General Chat

just read an article in the local paper about the green party.they held a protest dressed as lollipop ladies outside a school near me protesting about people who drive 4x4's.they reckon they are dangerous and harmful to the environment.also that people drive these vehicles to show off!! well, as a 4x4 owner/driver i am outraged.who do these people think they are?i drive a 4x4 as it has 7 seats, i have 5 kids so need a big vehicle,my car is very economical to drive,it may be diesel but i bet its alot cleaner than some petrol cars,and as for it being dangerous, i think my car is very safe.How can people prejudice against others in this kind of way?What about buses and lorries?

I also have a 4x4, not to show off but because the medical condition I suffer from makes it easier for me to get up into the 4x4 rather than down into a normal car. Christine

Hiya ladies, I`m very sorry, but I disagree. I can see no reason for the use of large 4X4 vehicles on for example,`school runs`. If there were a legitamate reason for their use, fine,but the majority of users I`ve expearienced,have them purely as a status symbol, plus, not many people know how to drive them properly. Not all mind you. I believe they should be in a place that warrants their use, and that is on rough ground.ie,farms,quarries etc. Baz

I have a Grand Cherokee that I saved hard for and waited years for and normally there is only the two of us in it - so what ! I don't give a stuff about what the Green Party or anyone else says. It is our one luxury and we enjoy it. It seems these days there is always somebody trying to tell you how to live your life!! Sorry had to blow my top! Jx

Good on yer Julia, I just try to look at things from both sides,not meant to upset anyone,last thing I`d want. To be honest.....I love `em. Baz

I have no views either way, but just thought I'd say that my husband has a medical problem, due to a spinal operation, that means he cannot get into a normal car. We have a Vauxhall Zafira. That will also seat 7 people. Margaret

We have a lovely one and the reason was that after trying our family of four in about eight different cars it was the only one that my husband could fit in properly and that's with the chair all the way back. My son is able to sit behind and we have the option of putting the baby chair on that side too with both children having leg space. We do also spend quite a bit of time up hill and down dale and off to the stables down rough tracks so it is a bonus to be comfortable after all trying to squeeze into a Honda accord and then a Renault Megane. Blast his long legs!!! Abigail

I agree with Baz. If you need a 7 or 8 seater car there are plenty available that aren't 4x4s. I have owned several 7/8 seater cars over the past 20 or so years, none of which were 4x4s. My husband drives a 7 seater Kia Sedona (diesel auto) because he is disabled and finds it difficult to drive a small car, and I drive a 7 seater Peugeot 406 (petrol auto). Why would anyone need a 4x4 to drive on a normal road? Or am I missing the point here? Sue xx

Baz Sorry - just read my reply after yours and sounds like I'm getting at you. I must have been composing my reply at the same time as you. I was blowing my top at all the rules and regulations in this Country today. Oh, by the way I live on a farm... Am I forgiven? Jxx

Julia, XXX. Baz.

Sorry Baz, going to have to disagree about this, like I said I have a medical problem and like the other person I really dont care what other people think. Christine

we all know that cars pollute the atmosphere. small ones do it, bigger ones just do it a bit more. Its all about personal choice. If you want to drive a 4x4, drive a 4x4. they're no worse than all the big mercedes and bmw's that you see pounding up the motorways every day. ps I drive a picasso, 5 seats, but if I wanted a range rover, Id have one, whether I live in the town or the country.

Hiya Chris, That`s fine,didn`t mean to be antagonistic, but where I live there are a lot of 4X4`s,mainly driven by women who haven`t a clue on how to drive them. The danger side of things,I believe stems from the physical size of the vehicle,and in the event of an accident will do untold damage to either cars, or pedestrians,,,,,,as opposed to a `normal` car. I understand about lorries,buses etc. but these are driven by professionals,and I class myself as one of them. But the majority of 4X4 drivers really are not that good. Present company excepted. Baz xx

Perhaps the young ladies in central London with beautiful hair and beautiful shoes might not necessarily need them. I can't imagine the ones I know ever going off road in the countryside (if you get my meaning)! They do make me giggle but whilst perhaps the tests do show a higher pollution potential why should they be so much more dangerous. If I had an accident in it I would blame myself not the car I think - because I can't think of any nasty habits my car has - at least I don't think it eats stray children! Abigail

Sorry I sounded stroppy Bax, just that son has a people carrier and daughter has a people carrier and I cannot get into either of them. Believe me hubby would be delighted to get rid of the car and buy something cheaper. Christine

Well the green party would have field day with me then, i Live in Essex (Romford) and i own a white Freelander!! I don't drive kids to school at 22 & 24 i think they are too old, but at the end of the day so what! It's my choice what i drive and it's my money that paid for it, no offence to anybody but why should i have to justify what i drive to please someone else Grrrrrr

Chris. XXX Baz

When I win the Lottery...............I'm intending to buy one. A bright red one. So Yar Bo Shucks!................I shall feel safer in it. Jo.

My hubby and I both drive a 4x4. He has a Honda Pilot and I have the smaller Honda CRV. After all the snow we get here, I wouldn,t be without it. Not because it,s a status symbol but because I don,t like getting stuck in snowdrifts! If I lived in Florida, I would probably settle for a riding lawn-mower. Lol

But why a four wheel drive? there must be suitable vehicles of a more standard design? or is it really "I can afford it so i'll have one...! I cant Imagine running around in a jeep, which is their fore runner..........LOL.. and WHY do they HAVE to have the bull bars? there aint any bulls on a school run....or are they there to intimidate other road users?