Now here's a pretty pickle - the sequel!!

[Colinn]

Back in November, I posed the question on this Forum - Now here's a pretty pickle - who'll buy a 4x4 now?

Well guess who...me for one!!!!

At the time, I was convinced that the mounting insidious attacks by the green do-gooders would decimate the 4x4 market as people who didn't really need them, would replace them as soon as they could...

I still believe there is evidence that this is happening, but how far it goes we will just have to wait and see...

However, the feisty contributions on the subject did much to give me the confidence to "stand up and be counted" and not be deterred from buying a type of vehicle that actually does a brilliant job in lugging my 1600k van.

The futility of the argument of the antis was the biggest clincher. Pricing 4x4s off the road will do little to alleviate any possible problem of global warming - only international action to curb major emissions can do that.

So I'm expecting to be clobbered by Gordon Brown and co (I hope I can live with that!), but I have traded in my existing 4x4 for another one - bigger and better, but ironically (as it's my first diesel) the car's emissions are lower, so perhaps I get some brownie points for that!

 

[Pelyma1]

But what is it?

 

[Oldfogey]

If townies are selling off their 4x4's to look green, then the price will drop and that is good news for people like me who never buy a new car, so will be able to pick up a second-hand model, low mileage, never towed, never off roaded, for a nice cheap price.

 

[Colinn]

I decided on a main dealer black Merc ML SE 320, with a factory fitted detachable towbar. Might sound extravagant but it's on a 55 plate with only 5,100 on the clock and a saving of more than

 

[MalcolmL]

I decided on a main dealer black Merc ML SE 320, with a factory fitted detachable towbar. Might sound extravagant but it's on a 55 plate with only 5,100 on the clock and a saving of more than

 

[Colinn]

I decided on a main dealer black Merc ML SE 320, with a factory fitted detachable towbar. Might sound extravagant but it's on a 55 plate with only 5,100 on the clock and a saving of more than

 

[Colinn]

Yes Malcolm, loads of extras including sat nav, xenon adaptive, memory seats, privacy, phone. All of which I would have happily done without, but am enjoying them now. Found car on Mercedes Benz Approved Used on the web, and took it from there. I researched all the class contenders, and the real clincher was that I couldn't find a single criticism of it in any of the mag reviews. Autocar put it ahead of the X5, XC90 and Toureg and the Whatcar review was unremitting praise. Not many cars get a universal nod. Its 140k hitch weight limit helped too as my caravan nose is more than 80k empty! So far the drive has been awesome and I can't wait to get the caravan on the back. Hope you get yours soon - my impression is that you need a deeper wallet if you go for a demo because they're all fully loaded and only six months old. Get one slightly older and under 10,000 miles and the saving is significant - and what's 10,000 on a Merc? For peace of mind, you can also extend the warranty - for a price - for up to six years and I intend to do that.

oh yes, there is one compromise i've had to make - it's the first car I have had that's too big for my garage - I'd hoped the mild winter would spare me ice-scraping - no such luck this week...roll on spring