Why have 4x4s?

[PMG]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

Mine wasn't much use to me this morning. Had to get towed out of a field by a Suzuki after getting bogged down carrying two owl boxes, triple extension ladders and all the gear. I just couldn't keep the front end on the contour, the ground was so waterlogged and slippery. The Suzi was doing the business on the tarmacked road though!

ooh fun and games then - I think not! Bet it made the Suzi owner feel the bees knees towing a 'posh' landy .... aghem! Course I'm not daft enough to think that I will never get stuck just cos I've got 4x4 capability - I've known several folk get stuck with both Honda and a Landrover but only cos they were driving in places where in wet weather even 4x4 won;t cope. I was planning staying on the tracks where/if possible!

Pauline

[Farplace]

I have been stuck in a ditch in my 4x4 Forester once or twice. And skidded off road on black ice once. Mostly though, its worth it's weight in salt/grit in winter here in the hills.

[Brocakat]

Originally Posted by nppc2597

What most people, bar one, seem not to realise, its the driver thats the problem not the vehicle. I have a 2.2 litre Diesel Land Rover, which gets 40mpg and has lower emissions than a Mondeo or similiar vehicle. I need it due to the area i live and also for my leisure activities. Mine was an active informed choice. So please stop bunching us all together with the mindless idiots flying about in their 6ltr Audi and BMWs. whether they be 4x4 or two wheel drive.

Some people use the same "Its not the ( object ) that is at fault - it's the user , instead " arguement , for other dubious "pursuits".


Notably the United States Gun Lobby.


As with guns , 95 % of them are built & sold for vain egotists who do not need them, and who also have the capabilty of misusing them - to the detriment of the rest of society and the Environment. The other 5% DO crucially need them , for their assistance to help their gainful employment .

[Jim Ford]

Many years ago I read in a motor magazine that 4x4s could be more dangerous than RWD or FWD cars in treacherous road conditions.

The argument went that when a RWD or FWD car lost grip and started to slide, it was more predictable and you had a better chance of controlling it than when a 4x4 started to slide.

I would add that I've just tossed than in for comment, and that I've never driven a 4x4.

Jim

[Red Robin]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

Many years ago I read in a motor magazine that 4x4s could be more dangerous than RWD or FWD cars in treacherous road conditions.

The argument went that when a RWD or FWD car lost grip and started to slide, it was more predictable and you had a better chance of controlling it than when a 4x4 started to slide.

I would add that I've just tossed than in for comment, and that I've never driven a 4x4.

Jim

....Modern vehicles have ESP systems which can make them safer (or easier to handle) but it's certainly true and easy to understand that when a 4WD vehicle loses road grip it's at a much higher limit than a RWD or FWD does and therefore is much more likely to result in a worse accident. When you lose control in a quattro it's usually big time!

My high performance low slung car is perfect for fast road driving and trackdays but she's absolutely useless in snow. After last winter's snow I seriously thought about getting a short wheelbase Landy Defender and having it professionally modified for faster road use - It's still a bit of a dream vehicle. Horses for courses. I'd want it as a second vehicle. And then as a third car I'd want a...................

Anyway, people shouldn't judge any book by its cover - What matters more is roadcraft and HOW a vehicle is driven, not what type of transmission it has.

Have Fun but Safe Journeys.

[tcvarlh]

u n i m o g

[Jackaroo]

If you get into a quandary of the skittery mud variety you should be confident of escaping with a 4x4. With a little re-distribution of weight you should,with luck, get a rear wheel drive back onto firm ground. With a front wheel drive, go look for a bus-stop.

[epops]

all this talk of gas gussling 4x4s made me feel guilty so i got rid of my old frontera and bourght a more sensible escort trouble was it was a dreadfull thing i hated it so it had to go i picked up a rather nice 98 frontera again immaculate condition fsh and a bonus 48000 on the clock so its got many more years of uneconomical gas guzzling life left in it sorry folks but i love them my tree huggin neighbour tried to me it wasnt eco but hey he hasnt got to drive it i have we now looking at another for my wife that'll go down well sorry again

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Jackaroo

If you get into a quandary of the skittery mud variety you should be confident of escaping with a 4x4. With a little re-distribution of weight you should,with luck, get a rear wheel drive back onto firm ground. With a front wheel drive, go look for a bus-stop.

....... phone the AA/RAC/Green Flag etc - whichever you keep in your back pocket for those moments when the trusty vehicle has got into bother

The other thing folks forget when pointing the finger at us 4x4 owners - is sometimes - and hopefully more and more frequently since retiring - I want to take other folks with me when I go jaunting and jollying (I've done my whack and paid my dues - its now my time until I get too old, ill or crippled) so when I want to go out and take 3 other photographers and all their equipment, plus mobile pop-up hides, food and drinks I've actually found out I didn't buy a big enough 4x4 ... and I'm starting to wonder what capacity a Humvee has ....

Pauline

[Red Robin]

Yay!! We LOVE Humvees!

Is anyone here familiar with Dust-to-Dust? - It's the real world way of assessing a vehicle's carbon footprint. It takes into account manufacturing and disposal.

Guess what's top? - Jeep Wrangler. That horrible monstrosity called the Toyota Pious is well down the list.... Of course!!