4x4 Vehicles - Should they be banned from Town/City Centres

balsingh

Any 4x4 driver who thought their occupants were safer shoudl have watched 5th gear last night. In a head on collision between a Discovery and an Espace, the passengers in the Espace fared better. Admitedly, the Espace was a lot newer than the Discovery but at first look, anyone woudl have expected the Discovery to crush the Espace!!

110frankie

But of course rear seat passengers in an Espace are about six inches from the back window. So always go for a head on crash, don't let anyone run into the back of one.
... it's also worth noting that an Espace is bigger than most 4x4s yet no-one has a campaign going to stop them from being on the roads.
More proof that much of the anti-4x4 feeling is fuelled by spite and envy rather than practical considerations of size etc.

Murphy_The_Cat

110frankie wrote:

But of course rear seat passengers in an Espace are about six inches from the back window. So always go for a head on crash, don't let anyone run into the back of one.
... it's also worth noting that an Espace is bigger than most 4x4s yet no-one has a campaign going to stop them from being on the roads.
More proof that much of the anti-4x4 feeling is fuelled by spite and envy rather than practical considerations of size etc.

I know what you are saying, but what can't speak can't lie - and in the Fifth Gear test of drivers side front meeting drivers side front at an 80 mph impact, the Discovery (& it's "occupants") came off a LOT worse. Which was a surprise for me, & I imagine a surprise for a few 4 X 4 drivers as well.

MTC

Lob_Rockster

Did 5th Gear compare a Discovery2 and a new Espace by any chance?


Fundamentally a 1989 design -vs- a 2004 design?

balsingh

So the new rule is .... all those mums on their school run in a 4x4 ... BEWARE of Renault Espaces - they are 4x4-proof.

erroll

Why should 4 x 4 's be banned,its the people who steal cars and cause death who should be targeted. People have the right to drive what car they want, I have a BMW X5 which I feel so safe in for security reasons and I can see a lot more what's going on. I agree that people are just jealous, when I go out in my 4 x 4 noone will let you out, when I am in our other car, the mondeo, the treatment is completely different!!

Murphy_The_Cat

Lob_Rockster wrote:

Did 5th Gear compare a Discovery2 and a new Espace by any chance?


Fundamentally a 1989 design -vs- a 2004 design?

Yeah, it was a Discovery 2, I think aged about 1995 -1996.
And it was a mess.

It was also a good example of how a modern designed vehicle (Espace) crumples (& protects it's occupants) in an accident.

MTC

balsingh

In terms of safety, Renaults are very highly rated these days with the Megane, Laguna & Espace being class leaders for safety .... unfortunately, thats the only class leading thing about renaults.

Nicholas

erroll wrote:

Why should 4 x 4 's be banned,its the people who steal cars and cause death who should be targeted. People have the right to drive what car they want, I have a BMW X5 which I feel so safe in for security reasons and I can see a lot more what's going on. I agree that people are just jealous, when I go out in my 4 x 4 noone will let you out, when I am in our other car, the mondeo, the treatment is completely different!!

I don't mind letting vehicles out. If they are a lot bigger ie taller than my car, than more than likely I will not let them out because I like to see where I am going and the road condition ahead. If you have a 4x4 vehicle/bus/van/people carrier you just cannot see over them or around them.

I disagree, it is not jealously, at least not in my case. My neighbour has just aquired himself the most powerful and widest 4x4 on the market, and it is just a bloody nuisance. I have to carefully inch out around it (it just seems to be rooted to the spot most of the time) and hope any car coming up the street will see me.

But you are quite right. People can suit themselves and they do.:)

Murphy_The_Cat

Nicholas wrote:

I don't mind letting vehicles out. If they are a lot bigger ie taller than my car, than more than likely I will not let them out because I like to see where I am going and the road condition ahead. If you have a 4x4 vehicle/bus/van/people carrier you just cannot see over them or around them.

I disagree, it is not jealously, at least not in my case. My neighbour has just aquired himself the most powerful and widest 4x4 on the market, and it is just a bloody nuisance. I have to carefully inch out around it (it just seems to be rooted to the spot most of the time) and hope any car coming up the street will see me.

But you are quite right. People can suit themselves and they do.:)

Is it a Dodge Ram ? like this one



MTC