Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Has anyone got a 4x4?

673 replies

momof2 · 04/03/2004 13:36

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

OP posts:
handlemecarefully · 09/11/2005 13:43

Interesting point zippi, previously I had a Pistachio green VW Polo. I was definitely nicer in those days...

JoolsToo · 09/11/2005 13:44

pmsl!!! hmc! - I've always been a cow from Mini to car Monstrosity

Gizmo · 09/11/2005 13:45

Joolstoo, you know I'm already with you on the social leper front, ever since the hunting thread .

However, I think we're going to have to bypass the Landy idea, since we don't have deep enough pockets to fund their gas gobbling. Unless LPG is a great deal cheaper....DH might enjoy the job of converting to LPG.

Or does anyone know if we can convert one to biodiesel?

Skribble · 09/11/2005 13:45

Forgot you were desperate to know what i drive, a stretch Hummer, so that DH can do his drug deals in the back and I still have room for my Burberry pram, My kids Jaynetta and Ianappa have lots of windows to spit at the pedestrians from. What a laugh I ran over all of DD's class last week and I never even noticed until I got home.

zippitippitoes · 09/11/2005 13:46

in my case it shows that i swapped longstanding saab/bmw/disco/subaru affording partner for younger poorer model clearly becoming nicer in the process (and a better driver) Just think how horrible i must have been in my former life!

Gizmo · 09/11/2005 13:47

Nah, Zippi - it was your partner: he made you do it.

handlemecarefully · 09/11/2005 13:49

Actually zippi, in my case I went from SWF to married to man with deep pockets....that in itself was a morally bankrupt thing to do. Clearly am a gold digger.

Janh · 09/11/2005 13:52

Gizmo, a Landy website just for you!

Kelly1978 · 09/11/2005 13:54

pmsl.

we can have a 4x4 clique.

handlemecarefully · 09/11/2005 13:56

Just thinking - if we were divorced, I'd probably be back to a nice normal family car...would that mean automatic redemption?

Skribble · 09/11/2005 13:56

I feed my kids so much fried food that I fuel my hummer with the oil from my kitchen.

Hands up if you drive a solar powered car made from recycled cardboard and used lemonade bottles.

Gizmo · 09/11/2005 14:00

Ohwowohwowohwowohwow!

It's the KFC of Landys! And I'm sure the neighbours would just love the enormous smelly tank of vegetable oil in the garden

I'll have to do a bit of Googling and find out whether veg oil is same as biodiesel or better/worse on CO2 emissions. Ooops, sorry, displaying my green tints there

Blu · 09/11/2005 14:05

Hilarious.

About this judgement thing.

I am not squeaky clean on the green front (or any other front fo that matter). I didn't use 'real' nappies, because I found disposable were more convenient - aka i am too lazy and disorganised to have used real. That is the truth. Real would have been better, and in the context of nappy use only, I have no argument with a real nappy user who has a view about my laziness and disorganisation, and makes the judgement that it would have been more responsible of me (for the future of my kids and others) to have used real.

Same with cars. I never owned a car until I was 40. I could have managed DS on the bus, but it was more convenient for me to get a car. It IS a selfish, lazy and disorganised way to live - in London - and I see no point in arging with a bike/public transport user, like Gdine, if she calls me lazy, disorganised and selfish. In terms of car use, she would be right.

A real nappy user or a non-car user wouldn't necessarily be making judgements about me in a wider sense - they have no idea whether I am nice to old people, give to charity, smoke or secretly put sugar in the salt pots in cafes I visit. But since, unlike using reins, dummies or being a homosexual, my choice DOES impact on their world, they have a right to make a judgement about my disposabal and car use. And I don't feel the ned to tell them they have their facts wrong, or that their judgement is like racism!

People have repeatedly said that it depends on the context, that it is urban drivers who can't control the damn things, and who do have an attitude that are the probelm, that of course individual drivers may or may not be responsible, but the fact remains that very many 4x4s on the road are uneccesary in a practical sense, and many (not Skribbles saintmobile, obviously) are more dangerous than ordinary cars.

And the fact is that my friend has still not regained consciousness, and the bone trauma specialist says that had she been hit by an ordianry car her injuris would not have been severe.

Accidents happen, I feel sorry for the driver in many ways because hitting somoen must be the worst feeling. And if we are honest, there are moments where we have all had luck on our side and not caused an accident. But driving something that much more dangerous than an ordinary car, and in a city? I'm thinking, about that driver, come on then, lets hear your justification.

zippitippitoes · 09/11/2005 14:12

Blu my car is an ordinary car but does dreadfully on the pedestrian score with only one soft spot on the bonnet..

not defending either, but it would perhpas be helpful if the crash test results were more in evidence in car showrooms at least and then perhaps manufacturers would feel a greater obligation to directresources into safety for pedestrians

JoolsToo · 09/11/2005 14:14

I'd like to hear justification for

head up own arse
social climber
tosser
splashing cash about (big assumption being made here)
wanker

and what do you call an ordinary car? Mercedes? Lexus? Beamer - all HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE and heavy or Minis and Micras?

Blu · 09/11/2005 14:15

I think making it compulsory to put crash test results on sales info in showrooms is an excellent idea - like 'white goods' in Curry's have to show an energy rating.

Of course, car manufacturers or retailers wouldn't agree to this voluntarily - it would need to be law.

Blu · 09/11/2005 14:16

Well, I haven't said any of those things, J2, and am not very interested in a polarised 'two sides' war like debate.

Not sure countering one outbreak of bad behaviour with evidence of another is the best way to proceed.

Gizmo · 09/11/2005 14:17

Blu

I really don't want to cause offense: if my friend, or god forbid, my child, was lying in hospital about to lose a leg, then I would be raging mad. I think you're being very cool about it actually.

However, here is a thought experiment which you might find interesting (or it may be distressing, in which case I apologise). What if your friend had been hit by an idiot in an ordinary vehicle? Presumably the injuries would not be as severe, but I'm guessing you would still be extremely shocked, sad and angry at the driver anyway? Is there an 'extra' layer of shock/anger because of the nature of the vehicle?

I'm trying, I think, to work out how much extra social culpability one carries if you choose to drive a 4x4. Particularly if you drive one carelessly. Can it be compensated for in some way if you try extra hard to drive carefully? By taking advanced driving lessons perhaps?

Making these questions in the spirit of genuine enquiry, by the way, but if they seem shockingly tasteless then you don't have to answer them.

handlemecarefully · 09/11/2005 14:17

Personally I haven't been even slightly ruffled by any of the comments on here, tend to think it reflects more on the poster and have just chuckled quietly to myself...but yes, objectively, some people were rather rude!

zippitippitoes · 09/11/2005 14:17

my ordinary car is a Fiat doblo

and i do have a lot of empathy for anyone who suffers the impact of a road vehicle accident in whatever the situation

beatie · 09/11/2005 14:18

The problem with the pedestrian star rating is that the crash tests were carried out at a collission of 25mph. If there are real statistics to prove that 4X4s are twice as likely to kill a pedestrian they hit than a regular car, then that must be based on real gathered evidence.

Facts are facts. Crash tests are simulations.

DingDongMaloryOnHigh · 09/11/2005 14:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kelly1978 · 09/11/2005 14:18

Blu, I've admitted that drivign a 4x4 is down to my selfish reasons and explained them. I am sorry for your friend.

I don't see why I deserved to be attacked than someone in your position for example? I've always used public transport, and didn't start learnign to drive until I had dts and had to drive.

In london I managed to walk to school every day, and use public transport with dts and two older children. Now, I can't use public transport and so choose a safe car to transport my children. I'm not using a car for pure convienience like yourself.

All cars are a risk to pedestrians, so if we are on the topic of risk mimimilisation, why drive at all when you don't need to?

Skribble · 09/11/2005 14:20

Skribbles saintmobile I like that, I did a driver awareness training It was very educational but just proved what a great driver I am. Still squash squirrels and stuff is there a small animal rating?

JoolsToo · 09/11/2005 14:21

I'm not usually ruffled myself but feel some of these comments are a wee bit out of order - anyway I said I was bowing out so this time I am!