Why so much hatred for 4x4's & SUV's?

Horace

I wonder how many townies who are 4x4 owners buy tins of spray on mud?

VickyM_2

I still happily remember the day OH and I were driving along a narrow country road and a bright shiney new 4X4 driving towards us saw a large puddle and carefully swerved round it so it wouldn't get dirty :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I wish more 4X4 drivers would realise that their lights are set rather higher than other vehicles, and if they come up close behind smaller cars, they're dazzled. A bit more consideration like that (and perhaps, a bit more willingness to reverse when they meet another car on a country lane) might help counter anti 4X4 feelings...

Anarchist

VickyM wrote: »

I still happily remember the day OH and I were driving along a narrow country road and a bright shiney new 4X4 driving towards us saw a large puddle and carefully swerved round it so it wouldn't get dirty :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I wish more 4X4 drivers would realise that their lights are set rather higher than other vehicles, and if they come up close behind smaller cars, they're dazzled. A bit more consideration like that (and perhaps, a bit more willingness to reverse when they meet another car on a country lane) might help counter anti 4X4 feelings...

Both good points

Where I work, has lots of speedbumps everywhere. I've lost count of the number of times I've been laughing at the 4x4 owners slowing down over the speedbumps to half the speed of a child crawling. If a 10cm high bump in the road makes them do that, I wonder what on earth they would do if they ever faced an actual real muddy hill.

Inactive

Anarchist wrote: »

I wonder what on earth they would do if they ever faced an actual real muddy hill.

What, get their wheels dirty with mud, perish the thought..

MrsE_2

VickyM wrote: »

I still happily remember the day OH and I were driving along a narrow country road and a bright shiney new 4X4 driving towards us saw a large puddle and carefully swerved round it so it wouldn't get dirty :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I wish more 4X4 drivers would realise that their lights are set rather higher than other vehicles, and if they come up close behind smaller cars, they're dazzled. A bit more consideration like that (and perhaps, a bit more willingness to reverse when they meet another car on a country lane) might help counter anti 4X4 feelings....

My husbands always telling me to wash mine as its brand new to keep the bodywork nice, I tell him, they look better muddy:D

I do realise my lights are set higher, mind you tailgating is bad manners whatever you drive, but I am even more careful now not to hassle other road uses.

My work friend (who doesn't like 4x4's & asked if people gave me hassle on the road - see post one) was heading towards me today, but I didn't even know it was him till we met in the kitchen. Anyway he said to me "you were very good pulling well in & letting me go first" I said "?", he said "that was me you pulled in for on xxxx road, lol". I didn't know his car, but he said he might change his opinion on 4x4 drivers:D

Anarchist wrote: »

Both good points

Where I work, has lots of speedbumps everywhere. I've lost count of the number of times I've been laughing at the 4x4 owners slowing down over the speedbumps to half the speed of a child crawling. If a 10cm high bump in the road makes them do that, I wonder what on earth they would do if they ever faced an actual real muddy hill.

One thing I love about my 4x4 is I can do 30mph (the speed limit) through the village over the speed bumps without having to slow down at all, unless of course there is a car in front of me, then I have to crawl behind them.

withabix

Inactive wrote: »

What, get their wheels dirty with mud, perish the thought..

Perish the thought!

I washed the mud off mine this morning - the river was 6 inches up the doors when I was half way across

My passenger was a little nervous for some reason....

Chesnut1

Look face facts there are some people who will be inconsiderate drivers no matter what they drive. I try to be a good 4x4 driver but I was the same when I owned smaller cars and as to headlights I agree but could someone please tell the owners of vehicles with front fog lights to only use them when it's foggy!I admit I never get hassled driving my Discovery even on the very odd journey to the nearest city (out of need not want) but then mine is always covered in mud and only gets cleaned twice a year, apart from the windows, so that I can see out.

exil

I don't think the objection is to 4x4s as such, a compact one can be not far off the same fuel consumption as a normal car - it's the sheer size of so many of them, and often with just the driver on board. A relative of mine has one - weight 3 tons, used 2 parking spaces on her very narrow street, and got 15 miles to the gallon.

It seems to be a British thing - you don;t see them in France, Germany or Italy - presumably as they don't follow US fashions so slavishly.

pandas66

!!!!!! wrote: »

Which means that the strike point against a human body is higher. This results in the body being pushed back and the vehicle going over the top of it rather than a bumper at knee level pivoting the body up on to the bonnet where injuries would be less.

Depends what the accident involves surely.

My Dad had a fairly serious accident 2-3 weeks ago, he was driving a rover 75 towing a pig trailer, his brakes failed and he ended up taking out a 4 x 4 who as slowing down at a roundabout, had the other diver been in a far smaller (lower down car) he would've been badly injured. As it was the 4 x 4 took the brunt of the trailer, the passenger side was caved in but the driver was ok :T

Dads car is in the garage being repaired. Dad is shaken and stirred.

Chesnut1

You make a good point pandas66 it very much depends on the situation. I hope your dad recovers OK from all this.Another point when it comes to safety is speed. If you drive a bigger 4x4 properly then you are all to aware that anything over 55 on normal roads and you are going to have a stability problem due to the high center of gravity. So you can not put your foot down and throw these vehicles around like a normal road car. Now everybody says speed kills, well apart from the minority of idiots who use these as Kensington tractors and put there foots down these are quite slow vehicles if driven correctly. This may annoy some but then any good 4x4 driver worth his/her salt will pull in to let others go but we are not normally the ones who are speeding. ( Although there are always exceptions)