Has anyone got a 4x4?

[momof2]

We have just decided to get rid of our faithful Hippo (Nissan Micra) and branch out into the uncertain world of much larger family cars.
I have been looking at a discovery or freelander - please note all old ones not new.
Has anyone any experience of how good/bad they are please? Or any 4x4's they would recommend or MPV's
Many thanks

Hello Jools

hello skinny - got your head from out your today?

ive got a 4x4. It is nothing to do with it being a status symbol. I have four children under 6 and want them to be safe. Public transport isn't an option with baby twins. Walking isn't an option with a ds who cant walk too far. I looked at lots of ppl carriers and the rear seats are pretty much in the boot. If a car failed to stop behind me dd and ds would be killed or at least seriously injured. In a 4x4 I feel my kids are safe, and I'm sorry but I care more about my kids than strangers in the road. When I cant see behind me, I get out or reverse with the door open! I've seen the aftermath of collisions and it is the 4x4 which comes off best - so that's where I want my kids to be. I don't like the enviromental effects, but there is nothign I can do abotu that. If I could convert it I would.

nope! still up there!

Kelly

that jsut about sums it all up Kelly doesnt it!! How could we possibly argue with selfishness

at least it's warm and environmentally friendly - not much of a view though!

or the mother instinct

Dh says that fuel is stil not expensive enough if people still drive around in these vehicles.
I hate the fact that I am always being cut up in a roundablout or at traffic lights by people driving 4x4's. They simply don't seem to care. They scare me senseless sometimes, I'm pregnant and I have a toddler.
People who drive them in the cities need to find other things to spend their money on because dangerous, fuel guzzling vehicles like this are simply not justifiable.
Neither can I think driving a 4x4 can be compared to smoking as there is no 'addictive' element here that need to be dealt with.

actually last week a stupid cow in a Fiesta forced me to crash by not looking before pulling out into my side of the road. So in fact Im pretty pissed with any driver who doesnt look where they're going.

It will please you to know that as I was telling dh he predicted it would be a woman - and he was right!

Gosh tarantula, what a hideous demonstration of 'Look after Number 1' we have here.
I haven't read too much but I'm gonna have to parp on this one, I'm in agood mood at the moment.
However, I am hormonally volatile.

I have driven a 4x4 for 5 years and never in my life been involved in an accident, I've even taken an advanced driving test

I could say that smoking shows a blatant disregard for your own health and people around you.
Drink Driving
Taking social drugs
Driving without insurance
The list could go on and on.

But I dont have a go at people for doing these things, though smoking is a particular no no of mine.

We have cars, people unfortunatly will always been involved in accidents unless we all decide to cycle everywhere.

And I dont feel that I can tell my friend who lost both her legs in the bus accident that it is OK as the bus driver had more experience in driving a bus?

ha, ha skinny - now what did I say when you posted about that incident?

'women drivers!' and its true - except for me and thee of course [winnk]

I'll admit it is selfish. But that isn't going to stop me from putting my kids first. I don't drive it in central london neiother, but I dont blame soem pplt hat do really. City drivers are often manic and you do find that driving a 4x4 makes ppl far less likely to try to cut you up or try anything silly. I don't cut others up neither though.

jenkel - were we separated at birth?

Kelly1978 - Fiat Multipla?

Kelly1978 - I don't think much of your selfish argument but have to admit that I prefer to see these large vehicles fully occupied than just been driven by one person.

Quite often though, people have a second baby and out they go scouring the showrooms for an MPV or larger car. I can never understand why. Two carseats fit in the back of even a small car, as would a twinbuggy.

being driven even

My 7 seater was often very full because plenty of my other friends used to ask me to pick their kids up. One friend has 2 cars, a Mercedes and a Porsche Boxster - if her dh had hte Merc she physically couldnt pick her kids up!

Gosh tarantula, what a hideous demonstration of 'Look after Number 1' we have here.
I haven't read too much but I'm gonna have to parp on this one, I'm in a good mood at the moment.
However, I am hormonally volatile.

what? still? thought you'd parped ages ago!

oh Lord, its hard to humble .........

Uh-oh sorry honey, this is first time I have seen this thread unless it's been resurrected for months ago.
And if that's the case, obviously my views haven't changed

We have just bought a MPV, I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old so both need car seats. We also take my Mum out a lot and we cant get 3 adults and 2 car seats comfortably in a normal car, we ended up going everywhere in two cars so to save this we bought a mpv.

So saving on fuel, take one car instead of 2.

By MrsDoolittle on Tuesday, 8 November, 2005 1:21:24 PM