Is it really so difficult to follow lines on a road?

pendulum

Strider590 wrote: »

Nobody would deny that some have valid uses, but seriously..... Even you have to admit that most of them are fashion statements

A lot of people will pick a car based on looks or how they "feel" driving around in it, this is not just confined to 4x4 drivers. I would not say 4x4's are considered particularly fashionable any more either.

What I would say is I think most people who drive a 4x4 actually do so because it suits their practical needs, e.g. they want and will use the extra space, drive or live on unmade roads, want to drive in all conditions in winter, etc. The point was you can't say a 4x4 is "unnecessarily large" without knowing what the owner uses it for which the OP does not seem to grasp as he still stands by his comment.

bitemebankers

These women illustrate why some men buy 4x4s:

Mallotum_X

pendulum wrote: »

What I would say is I think most people who drive a 4x4 actually do so because it suits their practical needs, e.g. they want and will use the extra space, drive or live on unmade roads, want to drive in all conditions in winter, etc.

No i think the earlier poster was correct most 4x4 are to show off, nothing to do with unmade roads of off-roading.

If someone wants to show off then thats fine, however when they cant drive very well, which seems to be more often the case with 4x4 drivers then it just shows them up as idiots.

muddyl

Ok, had to chip in here.

I agree, some people are crap drivers. Be it they dont care, dont have the skill, are too lazy, whatever.
What makes a good driver is someone who knows this and drives accordingly. You cant change how they drive, just have to deal with it.

With regards to the 4x4. Some need them, some just like the statement. But I know a few who drive them because of the extra protection it affords their children and the extra visability, helping them to avoid the idiots out there.

With regards to pulling out next to the vehicle that is blocking your view. I used to work in insurance and they call it shielding, and it invalidates your insurance as your pulling out without due care and attention.

bitemebankers

muddyl wrote: »

But I know a few who drive them because of the extra protection it affords their children

...at the expense of the safety of everyone else's children.

This beautifully illustrates the selfishness of the people who choose these vehicles.

Strider590

bitemebankers wrote: »

...at the expense of the safety of everyone else's children.

This beautifully illustrates the selfishness of the people who choose these vehicles.

Nah, most 4x4's have terrible driver/passenger protection when compared to the average family hatchback...... But there are a lot of idiots who think big = safe, they probably think VW = Reliable, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbEa3C2vL7U

It's hard to make a 4x4 perform well in crash tests because the impact comes in from underneath the crumple zones, the impact isn't absorbed as efficiently and the engine gets rammed into the drivers legs.

Gordon_Hose

Drive defensively - stay out of their way.

muddyl

bitemebankers wrote: »

...at the expense of the safety of everyone else's children.

This beautifully illustrates the selfishness of the people who choose these vehicles.

Does it really?
Do you think they purposely buy these to put others at a disadvantage?

Would you choose to forgo a safety feature and put your children at higher risk for the sake of what you perceive to be selfishness?

Would you send your child into an ice hockey match with only half the padding because "some" of the opposition did the same?

In that case, all hgv's, van's, busses etc should be banned as surely they are putting those in smaller vehicles at risk. Absolute stupidity.

Strider590

muddyl wrote: »

But I know a few who drive them because of the extra protection it affords their children and the extra visability, helping them to avoid the idiots out there..

They're idiots, incapable of doing their own research and irresponsible enough to place the lives of their children in the hands of mindless gossip.

muddyl

Strider590 wrote: »

They're idiots, incapable of doing their own research and irresponsible enough to place the lives of their children in the hands of mindless gossip.

Not everyone is in the situation of being able to do a lot of research or even knowing how or where to start. In that case third party information may be all they have to go on. In which case they believe they are making the best choice.
It may not be right, but they are doing their best.
But I also think it depends on situation. As stated, the crash ratings are usually worse than family cars. But what if you live somewhere thats hard to drive in the snow. In which case the best vehicle to be in may well be a 4x4. And im not just talking about living in the sticks. I live in a town, but have a good few steep roads around. In the snow only about 1/3 can get out of our street, and it gets worse on the next road.