The Cost of 4x4s

[DodgyAgent]

Hearing people who drive cars themselves moaning about 4x4s is like hearing a regular smoker moaning when someone lights up a cigar.

Quite

[VectraMan]

If consumables like tires and breaks need changing the cost is minimal.

I think your point says as much about the relationship car dealers and garages have with their customers as much as anything else.

Nationwide auto centres wanted £400 for new front discs and pads for my Primera back in November. Most people would just nod, especially when it comes to brakes, but I went home to look for myself and sure enough there was 50% left. I waited a few months, and bought some discs for £50 off e-bay, and the proper Nissan pads for about the same, and only finally fitted them when they actually needed it a couple of weeks back. So an extra 20,000 miles of motoring and saving £300.

Any car is dangerous if you don't maintain it. Those ads that show the kid being run over at 35mph where the car at 30mph would stop really annoy me because braking isn't a constant thing. Anyone in a big heavy 4x4 can't stop as fast as a light sports car, and often the shopping trolley type cars (Clios, Saxos etc.) have terrible brakes. The minimum required for an MOT really is very poor, but people think as long as they get the MOT and service once a year they're safe.

[Churchill]

In the company car park my car, a 1.9 TD is almost in a minority among 4x4s I get a fairly constant 45 to 65 mpg and a top speed of 120 mph I find it an easy drive. If consumables like tires and breaks need changing the cost is minimal.

When I park next to 4x4s I notice increasing is the lack of essential maintenance like near bald tyres and badly scored brake discs. There is the occasional moan in the office from a person who has to fork out hundreds or even 1000s of pounds for maintenance. One guy at work had a new radiator fitted and it cost £1400. On top of that some of them can not afford the fuel.

I went into Kwik-Fit yesterday and got an oil and filter change. While I was there a young chap came in with a BMW 4x4 he asked for the front brake pads to be changed at the bargain price of £70. he then explained that he really need both front and back discs and pads replaced but he can't afford that because the cost is around £600. “I'll drive around with the noise for a few weeks and then I will get the back done” he said.

On motorways more often than not I see 4x4s that have hit other cars or the central barrier, I think poor maintenance has a lot to do with these accidents.

If you have a nice 4x4 and you maintain it well and you live just off a dirt track road, good luck to you.

If you have a nice 4x4 and you feeling the pinch and don't maintain it well and you live in the town; you are a dangerous smuck and you have a mental problem as why you need to be seen driving one of these.

Jealous little fecker, aren't you?

[VectraMan]

Are all 4wd vehicles suffering the increases in vehicle tax or is it just the behemoths?

Subaru used to make a Justy (terrible little car with 4wd) and there used to be a Panda 4x4, hardly in the same league as a V8 X5 are they?

The vehicle tax is nothing to do with 4WD at all.

[Chugnut]

The vehicle tax is nothing to do with 4WD at all.

Just emissions then?

[VectraMan]

Just emissions then?

Yep. The S2000 is in the top band, and that's a measley 2.0 litre engine with 2WD, only 2 seats, no room for any kids, push bikes, moutain bikes or any other things the 4x4 brigade tell us are essentials.

[Euro-commuter]

Any car is dangerous if you don't maintain it. Those ads that show the kid being run over at 35mph where the car at 30mph would stop really annoy me because braking isn't a constant thing. Anyone in a big heavy 4x4 can't stop as fast as a light sports car, and often the shopping trolley type cars (Clios, Saxos etc.) have terrible brakes. The minimum required for an MOT really is very poor, but people think as long as they get the MOT and service once a year they're safe.

That's right! Some cars pass it fine but give you a strong desire to brush up on your anticipation skills (advance notice required for serious braking). Others, in a tight spot, can give you the welcome impression that they are able to arrest the march of time. Not all the same, indeed.

[DodgyAgent]

Nationwide auto centres wanted £400 for new front discs and pads for my Primera back in November. .

I call that a write off

[gingerjedi]

After this mornings experience I think they should only be allowed to use the first 2 lanes on the motorway, I was stuck behind a giant landcruiser who for 10 miles just seemed to pretend I wasn't there, whenever we came to an incline he would struggle and I had to slow down with him, there's a reason why slow vehicles are restricted to the first 2 lanes so why not these w**kers?

[Bagpuss]

Yep. The S2000 is in the top band, and that's a measley 2.0 litre engine with 2WD, only 2 seats, no room for any kids, push bikes, moutain bikes or any other things the 4x4 brigade tell us are essentials.

It's not in the top band thank god.
The only problem I have with 4x4 is a minority of people use them to bully other motorists.