4x4 use in towns

[thorper]

An interesting article on the BBC site today:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/h...re/5309190.stm

And the campaigners website:
http://www.stopurban4x4s.org.uk/

I especially like the 10 reasons not to drive a 4x4 in town:

1. You're not a farmer
2. Your family fits into a saloon car or people carrier
3. You will breathe cleaner air
4. You will save money
5. You won't have to lie to your grandchildren (about your contribution to climate change)
6. You will be less likely to kill a pedestrian
7. You might see a small child early enough to avoid backing over them
8. You will be less likely to injure people in other cars
9. You will have a better time driving
10. People won't think you are an 'idiot'

[Jimbo]

You know, for the odd occasion when I am driving arond town (rather than lugging loads of gear/people & towing trailers about the place) I have considered the economics of a second car.

The things that are preventing me from getting a little 1.0l petrol or similar are as follows:

1./ Council actively make it as difficult as possible for me to have a second car, with parking fees for permits etc

2./ The only direct financial benefit I would see would be fuel economy (which would soon add up, as I spend around £375 a month on Diesel), and the environmental benefits are not likely to be noticeable to me (selfish I know).

3./ My landie doesn't bugger the suspension, nor does it ever ground out on the Portsmouth speed humps.

5./ The high driving position gives me great visibility coming up to round abouts, driving around the residential streets etc, and I can usually spot things far earlier and respond to them. This effect is more pronounced in town than on motorways, as generally more is happening.

4./ And I simply can't afford a second car...

And as for being less/more likely to kill someone - I find that not hitting them in the first place is generally a good plan

So, as I bought my Landie to do a small amount of off roading, cope with large amounts of gear, sometimes heavy tows, carry 7 people, and cope with the odd poor qaulity slipway, even though I live in a town, it's staying!

[BogMonster]

1. I own a farm
2. I don't have a family
3. It's windy here so I breathe clean air all the time
4. Well you have got to spend it on something haven't you?
5. See 2.
6. Pedestrians are more likely to be aware of a 2 tonne Tdi Defender on noisy mud-terrains approaching, than just about anything else apart from a fire engine. And if they are that dozy, then it can probably be considered natural selection.
7. See 6. A Tdi makes an excellent reversing alarm and the brief cloud of smoke on start up serves as an additional reminder.
8. Everybody else drives one too
9. No.
10. On balance I think I have seen more idiots driving cars than 4x4s, but at least driving a 4x4 gives me the chance to get away from a good proportion of the idiots.

So I have two

[Petrov]

So every people that works with boats and lives in the town need to have a extra car, cant be good for the enviroment.

[Simon B]

Originally Posted by thorper

1. You're not a farmer
2. Your family fits into a saloon car or people carrier
3. You will breathe cleaner air
4. You will save money
5. You won't have to lie to your grandchildren (about your contribution to climate change)
6. You will be less likely to kill a pedestrian
7. You might see a small child early enough to avoid backing over them
8. You will be less likely to injure people in other cars
9. You will have a better time driving
10. People won't think you are an 'idiot'

Ohhhhhhhh!!!!! I'm so ashamed

1. True so what, neither are Severn Trent
2. True so I have to go and buy one?
3. Tell me how, the exhaust is behind me.
4. True
5. We'll all leave that to the government
6. I'll stick to not hitting them, it doesnt accelerate that fast you know.
7. Then again you might just back over them in a saloon instead
8. You know, I bet that's what Prince Naseem Hamed thought
9. No not driving is a better time if it involves beer or boats.
10. I doubt me driving a saloon will change this sad truth.

So lets return again to their basic tennet CO2 emissions;
2 blokes in a v8 landy = 2x18 = 36 passenger miles per gallon
1 bloke in a saloon = 1x36 = 36 passenger miles per gallon

And what do we see in droves? the good old british commuter/rep

[codprawn]

Surely the fact that many Land Rovers are still running after 40 or 50 years has to be the ultimate in recycling?

They mention the Freelander in their hit list - it is actually smaller and lighter than a Pug estate and more economical.

Why don't they mention an Imprezza? It has a 2L engine - must be good. Ah but it only does 14mpg when driven properly.

Then again they are all in favour of buses. Maybe they should see them in Swansea - massive things that do 6mpg and have 4 people - yes 4 people on board at best!!!

The one reason that really got me was they mention the lack of visibility in a 4x4 when reversing - you may knock someone over. Well as most people spend FAR more time going FORWARDS I would have thought a 4x4 was much better for viz!!!

Load of frigging hypos as usual.

[thorper]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

So I have two

Given where you live Stephen, I think you can justify it

[Pete7]

So Ricky, what do you use to tow the tornado with ?

Anyway,

Originally Posted by thorper

I especially like the 10 reasons not to drive a Rib around the Solent:

1. You're not the RNLI
2. Your family fits into a small yacht
3. You will breathe cleaner air
4. You will save money by using a 4x4 off road (better mpg) as a hobby
5. You won't have to lie to your grandchildren (about your contribution to climate change)
6. You will be less likely to kill a Dolphin
7. You will be using a free source of power
8. You will be less likely to injure people
9. You will have a better time driving more slowly
10. You won't block up town quay in cowes on a weekend.

Pete

[Jono]

Originally Posted by thorper

Given where you live Stephen, I think you can justify it

Who does he have to justify it to? You? You run a boat for your hobby. Doesn't that smell of Hypocrisy?

[Richard B]

http://www.4x4prejudice.com