Bet you thought you'd got rid of me again...
In the order that the comments have been posted, including the attempts at hidden ones allowed by this daft forum software!
steve in Leo - "On the other hand though I do think that road tax and insurance should be charged through the fuel taxation system."
I agree wholeheartedly. If I wish to drive my Range Rover V8 at 15 mpg, I will pay a lot of dosh through the fuel consumption. Halving that mpg by using my Tdi Disco means that although the grin factor will be slightly less, the Gov't will also be getting a fair bit less. If someone wants to drive a Smart car they will be quids in and fair play to them. That's their choice and I have no business telling them what vehicle they should be driving.
Lutz - "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."
and
steve in Leo - "...a balanced, good spirited debate is a good debate and those who get all touchy about their hang ups need to, sit it out."
It's strange the way it's ok to state that 4wd's should be banned or taxed out of existence due to their carbon footprint or whatever you wish to call it, but if one person tries to put the other side of the argument, then suddenly that person is 'scraping the barrel' or 'getting all touchy'.
euro - "We may all be part of Europe..."
You speak for yourself, I'm English and a British citizen.
giovanni - I don't believe you need to justify anything, this is something that people do when they feel guilty!
Guilty of what exactly?
Freedom of choice?
Making small minded people feel envious?
? - "We have to try to stretch our resources as best as can be done"
We wouldn't need to if the Gov't actually used a fraction of the money robbed from the motorists for the use of the road network.
steve in Leo - "I can manage to climb grassy slopes of upto 1 in 10 gradient going straight just by lowering the front tyre pressure to 10psi."
Which means you need to carry a compressor at all times as the use under-inflated tyres on the public highway is an offence and would render your insurance invalid.
CliveV - "Gio - the actual data is as follows:-
2.5T engine (210ps) Urban cycle = 19.6 mpg
2.5T engine (210ps) AWD Urban cycle - 19.1mpg
source Volvo UK."
whoops, the anti's BS strikes again!
CliveV - "Only when public transport is taken seriously will people get out of their cars"
Considering the amount of money extorted from motorists over the years, the public transport network should be the best in the world
CliveV - "And the important point here is choice - Why are you so intent on manipulating other peoples choice?"
Because they can't help themselves, the green monster is strong!
Clivev - "I have to say euro that seeing tv footage of Greenpeace Inflatable roaring about "saving the planet" for us sinners really does make me laugh."
Not to mention the 'spawn of the devil' jet aircraft they charter on a whim, to get their misguided members to the green hotspots.
Since I started towing seriously back in the late 70's I have always believed in the tenet that big car = better tow.
From my Dad's Austin 1800 (the only decent and effective front wheel drive vehicle I ever towed with, right through the 5, yes 5, Mk2 Granada 2.8's. I towed with others: a Capri for instance and the Sierra were nightmares! Same applies in the haulage industry. British hauliers buy the smallest available engine in the misguided notion that they are saving money. Wrong! A bigger engine is less stressed and so is capable of better fuel returns because you aren't clogging it through every gear just to keep up with normal traffic.
But no one wants to hear a reasoned argument unless it agrees with their way of thinking.