It's official...4WD's are the new Volvo

[Krayy]

In the wake of the tragic story the other day about the death of a pillion at the hands of a 4WD pilot, check out the new survey...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3595652&thesection=news&thesubsection=world&thesecondsubsection=

You hardly ever see a "Volvo takes down motorcyclist" story nowadays. Maybe Volvos are now too expensive to waste taking us on?

I would have liked to have seen some ratios of motorcycle, pedestrian or cage accidents in the survey though.

[Ms Piggy]

In the wake of the tragic story the other day about the death of a pillion at the hands of a 4WD pilot, check out the new survey...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3595652&thesection=news&thesubsection=world&thesecondsubsection=

You hardly ever see a "Volvo takes down motorcyclist" story nowadays. Maybe Volvos are now too expensive to waste taking us on?

I would have liked to have seen some ratios of motorcycle, pedestrian or cage accidents in the survey though.
Eeeeeekkk! I coulda told ya that without the survey. :crazy: The thing that I find fascinating isa that most 4WD have faulty indicators. What a rip off. I mean buying a vehicle that doesn't have indicators that work. :blah:

[Pwalo]

I absolutely loathe the Khandallah taxis. I honestly can't see the benefit that 4WDs offer anyone in an urban setting (I guess building contractors might find them handy).

I guess riding a bike makes you paranoid about anything on four wheels, but I always pay special attention around any 4WD, even when I'm driving my car. It seems that a lot of 4WD drivers don't have any idea of how large their vehicle is, or how unmanouverable.

Come to that I'm not convinced that 4WD is of great benefit on the road anyway. It sure helps accelaration, perhaps cornering, but doesn't help braking. There was an interesting article on an American bike site that pointed out how 4WDs could lull their drivers into a very false sense of security - of course I can't remember where I found it.

Anyway I feel better now. :calm: Besides you just got to love a vehicle that you pay more for to get a poorer power to weight ratio. So American, kinda like a certain American motor cycle.

Ciao Pwalo

[Blakamin]

In Oz, when I was leaving, they were about to try and pass a law banning Bull-Bars in urban areas... that would make a difference...





sorry trying to become a whore this week :whocares:

[Motu]

You have identified a hazzard,you can recognise one on the road - you can use this information for your advantage,or assume they with see you and move out of your way.You hold the key to your own survival.

[Wenier]

they were talking bout that law in NZ too, about a year or 2 ago if i remember rightly. The only problem with that law is for people like my dad who own the 4WD to go Off roading with a 4WD club, that is one of the must have items on your 4WD to be able to attend meets. Now most of these people of course live in urban areas. But yes your right there are alot of people with bullbars who dont need them.

[Krayy]

... yes your right there are alot of people with bullbars who dont need them.

I don't know about that. Those pesky school kids can really stuff up your grill if they throw themselves infront of the Remuera Tractor. You have to protect your investment don't you?

PS. The ultimate bike hunting machine would have to be those Volvo 4WDs!!

[Slim]

Oooh. 4WD - one of my pet hates. :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Jackrat]

The Bull bar issue has always amused me just a little.
My own 4X4 has spent most of it's life off road,in fact until resently about 75% was on farm or gravel roads hauling horse floats,boats,cows out of ditches,loads of fence posts,farm trailers ect,ect and It has no after market fittings of any type.The alloy running boards are factory options as is the tow bar.It has three tow connections both front and rear,but no Bull bars.They have NO practical use in NZ,we don,t have Roo's.But no worrys,if I run you down ,You won't feel a thing,I'm a good shot aye.

[DEATH_INC.]

My 4wd spends most of it's life on the road,It has a wrap around bullbar,big knobbly tyres,raised ect,ect.
But when I do go offroad I need all these things,I go crashing through the bush,play in swamps ect,and even partake in the odd jump or two.
I'm not gonna pull all this stuff off because of the off chance that some dick is gonna try to become a hood ornament......
Now,I will admit i've seen some pretty dumb driving in 4wd's,but I've seen the same in vans and cars too,and even the odd motorcycle......
And how many of us have hit buses,arguably the worst and most ignorant drivers out there....

[Motu]

My 4x4 has a bull bar,fog lights,big drippy grippy off road tyres - it never goes off road,it'd get dirty...oooh,I'm not having any of that thank you.On the road I follow the 4x4 code - don't indicate,and if you want that space,just move into it...you'll find they get out of your way pretty quick,specially the motorcycles,they have good self preservation skills,and need to practise them often.

[Artifice]

i remember once on the port hills. i came around a corner and there was this 4x4 coming the other way. wide thing it was. took about 1+1/4 lanes due to the narrowness of the road at that point. gave me a bit of a fright. but i wonder what they do when there is a 4x4 going the other way? bunny hop over the top or what? someone i was talking too said they used to think 4x4's were a status symbol and no practical use in town.... till they got one they liked the ability to go to the supermarket and have tonnes of space for the kids and the shooping too. I think in chch they justify it by the one day every 3 years that it snows in town. they can drive about and say see told you its a goood thing... lol.

[Bob]

The problem is, I think, that 4WDs give the driver (I'm talking people who buy them as a 'status' symbol, not you guys who have them for good reason) a feeling of security as they are so solid. So there is no healthy dose of paranoia to keep them looking out for trouble and protecting their own skin as the car will take care of it.

Same thing with Volvos - their safety features are way ahead of the pack, so there was a tendency for similar sloppy attitudes.

But as 4WD popularity increases, there will be more incidents involving them.

4WDs are becoming increasingly more popular over here. The only time most of them will ever see mud is at a horse race meeting.

They make life hellish on the commute, as mummy takes the little darlings 200 yards to school in them.

I give them a very wide safety margin - stressed mummies, with kids squabbling etc? Dangerous in a small car, but in something that big and solid? I don't want to get near one. You can also guarantee that if you see one on the commute home, there is a very good chance that'll be the car that changes lane without signalling etc.

[What?]

Urban Assualt Vehicles vs Volvos... I think the reason we hear less about Volvos nowadays is that UAV's are cheap as chips to buy, so dorks who always wanted, but could never afford a Volvo, are buying them flat out.

Travelling around Tauranga one day last week, I was cut off at 5 consecutive roundabouts by UAV "drivers" (don't want to be sexist, but they were all female, 30-ish and looked like being between the gym and the beautician) who didn't even bother looking, let alone give way to me. And I wasn't even an inconspicuous biker - I was in my bright red ute...

[Posh Tourer :P]

someone i was talking too said they used to think 4x4's were a status symbol and no practical use in town.... till they got one they liked the ability to go to the supermarket and have tonnes of space for the kids and the shooping too. I think in chch they justify it by the one day every 3 years that it snows in town. they can drive about and say see told you its a goood thing... lol.

Have they ever heard of stationwagons??? Or are the kids *that* big nowadays

[Bob]

Have they ever heard of stationwagons??? Or are the kids *that* big nowadays

Question is; do you need a 4WD as kids are so big, or is it because you own a 4WD and ferry the little (sic) lambs about that they've grown so big?

:wacko:

[Posh Tourer :P]

Haha brilliant :D

[Ms Piggy]

The Rock had a poll this morning referring to the exact same artcle that Krayy posted. You can vote online at The Rock website http://www.therock.net.nz/index.aspx but you need to be a member to vote.

The question they are asking is:

Are 4WD drivers more intimidating than drivers of other cars?

So far the results are Current results:

83% - Yes

17% - No

They are also meaning all thoese city wallys who use them as a means of transport rather than fr the reason intended. I sent them an email telling them about our discussion and how it is from the POV of the rider.

[clint640]

no Bull bars.They have NO practical use in NZ,we don,t have Roo's.

Er... the frontal sheetmetal on my (small, Suzuki) 4WD would probably beg to differ on that one. I've never needed a bullbar to save me from a roo, but it has done it's job against many a tree, rock & bank.

However most of the bars on import 4x4's are purely ornamental - they aren't attached strongly enough to be any real use apart from injuring other road users. I reckon if there is no paint missing off yer bullbar y' should have to take it off.

Cheers
Clint

[Motu]

Have they ever heard of stationwagons??? Or are the kids *that* big nowadays

A few years ago when we had 4 kids to cart around we had a 1979 XC Falcon station waggon,the waggons have a longer wheelbase than the sedans so she was a big yellow sucker,a beaut car,we all loved her.But after coming back to Auckland from a 10yr break we found the car parks had changed somehow - entering a car park we would look out for ''Falcon'' spaces...this was at least 3 car parks free in a row,you couldn't swing the big bird into a single park in one go...even with 3 to play with you still had a couple of aligment jiggles to get it straight.Coming back to find our car was easy - it's huge yellow arse stuck out atleast half a meter from everything else.I've been driving Falcons,Holdens and Valiants all my life without a problem,they were the standard car back in the 70s,but I find them too damned big for city life now.

I didn't get a Pajero because I wanted one,it just fell in my lap as most of my vehicles do,I was doing big miles in my horrible diesel Vanette and thought a bit of comfort wouldn't go amiss,I also go on farms to ride my trials bike,and although I'm careful,the Vanette can get stuck on just flat ground,a bit more freedom to park where I like would be nice too.Being an off road rider,being an off road driver has some attraction too,but haven't done much yet.

Hey,I've found I really like this thing,it's comfy with good visability,not as manouverable as a car,but I find I can put it where I want it easily,I can pile some shit in the back,carry 7 people,normaly a 2 car job,the thing has been a handy piece of kit and I think I might take it on a trip soon and try out some of my bike roads in a 4x4,should be fun.These things do need a bit of common sense to drive - one of my daughters came back from driving it and said - hey this thing really leans over going around corners eh?,it's kinda scary'',if an 18 yr old girl can pick up that why can't everyone else?

Maarten - tell your Father his steering head brgs on the R75 are on the way out...a bit of ''self centering'' meaning the cups are starting to get pitted,not enough to notice,but will need looking at soon.

[pete376403]

An opinion on why so many women "drive" these things. They (the FWDs) actually start out as the husbands hormone replacement therapy. (Big aggressive vehicle, "getouttamyway" attitude, etc). Anyway, he drives it for a while until he realises just what a POS it to commute with, park in the city with, fill up with gas every other day, and then comes the cost of replacing the tyres. So, in the interests of economy, (of course, couldn't admit he was wrong to buy it), he takes the wifes shopping basket as the daily commuter and leaves her with the tank. She, naturally, continues to drive as though it is a Toyota Starlet.

If you're in Wellington, avoid the Basin reserve about 3pm. There's more FWDs there that at most of the Deadwood Safaris.

[Pwalo]

An opinion on why so many women "drive" these things. They (the FWDs) actually start out as the husbands hormone replacement therapy. (Big aggressive vehicle, "getouttamyway" attitude, etc). Anyway, he drives it for a while until he realises just what a POS it to commute with, park in the city with, fill up with gas every other day, and then comes the cost of replacing the tyres. So, in the interests of economy, (of course, couldn't admit he was wrong to buy it), he takes the wifes shopping basket as the daily commuter and leaves her with the tank. She, naturally, continues to drive as though it is a Toyota Starlet.

If you're in Wellington, avoid the Basin reserve about 3pm. There's more FWDs there that at most of the Deadwood Safaris.

You might have something there Pete, although a lot of ads these day seem to be slanted towards towards how safe 4WDs are for the kiddies. In think that the manufacturers are appealing to women, who let's face it make most of the purchasing decisions in NZ families.

[Yokai]

I used to live in the US (Bay Area, California) and I know exactly why women drive 4x4s. Nowadays there is so much on TV and so many PC games etc that you have to take your kids to school places for soccer/rugby etc... No-one wants to do it, so the "soccer moms" all pool together and say that they'll take the kids. In order to do that they need a big car. So, they go for 4x4s because of the nice high riding position and the size. Also a status symbol saying "look what WE can afford" (hence the advent of a LEXUS 4x4 and Porsche Cayenne :no: )

Thing is - if you've got 22 kids playing soccer, that's around 7 4x4s
Now you've got to factor in the other kids (say family has 2 on average) doing flute lessons or gym or swimming or whatever - you are now looking at probably something like 48 kids, or between 12 and 15 4x4s....

AT SCHOOL! Ugh...

I used to own a 4x4. But then I used to go skiing / surfing or to Ultimate ( what is ultimate? (http://www.ultimate.org.nz/auckland/what.htm)) tournaments every weekend. Needed the space / traction / people carrying. Now I own a bike and a Honda Integra... I live in a city :shrug:

Yo
:wavey: