x4s are nice shiny new things driven by people with money who like the status symbol of having a 4x4. Seeing that leads one to making assumptions about the kind of person likely to drive a 4x4. It's not just me who has come to that conclusion, search the Net, watch the TV, 4x4 drivers have become stereotyped and it's not a nice stereotype. But it didn't come from nowhere.

Now I'm not foolish enough to think that ALL 4x4 drivers are like this. But the tone of your posts, forgive me if I'm wrong, comes across as rather "don't care less" attitude to any other view on this topic that does not match your own.

fedupwasherwoman · 04/03/2008 11:23

muppetgirl

have you heard of mpg and fuel economy ?

4 x 4 's generally use more fuel than ordinary cars so one could either say that a 4x4 driver is well off enough not to have to worry about the ever increasing price of diesel/petrol or that the driver doesn't understand about mpg in which case they could be said to have more money than sense.

If I heard anyone mention that their second hand 4x4 was cheaper to buy than a standard car I'd be thinking "yep that's because of the mpg rating, it's gonna cost you more in fuel so it could well be false economy."

I know a city dwelling couple who got a 4x4 after the birth of their first child and very proud they were of it too with its spacious interior and safety rating etc etc.

The thing was long gone by the time they had their second child as they were finding it very expensive to run and had traded down to a bog standard saloon car.

lardylumps · 04/03/2008 11:23

Fillyjonk, the comment is not a form of racism, I didn't mention race, I was referring to the other prejudicial comment I heard today re the area I live.... (This comment was not made on mumsnet but at the toddler swimming club I went to). Also if you read my post properly then you will see that I mentioned that the vehicles were being sold for trade and thus affordable to me.

Rhubarb I am not defended the car but I was insulted. With out ever meeting me I was called thick, selfish and my driving was criticised in the original post. I was pointing out that I am not thick and my driving is no different than it was when I had my corsa.

cleaninglady · 04/03/2008 11:23

golly this got a bit heated didnt it!!! I still find it amazing that people can get so riled over something like a car but as a 4x4 driver (in a rural area but its not really actually needed if im honest)

BUT you just cant say every single person who drives on is insert offensive word here
A bad driver is a bad driver no matter what car they drive

I did however, recently have a ford fiesta as a hire car (I have a Toyota Landcruiser)
and got a realistic view of what is like for other drivers and must admit i was cringing when I approached any larger car!!

DH got my car for me but not for any real particular reason except I wanted a slightly larger car - I dont think its cool or looks particularly good to be honest but plenty of space and easy to drive I find !!! I'm much more careful driving it than I was in any smaller cars I've have had and the "gas guzzling" comments dont really hold much store as mine is diesel and does much better mpg that some other options we looked at !

Live and let live I say ..........

Rhubarb · 04/03/2008 11:28

So long as you don't crash into a car or a pedestrain then sure, live and let live!

Most of the mums on the school run round here have 4x4s, and they only have 2 kids! I hate seeing all these 4x4s parking in front of a school with children running in and out. Even travelling very slowly, if a 4x4 hit a child it would cause serious head injuries.

No of course no individual should be called names. But we all stereotype to a certain extent, that's how comedies are funny. I'm sure you've all seen the yummy mummy portrayal by Catherine Tate and thought that amusing. The character also drives a 4x4.

As I said, the stereotype did not come out of nowhere. It started with the Sloane Rangers.

Rhubarb · 04/03/2008 11:29

pedestrian

musicgirl · 04/03/2008 11:30

Ahh the environmental facists strike again. Do you think they start mentally fingering themselves whenever they see someone who they feel superior to? It seems to get them off. They must feel practically orgasmic when they see a mother in a BMW 4X4.

themoon66 · 04/03/2008 11:31

I drive a little smart car and I live in the country and manage just fine.

Its not this one though

www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=15253

needmorecoffee · 04/03/2008 11:32

50% of us are worse drivers than average and will do more damage in a larger vehicle.

cleaninglady · 04/03/2008 11:33

ok I will try really really hard not to crash into a car or pedestrian
but I think I would do that no matter what I was driving maybe??!!!

I just think getting so carried away over this is slightly over the top BUT I do understand why people in towns/cities get riled over them as it must be difficult to navigate around them !!!

I am in the process of looking at changing my car for something less intimidating and easier to park !
but I pay my taxes the same as everyone else and am entitled to choose whatever car I like IMO

pedilia · 04/03/2008 11:33

Duchess- totally agree with you there, my 4x4 also does kids,dogs,hay/water etc and has had a shetland pony in the back!
Yet when cleaned looks much like the 'chelsea tractors' that are being slated here, if I drove into the city how would anyone know that is was used for purpose! I.E it goes off road on a daily basis!

It would appear that I to am exempt as I am a bumpkin

musicgirl · 04/03/2008 11:34

Stay off the road if the big broom brooms scare you.

muppetgirl · 04/03/2008 11:35

I am soooooo not a Sloane Ranger!

It's fine though, I will drive my little mini in town and drive the truck on the motorway.

I agree the mpg isn't great on the truck but I actually like it, as does dh, and we'll keep it till it starts to cost money to replace things on it. I don't like estate cars but after having a mini for a while, maybe I'll be desperate to get one!

muppetgirl · 04/03/2008 11:35

I am soooooo not a Sloane Ranger!

It's fine though, I will drive my little mini in town and drive the truck on the motorway.

I agree the mpg isn't great on the truck but I actually like it, as does dh, and we'll keep it till it starts to cost money to replace things on it. I don't like estate cars but after having a mini for a while, maybe I'll be desperate to get one!

needmorecoffee · 04/03/2008 11:36

musicgirl - thats rather offensive. I count myelf as an environmentalist and didn't drive for years because of it (and no, I don't fly either)
I'm still an environmentalist was had to get a small car for a child in a wheelchair. And that took 4 years of agonising over. Soon as this city gets some accessible buses the pollute-mobile will go right back. And I'm environmental for my kids health, as well as yours.

muppetgirl · 04/03/2008 11:37

lol musicgirl..

needmorecoffee · 04/03/2008 11:37

and as a cyclist and pedestrian I have a right to be on the road whether car drivers like it or not.

muppetgirl · 04/03/2008 11:39

I could go on for hours about all drivers who need to notice motocyclists on the road...

That includes all the little cars out there!