What do you think about large 4 x 4 vehicles in Jersey ?

[Pomme de terre]

Perhaps, more of a psychological thing.  People who can afford a £50K car, which is just going to rust away in to worthlessness, same as any other car, are in a minority.

It's the wastage of money which gets up people's noses.

There simply isn't any justification for driving round in a BMW X3 in Jersey, other than to show off.

There simply isn't any justification for driving round in a BMW X3 in Jersey, because BMW X3's are crap off-roaders, that's all 

If I had a boat, horsebox, big furry dog, load of stuff to dump regularly, DIY materials to transport regularly, lived in a valley that suffered once in a decade snow-ins or indeed, were a member of the Land Rover club...then I'd be a bit peeved at all the anti 4x4 stuff. As it happens, none of the above apply to me, so I'll have to stick with the Lamborghini...

Let's give 4x4 dudes a break. For example, without them, the kit bags of all ITEX walkers cannot be transported from certain inaccessible checkpoints. 4x4 owners have thus helped to raise over £1million for local charities. Leave the 4x4 crowd alone, I say. And, in the words of the Fast Show....Let's Off Road! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNybnRkj-MY&feature=related

I confess. I own a nice car that I don't really need. I'm not going to sell it in the current market, either. I'm not THAT stupid. Every time I service it (locally) and insure it (locally) I content myself that I'm helping to keep someone (locally) in a job.

[White Knight]

How many to you see with a tow bar on the back? Hardly none! If they have a trailer or boat to tow then that is justifiable. How many do you see dirty,they have never seen a field etc onlt tarmac.                                                                                                  They are just a STATUS SYMBOL!!! 
Just in case these people think that they are more safe driving one then they are completely wrong!
Been proved that if hit in the side they are more likely to turn over than a normal car. Reason for it, the balance of gravity. This was printed in a very well known motoring mag. Also in a article in the daily papers some months back.
They are a look at me thing! Trouble is we all know that most of the drivers just cannot handle them for parking etc. We all know that our roads are to small to take these chelsea tractors and take note of the banks etc along side of a country road. WARN AWAY!!
I am not bothered how much fuel they burn, it is not coming out of my pocket. It is that they just cannot handle them. Take note also of how many cars are driving over the white centre line coming on your side of the road. At the end of the day it is just BULLS**T!!!!

[Pomme de terre]

They are a look at me thing!

White Knight, every pair of shoes my missus buys are a "look at me thing". Shall we ban shoes? 

[en830]

We have a 10 month old Land Rover Freelander 4TD, complete with tow point. Last week my door mirror was clipped by a white van which encroached on my side of the road. I guess the driver was a so called professional however I was unable to find out as he failed to stop.

It's actually Bull***t that everyone who drives a so called 4 x 4 does so to be looked at, it's also bull***t that everyone who drives one is inconsiderate and unaware of the size of the vehicle to the detriment of other road users. I have driven all sorts of vehicle from Smart Cars to 40 ton articulated lorries, and have witnessed good and bad driving from the operators of all of them.

Saying what's the point in having a 4 x 4 when it isn't taken off road it is a meaningless argument, the same could be same about all vehicles in Jersey that have a top speed of over 40 mph, what's the point ?

Oh my reason for having a 4 x 4 is that is :-

1. It's easier for my elderly mother to get in and out of; (Previous to this we had a Chrysler Grand Voyager in order to transport my wheel bound father from A to B in relative luxury)
2. We at times have a lot of kit to cart around and the size  and height of the boot serves this process well; and
3. In the next few weeks we will take delivery of a mobile exhibition unit, which a Smart Car just wouldn't be able to tow.

As for fuel consumption, the Freelander regularly returns 30+ to the gallon, hardly a fuel guzzler.

[danrok]

Many of these so called off-roaders you wouldn't want to take off road, I mean really off-road.  They get bogged down and struggle, compared to a proper off-roader like a Land Rover Defender/County, etc.

[newmac]

If the roads continue to be neglected the way they are, everyone will have to get a 4X4 with suspension to cope.

[Chris]

They are just a STATUS SYMBOL!!! 

Status symbol? Ok.
I own a Ford Mustang, if that isn't a symbol at all I don't know what is!
I got one because I've always wanted one and like it, and if anything it's probably longer than a 4x4, as wide and uses much, much, MUCH larger fuel consumption rate, you don't complain about those!

Just in case these people think that they are more safe driving one then they are completely wrong!
Been proved that if hit in the side they are more likely to turn over than a normal car. Reason for it, the balance of gravity. This was printed in a very well known motoring mag.

Well known motoring mag yeah? Are you born in the ages where if it's written in a paper/magazine it MUST BE TRUE?
I'd rather be T-boned in a 4x4 than my every day car, you're higher up and some would have sturdier doors. I don't give to ways about if I flip over (Can't remember the last time I've seen an upside down 4x4 in Jersey). Flipping over doesn't kill you just like that.

Also with energy transferance/disspation the blow would be dampened by the fact the car could/may tip over rather than just take the full brunt of the force and be pushed sideways down the road.

You should have your seatbelt on so enjoy the tumble.

Also in a article in the daily papers some months back.
They are a look at me thing! Trouble is we all know that most of the drivers just cannot handle them for parking etc. We all know that our roads are to small to take these chelsea tractors and take note of the banks etc along side of a country road. WARN AWAY!!

I would say the same for most drivers in Jersey as a whole not 4x4 drivers, most of them just don't know the law of the road or how to use indicators.

I am not bothered how much fuel they burn, it is not coming out of my pocket. It is that they just cannot handle them. Take note also of how many cars are driving over the white centre line coming on your side of the road. At the end of the day it is just BULLS**T!!!!

Did you mean 4x4's driving over the centre line or still going with cars? I drive a lot and don't see this happen really that much at all!

[White Knight]

If one has the money to waste on expensive cloths or cars that is up to them, they may well feel good but it will not make them a better person. I look at people who buy designer cloths with the name all over it, why should one pay to advertise a product for the maker. What is the point in having a very expensive suit and you have to open the jacket to show people what the makers name  is    ( bulls**t). I have asked people as a bit of fun how much do you think that suit cost on the man over there? They say could be from M&S or tailor made, you cannot tell in most cases. It goes to show how we have arrived at the Credit Crunch because the majority of people have got these expensive items on credit. This generation really has a awful lot to learn about how to balance between what the income is and what outgoing they can afford. I would prefer to spend the money on good basic food for the family and reasonable clothing then make sure there was money in the bank for any emergency. When you hear somebody saying to another person i payed £75 for this shirt and the person answers " I could get 4 shirts for that amount and they would look just like yours". Thats my take on things. As for the turning over of a 4 x 4 it was demonstrated on tv.

[Shiva]

White Knight,

I should get in touch with the UK Treasury if I were you. I bet your take on the £75 shirt and the credit crunch is the missing link they have all been seaching for in the real cause of the global recession. As for 4x4s turning over, so what? If you put a little old granny behind the wheel, they can turn anything over, as can be regularly observed on Grouville Hill on any wet day.

[rogueelement]

You might have actually hit on a whole new theory  there Shiva ,
I have a 4x4 which I think is worth £50,000. I lend it to an old granny who wrecks it, she cant pay, was not insured, my Insurance company think my estimate of value was wildly wrong and at any rate i,m partially culpable for being so stupid as to lend it to said granny and is therefore only prepared to pay £10,000.
In the meantime , my friendly lending company reckon I still owe them £25,000.!
The credit crunch in a nut shell.

[Shiva]

Seriously,

The number of half blind, totally deaf, never passed a driving test, octogenerians on Jersey's roads is far more dangerous than the 4x4 MILF floats. Don't worry about 4x4s, the most dangerous vehicles on the road is usually a well cared for Rover 200, a ten year old Honda Civic or a Honda Jazz. The giveaway is that, instead of a "Baby on Board" sticker in the back window, there will be one saying "Do Not Resuscitate"

[en830]

I doubt there are very few (legal) people on the roads these days that didn't pass a driving test of one form or another, it became compulsory in 1935 !

My mother is 80 this year and still uses her car to drive to the hair dressers once a week. I'm glad she does as it gets her out and about and she is not too reliant on the rest of the family to get her around. If she has to come into town she will use a taxi to get in and I will collect her to bring her home. The buses are too impractical for her as she can not walk far.

One thing White Knight, why do you consider it to be a waste of money for people to spend their money on whatever they like. As long as they settle their tax bills, pay the rent and utilities, what is left over should be to do with what they like. In your eyes this maybe a waste to the majority of us it's our hard earned right !

[Fritz]

I think the most dangerous cars on any road,(Not just in Jersey), are those driven by folk wearing hats.

Ban the wearing of hats whilst driving and we get rid of the boy-racers and octogenarians instantly.

[Calimachon]

If one has the money to waste on expensive cloths or cars that is up to them, they may well feel good but it will not make them a better person. I look at people who buy designer cloths with the name all over it, why should one pay to advertise a product for the maker.

I'm with White Knight on this one!

[rogueelement]

That would be because you and White knight are equally as responsible for diverting attention on this Blog , from real issues , I wonder why?
Hopefully the Moderators will pick up on your pathetic attempts to deflect this site from discussing current affairs and have to cope with your constant outpourings of sh**e.