Why do silly Eco's insist on 4x4 bashing?

Question

The silly uninformed people who 4x4 bash about economy really should learn about ecology and costings. Even about big cars. As they get older the little cars smoke, pollute, and cost a lot to recycle earlier. Most large vehicles fall of the road a lot later and fall of the road due to other reasons nothing to do with cost, or wear and consequent pollution.
Is it their ignorance, the stupidity, or downright arrogant dogma that bash only a say small LR 4x4 and not a very large Mercedes.

No really, I would like to know why it is, not make a statement. The facts are non-contestable, I feel that there needs to be reason for the poorly set out table that these so called eco warriors are placing. This with scant regard to choices or needs of people, be it security, safety, number of persons, terrain, or whatever.

Answer 1

It's a cynical way for certain individuals to further their political agendas and whatnot.

And it's easy for them to bash the 4x4. Not everyone is going to really be aware of the emissions/fuel economy of cars on the market,a nd will believe the rantings of the eco-crowd because, let's be honest, 4x4s typically look huge and aggressive, don't they?

And it appears this targeting of a certain type of car is working for the reen lobby, but worringly, what will they target next? Sports cars? I bloody hope not!

I personally think the anti-4x4 fad is more to do with politics and envy than any sort of environmental protection.

Answer 2

Most people that bash 4X4's are bashing the people that think they need it when they live in a city that gets 2" of snow one day a year. Most people that have don't need. They just want to drive a large vehicle. I also disagree with the idea that the people who say it drive huge luxury vehicles. That's bull. They usually drive little 30+mpg disposable cars. The second answer is also bs. I sure hear a lot of people stepping out of limos criticizing people driving 4X4's.

Answer 3

Its a rhetorical question. This is like asking why are doctors always bashing fast food, or smoking? This is not to say that one or the other is right, but when you refer to an Eco, I would assume you mean someone who is environmentally friendly? Try to understand the question from an "Ecos" point of view.

To an Eco, most likely, it would make absolutely no sense at all for a single person to drive an overly large vehicle with a large gas guzzling engine just to get back and forth to work.

Personally, I like the looks of a lot of 4x4s, but economically, it really isnt feasible for me to own one, what with having 3 children and a mortgage and many bills and such. I drive 40+ miles one way to get to and from work. Funny thing is I must pass a hundred large V8 powered trucks and SUVs on the highway with only one person in the vehicle. I happen to know some of those people personally and they all like to complain about the price of gas like the rest of us. It makes me laugh a bit more when I find out that not a one of them owns a trailer, a boat or an RV which would require the use of such a resource wasting behemoth to tow around. It seems to me that these people merely want to drive these vehicles for the status.

Of course, this is a right that everyone has in this country, but is it moral, ethical and socially responsible?

I am not an Eco, per se, but I do understand the plight of the modern american adult. I love my 1972 Ford F100 (sentimental value) but it rarely gets driven as it only gets 10 mpg. I love my sports cars, although mine still gets about 26 mpg. 4x4s are fun and manly ( I guess ), but at a certain point they become un-realistic.

Again, Im not bashing 4x4s. I've owned them, but when I did, I needed them for their ability to pull a load, and carry my tools that were needed to support my family. It was also nice to have one to carry my family into the mountains for the long weekend camping trips.

Have fun with your 4x4's, just try to understand why someone else might not like them.

In my personal opinion (again) if someone has a problem with your 4x4, they should just keep it to themselves and be proud of themselves for having the willpower to not buy one of their own.

Answer 4

Have you done a life cycle assessment on all small cars compared to 4 x 4's / large engined vehicles? Probably not... If you bother to check out the supply chain for everything, including fuel, tires and everything else, you'll probably find that small cars IN GENERAL come out better.

The people who are being slated are those that use cars, etc to try and make themselves look and feel better. Does anyone really think that they actually NEED a 3 litre plus engine to take the kids to school and drive to the supermarket?

Personally, I'm not bothered about the type of car it is; its the sheer greed of using resources where they aren't necessary. 4x4's happen to be a representation of that...

Answer 5

They're trying to take the spotlight off of themselves because the people who bash 4x4 vehicles are usually the same people who get from Point A to Point B in a limousine that's a bigger gas-hog than even the most fuel-inefficient Hummer.

Answer 6

Chelsea Tractors (CT). Normal people and "silly eco's" hate them.

Lets not forget that 90% of the working population (the people generating the wealth, remember) couldn't afford one anyway, the average salary is about 22k /year remember.

They take up more parking space, meaning that the normal people have more difficulty parking.

They're heavier and more dangerous to other road users and lethal against pedestrians (especially small people). According to research carried out by US scientists in 2003, and published in the journal Accident Analysis & Prevention, pedestrians hit by large SUVs are twice as likely to die as pedestrians struck by cars.

Normal people and pedestrians can't see the traffic around them with a CT in front of them, increacing the hazards for other road users and pedestrians.

They're driven badly, on the whole.

We're a democracy and politicians like to act on policies that are, on the whole, agreed with by the general population.

Tax the hell out of those Chelsea tractors, I agree. Then legislate about vehicle height and weight, requiring an advanced driving test for anything above this height or weight.

"The silly uninformed people who 4x4 bash about economy really should learn about ecology and costings" - kind of reflects what some normal people think about CT drivers. We hate you for being so supercilious!

It doesn't take a genuis to apply basic physics to the resources used by a small and large vehicle.

Answer 7

But what about all the saloon cars that are 4 wheel drives?

Answer 8

They can tax what they like, how much they like I always drive my Chelsea Tractor, will you???

Answer 9

Amen, brother

Answer 10

If you want to rant and state your opinion as though it's fact why bother trying to disguise it as a question?