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/storydispl...ondsubsection=

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/storydispl...ondsubsection=

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. 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.

[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. 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

[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.

[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