TV 8/2/07: Inside New Zealand - 4WD menace

[The Pastor]

Yeah but back to biking, they tend to be the ones cutting the corners the most though aye........

[onearmedbandit]

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Jesus you kiwis are a pathetic bunch of inbreeds. I can think of 100's of "real" issues that need addressing and you bitches moan about people driving large vehicles.

Come on Finn, you know as well as I do there are people all throughout the world with nothing better to do then bitch about pointless issues. Threads like this just tend to bring them out of the woodwork.

[kro]

I kind of agree with Finn. NZ seems to be becoming a nation of whistle blowers, and moaners.
When our business opened up in Nelson, the company got a signwriter to put a big sign on the side of the tilt slab wall, and no sooner was it painted, someone from the local council saying that some old git had complained about the size of the sign, and that we had to sand blast some of it off.

We have people wanting to "legislate" motocross bikes on private property, and a whole rash of bullshit whinge sessions locally, let alone what's going on na tionally.

I have nothing against SUV's.

[mstriumph]

..............Jesus you kiwis are a pathetic bunch of inbreeds....................

doesn't inbreeding result in stunted growth or sumthin?

[Finn]

doesn't inbreeding result in stunted growth or sumthin?

Inbreeding has no effect on dimensions. For example, take a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy. It's still the same size, it's just all messed up and doesn't make any sense. Much the same as the people that ramble on about SUV's.

[Lou Girardin]

The one thing I admire 'Red' Ken Livingston for, is squeezeing 4WD owners till their pips squeak via parking fees.
The things are a curse and have no place in an urban environment. All they're good for is running over their owners kids.
Those who own them give society the finger, so we can reciprocate.

[Deano]

Late model 4x4's are extremely well equipped and built. However most won't see past their own noses and still cry for the removal of all 4x4's, including late model variants.

As long as the owners know what to expect in terms of handling, and they don't just buy them thinking, "whatever happens, I'll be alright, in my steel crash barrier"..........

Was that a bug on my windshield or a technicoloured leather clad kiwibiker.

It seems Volvo driver's used to cop a lot of flack from MC mag's for the same reason.......

You're not slightly biased cause you sell em are ya ?

Admittedly, SUV's have been around since the first landcruiser haven't they ? Just not in today's quantity driven by soccer mom's preening themselves in the rear view between Eastbourne and the Hutt....

[Motu]

Those who own them give society the finger, so we can reciprocate.

Bugger - and here's me thinking that for 37 years I've been giving society the finger by riding a motorcycle.But it appears it had no effect....but driving a beat up Pajero does!.Oh well,at least I got the desired effect in the end.

[chanceyy]

They should give a free copy of the doco to every 4WD owner - and it should be mandatory equipment with every one sold!

What amazes me is the fact that so many people - women especially - say they drive them because they are SAFE. I have no desire to buy one because I would never use one off road and what's the point of having one if you only use it to go shopping in? I'm sure a Camry or similar would have even more boot space and a better ride!

I do not drive mine because its safe .. neither do 5 other freinds who own them .. we drive them cause we can at time tow in excess of 2.5 ton, & getting in my house when the roadworks was on I needed a 4 wheel drive .. mind you still need it on occassion at the moment

as for the ride its way more comfy that my old camry ever was .. & more boot space .. esp when the back seats fold down

also its been handy to have a 7 seater esp when you take drunken workmates home

but then I have brought the vehicle that is best suited to my needs rather than a fancy accessory, & can not afford a second smaller car

[onearmedbandit]

You're not slightly biased cause you sell em are ya ?

Not at all mate. If our clients couldn't purchase a 4x4/SUV/RV then they would purchase something else. What I'm against however is people trying to impose their beliefs on others.

[Nasty]

I do not drive mine because its safe .. neither do 5 other freinds who own them .. we drive them cause we can at time tow in excess of 2.5 ton, & getting in my house when the roadworks was on I needed a 4 wheel drive .. mind you still need it on occassion at the moment

as for the ride its way more comfy that my old camry ever was .. & more boot space .. esp when the back seats fold down

also its been handy to have a 7 seater esp when you take drunken workmates home

but then I have brought the vehicle that is best suited to my needs rather than a fancy accessory, & can not afford a second smaller car

Totally agree Chanceyy ..

I bought a small 4wd knowing the safety issues ... I use 4wd when the Grub and I go camping .... and its great ... also I have MS and was having trouble getting in and out of the 2.0 L Honda Prelude I owned ... which was a huge gas guzzler compared to my 1.6 L Vitara.

I think we prefer our vehicle situation now ... one 4wd and two bikes ...

[DEATH_INC.]

Weeelllll, I drive a suv, bullbars raised suspension, big wheels/tyres etc, and yep I use it to intimidate the incompetent assholes that clutter up our roadways at every oppertunity. But it's real funny when I drive a car to work on the same roads how many assholes pull out in front of ya and cut ya off etc.......
I'm still amused by all the so called safety research they do, maybe in a rollover thay may be a bit less safe, but I'll challenge anyone to a battle in a modern car, I've demolished a couple of old wrecks with mine, just for fun, with hardly a scratch......
I consider it balance, to make up for when I have to dodge everyone on my bike....
Oh yeh, I do use it off road occasionally too.......

[Wolf]

Of course they're all perfectly safe and the 4xfuckwit in front of me yesterday had perfectly legitimate reasons (and every right) to drive with his right wheels in the passing lane for most of the road from Te Awamutu to Hamilton.

And I'm sure it will be a great comfort to me when I'm in hospital, getting what's left of my legs removed, that we live in a country where people are free to purchase vehicles they have no ability to control and not have to concern themselves with knowing the vehicle's weaknesses and risks.

I ride a motorcycle, a vehicle with certain inherent risks and vulnerabilities of which I am aware - and I factor those risks into my riding.

I also have a car with a different set of risks and vulnerabilities of which I am also aware and I have to switch modes when driving it and factor in the new risks and vulnerabilities.

The problem is: there are a lot of people out there who can drive a car (or think they can) who then jump into an SUV and attempt to drive it as if the risks and weaknesses are the same as those in a car but - until we work out how to suspend certain laws of physics - they're not.

But no, you're right, any programme to alert people to the different risks of a large 4x4 compared with a small saloon is a government plot to take all the "fun" vehicles off the road and the Nazis and Thought Police are about to target our bikes.

We didn't end up cooking a roast the other night so I've got plenty of aluminium foil going spare here for those who want it.

After all, it's evil to let the general public be informed about the safety factors of the vehicles they, or others on the road, use. Best not put on a programme about how hard it is to stop or start a truck and trailer rig - under the pretext of warning people not to behave as if it performs like a mini - that would mean the gov't is trying to destroy our transportation infrastructure.

Bloody kiwis these days, turned into a nation of conspiracy theorists.

I for one will be tuning in to the doco so I better understand the handling, blind spots, braking etc of the SUVs so I can better predict how they are likely to behave and I hope that the owners of them watch it too so they won't think that a cursory glance into the rear view mirror whilst applying their lipstick and texting their analyst is a sufficient check to ensure the road is clear.

I'm the first to admit that, in my opinion, cars are purely utilitarian - a means to carry things I cannot carry on a bike - and that I'm pretty much uninterested in all cars except veteran, classic or vintage cars. I am also aware that my opinion is not universal and that there are people out there as enthusiastic about cars as I am about motorbikes - and that is their right. 'twould be a sad world if we all liked the same things (for a start, demand would outstrip supply and drive the prices up).

However, it is the responsibility of people who purchase vehicles to go into the decisions with their eyes open and aware of the ramifications of their choices. And their responsibility to factor any risks into their behaviour on public roads.

With the size of our family, it is looking likely that we will have to purchase a 7- or 8-seater, possibly one of the "people movers", and when/if I do, it will be after careful consideration of the risks and shortcomings of the vehicles and it will be driven with due respect for said risks and shortcomings.

But let's not let personal responsibility, risk awareness and considered decision making get in the way of a good rant about the current Nazi-state and Big Brother Helen, eh? As you were...

[Motu]

... also I have MS and was having trouble getting in and out of the 2.0 L Honda Prelude I owned ...

I got my Pajero when my mother had terminal cancer - she was as weak as a kitten,but still insisted on going shopping,paying her bills etc.I thought climbing up and down into the Pajero might be too hard,but she preferred it as it had hand holds,and could step down,not haul herself up to get out.Just another plus.

[spookytooth]

I dont see where the ill handing bit comes from.I have a Nissan 3.3 terrino had it for 4 years.Yea its burned more petrole than any other car ivé owned but it fits all of me work crap in the back ok.It sure aint gutless and it handles pretty good.Have blown a few boy racers away up the Kiamis both sides.It handels way better than a prelude i had and is a hell of a lot better than all the vans i,ve owned To each there own :