i just bough one because we need a larger car as we have 4 kids between us and 2 are in carseats and 1 is in a booster seat so we needed a car with lot of seat room but i do agree with you i see mms with one or two children in big 4wds and they drive like they own the road but not all drivers are like that and yes there too big to see around but there are smallertypes that are not so bad. so im half half here i agree and disagree wth you. :)

I must say, when the hubby first brought his home and parked it next to my civic, I said WHAT THE.. Mind you he does use the back for a lot of his work gear...  Plus it has been great for picking up the nephews when their parents are stuck and can't get to the school on time to pick up the kids, and I have Cam and Francis with us...

And it is also a dream to drive.. We have a GMC Yukon...  I don't drive it that much as it is the hubby's car, but during winter if I need to go in town and I want a parking space, I take that.. Because trust me if ever you have seen the snow here you need the 4wd to get up over the snow banks the bloody snow plows leave behind....  While we have not been off road so to speak, we have taken it camping a few times, and well winter time is a dream with it here....

So I guess I'll have to say I like it...  But before we actually had one, I too disliked them... But once I drove it myself I could see what the fuss was about....

I've grown up around a weird mix of very small cars and motorcycles and very large trucks and busses. Most people that drive don't know how to safely share the road with vehicles they don't use themselves, and most people that own a 4WD don't know how to use it properly at all. In fact, most drivers of all vehicles really don't know how to handle their vehicle properly at all. Sure, you get your licence, have many hours of driving experience in various conditions, but when something goes wrong most people don't know how to react and they do the wrong thing and create a bad accident because they haven't learned how to avoid or minimise an accident.

Many people around here have them, but it's necessary for many of them as there are roads around here that are unsealed and rough, and when it rains it pours, and roads can get cut off in minutes and people can get bogged really quickly if they are going to one of those places with unsealed roads and don't have a 4WD. They don't bother me I guess because I'm used to being around them, but I do fully get where you are coming from.

If someone needs one because they do go to places where the roads aren't sealed, or they need some real grunt with regards to pulling power, then I understand having it. But it does bug me out when people feel they have to have one just for the sake of prestige or safety. If you want prestige, get a BMW; if you want safety, get a Volvo. 4WDs aren't really as safe as people think they are, sure you have a good view in front, but their centre of balance is higher and they roll easier, and the rear view is compromised. Drivers of 4WDs are renouned for reversing over their own toddlers and pets in the driveway of their home because the rear view isn't as good.

The vehicle that annoys me the most is the electric scooter. They are now illegal in most states of Australia and for good reason. They don't have the accelleration and grunt needed to get out of the way of someone that didn't see them, they are small and hard to see, you could previously ride one with only a car licence but they are more like a motorcycle, and stupid people - women being the worst offenders - wouldn't wear any protective gear besides a helmet when riding them. I've seen many women in high heel shoes and office skirts on the things! Sure, the scooter can't go as fast as a motorcycle, but most of them can get up to 60kms/hr, and coming off a scooter at 60kms/hr is the same as coming off a Ducati at 60kms/hr. The statistics for "motorcycle" accidents soured phenominally when they were legal, as all electric scooter accidents were recorded as motorcycle accidents.

Note: The real petrol powered scooters have more power and you do need a motorcycle licence to ride one; and the little electric ones that are for disabled and elderly people don't require a licence but can only do about 10kms/hr and are not allowed to be ridden on the roads as they are designed to be used like an electric wheelchair.

That's my opinion. You asked for it! LOL

Hi there, up until last year, we had one car which was a little daewoo. I was quite happy in my little economic car. Then my husband decided that it was time to get a car for his business! His dicision, a huge monstrous four wheel drive dual cab ute thingy majiga! It is hideous, very spacious inside, comfortable on long drives, able to haul his work stuff around and our camping stuff, but very big. I hate it for the same reason s you do, but when I drive it, man I feel pretty powerful up there above everyone else. Maybe that is why they are so popular,And the fact that everyone is so intent on keeping up with the Jones'. I have my daewoo still, and I love it. With todays petrol prices, I can get buy on $30 a week, whereas my husband is paying in excess of $100.

I totally agree with you, being short I can't really drive one as they are way too big.   We have a 4WD but it sits in the garage waiting for us to take it on holidays.

I think there are many other options for a big car, if you need it for your large family.  Some hatch backs are big enough, and what about a station wagaon isn't that big enough?  

I think that most people espically woman drive 4WDs 'cause it makes them feel save.

I dont like them personally either but with saying that we are buying one in a few weeks but when parking i will be parking far away from other cars or at the end of alse . and we will be going 4 wd  with my parents and brother as they both own them too . we also need it to fit all us in . with kennys car we wont fit he has a toyota corlloa bad enough now with the girls seats lol . kenny and i are big camping fans and with petrol prices we cant do it at the moment with his car so my car will be duel fuel so we can go away . belxx

You and I agree on this score!  I could go into this all day, but won't, would cause Minti to crash! lol.  Too many senior citizens are driving them but are unable to control them.  Women who drive them have an 'invincibility' complex and don't obey road rules.  Men use them as tanks and in general, 4wd vehicles are just a menace on city streets.  The increase of serious accidents involving 4wd vehicles has increased 200% in the last 7 years, that is the 4wd survives but not the other vehicle.  Insurance companies are now working out a way to bump up premiums if you are a 4wd owner because you are more likely to have an accident if you drive one, and be the one at fault..

Like I said,could be here all day, just given the basics.  Personally, I hate them!  Oh, the increase of children being hit by these vehicles is on the rise too, and that is in the school zones!!!!!!!

Well I have driven them because we had 5 kiddies,needed to haul, and camping. BUT!!!  I never park up in,alway leave it out far in parking lots because I know you can not see around them. I will walk further because I don't want to cause a sight obstruction.  Having been hit several times I feel safer in a bigger vechicle but drive very carefully. Over here the problem is drivers that can't stand to loose one minute and will dart without signals where they see an opening.  Inconsiderate and careless drivers are in all sizes of vechicles...the plain stupid are everywhere!

I have a ford escape - its not one of the big 4wd's similar or a little bit bigger to a rav4.  I have it because we go camping & tow a caravan camper thingy & go on rough roads.  I like it because I am short & feel safe driving in it because I can see things better.   This is my only car so I dont have a choice but to drive it wherever I need to go.  The  big 4wds shadow me, so I know where you are coming from.   I cant bag them though because maybe other people have them for the same reason as me.  But the big ones are BIG!

 4x4 vehicles are not my favourite, especially when your parked beside one and you have to reverse out....you have NO line of sight until your nearly completely out.

I personally dont like em but my parents have one and this is due to the fact we needed a relieable vehicle that could tow all over australia and it is there only car.

4x4 don't have to be big either, the world's greatest 4x4 are the smallest ones!!!

You can get more places in a Suzuki or a SWB Toyota  Landcruiser than any other car.

The best 4x4 you can get is a WW2 Willys Jeep (and it is tiny)

The only reason people have big 4x4 is because they have a GOD complex

I have a people mover and that is quite big i do have a problem with four wheel drivers cars. However i do need my people mover with two babies