Road Tax on 4x4s

[flip-flop]

�40odd extra quid. Pah! Make it �1,000 a year for anybody who is not a farmer or who does not need it for work.

Opinions?

[meltoadhall]

we have a 4x4 as we live in rural area with a track - no pavements or lights or anything else really.some days i cant remember what colour it is!

but sometimes i like to go to my nearest town to go - surprise, surprise - shopping. so what shall i do? buy a small car and park it on the main road so that i can change cars? I dont think so!!!!!

yes I agree there are lots of people who have them as a status symbol. but please dont tar us all with the same brush!!!!

[bob57]

meltoadhall I don't want to sound cheeky can you not class yourself a farmer as I be lieve they are excempt from paying the higher rate I do sympathyse with you

[Steve_Luts]

Philby - any 4 x 4 from a High-End is a well equipped luxury vehicle.

I can't stand the 'anti' brigade - who are they to tell me what to drive? I earn the money, spend it how I like and if it guzzles gas, I'm paying the tax and the increased vehicle excise duty, so where's the problem?

Its ridiculous for anyone to consider the Band G duty rise as a disincentive to buy a 4x4 - it barely covers half a tank of fuel.

I don't have own a 4x4 - but it is on my list of considerations for my next car. Why? I have no kids and walk to the shops so its not for use as a 'Chelsea Tractor' - its because my daily commute is on a congested motorway where everyone drives far too close together, regularly causing shunts. Nobody seems to remember "the two second rule" they used to advertise on TV. The people who noramlly do this are eejits in tiny fuel-efficient Euroboxes with totally useless driving skills. Frankly, I don't want to be involved in a pile up because they are too close to the car in front/too close behind me.

So I would have a 4x4 specifically because of the elevated view and degree of solidity it gives you over these numptys - purely in view of my own safety.

As for the vehicle 'footprint' taking up too much space, lots of 4x4's occupy the same road space as a standard saloon car, which nobody gets up in arms about. I also ride a sportsbike which lets me nip between traffic and my absolute nemesis is Saab 95's - those things are as wide as a wide thing, but you don't see these eco-loons putting offensive 'poor car choice' flyers on them do you? I think the Saab diver has chosen a big car, but I allow him/her that choice and don't vilify them for it. Its all about personal choice and having the ability to buy what you want. We do still live in a free country, yes?

[PhilBy]

Not if you smoke apparently :-)

The only gripe I have with a 4 x 4 is if parked next to one in a car park and your view is totally restricted by it when you come to reverse out of your space.

I only see them as 'rural' type vehicles so never thought people would be jealous of those who owned them ....... funny old world ain't it ..... might get myself a brand new combine harvester just to pee off the neighbours lol

[flip-flop]

And what about the safety of other road users? Hit a pedestrian or another vehicle in a 4x4 and you're going to do a shed load more damage than if you were driving a 'normal' car.

Still - at least you're safe.

[okeydokey]

Does this mean everyone is jealous of my 1995 suzuki 4x4 vitara ......Only got for launching a boat

[stanleyman]

A boat as well? You do like stirring up trouble?

[horselady]

Oh dear! Strange thing is that 4x4 doesn't only relate to Land Rovers etc. several cars also have 4 wheel drive and would strictly be classed as a 4x4. Yes, I do have a Land Rover, you try living high on Exmoor and getting to the nearest town in snow and ice without 4 wheel drive. Basically, it's free choice and I'll drive what I want, so there!

[tilli121]

we have a 4 x 4 although we do live in a city not the country, our reason, a medical one, my husband used to really struggle to get in and out of our escort, he started boxing as a sport aged 10 and now has arthritus in his shoulders, a result of all the years boxing, he can easily get in and out of the 4 x 4, he doesn't get disability, he pays for his road tax and should be able to choose the car thats best for him to drive, also the boot space is handy, nice and large and ideal for transporting our 2 dogs. ours is nothing fancy but runs better than our clapped out escort ever did, 4 x 4's aren't always bought just to look good, some people do actually buy them for valid reasons, if the tax went up to �1000 we certainly could not afford it and then hubby is going to really struggle if we go back to a saloon or hatchback and would probably end up driving less as his shoulder problem would get worse, it's never going to improve but at least he can get in and out of the car pain free at the moment.