Quote: "Do you drive? A 4x4 is SAFER in wet conditions (rain, snow, ice). "
I do drive - I have been for 5 years now. I'm sorry - do what now?! How is a 4x4 safer? It weighs more! Simple physics say that if you double the weight you double the stopping distance. Obviously its not going to be quite double because they've put tractor sized tyres on these things.
I did a little research (ie: work avoidance)...
This is what I found (its probably wrong, but it makes my point
)
Quote: "
stats:
Pontiac Grand Am SE = 1490kg
Ford Expedition = 2580kg
Both have ABS, although the Pontiac has drums on the rear
Stopping on dry with no payload from 100kph (62mph)
On P84, the Grandam (lighter) has an average stopping distance of ~148 whereas the Expedition has ~170
"
Now obviously every car is different - but do you honestly believe that a larger car is safer than a smaller one? I agree entirely that in the EVENT of an accident, yeah I would rather be in a larger & bulkier car... In fact, in the EVENT on an accident I'd rather be in a 100ft cube of padding! However, smaller and lighter cars are more likely to AVOID the accident in the first place, judgin by the above stats (I think they must be feet as its an american study) the heavier car took another 22 feet! Thats.. what.. 7 meters? about 2-3 car lengths more?
There are two sides to that problem. I do agree that
IF you're in an accident then a Land Rover would be the preferable choice in terms of survival. However, if the other person was a considerate person to the environment and all the other reasons I've already stated and you chose to be the one who thought "screw the world - I wanna live" then you'd have to live with the
FACT on your conscience that had you been in a smaller car the other person would stand a much greater chance of survival!
I also haven't even mentioned stupid children that chose to walk in front of cars
Normal car (eg Mondeo, Rover 600/75, VW Golf) the bonnet is designed so much smaller so that in the event of an imapct, the legs gets, or at least a lower part of the body - compared to a land rover sized car where your torso gets hit! Obviously, at anything more than 40 (or maybe 3) the person is going to die anyway (generally).. But i'm guessing the survival rate from accidents between 4x4's and children compared to VW Golfs and children is very different!
As for the stereotypes - I HATE being put in the same "box" as these 18 year olds with their "baseball cap of invincibility". To be honest, the way I'd prefer my insurance to work is that any accidents I have with someone else (as long as its not writing off a ÂŁ500,000 car) I'd rather pay for myself. Insurance should be there fore expensive accidents only and also for when you get sued. When you make a claim - yeah sure you'll get the ÂŁ100 to fix the car, but when your insurance gets renewed you'll pay ÂŁ200 more the next year! :-(
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