4 x 4's back in favour

[OmOnWeelz]

We only commuted 20 minutes to work, the distance you commute has nothing to do with when you may need to use a car.
My wife got an emergency call whilst at work to go to a Yorkshire hospital as our daughter had been rushed there, electric car wouldn't have been of any use. Six months later I got a similar life and death call, I spent a over a week going back and forth to the hospital. Even if an electric car could have got me there, where would I have charged it?
But surely car use is about the freedom to choose freely when you travel or need to travel on a whim, unless you have a strict 100%regimented useage of a car what good is a car that's not available. A couple we know had an electric Mini on a trial loan, "useless" they cut the trial short. A simple detour from work was an issue and motorway use not advisable, battery life was just ot consistent. That will improve, but it will be a long time before these cars are in every day use I believe. In the electric Mini even a mobile phone and a satnav became an issue.

 

[xtrailman]

nobody's trying to force you to go electric, you have a choice of which car you drive.
Small car, large car, small engine, large engine, etc.
I don't really understand why you are so anti, same as i don't understand the anti 4x4 brigade.

In the past Luddites wrecked machines because they couldn't look further than the old ways.
The world has changed, even from when i was a lad, change is all around us.

If i had suggested 20 years ago that one day i would be typing a message to total strangers, using a strange machine called a lap top, then the men in white jackets would be coming to take me away?

Next time you have a home emergency, can you be 100% certain your car will start?

 

[JonnyG]

We only commuted 20 minutes to work, the distance you commute has nothing to do with when you may need to use a car.
My wife got an emergency call whilst at work to go to a Yorkshire hospital as our daughter had been rushed there, electric car wouldn't have been of any use. Six months later I got a similar life and death call, I spent a over a week going back and forth to the hospital. Even if an electric car could have got me there, where would I have charged it?
But surely car use is about the freedom to choose freely when you travel or need to travel on a whim, unless you have a strict 100%regimented useage of a car what good is a car that's not available. A couple we know had an electric Mini on a trial loan, "useless" they cut the trial short. A simple detour from work was an issue and motorway use not advisable, battery life was just ot consistent. That will improve, but it will be a long time before these cars are in every day use I believe. In the electric Mini even a mobile phone and a satnav became an issue.

I APOLOGISE, I don't get any of this.
" the distance you commute has nothing to do with when you may need a car"!
What? for many many millions they buy a car to fit their needs! being as this is a caravan site than it aint rocket science to assume we will have at least one vehicle of a size capable of towing a caravan! But to suggest everybody thinks the same as you is preposterous! I repeat for millions a car is solely to commute or do the shopping You seem to use rather extreme examples for your reasoning, which might apply to you but not to many millions of others. personally my life and many others follows a similar pattern and having looked back over the last year, thankfully cannot think of an emergency that had me rushing off on a 300 odd mile round trip! indeed nor the year before that or the year before that either. and frankly cannot see how this argument fitts in. You might as well have family abroad and argue we should all have helicopters or light air planes, just on the off chance of an emergency!
Sorry

 

[Parksy]

Just to throw a bit of a spanner into the works of this discussion how many 4x4 owners ever consider catching a bus?
Electric cars have been mentioned, what about public transport for short shopping trips etc?
Obviously not everyone has access to good regular public transport but as the owner of a fairly large 4x4 living in a dense urban connurbation we use buses and trains fairly regularly. My Mitsubishi 4x4 is a thirsty beast, on longer journeys and on motorways the fuel consumption is just about acceptable but the vehicle is wasteful on short shopping trips and if used as a shopping commuter car regularly the fuel bill wouldn't be acceptable to me.
So we often use the bus which stops at the end of our street or if travelling the 8 miles into Birmingham the train takes the strain

 

[ShadySadie]

I APOLOGISE, I don't get any of this.
" the distance you commute has nothing to do with when you may need a car"!
What? for many many millions they buy a car to fit their needs! being as this is a caravan site than it aint rocket science to assume we will have at least one vehicle of a size capable of towing a caravan! But to suggest everybody thinks the same as you is preposterous! I repeat for millions a car is solely to commute or do the shopping You seem to use rather extreme examples for your reasoning, which might apply to you but not to many millions of others.

If there are many commuters that only use their cars for that purpose and shopping I'll be surprised

Many people who commute by car travel more than 20 or 50miles to work, many commuters are also on call. I was key holder for my business premises and got called at awkward times far to many times. A car on charge would not have been an option.
We've had an electric Mini from BMW and we've both drove a Nissan Leaf in Japan.
We wouldn't consider buying either for commuting or any other use now, manufacturers are running with electric cars before they have conquered walking with them. Electric cars may have a future, but not for a while yet.
Even if we were sub ten thousand mile a year motorists I wouldn't trust a Leaf or a Mini to cover what we need from a car.
I can say that Electric cars do have one really positive feature, being so quiet many more people are likely to be run over by them than with 4X4 cars. So 4x4 users should get less bad press

What are Buses Parksy? We see the odd train at the level crossings near hear. All they seem to do is carry reallly miserable looking people and hold up the traffic

 

[OmOnWeelz]

In the past Luddites wrecked machines because they couldn't look further than the old ways.

I think that remark is rather misplaced, it's not a case of not liking the idea of electric cars, but of not liking something that is not fit for motorists full use!
I had a Sinclair computer that was fun to play with but pretty useless campared to what I'm using now, personal home computers only really took off when they became practical for every one to use. Electric cars are just not that practcial yet.

 

[Parksy]

..............What are Buses Parksy? We see the odd train at the level crossings near hear. All they seem to do is carry really miserable looking people and hold up the traffic

Buses are long slow vehicles which belt out lots of black smoke and are full of eastern Europeans.

A bus journey in this area is an education, the drivers rarely speak English and there are no such things as queues, it's every man or woman for themself.
I don't mind using them now and again, I've got my bus pass so I might as well use it and slowly but surely I'm learning to speak Polish. Smiling is discouraged although on one memorable St Patricks night I led the community singing on the inebriated journey home much to the disgust and embarrassment of two of my sons.

Son number three was in a similar state to my own so he didn't seem to mind too much and the assorted foreigners were really happy - when I got off.
Our commuter trains are much nicer, there's a free newspaper and my bus pass is still good for local trains so if I decide to visit the bright lights of Wolverhampton it's quicker on the train (electric powered of course) and the tree huggers are happy.

Besides, no one tries to nick my car.

 

[Parksy]

I almost forgot, we've got a 'Metro' system that doesn't really go anywhere (which is what makes it so forgettable) and the trams provide endless hours of fun for the local yobbos to sabotage and vandalise. The buses are a safer bet when not in the car of course.

 

[xtrailman]

In the past Luddites wrecked machines because they couldn't look further than the old ways.

I think that remark is rather misplaced, it's not a case of not liking the idea of electric cars, but of not liking something that is not fit for motorists full use!
I had a Sinclair computer that was fun to play with but pretty useless campared to what I'm using now, personal home computers only really took off when they became practical for every one to use. Electric cars are just not that practcial yet.

I beg to differ (i bet that surprised every one).

Computers only became available to everyone, when they became affordable.
It may surprise you to know that the Sinclair spectrum was far from useless, and could control all your house hold applications if required.

I agree the electric car is in its infancy, but in time, in time...

 

[Philspadders]

Johnny.
In your post 26 , that made reference top my post 24 you accused me of suggesting that everyone should drive a 4x4, yet i can see no evidence of any such suggestion.

You also questioned my VED and my MPG.
Then in your post 32 you again refered back to my post 24 and made innacurate statements about my post 24.

And my very last post seems to have really upset you, and im not sure why as again you seem to have drawn some incorrect conclusions .

Time for a coffee break.

 

[JonnyG]

Johnny.
Your first post refered to my original post. In your post you accused me of forcing everyone to drive 4 x 4's. If you read that post i did not.

You also started to drag me into an argument( discussion) with another poster and made innacurate in incorrect staments regarding the first post.

As far as im concerned anyone can drive what they want.

You do have a point maybe I should not have stated you were "suggesting" people buy a 4X4,but then is that really any worse than your reply above where you claim I said you were "forcing" people to buy a 4x4? See how even you can change the wording to suit their stance?
Isn't it interesting how we all seem to say "anyone can drive what they like" and yet offence is still taken?
Im interested in facts more than just an individual opinion, i mean i kept quiet concerning your statement about "in the winter everybody looks to 4x4 for help"? because i didn't want this to become an argument, which again some deem anything to be if they disagree with a posting.
I also thought your reasoning for people being put off them was a weak argument too, [road tax and servicing and insurance]as this can generally apply to the normal run of the mill 2.0l petrol engine and most sporty cars too but then I didn't want to give my opinion on that either for the same reason, although I found both statements to be sort of funny, but only because we are individuals,so to say something that sounds like a known fact, or generally excepted in most quarters to be true, is nonsense.
I like to deal in facts, again they were in short supply in your statement, only reference to your own car tax? which to me seemed incorrect and you insurance premium, which was indeed an excellent quote for which I am envious.
for the record i would indeed be interested to read what inaccuracies [plural] did I state ? thanks.

 

[JohnnyV]

It never cease to amaze me how this topic causes such angst.
My view is you pay for it, so you should be able to drive whatever you like (we have a 4 x 4 & a Ford Fusion), so straddle both sides - as for Electric - have to agree its just not practical yet (who knows it may be one day).
Just to further confuse the topic - What about Hydrogen Cell - I think Honda have one running in California ? Runs as well as a petrol with the only emission Water ?
I understand extracting Hydrogen and storing it is difficult, but hey so was Petrol once.

 

[Philspadders]

i mean i kept quiet concerning your statement about "in the winter everybody looks to 4x4 for help"? because i didn't want this to become an argument

could you point out which post contains the above statement because i cant find it. h I think you are confusing my post with someone else

Here;s a clue .

Post 23 and it was not made by me.

 

[Parksy]

So................
What started out as someone mentioning that 4x4s had seemed to become more popular because of bad weather in post #1 has now morphed into some sort of childish argument between a couple of forum members by post #62

The topic rattled along nicely in 4wd until #9 when Ray introduced the first pothole. By #11 'Steve w77' had skidded in.
The whining gearbox noises continued through #16 - 18 with Ray again dipping the clutch at #20 and steve w77 emitting black smoke at #21
Philspadders came onto the track at #22 enjoying a fairly clear run until #26 when Johnny G joined the front runners after being late out of the pit lane. Stevew77 tried a late spurt to try to overtake Philspadders at #27 and Johnny G was leading at #32.
Things went smoothly until #40 when Philspadders roared back onto the track from the pit lane and Johnny G tried to sideswipe Philspadders at #42

The safety car put in an appearance at #43 to slow things down and allow engine temperatures to cool and all the way down the straight to #52 there were no big ends knocking and things were ticking over nicely.

Unfortunately the track took a sharp left hander at #52 with Johnny G cornering sharply and the safety car was back to slow things down until #59
By #60 Philspadders had the pedal to the metal and things were neck and neck with one or two sideswipes until this point here at #63 where it's really time to put the brakes on.
Philspadders and Johnny G - Behave yourselves! The black flag will be out in a minute.

 

[OmOnWeelz]

In post 23 it actually says
"The winter's getting worse year on year, people do look to 4X4's to help"
Get it right lads as that is a little different to your posts.

Of course if 2wd cars were banned and everyone had 4X4 less people would be stuck in winter weather and more work would get done

Seems like a good idea to me

 

[xtrailman]

Brilliant parksy, excellent post!

Did i spin off in the rain?

 

[Parksy]

Brilliant parksy, excellent post!

Did i spin off in the rain?

Thanks Ray

I think that as an early pioneer of electric vehicles you are back in the pits having the batteries charged

 

[OmOnWeelz]

I think that as an early pioneer of electric vehicles you are back in the pits having the batteries charged

Oh dear, poor Ray

Whilst everybody else filled with diesel and unleaded for another fifty laps, Ray will not be recharged for the full duration until after the event is long over.
To be fair to Ray and everyone else we should call it quits now

 

[Parksy]

Oh dear, poor Ray

Whilst everybody else filled with diesel and unleaded for another fifty laps, Ray will not be recharged for the full duration until after the event is long over..............

The way that fuel prices are rising I'd have to make an appointment with my bank manager before filling up

 

[Dustydog]

Parksy
You omitted to say what types of uniform they were wearing!

 

[Surfer]

Although we have a new Mondeo 2.0L diesel we are now saving up to buy a second hand 4 x 4 as it was no fun being stuck at home for a few days and certainly no fun driving down coujntry lanes. Probably keep it on SORN for most of the year and licence it in November for 6 months. We are looking at getting another Toyota Hi Lux Surf 3.0L auto. The differnce in fuel consumption between the new car and the HiLux is only about 7mpg, but the HiLux is more reliable all round!

 

[Parksy]

Parksy
You omitted to say what types of uniform they were wearing!

They ought to wear some sort of protective clothing to use this forum

Haymarket issue the mods with armour plating

 

[Dustydog]

So................
What started out as someone mentioning that 4x4s had seemed to become more popular because of bad weather in post #1 has now morphed into some sort of childish argument between a couple of forum members by post #62

The topic rattled along nicely in 4wd until #9 when Ray introduced the first pothole. By #11 'Steve w77' had skidded in.
The whining gearbox noises continued through #16 - 18 with Ray again dipping the clutch at #20 and steve w77 emitting black smoke at #21
Philspadders came onto the track at #22 enjoying a fairly clear run until #26 when Johnny G joined the front runners after being late out of the pit lane. Stevew77 tried a late spurt to try to overtake Philspadders at #27 and Johnny G was leading at #32.
Things went smoothly until #40 when Philspadders roared back onto the track from the pit lane and Johnny G tried to sideswipe Philspadders at #42

The safety car put in an appearance at #43 to slow things down and allow engine temperatures to cool and all the way down the straight to #52 there were no big ends knocking and things were ticking over nicely.

Unfortunately the track took a sharp left hander at #52 with Johnny G cornering sharply and the safety car was back to slow things down until #59
By #60 Philspadders had the pedal to the metal and things were neck and neck with one or two sideswipes until this point here at #63 where it's really time to put the brakes on.
Philspadders and Johnny G - Behave yourselves! The black flag will be out in a minute.

Well Parksy
I forgot to say how eloquently you stated this last post.

Have you been going to secret night school for extra terrestrial lessons?

 

[JonnyG]

i mean i kept quiet concerning your statement about "in the winter everybody looks to 4x4 for help"? because i didn't want this to become an argument

could you point out which post contains the above statement because i cant find it. h I think you are confusing my post with someone else

Here;s a clue .

Post 23 and it was not made by me.

Well i can live with that as it appears at the top of your post too,and lacks any quotation marks,to distinguish it from your own wording so thats just the one inaccuracy then..

Parksy..
Pearl of a speech

 

[emmerson]

Parksy, you're wasted on here!!!