I just brought a new used 4×4 and I love it. I’m an avid 4×4 user. I use it at home for recreation and at work to haul equipment miles off the beaten track.
I am used to urban myths regarding how evil 4×4s are and such frivilious, ill-researched statements are now being expressed by people with influence, such as MPs.
1/ They cause more pollution
No more than any other large cars. And some 4×4s actually emit less as they are fitted with LPG, or have very small engine size (eg, my Suzuki Jimny got a 1.3 litre engine).
You are also more likely to see a 4×4 running on biofuels or LPG than you would with any other type of car.
While more materials could be used in production of a 4×4, your average 4×4 lasts forever. There are plenty of ancient 4×4s still running on the roads, so the continuing re-use of 4×4s keep them out of the scrapyard, and reduce the need for replenishment of new 4×4s compared to cars.
2/ They are unsafe to drive
The car does not make it an unsafe car to drive – or it would not be on the roads! As they say in computing, the users are the bugs – likewise, the drivers are the bugs – they can cause crashes (in the literal sense rather than the IT metamorphical sense).
The vehicle’s bigger weight, etc makes it harder to stop, roll off bends, etc. Not necessarily true, all 4×4s are different – some are very heavy and some are ridicolously light, some has excellent anti-roll features. All come with the brakes that are equipped to deal with the type of vehicle it is stopping and some has anti-roll electronics to cope with any roll. Ultimately the driver’s behaviour play a role in this. If the 4×4s are so dangerous because of these features, why do we accept vans?
3/ The spacious, high riding height and comfy interior of a 4×4 lures drivers into a false sense of security
Again, all 4×4s are different, and some actually give a very rough and uneven ride, and others gives a smooth ride. No more different than a luxurious executive car or a ramshackle car.
4/ They take up more roadspace and is unweildy to drive
Again, all are different. The short wheel base versions can be shorter than the cars on the road. My Jimny has a wheelbase that is shorter than a Nissan Micra! The largest of the 4×4s are actually shorter than an average estate car.
The inherent design of 4×4s can give them a tighter turning circle than a small car. A long wheel base 4×4 could turn in a tighter space than a small car 1.4 litre Citroen Saxo. This is because off-road, you don’t always have the room.
The extra driving height offered by *some* 4×4s are advantegeous for driving and yes it can block the view for other drivers behind and cause accidents. But those other drivers are driving too closely anyway! Vans and other large vehicles are also view-blockers.
5/ Poor pedestrian safety
Little known fact: it is actually better to be run over by a 4×4 than a car. The engine bay has so much spare room that if a pedestrian is hit by one, the bonnet has enough give in it to allow absorption of the impact, in effect a cushion, rather than bouncing off the bonnet headfirst into the windscreen with a car. Or if you go under, the extra height offered by some 4×4s gives some clearance not commonly afforded by a normal road car.
4×4 manufacturers are concentrating improving pedestrian safety for children, with bull bars being used again, but in a different material as to allow cushioning effect, and yet more crumple zones.
6/ They are never used off-road
Not all are used off-road but the additional storage space, ride height makes it easier to put kids and dogs in and out of the car, and towing capacity offered by 4×4s are reason enough to live a road-only life.
So, stop jumping on the anti-4×4 bandwagon blindly until you research both sides of the story! It is not what it seems. Sadly the media has not cottoned on to that, but quel surprise!
Comments
I can agree there – regarding small 4×4’s – However if you’re in a typical urban area and you see people driving those ultra massive “4×4″ such as Porsche Cayenne, or Audi Q7 etc etc – they are really massive and comes with a massive powerful engine – are they actually making real use of those cars? (in where I live…yes I know a lot of them, and that’s basically the most use that they make of those cars – school runs)
London? My auntie is just as bad – and nearly all of her friends are the same, they all have huge 4×4’s that guzzle fuel, and the primary use are school runs. And guess what? They all use your reason no. 6 as a reason!
“6/ They are never used off-road
Not all are used off-road but the additional storage space, ride height makes it easier to put kids and dogs in and out of the car, and towing capacity offered by 4×4s are reason enough to live a road-only life.”
No! They don’t! A huge amount of people say that but doesn’t actually do that!
You probably do though, so you are making use of it.
There’s no doubts that they do emit more pollution – and yes it’s true that with latest technology making it cleaner etc etc – they still cannot compare against a smaller car – it have to use more fuel due to extra weight that they’re lugging around for starters as well as bigger engine (to clarify, I’m talking about the cars I mentioned above – ie Audi Q7)
For someone such as yourself – I’ve no problem with you using 4×4’s because you’re actually making use of it – “work to haul equipment miles off the beaten track.”
For someone like myself:
Take kids to school. Drive to work on a motorway, and park in a place that have very small spaces.
Hardly need any power for that do I? So I have a Renault Megane Sport Tourer (basically just a Megane estate really) with a small 1.5 turbodiesel engine – it’s more than enough for our needs, and the car is big enough for a family of 4, and the boot swallows up most of what we need.
I think that’s where the media fails to make it clear – that they should be focusing on people buying a huge car for daft reasons (they should look at USA…some people buy some absolutely massive “truck based” 4×4’s just for driving to the office and back home and I already know how much fuel they use up).
So I do agree with you when it comes to media misreporting – they should make it clear which 4×4’s that they are talking about and their purpose. ie it’s not fair on those people that actually geninuely need a 4×4. They also should mention that sport cars can emit much more pollution too sometime but you never see that, instead they’re going on about how wonderful it is! Bah. (mind you, I do love sport cars, but I’m more a fan of the small sport cars – ie Lotus Elise is one of my favourite)
But one of my dream car is a Aston Martin DB9 and that probably give out more pollution than your 4×4 – but in media, they’ll have a go at your car, and write about how wonderful the DB9 is…sigh…
Get a bike!!
No agree with Jones on this one.
We live in a country side and what’s makes me laugh in winter time a few years ago just a tiny bit of snow on motorway and a brand new 4X4 was going about 10 mile an hour.
Why don’t people use it for what they are designed to be used!??
It’s why 6/ is lower on my list – because again, it depends on the type of 4×4 – but you can fit taller items that could not fit into a car, but the same can be said for MPVs and vans.
They really do have a much better towing capability in general and can pull between 2 and 3 tonnes which is a heck of a lot. This is why you never see a car pulling a boat out of a lake, or pulling a hosebox (I hate them), or a glider.
The loading height do suit those Chelsea tractor mums, you don’t have to bend down – it is jsut the right height and idea for those with movement problems related to back/legs.
However, I agree, many urban 4×4s are overkill and they could go for the smaller engined 4×4. However, there are also a lot of MPVs in urban areas and they share a lot of common quirks that the media use to deride 4×4s.
Don’t get me started on snow driving Fintan! http://www.sterry.me.uk/blog/2007/02/07/snow_warning_british_media_style/
You’ve got a nice 4×4 there. It is very interesting how people in the UK perceive SUV’s differently than we do in the US.
In the US, you see them everywhere. And most Americans that doesn’t have one usually wish to have one.
You’re absolutely correct about the gas mileage. I had a 1994 Geo Tracker 12 years ago. It had excellent gas mileage (28mpg) for a SUV, and it was extremely light… But fantastic in the snow. I don’t know if you get snow in the UK, but we have gotten as much as 6 feet (1.8288 m) of snow occasionally. And boy, these work great in snow.
I don’t know about you guys, but we really use the 4×4’s a lot.
1) Transportation. It’s nice to know that if you get hit, you won’t get killed. If you’ve got children, having a SUV is a nice alternative to being a soccer mum and driving a mini van.
2) Respect. In the US, people don’t show respect to small cars, and small cars sometimes gets pushed around on the road.
3) Haul stuff. Many Americans own a boat or a jetski, or lawn tractors. I once owned 6 antique lawn tractors at one time. It is nice to be able to haul them around without worrying about being able to do so.
4) Cargo space. If you’ve got kids, chances are, you’re going to be bringing your friends’ kids as well as your kids to a baseball game or something. It enables you to shop for a month’s supply of groceries and put ‘em in the back and still have space to spare.
5) Traveling. It’s good to have a large vehicle to put your baggage, gifts and the such and still have room for other people. Also, because they are bigger, the ride is smoother. Definitely worth it if you’re driving from New York to Indiana. (600-700 miles) And I’ve driven back and forth 4 times in 2 months.
6) In extreme weather situations, a SUV will make it, when smaller cars will not. Suppose there was a mudslide? Suppose there was a hail storm? Suppose there was a snowstorm? I’d rather be in a SUV.
I could go on and on with the benefits of having a SUV. Rest assured, I drive around with my Suburban empty most of the time, but boy… When I step on the gas, it goes. And everybody stays out of my way. Priceless.
I just saw the response admin made above about 15cm snow being bad. Wow..
Please take it from someone that has driven in really deep snow, SUV’s DO make a difference. My wife had a 1995 Chrysler Sebring with brand new tires. She got stuck in 60cm of snow, and we had to spend an hour shoveling her out. But, with my old Geo tracker, I could easily drive in 70 cm of snow and it’d still go on.
Here’s a fun story-
9 years ago, I was at home, on break from university- and it was time for me to go back to university. There was this horrible snowstorm.. But I had no choice. School started the next day. I’d like that night in the dormitory to regroup. So, I engaged the 4×4 drive… There was about 70-72 cm of snow on the thruway (It’s a toll highway road) and this isn’t normal… It was snowing so much that the plows couldn’t keep up.
I got on the highway, and drove for about 20 miles… I realized all of suddenly, I was the only person on the highway. (I later found out that the highway closed, and that all the stations on the radio were telling people to get off) And, I was going around 70- (112kmh) which is quite insane- even for 4×4. But you know, I was young and careless.
As I was going on, I noticed a siren way back, about 1/4 mile away. It was quite easy to see, because it was totally blistering white out. You could only see about 4 feet in front of you. The speed limit is 65 miles an hour, and while 70 usually doesn’t warrant a cop to pull you over, in a bad weather, it will. But I kept going… Increased to 80 mph. I knew that the police couldn’t keep up with my 4×4 in a police car.
And as I kept going, I looked in the mirror, and to my surprise, he got closer. Then all of suddenly, I watched the sirens go to the right… The cop flew right off the highway into a ditch! I felt bad, and I did consider going back and seeing if I could help him, or maybe even pull him out of that disaster. But, I knew it meant I’d get a ticket… And that it’d delay my trip to school. So, I just kept going.
When I got to the toll booth, they were empty, which was most unusual. And then, a lady came out of the building to the booth and said “you’re not supposed to be on the road!” I’m like “I’m Deaf…” So, she quietly took my money and I went on to school.
So, I have to say, yes, 4×4 is the way to go. Most especially, I heard that the global warming thing is going to affect the UK severely in terms of snowstorms.
Erm erick you wrote ”
So, I have to say, yes, 4×4 is the way to go. Most especially, I heard that the global warming thing is going to affect the UK severely in terms of snowstorms.”
I think its better to use less fuel and gas guzzling 4×4 …
American use more fuel, water and god knows what than the rest of the world!
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