General Chat

I agree with some others on here that it is mainly the Bull bars that are uneccesary and dangerous. I too watched the watchdog programme years ago when it hilighted the problem. Its not the size of the car, but the accessories on them and some of(not all) the drivers who are dangerous. Elaine x

All I would say is last february when we had a heavy snow fall all 4x4s I saw were sliding back on hills as the drivers did not know how to engage the 4 wheel drive. assuming they knew they had 4WD in the first place. Bob

It's a slippery slope when you start to dictate to people and deny personal choice. I don't have a 4x4 but I have a larger car than one would expect for the two of us because we have two dogs and a caravan. Should I be forced to get rid of those and trade down to a small car? Plenty of people live in houses with more bedrooms than they need. Should they be forced to sell up and move to a smaller house? The UK is overpopulated. Should we restrict the number of children allowed per female? Be careful, very careful.

i didn't realise how many of you would have one!we use ours for towing.i use it for the school run as i only have this vehicle and a van.if i take the van my kids are not strapped in.it is not a sign to anyone that i have one cus i can afford one, it is because i need one.i class myself as a very good driver having taken lessons to drive with a trailer on the back.anyone can be a pest on the road no matter what they drive! we had a crash 2 years ago,not our fault.someone pulled out infront of us and hit my car.if my car had been a normal car we would have been injured quite badly.luckily us being a bit higher saved us from that.i'm sticking to my 4x4 and i don't care what people think or say.if i could afford one i would have a hummer for show instead i will stick to my trooper.and no i don't have a bullbar.but i would like one..they are great for parking, if you pull in too far at least you know!!only joking!!!!!

I can appreciate farmers, off roaders, caravanners, etc pulling big trailers, needing the extra bit of grunt that 4 wheel drive gives, and yes its handy in the snow..........extremely handy if a one comes by while you are stuck, and 'he' can pull you out of a hole.....

Hi, I'm with Bob.on bull bars. There is no reason, other than vanity, to drive a vehicle with bull bars on ordinary roads. Years ago Watchdog ran a campaign to try and get them banned. I cannot remember the statitics but know that a collision with a pedestrian, especially a child, is far more likely to be fatal if the vehicle has bull bars. Gwynne

Two of our vehicles are 4x4's. One is a Suzuki SJ410 and the other a Tracker. They do not guzzle gas. I drove it in 4 wheel drive last week during a heavy snowstorm. If I didn't have it in 4 wheel I would have been all over the road. Also we have in the past spent many a weekend 4 wheelin. We are planning on doing just that this weekend. Theres nothing wrong with 4 wheelers!

I am with Kim on this one!! LOL!!

We have two 4x4 vehicles or SUVs as they are known here. We regularly drive in snow so we do need the 4x4 option. Not all 4x4s are gas guzzlers. Ours are not full time 4 wheel drive. 4 wheel drive only cuts in if the wheels begin to slip or if we set it to 4wd. Crista

Well I think they should be banned!!!! only cause I'm jealous! I WANT ONE!!!!!! Drive a Scenic at mo, but waiting for April!!!! Hubbie's got one, with 'crew cab' so why can't I????

hubby has always had range rovers and discoveries! he decided to go for some thing different and got a chrysler voyager(7 seater)! we have had it for 3 years now and love it.it is handy for carting all 8 grandchildren around in lol just lately hubby is pining for a range rover again,so it looks like that we will soon be part exing the chrysler i dont think they are a status symbol at all. we tow a 27ft caravan down to weymouth each year and so we need a heavy vehicle everyone to their own i say susie xxxx

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?

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

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.

Chris. XXX Baz

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

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

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

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

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.