Hmm, Hmm. It's elOquently, Trip Hazard not elEequently. I'm afraid you've got a little way to go yet before you are eloquent.
I would say exactly the same Dean, but probably with more spelling mistakes...Godamnit why did I read this!
I said 'that's it!' the last time the bigots crawled out from under their rocks but here I am again...
Apart from the rights of freedom to buy whichever vehicle you want, there are also other factors involved.
I read earlier, a post from someone saying that their rig was almost a 100% match and they were concerned (as they might well be). However stick 2 tonnes of Discovery or Range Rover on the front and suddenly the tail is no longer in danger of 'wagging the dog'.
Let's take it a step further shall we?
The statistics used so vehemently by the Anti's apart from being fatally flawed, stem from research gleaned almost 10 years ago in the US. The most famous and factually inaccurate information states that "pedestrians are 27 times more likely to be killed in a collision with a 4x4/SUV" is based on a survey into side impact with other vehicles rather than pedestrians and has been used over and over in the wrong context by the Anti's. Especially as it was conducted on mostly commercial vehicles rather than 4x4's.
EnCAP results prove a totally different story with 4x4's scoring highly on pedestrian safety.
Now then, how about the huge number of urban 4x4's?
In London, we are talking 3.5%. Wow, that's immense!! Actually only 1 in 14 cars bought new are a 4x4/SUV raher than 1 in 5 as spouted by the 'holier than thou'. Apparently the highest sales appear to be in, dare I say it, rural areas!
Urban sales tend to be at the bottom of the sales lists. Shock Horror!!
And to the crux of the post...
These massive 4x4's that should be taxed from the roads.
The Freelander 4459mm long
A Vx Vectra 4596mm long!
A Discovery 4700mm long
Mundaneo 4731mm long or a Citroen C5 Estate 4839mm
Let's not leave it there shall we?
Width is another point.
Mundaneo 1958mm
Discovery 1890mm
Lexus GS3000 1820mm
Freelander 1810mm
Emissions from the Lexus and the Subaru Imprezza are higher than both Freelander Td4 and Discovery Td5. Even the '2.4 children'avreage family hack, the Focus Zetec and Mundaneo 3l spout more CO2 into the air than the Freeby!
Of course this could just be yet another wind-up, in which case perhaps the perpetrators should go get a job, as it has been noted that most demonstrators (had you spotted the 'demon' in demonstrator) tend to be seen during the hours of the working day rather than outside of it?
Taking it a step beyond...
Ever heard of Rover Rescue or 4x4 Response?
Well they are the owners/enthusiats of the various 4x4 marques who give up their spare time to train and prepare for emergencies where the use of all wheel drive vehicles might be needed (otherwise known as VOG's or Voluntary Orgaanisation Groups). All the councils within the UK are duty bound to have voluntary groups in place to help out in times of civil emergency.
For instance, it is snowing heavily and the ambulance control has no one to relieve the staff already in place: The local VOG will use it's members to get people to where they need to be.
A walker on a national park slips and breaks an ankle in woodland: How close do you think a conventional ambulance will get?
Due to Health & Safety guidelines not anywhere neaar as close as you'd think! Basically the tarmac is their limit.
So there you are, truth rather than fabrication for a change.
It won't matter a jot to the anti's though as you can't tell them anything.
Come on Lutz, you're on a caravan forum here. It's one of the few places that have the view that bigger is better.Watching the debate from the sideline, it does amaze me a bit how many people feel the need to scrape the barrel to try to find some logical reason to justify the purchase of a 4x4. Surely, the maybe once every year or two chance of getting stuck in a field while trying to extricate a caravan isn't a good enough reason to lug a 4x4 around for the vast majority of the mileage driven while not towing. For those who go CL'ing often and are faced with a potential traction problem on a regular basis, fair enough, but why don't the others just own up and say they want a 4x4 because they like them without the urge to find some feeble excuse?
Braking, I meant braking.......then again, maybe I didn't...Come on Lutz, you're on a caravan forum here. It's one of the few places that have the view that bigger is better.
True, 4x4 owners rarely use the extra traction, but it's not the only reason for owning one.
I have mine because:-
1. It's heavy, so capable of towing my caravan with ease and safety.
2. Because I get a good view of the road ahead. I'm starting to get on in age and the reactions are not what they used to be, being able to see cars breaking early, helps a lot.
3. Its small for its weight, I could get an equivalent car of similar tonnage but it would be much larger than my 4x4 and I have no parking space for it.
4. It's easier to get in and out of than a regular car. The nearest and dearest has back problems and I'm getting that way too, it helps with this.
5. I like it! I feel safe in it, comfortable and more relaxed. I drive slower in it than I do a normal saloon and tend not to go for those little gaps in the traffic that set the heart racing.
6. It means that if I get stuck in a traffic jam, I can put it into four wheel drive and detour round the lot of it, through farmer's fields and peoples back gardens.
So apart from wanting one, it's also a necessity.
P.S.
I made up No6, but one day I'm gunna!
Count yourself very lucky to be able to make the choices that you have, Euro.We have two BMW X5's. a 3 litre D for my wife and my 4.8s. It's our choice get it!
We've towed with other very capable cars but the higher 4 X 4 stream lines the air flow better over the van and we get a good view over hedge rows the cars ahead etc. And we just fell in love with the car.
You would need to be pretty brave to use the pefomance to the full but it suits our needs and life style. We very rarely fly now compared to thousands of flights in the past, our home when finished will have ground source heat pump and cooling systems and with all the French sun we also have Solar panel for power and water heating for water and the pool, with our own water supply as well pumped partialy by wind.
Our one excess is our cars these days and I see no reason to defend our choice quite frankly.
Brits are to fond of sticking their noses into others choices.
It's probably not just luck Lutz, a combination of hard work/risk and luck normally gets you to the position Euro is in.Count yourself very lucky to be able to make the choices that you have, Euro.
Would anyone like a signed photo of me in my posing pouch seductively laying on the bonnet of my Discovery?Personally I believe that the majority of 4x4 owners are posers and if you want to pose you pay.Jim
I use the money I've saved in covering 95% instead of 100% to cover 95% of something else. It's just a difference of scaleI take you point doubly Lutz!
We could leave the money in the bank but prefer to spread it around to benefit our family and friends.
The money will do us no good when we shed our mortal coils, so we enjoy it our way. We've travelled with family and friends from New Zealand and Australia around Europe in the past five years and had some wonderful times.