4x4's...........?

Question

........... value for money, safe and handy, or clog up the streets, only to be used off-road and only safe for those in the 4x4 and no-one else on the road?

Answer 1

All land in the UK is NOT privately owned, there are plenty of places you can legally drive off the public highway, but the vast majority of 4x4s NEVER see anything other than tarmac or taking the owner's daugter to Pony Club.

You're right, they're mainly a status symbol - either men with small genitals needing a big car or women wearing shades, a baseball cap & a pony tail trying to look like WAGs.

Ask them why they drive one, and you'll get the stock response 'I feel safe, my children are safe, I have a commanding view of the road' - quite right, but hit a kid on foot or on a bike on the school run in 2 tonnes of steel with a bull bar & the other parents probably will have a different view.

ps I own a 4x4, but I tow, drive across fields, etc.. - Honestly, it's not a status symbol, it's 12 years old!

Answer 2

I would say that 4x4s used as a general run about car are a waste of money. They can be justified for use of towing large caravans or trailers though. To often they are just used as status symbols especially mothers taking kids to school. These vehicles are called Off The Road, but when you think about it they never can do that because all land is privately owned and one would be committing an offence by driving off road.

Answer 3

in my opinion, should be only used in off-road, rural countryside areas.

Answer 4

I drive a 4 x 4, I didnt buy it as a status symbol, I had it because I have two young children, which need room for pushchair and bikes etc. Anyway why do we have to justify ourselves, we drive what we want to drive.

Answer 5

most 4x4's are owned by folk who use them for towing which they are excellent at due to weight and power etc.

currently being made anti social by political parties and  poorly informed  folk.

Many  4x4s  are even smaller than some estate cars like a large Volvo  and take up LESS room on roads. Its the height that makes them seem  very much larger than they really are.

  often sued in cities and towns a runabouts for mothers with kids  so they 'feel' safe and  don't have to worry about kerbing a wheel as  lots  of females  do when parking near schools.

  it should be the choice of whoever which vehicle they want to buy and run but within reason.

no point running a heavy HGV vehicle around a  small town  just to run kids to school even if it is safer.

?

  while the 4x4 group get a bad press from a minority of poor drivers and rich folk use  it as a showoff item ( I can afford it .. you can't) the  car itself is normally very capable machine and undeserving of its bad image.

in an impact though the other occupants normally come off worse ergo mothers want to be in one with kids.

until we start to stop or reduce mothers actually running kids around in cars and not letting them a=walk or b=use a combined transport system ( bus or shared car) it wont get any better.

  the higher taxation is not just about  getting  enviromentaly cleaner  cars it IS a tax on those who  choose to buy a vehicle the government don't like and  its a very good way of getting  higher tax returns  to boot.

Answer 6

I absolutely love the way people complain about 4x4 owners only buying their cars as status symbols - like just about EVERYONE doesn't buy their car as a status symbol?!

Car = status symbol - whatever type or make :-)