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

dont people carriers hit people high up as well?

And horses hopefully.
Straight in the solar plexus.
That would do nicely.

yes i think so Enid but their victims get an extra slide up the windscreen before being driven over

Yes HMC, because they were flashing at my DH for us to move over out of the fast lane and he didn't move fast enough, when we got to the lights they started to open windows and gesticulate etc....we ignored it (against my 1st instincts)...as the lights changed they swerved straight at us, luckily DH had room to also swerve. It was obvious that we had at least 1 child in the back, even if they couldn't see my 20 mth Ds asleep in his car seat they could see the sun shield...They had children in their 4x4 too.
I was shocked and sickened for days, I am pg and dS was so close to being mangled by some great hulk of metal being driven by a complete psycho...

Yep - have checked people carriers and many of them are only 1 star for pedestrian safety.

moondog - you'd love it

the piece of news polarising the West Dorset community is:

a car overtakes a 'horse in training' and rider at some speed
the horse freaks, throws its rider, and careers madly along a road, causing another car to have an accident

Whose fault is it? The original driver for frightening the horse? Or the rider for taking an untrained horse onto a busy road?

Sounds awful. My dh had a similar experience with a white van driver a few years back; he got their number plate, pulled over and rang the police on his mobile. Was gratified to see the van pulled over on the hard should a few miles further up the motorway with a police car in attendance.

So dangerous and inexcusable

Oh the horse's fault Enid.

Cut and dry case.

Don't make me admonish you again Moondog!

You know I love it when you get all stern hmc.

Ooooooh........

Off out now for lunch with dh.
Don't get me started on Turkish 4WD owners.

Parpity parpparparrppity paaaaaaaarpppppp!!!

A bientot!!!!!

Just checked my car for crash test safety and it gets a lousy one for pedestrians (not much good for apssengers either)..it's not a 4x4

Well your honesty does you credit zippi!

Almost all cars seem to get one or two stars for pedestrians. Ours (well, our neighbour's) gets two stars for pedestrians, and four for passengers. So not bad.

where do I find the crash safety info?

Ours both get 2 stars.

Here .

...and mine (well it will be soon) gets 2 stars for pedestrian safety and 5 for occupant safety and it's a 4x4...but hey, am sounding like a broken record now!

I agree skinnycow, it's just that the crappy 4x4 drivers are more noticeable in London, because they are behind the wheel of something they don't have the skills to handle properly.

If we ever move to the Highlands, I shall get myself one though.

I'm pleased to see that the Honda CR-V has 3 stars for pedestrian safety as that is what two of my friends drive. I don't have to strike them off my Christmas card list now.

I still believe high sided vehicles endanger pedestrians, cyclists and drivers in immesurable ways by obscuring the view of the road.

For those making car choices, here are the Euro Ncap pedestrian safety scores.

Not all the 4x4s are evil. Not all the non-4x4s are good. As ever.

Darnit, beaten to it!

Why would a person need one just b/c they are living in the Highlands? I've got a close friend who does, and they live happily off a paved road w/a Picasso and a Clio.

Back home, whenever there's a big snowfall, apparently there are lots of 4x4s in snow drifts. People think that 4WD means you know how to drive on snow, and are swiftly proved wrong.

(I do think 4WD is better on snow, if you know what you're doing.)

My Swedish friend safely drove us along the icy country roadfs of her Swedish town in an old Toyota hatchback - with winter tyres.

Because expat I would want one to park outside my Scottish castle. No, scrub that, my driver would park it for me.