The worst 4x4 by far?

[The Late, Great JC]

It looks like a Frontera

yes it may not meet today's safety expectations, but if as the article states it has safety standards equivalent to the early nineties then surely in a big 4x4 those are good enough ?

I think part of the ever increasing level of safety standards is sponsored by the manufacturers as a mechanism to move new cars in a market where everything in a category is much of a muchness.

Milan.

Unfortunately MB, most people who buy a 4x4 don't actually know how to drive one safely so they rely on all the new toys like ABS and Traction Control etc.

[planetit]

I think part of the ever increasing level of safety standards is sponsored by the manufacturers as a mechanism to move new cars in a market where everything in a category is much of a muchness.

No it is driven by the customer’s desire for more safety features. What’s important with this car is that they know where the 5 grand saving has gone. Then they will make up their own mind. The average 4x4 buyer will pay the extra 5 grand for better safety.

[milanbenes]

my point is old timer,

back in the nineties we thought cars were pretty safe, we laughed then at the first Daewoo because it was based upon the previous Cavelier

well if safety was good enough for us in the nineties then it should be good enough for us now ?

considering the majority of a roads in the UK speed camera regulated down to 50mph and the motorways are not far off do people need to pay the extra ? it's a question of conscience ? where does it end, on your logic we should spend every penny we have on the most expensive car we can buy in search of safety

and do not forget, it was only 20 years ago when many people were driving cars 10 or fifteen years old, these days you don't see ten year old cars on the road

Milan.

[DimPrawn]

these days you don't see ten year old cars on the road

Not in Blairs Britain, of course not. Why would anyone drive round in a ten yr old car when I can release £20K in equity from my million pound bedsit and buy a brand new one? Duh.

[planetit]

where does it end, on your logic we should spend every penny we have on the most expensive car we can buy in search of safety

Some people will, yes. And then spend an extra couple of quid on a “baby on board sticker” and turn the deflector shield (sorry fog light) on at the first opportunity. That's their choice.

If they are prepared to pay for it then the manufactures will sell it. Hence the market is driven by the customer not by the VM.

And the cars of 20 years ago were generally crap and dangerous.

[milanbenes]

"And the cars of 20 years ago were generally crap and dangerous",

that is a bit of a generalisation old chap.

I think you mean 40 years ago.

If this thing _is_ based upon the Frontera as it looks then in general there is no reason why it shouldn't be a good enough car for some people.

What's worse a brand new 4x4 for 10k or a second hand car for 10k ?

Milan.

[The Late, Great JC]

What's worse a brand new 4x4 for 10k or a second hand car for 10k ?

A brand new car for 10K.

What would you buy MB? A brand new BMW or a second-hand Mercedes for the same money?

For me it'd be the Merc every time!

[milanbenes]

if you are talking diesel Mercs upto end of 2001 I am with you, if you are talking the post 2001 rebadged Chryslers then you are welcome to all the Mercedes that the factories can produce

my point is, these motoring journos write some right nonsense, what's the difference between this Chinky thing and for example a second hand Isuzu Trooper or Mitsubishi Shogun for the same money ?

I am confident a second hand Shogun or Trooper for the same money will be of such an age that they too have engineering and safety features more commonly found in the nineties

Milan.

[Joe Bloggs]

In fact I probably care as much about other people on the road as they do about me.

Is that your 4x4 being attacked there JC?, seems some people do care about you after all...

[SupremeSpod]

Is that your 4x4 being attacked there JC?, seems some people do care about you after all...

If it's not illegal for them to deflate my tyres, why is it illegal for me to deflate their lungs? Because, that's what'll happen...