Does any one think 4X4 drivers care?

Question

Every few days some bigot posts a question on here about these dreadful 4X4's. As the owner of one, I really don't take any notice of these people, they haven't the faintest idea what they are talking about. They lump all 4X4's together, ignoring the fact that although some are heavy on fuel, so are many 4X2's, they may pollute the atmosphere, but so do many 4X2's. The list goes on. I can't afford to run 2 cars, and anyway, why should I? We use it for everyday use, my wife drives to work and back, and we go to feed her horse, which is incidentally up a very rough and muddy lane. We tow the hprse trailer with it, and I'm happy to potter along at no more than the legal limit. If I hold up a few speed merchants so what? I paid for the car, and I pay to run it. If I pay more for tax and fuel, so what? Remember all you sad drivers of tiny cars, I'm subsidising you! I accept your apology for being ignorant about cars, and hope one day you meet a 4X4 driver who cares about what you think!

Sorry, shouldn't have said that about drivers of small cars!

Thanks Peter for proving my point, what about drivers of Poche's, Mercs etc. And stop looking at my willy, I'm quite happy with it thanks!

Answer 1

i fully agree.i run a classic 3.5i range rover bit thursty on juice but im paying for it so y not?

Answer 2

Perhaps you're the exception, more than the rule. As another answer said, far too many mothers use big 4x4s for the school run in towns and cities. Talking to a few of them isn't a proper survey, I know, but the reasons I was given were because they needed more than 4 seats (sometimes) for extra children and because it made them feel safer, being high up and in a tough vehicle. There are lots of small "people carriers" which would suit just as well.
That said, my sports car is a 4x4 and shockingly thirsty. I drive it because I enjoy it! At least I'm honest about it.

Answer 3

In the past I have owned a number of 4x4 vehicles, because, like you, I had a requirement for their towing ability.

However, I do think that the increasing numbers of very large 4x4s being used to ferry kids to and from school etc are beginning to cause problems on our roads.

No doubt I will be seriously attacked for what I am about to say, but it seems to me that there is abundant and clear evidence that the (frequently women) drivers of so many of these vehicles are manifestly incapable of handling them safely and competently in traffic.

Any cursory observation of the chaos caused by Range Rovers, Landcruisers, X5s, Cayennes etc in the vicinity of a school around 9am or 3.30pm will demonstrate the serious problems these vehicles and their drivers produce.

This very morning I had the misfortune to have to follow an Audi Q7 along a country road then into a small market town - the level of incompetence displayed by the driver was beyond belief, and showed a total inability to place the vehicle accurately on the road, and to negotiate simple traffic situations. Her incompetence caused a lengthy tailback of traffic, and substantial disruption to the traffic flow in the town.

I agree with your point that part of the problem is the 'jealousy' factor, but I think the appalling manner in which so many of these vehicles are driven is a significant contribution to the anger which they seem to cause.

It is quite risible that one of the main reasons put forward for the use of these vehicles as transport for kids is that they provide a 'safe' enviromnent in the event of an accident. Whilst this may indeed be true in certain types of accident, the damage they can inflict on other road users is horrific, but, in any event, there is a strong argument that any putative safety advantage in those circumstances must be balanced against the substantially inferior stability of a 4x4 in a high-speed avoidance manoeuvre.

Answer 4

All a bit political this, two things to think about.

1.Pollution is a result (in this case) of the exhaust gases x Miles driven. Unfortunately the distance driven is normally never mentioned by the greens when moaning. So your greenie doing 20,000 miles in his small car does more damage than your average 4x4 doing 10,000.

2.4x4’s, burning fossil fuels, over fishing, killing whales or chopping down trees isn’t an issue, its only a problem when 6 billion people start doing it. Reduce the population and the problem goes away. Oh yes at the current population growth rate the worlds population is expected to be 36 Billion (6 times larger than today) by 2100

Answer 5

That's a typical 4x4 driver - selfish beyond belief.

How many times are you going to say 'so what, I don't care, why should I'? I bet you're from the Thatcher school of politics - go on I'm right aren't I? Stuff everyone else, I'm alright Jack.

And you are not subsidising anyone - you are being taxed due to the damage you do to the environment.

Also, can anyone tell me what 'bull bars' are for on these ghastly things other than to inflict even more damage on some poor soul who happens to be hit by one?

In your defence at least you have a horse trailer to tow - the worst ones are the school run 4x4's - whats wrong with these people?

In answer to your question yes 4x4 drivers do care - about themselves.

ps previous post - whats having the lights on got to do with fuel consumption? Shows how thick you people are.

Answer 6

Me, I run a 4Lt Cherokee. Why, well I`ve had all sorts of cars over the years and this is the only one that has never let me down, I`ve always been able to get home. I tow a HUGE caravan as well.
I chose it because being disabled I needed a car that is easy to get in and out of, most other 4x4`s are a bit to high, the Cherokees just right! Conversely, most "normal" cars are too low for me . Just to add fuel to the fire, try this one....Small cars use more fuel than big ones..how come, ..easy..theres more of them !!!

Answer 7

why would you hate 4x4 drivers? not all trucks go off road because obviously you are older then most people who do off roading and its bad for the truck. i may just be a teen but i think yall dont understand the concept of any vehicle is to drive. i live in a high military and a kinda laid back area where you see alot of trucks and most are lifted. i myself date someone that has one and not every person with a truck drives like that on the road. yall drive yalls little sports car and try to act all big and bad so everyone else does. if i could i would have a truck. so why hate people who drive trucks? they are a vehicle just better then yours cuz you can drive it on and off the road. dont hate people with not as much money as some of yall. so maybe you should drive the little cars better and you wont have a big truck come up behind you. ever though about that one?

Answer 8

Of course we care, I have one too, try to use it as little as possible - I have friends with newer, smaller engined cars that drive to places my family of 6 would walk to. It's a shame that people don't realise that driving a car with the air con on, the lights when not needed or hard acceleration/deceleration can cause their fuel consumption to match that of a 4x4, yet they come whizzing past in their desperate attempts to get to the never-ending front.
Lets talk about Tanks in Iraq that use over 1 gallon to start up engines that are based on jet fighters and don't consider emissions if we want to talk about waste & pollution - are they really needed?

Answer 9

It's amazing isn't it! Some of us really do drive them for practical reasons! Not all of us live in citys and towns with nice tarmaced roads and happy smile council people who grit the roads for you in winter and snow plough away the snow.
I drive a 4x4 because if I didn't there would be a substantial number of occassions where I would not actually be able to get back home, or even too work, and also for work as working with big and odd shaped (believe me) animals requires one. Mine turns out to be lighter on fuel than the flashy Honda sport I used to drive and therefore greener too.

Answer 10

i own a repair shop,and i have a 4x4 also, just not a big one i have a s-10 but it meets my requirements for what i do, but i get criticized for it sometimes people ask me my gas mileage ,which is pretty good,and then say dumb things like your wasting fuel or something,,i have to have my vehicle,because of the business im in,and like you say i buy the fuel for it,so i don't think no one has a right to put down another persons vehicle, if they had to buy my fuel,then they could complain a little bit ,but i have noticed especially here where i live in Tennessee,people usually drive a vehicle that they need ,and the use them for the purpose the was intended for so i don't pay no attention to what people say anymore,,good luck,i hope this helps.

Answer 11

You've got a point. I've owned a 4x4 in the past, but gave it up because my annual mileage increased, and it was costing too much to run.

I think the only reason people have a pop at you, is because they are not rich enough to own one themselves. It's called jealousy.

This whole environmental thing is just an excuse for nutters to complain and interfere in other people's lives.

As a footnote, you slagging off drivers of small cars will not help your argument. It just makes you look prejudiced.