Potential Car purchase

[swee'pea99]

But when you're a Search and Rescue volunteer like me, then Sainsbury is the least of your worries. Of course, an SUV can also go to Sainsbury as well as the mud, but a regular car will become a liability on some of the terrain I need to negotiate. The last thing I need is my colleagues wasting time and resources rescuing me.

Reminds me of the classic VW Beetle ad: "Ever wondered how the snow plough driver gets to the snow plough?"

 

[MrGrumpy]

It is a bit of a tricky one and of course a very personal view. I don't think any one brand makes all attractive cars and another brand not; they all seem to have a few Cinderellas and a few ugly sisters in their ranges!

Personally I really hate the whole range of 4x4 and SUV type of car. To me they all look very ugly, they seem to have lots of very pointless and unused features on them and really seem unsuited for the job they are sold for. As a cyclist I don't like them as they tend to hide me from other traffic and prevent me seeing other traffic. They somehow seem to be sold as "tough" city cars but seem the most unsuitable thing to drive or park in a city.
Basically the owners are entering into a sort of car arms race and want something they think is bigger, heavier and safer than you, so you come off worse if they drive into you. Or they have a small cock.
Perhaps 5% are bought for a genuine use like a farmer or for better ground clearance but the rest are not. Mercedes make a few chunky great lumps that are as bad as the rest. My heart sank when it was announced that Jaguar was going to make a SUV.

must admit there are alot nicer non SUVs however the Mrs quite likes the seating position which is a lot higher than other vehicles. I would probably plump for an estate of some sort, in fact after the mention of Skoda the VRS octavia in the diesel would fit right in for me but irc on the limit for my towing. If not towing there would be no need what so ever for a 4 x 4 /SUV.

 

[Over The Hill]

must admit there are alot nicer non SUVs however the Mrs quite likes the seating position which is a lot higher than other vehicles. I would probably plump for an estate of some sort, in fact after the mention of Skoda the VRS octavia in the diesel would fit right in for me but irc on the limit for my towing. If not towing there would be no need what so ever for a 4 x 4 /SUV.

This is everything I hate about 4x4/SUVs (Sorry McG)
Firstly the height arms race, does Mrs also take a foot thick cushion to the cinema to see over the other people and tough sh** to the person behind her?
Why do you need a 4x4 or SUV for towing? Cars tow caravans very well as they are lower and more stable.

 

[screenman]

This is everything I hate about 4x4/SUVs (Sorry McG)
Firstly the height arms race, does Mrs also take a foot thick cushion to the cinema to see over the other people and tough sh** to the person behind her?
Why do you need a 4x4 or SUV for towing? Cars tow caravans very well as they are lower and more stable.

Trying hard to understand the cushion connection.

 

[MrGrumpy]

This is everything I hate about 4x4/SUVs (Sorry McG)
Firstly the height arms race, does Mrs also take a foot thick cushion to the cinema to see over the other people and tough sh** to the person behind her?
Why do you need a 4x4 or SUV for towing? Cars tow caravans very well as they are lower and more stable.

It also comes down to the weight and the torque of the engine as well ( for towing ), personally I`m not too fussed about height but for some its a bit more comfortable for sitting and getting out off. I never bought the Honda initially for its 4x4 capabilities albeit its not even a proper 4x4. However the extra room that comes with it was good and at the time I also needed a full child seat and boosters for the three kids. That was 7 years ago so they are all gone but two teenagers and a 9yr old now means there alot out there with the room. Horses for courses, personally I may keep the Honda but replace the Picasso.

Also cushion/cinema ??? I too fail too see the relation to this, its what she is comfortable with ???

 

[Drago]

Trying hard to understand the cushion connection.

She's got piles.

 

[screenman]

We had those put under this house when it was built.

 

[Over The Hill]

It also comes down to the weight and the torque of the engine as well ( for towing ), personally I`m not too fussed about height but for some its a bit more comfortable for sitting and getting out off. I never bought the Honda initially for its 4x4 capabilities albeit its not even a proper 4x4. However the extra room that comes with it was good and at the time I also needed a full child seat and boosters for the three kids. That was 7 years ago so they are all gone but two teenagers and a 9yr old now means there alot out there with the room. Horses for courses, personally I may keep the Honda but replace the Picasso.

Also cushion/cinema ??? I too fail too see the relation to this, its what she is comfortable with ???

As with a cinema seat, if you sit higher up to see over the person in front of you, you then (selfishly) block the view of the one behind you.

Similarly, the car arms race is there in both the height of the car and the weight of the car. Your typical Range Rover driver seems to rather like the idea of having a heavy car in the (mistaken) idea that it is safer, while of course overlooking the extra damage and longer stopping distance of his heavier car and its impact (literally) on others. The extra height then blocks the view for other road users and makes it less safe for them.
So on both points the car choice has some negative aspects for those around you , thus the analogy with the cinema seat.

 

[Drago]

Still not seen any cinema seats on the road while piloting my puppy murdering nun raping 4x4.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Been looking around this weekend at the Kia sorrento lovely car but heavy on the road tax and mpg but it ticks all the boxes for my Mrs. However......... Saw a lovely E class 220 cdi estate cracking motor had everything and can tow my van . Weird thing is wife would be delighted to buy a Kia but not interested in the Skoda oct vrs estate????!!!

 

[Drago]

Yeah, road tax is a bit steep, but when I've paid 2k for a vehicle that looks showroom fresh I can't grumble. MPG isn't an issue for the mileage I do, thanks to my secret love of bicycles.

 

[mybike]

Security of keyless systems might be something you'll want to check.

http://t.co/eWorpIPqf9