Chelsea is choking on its tractors - 4x4 drivers in London take note pls.

[CountessDracula]

HERE

saw on the news a few days ago that for the first time, the sales of 4x4s have fallen (though didn't see over what time period this was!)

how did i know who had started this thread...?

whenever i'm in sheen i'm on the lookout for someone looking like link

(but not a bloke, obviously) so i can put a face to a name...

'this'

that was supposed to say

pmsl!!

I know it is bizarre

LOL, Tutter. I thought the same thing. CD, you are too predictable.

I expect a decline in SUV sales has something to do with the rise in petrol prices.

I'm all for the death of the SUV.

the sooner they go the better asaic. Trying to bike through SW London is no joke atm and anything that helps to make it safer is good by me (both in terms of air quality and in case of accidents).

If I could snap my fingers and rid the world of 4x4s and caravans, I'd be the happiest woman alive!

I'm trying to work out how to do without a 4x4 but it is tricky. I have 4 children, 2 large dogs, live in the country on a farm, tow a horsebox, have a half hour journey to school part country lane part motorway. I need at least a 7 seater, or an 8 seater like I currently have. I'm thinking of swapping the 4x4 for a people carrier (shudder) for when I need 8 seats, and a hatchback for when there is only me or only 2 kids with me or something, or if I drive into London (rare).

Question - is it environmentally better to drive a people carrier than a 4x4? and why? my 4x4 is japanese and does about 25 mpg on av (so not a 15mpg jeep).
Is it better to have 2 cars than 1? Strikes me as silly, but maybe not. And what will tow the horsebox/drive in the fields? Certainly not the peoplecarrier - and for the smaller car to do it it will have to be 4wd and powerful ergo not very green...

Any ideas anyone? I'm struggling with this.

couldn't have said it better myself QueenPeaHead!
I'm not saying that your thoughts or intentions are wrong all you 4x4 bashers, but you have to understand that some of us rural country bumpkins really do need them!

You have to check each car you're interested in for mpg and, equally importantly, for emissions, which are measured in g per km (I think - someone will no doubt contradict me!).

The lowest emissions (apart from the purely electric cars) are 104 g/km (Toyota Prius) and the worst is (last time I looked) Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon which does something like 387 g/km.

There's quite a difference between different large cars, and it can be seemingly quite random, so worth doing your homework. Not all 4x4s have emissions as extreme as the land cruiser. Some people carriers are surprisingly economical, too.

Good luck.

QPH - Obviously, there are valid reasons to own a 4x4. Taking the kiddos around the corner to Nursery isn't one of them.

2manypimms, thank you for stating the bleeding obvious. If you'd like to read my post again yuo might find that I wasn't saying that everyone should have one for the nursery run, I was asking if anyone could help me find a way to get rid of mine.

have another pimms, why don't you

if you need a 4x4, qph, you keep it. and it sounds like you do need one. imo, unless you plan to use the smaller car a lot, then that is the greener option.

I saw someone driving the famous Random Army Vehicle of Sheen the other day - v.exciting

QPH - I can't bear 4X4s that are only driven in built up areas and for show, but it seems obvious that you're perfectly reasonable in having one. I really don't know what else you'd pull a horsebox with.

I mean tow a horsebox obviously

QPhead - Jeez. Sounds like YOU need the Pimms. Lighten up, sunshine.

I've got finite amts of time on this board and skim the posts quickly - sometimes this leads to an incorrect response on my part. QPhead didn't need to be rude.

I am sure she is looooverly!