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I think i want a 4x4


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I've always hated 4x4s with a passion, especially after driving the old mans Freelander.

But after a week in the USA, i suddenly am starting to look on them favourably confused.gif

All the 22" chrome, the Black/Pearl white paint jobs, the huge engines.....damn, whats wrong with me????

And even worse, im starting to like driving my Rav4 hire car smashfreakB.gif

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grin.gif Cayenne Turbo S notworthy.gifjump.gif

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The funny thing is, over in the UK, you can spot a Range rover or Cayenne a mile away, because they tower over everything.

Over in the US, they look tiny. I just cant believe how huge some of the 4x4s are, yet they dont seem to have ever seen dirt.

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[ QUOTE ]

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grin.gif Cayenne Turbo S notworthy.gifjump.gif

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The funny thing is, over in the UK, you can spot a Range rover or Cayenne a mile away, because they tower over everything.

Over in the US, they look tiny. I just cant believe how huge some of the 4x4s are, yet they dont seem to have ever seen dirt.

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grin.gif indeed, the Cayenne Turbo S with 520bhp and its driving dynamics is a sports car compared with the huge American 4x4 trucks like the Chevrolet Suburban 169144-ok.gif

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Gosh yes, of course! blush.gif

No one would be dumb enough to buy a big offroad 4x4 if they weren't requiring the offroad capabilities would they? Think of the reduced dynamics, extra cost, additional drag and fuel consumption of all that extra ground clearance, 4x4 mechanics and strengthening.

No no, you'd have to be completely stupid to buy an offroad 4x4 if you didn't need its offroad capabilities. openfire.gif

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* Superior ride height - Why do you need offroad 4x4 ability to give you this?

* Tank like safety - But lower active safety (ability to swerve, stopping distances etc) And there are plenty of safe cars.

* Go anywhere wheels Why, if you're not going to "go anywhere" except on road.

* True 7 seater Most of them aren't, and those that are are normally more compromised than a VW Sharran for example

* Like towing boats, racing cars, motor X bikes, even caravans - 4wd useful here, but why do you need to be a foot up in the air to tow a caravan?

Sorry Ari, I still believe there's a lifestyle purpose for 4 x 4's - But little need for the ground clearance, offorad diffs, offorad tyres, and other nonsense that add weight and reduce active safety

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Who cares! Someone down the road from me has a massive house with 9 bedrooms, and he lives on his own. Why? Cos he's rich! And why not? If someone wants to buy a massive car, so what? At the end of the day, the fuel consumption and running costs are no worse than most of the faster audi's etc people on this board own!

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Who cares! Someone down the road from me has a massive house with 9 bedrooms, and he lives on his own. Why? Cos he's rich! And why not? If someone wants to buy a massive car, so what?

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Because he's unlikely to run into you with his house is he?

Put it another way, next time you're doing 70mph in the pouring rain on the motorway and some prick who thought he'd pick a Shogun instead of a proper car is right up tight behind you because he refuses to drive it any slower than a proper car (and why should he? He paid for it!) think about your 9 bed house analogy and then think about what happens if there's a serious emergancy situation that requires you to hit the brakes with all your might and perform a fast (safe) emergancy stop. Think about Mr. Offroad Hero, his offroad biased tyres, and his ladder chassis and extra weight, and longer stopping distances and think about what happens next.

I'm sorry, it's been done to death I know. And in fact sensibly used offroad 4x4's I actually don't have a problem with. Pity so few are... crazy.gif

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i remember a convoy of us towing ski boats - OliH will know that they are not exactly that heavy compared to boats such as Ari's. Well here was the lineup.

A petrol 4.0 Range Rover (not latest model)

A non-turbodiesel Merc E-class about 3.0

A diesel dodge ram i think

And what had the least problems - the Range Rover. The Merc had its oil temp light popping up every few mins if they ever got on a hill or over 55-60ish. The Ram struggled even getting the boat out of the lake (RWD) and struggled keeping up at times. And the RR was quite happy sitting at 80kph wink.gif quite happily.

Oh and before its mentioned - a ski boat on a trailer does not act like caravans and some other trailers and doesnt snake and is quite stable.

So all in - its definately down to the what people really need from a car. In chelsea and for running Princess to school - wtf - get a proper car. For people that need 4x4. Go for it.

As for the Cayenne - i will take one!! With a tow bar of course... wink.gif Actually anyone know what braked load they are rated for?

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