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

[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?

[Posh Tourer :P]

Haha brilliant

[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 )

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? ) 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