Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

4x4s and other similar vehicles....

133 replies

AliGrylls · 02/04/2010 18:24

I live outside central London in a nice area that I love. However, there is one thing that is starting to annoy me and that is the number of 4x4s and other similar vehicles that are huge, impractical and block the roads.

Am I being unreasonable for wanting them banned. I know this is extreme but they really do drive me mad - the roads where I live are narrow and not meant for cars (i mean trucks) this size.

Apart from the above I could argue about the amount of petrol they use, which considering the ever depleting worlds resources makes me wonder why anyone would actually choose to have one.

OP posts:
LisaD1 · 02/04/2010 18:27

We live in a free society and people are therefore free to choose the vehicle they wish to drive.

They are already taxed higher than other cars so they are paying extra for their choice.

So, I think YABU.

And I DON'T drive a 4x4!

tummytime · 02/04/2010 18:27

THere are a lot of times where 4x4s are useful - eg if you live in the middle of the country so not appropriate to ban them. Agree though that it is silly to have one in the middle of surburbia.

dizzydixies · 02/04/2010 18:29

my dad has one because with his hip it means he can get in and out of it with ease and lessens his pain

YABU and its nobody's business but their own what kind of car they drive

SJisontheway · 02/04/2010 18:30

Banning probably going too far, but I share the sentiment and detest them also - unless you are a farmer.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 02/04/2010 18:30

I had my 4x4 serviced yesterday, man siad it was very refreshing to come across one that was used as it was meant to be. on fuel consumption, we got from south coast of Dorset to Belfast via holyhead-Dublin ferry on one tank of diesel so not bad.

SugarMousePink · 02/04/2010 18:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

clam · 02/04/2010 18:32

YABU. It is none of your business what others choose to spend their money on. Last time I looked, we lived in a free society.

VengefulKitty · 02/04/2010 18:33

Hasn't this been done to death already?

Kind of like the P&T parking spaces?

VengefulKitty · 02/04/2010 18:35

But, must also say, I actually find the 7 seaters just as bad. They are just as big and imposing as 4x4s.

follygirl · 02/04/2010 18:35

I have a 4x4 and I don't see why I have to apologise for it. It seats 7 so it's great for ferrying the dc's friends in. It was a real bonus during the recent snow and I do have to drive down some country lanes to bring my dd to school although tbh as our road wasn't cleared or gritted just getting out of the road was tricky.

Before the children I was involved in a car accident caused by a stupid, careless driver. I ended up in hospital and had to have 2 operations and 6 months off work. I'm glad that my car is built like a tank and that it will keep my dc safe should another stupid or careless driver decide to drive into me again.

I love my XC90!!!!!

SJisontheway · 02/04/2010 18:36

It is a free society, but it would be nice if people considered others rather than just themselves. They are dreadful in terms of carbon emissions, and this is a problem we all own. They are also lethal for pedestrians. I just don't get the logic to be honest, although - as stated already, I don't think a ban is a good idea

dizzydixies · 02/04/2010 18:37

oh ffs, now we're not allowed a car big enough to transport all the family in one go?

am tempted to go & buy a double decker

follygirl · 02/04/2010 18:37

If you're going to get stressed about fuel consumption why don't you moan about sports cars they are much worse than 4x4 and only seat 2!

But no, it's easy to jump onto the band wagon and have a moan at 4x4s.

posieparker · 02/04/2010 18:37

I drive a 7 seater...I have four children and it's the safest car on the road. I live in Bristol and the number of 4X4 that never see a hill or mud is astounding. Bristol is hard to park in and these cars make it worse.

I think it's everyone's business what people drive most 4X4's are far more dangerous for pedestrians and worse for the environment.

LisaD1 · 02/04/2010 18:37

Vengeful Kitty : How do you suppose people with large families or that Childmind for a living (as do I) transport our family/mindees around if we don't have a 7 seater?

What business is it of anybody else what a person chooses to drive?

BuzzingNoise · 02/04/2010 18:38

YANBU.
I saw an ad a while ago for such a vehicle, and it said (along the lines of) 'see the vehicle in front, and the vehicle in front of that'. Yes, all well and good from a safety point of view, but the person behind the 4x4 can't see a thing.

SJisontheway · 02/04/2010 18:39

7 seaters are not the same. Typically not 4 wheel drive, much lighter on fuel, much more aero dynamic (the design of a typical 4x4 defies logic when it come to efficiency) and some of them still have excellent safety ratings, without having the momentum of a tank and putting other road users at risk - imo

ImSoNotTelling · 02/04/2010 18:39

I don't like them when they are a fashion accessory rather than a practical purchase.

I live in a north london suburb where every other car is a mahoosive 4x4 and IMO they make the roads more dangerous as they are so high up - it's like having the roads back to back with lorries and vans. You can't see round them when driving, when they are parked they block the view of traffic when you are trying to cross etc.

And the usual environmental concerns. And just space! Space is a premium round here and they take up so much room! Almost as if the people who drive them think they are deserving of more room than anyone else.

No I don't like them. I wouldn't ban them though, i would move the entire transport system over to a dial-up electric automatic pod-car system. I suspect that idea may be a little unrealistic but never mind

Original poster
AliGrylls · 02/04/2010 18:43

I am not talking of people who live in the depths of the countryside or have specific needs for them. I am talking of the rash of Range Rovers, Porsche Cayennes and the like in SW London. People seem to claim that having 2 children necessitates a light truck "to carry round all their stuff". However plenty of others manage with regular family saloons. Roads (and car parks) in London were not designed for large numbers of cars of that size.

It is clearly not a 100% "free society". We restrict speed, parking and all sorts of other aspects of vehicle ownership; so why not size in built up areas? If not restricting ownership itself, how about absolutely enforcing laws so where the vehicle could not fit in the car park or within the boundaries of the white lines on the road, it got ticketed. That would make driving a Range Rover (amongst others) very tricky in this area.

OP posts:
2old4thislark · 02/04/2010 18:46

Did have a little chuckle that when the 4x4s could actually be justified for those school runs to the local private school - the school was close because of the snow

I do think it's over the top when you see one mum and one little kid in a giant car - but that may be that I'm jealous that I'll never be able to spent that amount on a car!

I actually covet a small sporty car

BelleDameSansMerci · 02/04/2010 18:49

Ali, I think lots of people like the feeling of safety they get in a 4x4 which perhaps explains why they're so popular as family vehicles.

I do live in the country and, after the snow this year, am seriously considering getting one in September (that said, I may just get another Audi).

As for the fuel consumption, 4x4s are no worse than many saloons and sports cars.

I'd also argue that in terms of road width, SW London has wider roads than in the country (I lived in Fulham for many years)...

elvislives · 02/04/2010 18:49

I could never understand the anti 4x4 mentality, and DH drove a double cab pickup (ideal for dogs).

Then I moved to Bath.. The roads are so narrow and the sort of person that drives the massive type of 5 seater 4x4 tends to plant herself (and sadly it is always "her") in the middle of the road and barge at you, as if to say "out of my way". Even when you are already at a point in the road where 2 cars can't pass and she should wait. It is a cliche and a stereotype but I meet them every day. Two or 3 of them at nursery always park next to my car at dropoff so I can't see to get out again.

So it's probably not the car per se but the type of person that drives them.

(Disclaimer- we never noticed this at all in East Kent- It's Bath mummies I have a problem with )

cazinski · 02/04/2010 18:50

YABU... I heart my Range Rover. And I also happen to live in London.

BelleDameSansMerci · 02/04/2010 18:50

So, YABU but I think you knew that when you posted .

ImSoNotTelling · 02/04/2010 18:51

No no. It's one very small child and a range rover. That's what you want.

Or even no children.

I saw one the other day with a gold grille on the front and various bits picked out in gold as well. young woman behind the wheel wearing humungous shades, poker straight hair and a slightly aggressive expression. Wag?