I have new focus for my hatred.

[Rys]

Originally Posted by Nick

for one thing, not many Scottish bred weasels have figured out how to fly, so at least you won't get molested...

I'm getting there

[Flibb]

Whats wrong withe the RX8? 25mpg and the inability to hold 4 adults. Actually my most hated care is in fact a 4x4


A 4x4 with room inside of sports car.

Ahh Pak000, I take it you missed the ncap results for the Rav4 then? 3 out of 4 for padestrian safety, same as the Honda CRV, freelander was crap at one, but thats no worse than a nice low down mini, suprisingly the audi TT appears to have scored ZERO on that front, want to restrict them as well?

[kalniel]

Originally Posted by Flibb

Dont worrk Nick when sports cars are trendy they will be driving those badly instead.

It's not the 'trendy' it's the falsely percieved 'safety' factor - they would much rather injure other people than have their own children hurt in an accident.

Start a campaign plastering 4x4 injury/trapped people pictures near schools and you might change that quite quickly

[[GSV]Trig]

UNlikely to change it where ever you stick the posters tbh as most ppl that have them are arrogant half blind sheets anyways, they think there safe so there attention level slips and they sit in a comfort zone, thats one of the reasons I dont like newer cars, there all about making the driver comfy and taking responcibility from the driver which in turn makes them less aware... IMHO of course...

[kalniel]

You're probably right, but I would be interested to see what the results would be if a school actually put out the information to parents and made them aware of the dangers of a 4x4 being used to drop kids off at school.

[Rack]

Add to that most sedans are coming out in AWD now - subaru and Audi have been at it for years, and now most other brands aer following suite.

Brilliant Nick, well written. Totally agree. Please send to all national papers and your MP. Hell I'm going to steal it and send it to mine! :-b

[James Griffiths]

four by fours are great because when Im not sitting on inferior pedestrians with one of my horse's I can get them wedged around the bull bar of my discovery!
Thanks James

[Nick]

*sigh*

James, there is such a thing as trolling, and you're doing it.

But one small mercy is that you're no doubt down south, probably in one of the counties surrounding London, so, when your gas guzzling 4x4 and trio of flatulent horses finish warming up the globe, you'll be left looking at an enforced seafront location or doing a brilliant impression of a Dutchman.

[schmunk]

Griffiths, there are words for people like you, and they're not very nice words.

[malfunction]

I always worry about anyone driving a 4x4 or a Volvo. Most of the time the only reason they bought one is to feel safe which tells you everything you need to know about their driving skills. I'm sure it's not everyone who drives them but I have a great example - on my commute to the office one week I saw the same volvo 3 nights in a row at the same 2 lane roundabout. Each time it was in the left hand lane, was indicating left and only exited the roundabout at the 3rd exit. I can only assume I didn't see the same bloke on the 4th day as he'd been plowed into from being a complete muppet... On the 5th day of that week I saw a different guy stop at the roundabout... Even though it was empty and there was no one to give way to... Come to a complete stop and then look *both* ways (perhaps he was looking for that Volvo...?). And people wonder why I usually catch the train to work.

[Sinizter]

I pick a car for my safety. Not the safety of the lamp post, the car that I *might* hit, or the pedestrian who *might* never be run over by it.

While I dont think I would personally buy a 4x4 at the current time, the safety of the driver of a motorised red bull can is not what I think about when picking a car.

You made your choice and bought what you drive, let others do the same. Whether you hate them or not, 4x4s are here and apparently becoming more popular.

[Nick]

I'm not stopping anyone from buying a 4x4 am I?

I might be tweaking their consciences into making them think a little before just blindly following the herd of fashion...

But I'll ask you this one, and I'd like an honest answer... If you're not going to buy a 4x4, and you do end up becoming a speed bump under one, how would you feel towards the person driving it?

Would you be understanding that they bought it for their safety?

It's a double edged sword, ain't it?

Cos as much as you don't care now, you'll care a whole lot more once a chunky set of bull bars has made your side-impact bars an integral part of your ribcage.

And 4x4s I think, are going to go into decline, purely because Mr Brown and Red Ken have taken a bit of shine to them tax wise... There's plenty that can afford to tax and run them but there's plenty more for whom it's a barely affordable status symbol.

[Sinizter]

I wouldnt feel annoyed because they bought one and I was involved in an accident with one - I would be more annoyed that I didnt get one. Because I see where they are coming from and there are times when I feel I should get one myself - both the safety of driver and passengers as well the awful roads with 65million speed bumps all over the place.

While not currently something I would consider, it is certainly something I will look seriously at getting in a few years time.

Taxes are going to go up and up - Nothing to be done about that. But if I can still afford to pay for it, thats not going to stop me getting one. I am not going to buy a smaller/cheaper/lighter car just to save £100-£200 a year.

[MD]

As someone who drives a car that could go under the step on the side of them I hate them.

Besides, young drivers cant afford big cars - imagine how much an ass whoopin a 12 year old fiesta would get from a land cruiser...

[nichomach]

I have to admit to detesting them, partly for the fact that they're pretty much designed to kill anything and anyone that they hit at any speed, partly because the vast majority of them are completely unnecessary and partly because their "nice high driving position" equates to "I can't see a ****ing thing" when one of them's pulled up on your right at a roundabout. Which is bloody annoying.

[usxhe190]

on the safety aspect

unfortunately, on the roads, it is just like jungle...and that is why people buy the biggest for paranoid reason...(rather than spend the money on real safety features)

to be honest, the same reason could be used for people who buys a large sedan rather than a Smart

the same reason was used by many people who brought volvos 200s/240s back in my age (when 4x4 were not popular road vehicles)