Why the anger against 4X4's?

Question

Why do so many people hate 4X4's? I'm not getting into the arguements about what use they are, but the hate against the drivers. I don't own one, I don't want one, but what right have I to insult the people who do? If you read any of the anti 4X4 answers, they all personally insult the drivers, why not admit that they don't like the vehicles for no logical reason. Things such as "They are driven by small men with an inferiority complex", or "by mothers on the school run", the drivers are agressive etc etc. Well of course all these points are true - but not of just 4X4 drivers. The drivers of all vehicles, small, large, 2 wheel drive, 4 wheel drive Volvos, Fords any type and make of car has good, bad and indifferent drivers. Just because a car ha 4 wheel drive doesn't make it huge. Many medium sized cars are 4X4, even what you would call normal cars, such as the Imprezza are 4X4. If some one wants a car with 4 wheel drive, and they're paying to buy and run it, it is up to them.

Remember many 4X4's won't get very far off road - X Trails, X90s, BMW X5s, 4 wheel drive also improves road safety. If you don't like 4X4's admit it is simply because you don't like a vehicle with 4 wheel drive. Weird but true.

Answer 1

I think it's because they are just so very large, and, in the main, driven very badly (like many other cars!). Of course, there are the environmental factors to consider as well.

Answer 2

I cannot stand or understand why people generalise regarding the type of people driving 4x4's. I have a 4x4 which I only use to tow my horse trailer. The rest of the time it sits in my drive because it costs a fortune to run. My everyday car is a small economical hatchback. My point is I use my 4x4 for a specific purpose that would be impossible with any other type of vehicle. It isn't a "townie" 4x4, which would be useless offroad, because I depend on it's 4x4 capability. So not everyone who has a 4x4 is on the school run or is an aggressive driver (I drive at a snail's pace when towing my horse). Please don't tar everyone with the same brush.

Answer 3

They're not always driven badly it's such a stereo type. I drive our mustang harder than our 4x4 Mountaineer. It's actually all wheel drive and I like it because in the winter time I don't have to worry about my wife having a problem. She doesn't have to worry about turning it on, forgetting to turn it off if she gets on the interstate and it's there when she needs to use it. I've always like 4x4's in the winter and would turn it on even if there was a lighter dusting of snow on the ground mainly because people don't pay attention and we all know how good the stopping power is in the snow, at least with 4x4 you have a better chance of getting out of the way.

Answer 4

I don't think people have anger against 4x4s, its against the large psuedo-offroad SUV 4x4s.

I also think people have an afection for landrovers ( the 90's etc, not the discos ) so those 4x4s are not hated.

Accepting some people need 4x4s, and i have no problem with farmers etc who need them. Also, coming at this from the point of view that i own a farm and live in rural shropshire and don't need a 4x4 for road use.

I don't like large 4x4s because:

They are generally overkill and waste too many resource for any given journey
They take 2 parking spaces
The doors are high and because of thier width they bang into others when getting in/out
The owners sit too high and cannot judge near objects
They are dangerous at junctions because i cannot see past them

I think thats enough reasons considering they are not necessary in the first place for the majority of people.

My reason is not ENVY as stated above, i could go any buy 10 of them tomorrow if i wanted.

But in the snow, in rural shropshire, towing trailers of muck, animals, food.... my SAAB does just fine thanks. If i don't need one, then not many people do.

It all boils down to how much right do people have to impact others, and what are the boundaries where there choice should be limited for the benefit of the majority.

Answer 5

you are confused.

Folks don't "Hate" the vehicles, they envy the owners of them.

But, the 'hatred' is mostly at the SUV 4X4 owners who are too stupid to realize that their arrogance in their poor driving habits and lack of skills on the road, actually intimidate the smarter and quicker lot.

All the Off Road magazines have done consumer surveys that show that less than 1% of all 4X4 miles are off road! For the most part, it is bragging rights territory, and the alter ego of folks who are rich and stupid.

Owning a fleet of multi purpose all wheel drive vehicles, you would think I might hold your views, but, most of the other drivers I have seen or met are truly examples of "more brains than common sense" people who should not have been permitted to exit the trailer park today, or at any time that sensible and safe drivers are about.

If it weren't so insane, it would almost be funny, how many of the 4x4 vehicles are a boost for ego, instead of an assertion of intelligence.

Answer 6

For big cars that are meant to be driven off road (and are ALWAYS advertised as such) the drivers of them are either: 1 Drive like an idiot that owns the road or 2 are scared to drive it properly.

What is the point in have a big 4 litre car when you just take the kids to school? Its more justified for a farmer to have one.

Answer 7

An oncoming X5 driver this morning was driving way too fast for the conditions forcing me to make use of my ABS.
If his vehicle wasn't about 1foot wider than most cars, even though he cut across the centre line, there would have been enough room to pass safely without needing to brake.
(I thought the main argument the drivers use is "they are safer")

Carbon - generally an engine will only emit as much carbon as it takes in (as fuel). We are already taxed on fuel, and this tax is directly proportional to the amount of fuel used.

The drivers of these low efficiency beasts understand how much fuel takes them from A-B, and that is part of their reason for buying such a vehicle in the first place (the I can afford it factor), it is proof that humans still have a childish retarded "insect-mind" attitude towards money and greed.

Answer 8

The reason is ENVY. It's exactly the same for most anti groups. They attract losers who have little or no control over their own destiny and therefore feel the need to band together with other losers and try to exercise influence the lives of others.
Take a look at most anti-whatever groups. Most of their members will be toss*rs who are protesting against the right of others to do something that they can't afford to do themselves. E.g: They can't afford a nice car so they don't want anyone else to have one. They can't afford to go on nice holidays, so air travel must be curtailed.
Don't forget the hypocrisy either. I've yet to hear of an anti animal testing activist who has refused life saving treatment because it has been developed on animals.

Answer 9

We have a Honda CRV and it runs on the clean diesel which runs for longer and cleaner. We need our larger car because we need the extra space. It's impossible to put 2 kids, 2 adults and any adults into a normal car size without the adult being squashed up in between 2 car seats and they are unable to put their seatbelt on properly . It's safer to travel if you have a family and they can all be belted in properly. Also if you were in a crash you would stand more chance of your little ones surviving. I don't drive and certainly would never use a car for the school run. I don't see the problem as my husband uses the extra boot space for his work (he needs to put loads of computers in it). No one complains about men who drive vans for their work do they?

Answer 10

I agree with your comments but i would like to add this !
Most of the so called 4x4 vehicles are two wheel drive ! with the option of four wheel drive if required, very few people use the four wheel drive option for normal every day driving , "SO WHY THE HATE CAMPAGNE"??????