Land Rovers - Peril for the Planet?

[Bantam]

I think the issue here is Chelsea Tractors - those people who never ever use their vehicle for pulling stuff off a beach or so-on. BMW X5, X3, Porsche Cayennes and Merc S320MLs and the suchlike are in this category. Usually driven by arrogant tw@ts who think they own the road. If they taxed these then that would be fair.

Landies (Disco or Defender) are utility vehicles and primarily designed for the job 80% of them do.

Range Rovers, however, are a different kettle of fish.

Also, there is a growing trend for the large SUV type vehicles with twin cab and flatbed truck which are fashionable in the states - and I notice that's catching on here.

Now if you need to use it for your job, then fine. But I don't think a chartered accountant who doesn't dive/surf/use the truck part etc.. apart from to get the tax dodge and look cool, needs a flatbed truck?

[Adrian Kelland]

It's the 4x4s with no tow bar that really get my goat. Why else would you need one if not to tow something big and heavy? Should be illegal.

And as for their reversing skills down country lanes when faced with little ol me towing a boat - don't make me laugh.

[Lou]

Hmm, yes. The parents using them on the school run as they think the kids are safer in them being higher up etc, but forget about the damage to their darlings when one of them is hit at head height by the bumper of one driven by another parent during the school-gate rally.


Really they are, in general, the extreme of a business that is failing to sell environmental concern to its customers. There is no incentive for them to do so, if course. However, in the long run it would seem like good business sense for them to turn the market to the alternative versions as tax, oil prices etc are all going to combine to make owning a standard vehicle less desirable and being "the name" in the alternative market would be worth a great deal of early business.

[Madfish]

Originally Posted by Lou

Hmm, yes. The parents using them on the school run as they think the kids are safer in them being higher up etc, but forget about the damage to their darlings when one of them is hit at head height by the bumper of one driven by another parent during the school-gate rally.

Does you mean that people who buy 4x4s (for towing or gear carrying purposes) should be banned from driving their kids to school in them and should buy something smaller with a roof rack for the the violins, sports gear, school books, family dog etc. just to drop the kids - double bubble for HM Govt?

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by Madfish

Does you mean that people who buy 4x4s (for towing or gear carrying purposes) should be banned from driving their kids to school in them and should buy something smaller with a roof rack for the the violins, sports gear, school books, family dog etc. just to drop the kids - double bubble for HM Govt?

Nope, but what about cycling, walking, sharing and perhaps even - shock horror - buses? Any link between the lazy s***s (sorry darlings) driven everywhere and obesity anyone?

I suspect your about group is in the majority of 4x4 owner. Certainly many of the Chelsea Tractors is saw when I worked in London were not capable of towing by dint of having no tow bar.

[AirHog]

Originally Posted by Adrian Kelland

It's the 4x4s with no tow bar that really get my goat. Why else would you need one if not to tow something big and heavy? Should be illegal.

And as for their reversing skills down country lanes when faced with little ol me towing a boat - don't make me laugh.

Oi! Kelland, NO!

Bought mine with every intention of having the tow bar fitted once it was run in and doing my share of towing the club boat, but we now have it in a marina all year round so don't need the tow bar - just a phone call and they put the boat in the water for me.

Not my fault, honest...

Regards

Mark

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by AirHog

Oi! Kelland, NO!

Bought mine with every intention of having the tow bar fitted once it was run in and doing my share of towing the club boat, but we now have it in a marina all year round so don't need the tow bar - just a phone call and they put the boat in the water for me.

Not my fault, honest...

Regards

Mark

Hmm, I'll let you off just this once. Don't do it again

[Madfish]

Originally Posted by Adrian Kelland

Nope, but what about cycling, walking, sharing and perhaps even - shock horror - buses? Any link between the lazy s***s (sorry darlings) driven everywhere and obesity anyone?

I suspect your about group is in the majority of 4x4 owner. Certainly many of the Chelsea Tractors is saw when I worked in London were not capable of towing by dint of having no tow bar.

I am sorry, I don't really understand the second paragraph, so I don't know whether to feel insulted or not!
If I did have kids (which I don't) and I did live in London (only sometimes) rest assured I would take them to school in the M3 instead.

I gave up smoking 10 days ago - so I am doing my bit for anti-pollution and other peoples' lungs. Can't we all just drive what we like?

Is there a poll coming on?

[Clare Gledhill]

Originally Posted by Adrian Kelland

Nope, but what about cycling, walking, sharing and perhaps even - shock horror - buses? Any link between the lazy s***s (sorry darlings) driven everywhere and obesity anyone?

Hmmm... I live on a road with no pavements, no street lights and the speed limit is 60 mph. Buses? What are they? I have a 5 year old to get 2 miles to school at 8:30 in the morning, a 3 year old to get to nursery by 9:00 (six miles in the opposite direction) and then I have to get to the station to get to work.

I suppose the next point is that Mum's shouldn't work ... that way they would have time to walk their children to school - dodging the speeding cars on the way

[Madfish]

Originally Posted by AirHog

Bought mine with every intention of having the tow bar fitted once it was run in and doing my share of towing the club boat, but we now have it in a marina all year round so don't need the tow bar - just a phone call and they put the boat in the water for me.

Surely this vehicle should be sold immediately and replaced with something small, safe & economical.