Women in 4x4's?

Question

When picking my daughter up from playgroup, I noticed that nearly all the mothers were driving 4x4's.

It's been often implied that men who drive ferraris/porsches are compensating for a lack of size in the trouser department. (I drive a corsa, by the way) Do you think women are doing the same when they buy 4x4's? Perhaps they have empowerment issues and want to wrap themselves in a big strong car? What are your thoughts?

Court D - good answer, but you can do that in an economical MPV or an estate car - So why all the landrover discoveries, rav4's and mitsubishi warriors? There's no point. They are a danger to pedestrians, and you cannot see small children around them.

Dennis K - Did you know the average 4x4's bumper is child head height? What kind of safety is that?

Coolcat - Don't believe you.... And if you do, you've more money than sense.

Answer 1

Hi,

I know a middle class, middle England mother, who refers to her Isuzu Trooper as ,'The Tank' , she feel vunerable, and thats why she drives a big car, to intimidate other drivers.
There IS a aspirational and status symbol aspect to this aswell, despite the denials of some females, they tend to look to fashion and magazines to tell them how to live their lives.

The 4 wheel drive status symbol thing started with the RANGE ROVER,
Anyone remeber the ranger rover VOUGE ?

VOUGE magazine asked for a range rover to feature , so one was tared up and provided, that many reader then wanted to buy one that it was launched as a production model.
Vouge magazine set the fashion and the manufactures continued it.

Those femails who calim they need a 4x4 to carrt lots of kids do shopping etc etc, why not buy a ford transit ? they do a nice executive minibus with 10 seats and lots of luggage space, cheaper too, more visiblilty for the driver, easier to park, and much kinder to pedestrians in an accident.
Why not ?
not fashionable thats why

Answer 2

Why does everyone think that 4x4s are dangerous, surley its the person behind the wheel. I drive a 4x4 and dont feel that i should have to explain to people why i do so. I've worked all my life and chose to buy a 4x4 as my car, and i dont think that women are compensating for anything, ifact its usually the man who buys the car and the wife just drives it, so the question should be why do Men buy 4x4s.

Answer 3

We need these big *** cars and trucks cause the hauling of the kids, and their stuff, and thier friiends and thier sports gear is almost always done by the mom. We need a all terrain vehicle with alot of seating for the kids and big back areas for all of their crap. Also we are usually left to run the errands, grocery shop etc. and once again we need a large vehicle to fit all the food and stuff into. And depending where you live there are no mroe"snow" days as an adult. We need that baby to go in snow, rain and anything else we choose to run over!!! Watch it men!!! You could be next!

Women dotn buy things like men to compensate for things they are lacking in life...We buy the 4x4's for their use and cause we need them...Not to "show" off or look better than we are.

Answer 4

Yep 4x4 are really safe. A Land rover free lander , A common school run car is one of the worst cars for safety in the Encap cars tests.
When you stand by a school watching some of the worst driving in the world by mums picking up their rug rats, It amazes me that they don't run over some one else kids, They don't signal , use mirrors (apart from to do hair and make up in) , Have no road sense and often make other drivers give way by pulling out with looking.
Why don't they try putting their kids on the school bus , worked for every one when I was at school.

Answer 5

Women drive 4x4's because they care about the safety of their children. A heavier car always wins in an accident, why put the safety of your children in jeopardy for 30mpg, it is not worth it. Also, since you have a child, you know how much stuff they require, especially when young. Since my daughter is an only child, we are always hauling other children around because she needs to bring a friend or two or three. People who claim big vehicle owners are lacking in one department or another are just ignorant. Ask them where they got their psychology degree. Some moms (and dads like me) just need a large vehicle to haul a lot of stuff. It sure is nice when you take a weekend trip and just pile everything you may need in and not have to buy it in the only store in town. BTW, I drive a suburban, so I may be biased.
It is a big strong vehicle, but I am always doing some type of repair/replacement/upgrade to our house and hauling wood, concrete, plumbing supplies, drywall, etc home.

Answer 6

My husband drives a Land Rover discovery, and I drive an Astra. I'd rather drive my Astra anyday. His car is way too big and bulky, aswell as being unnecessary. My husband needs his car 4x4 for work purposes, but If he didn't do the job he does we'd never have got one...

Answer 7

Lol..we farm.wife has a Chevy step side Z71..also a new Malibu...she sits higher in the truck..feels safer in traffic.We also have a old unimog..and a 4x4 f 350 supercrew dully..all just tools..lol

Answer 8

No a 4x4 is a very laxious car. It has nothing to do with us trying to compensate for something. We already have it all.

Answer 9

Well, first of all I know many women who drive big 4x4's and go muddin with them. and they buy 4x4's for power and control. and yes you people in your porches dont know how to drive at all. ex. wen a bottle falls to the floor dont immediatly slam on your brakes open your door and let it fall out. and dont wonder why you get the middle finger foer going 45 in a 65 you are suposed to be going 90.

Answer 10

half them are scarred to take them off the road to let you past. 5% of them might need a 4x4 but the rest are compensating for something