4WD myths, facts and stats

**jimbo110** · 20th May 2007, 07:13 PM

Four Wheel Drives: myths, facts and stats

Sick of people giving you dirty looks when you take the 4x4 out in town?

Tired of justifying your choice of car to every sniping sedan driver?

Help is at hand. The Australian Four Wheel Drive Council has put out a list of facts about 4x4s which explodes some of the most common myths.

Take the bloke in the pub who is always quoting accident statistics. Chances are he's quoting numbers from the US, where what they call SUVs are completely different and where only 11 states have enforceable seat-belt laws.

In actual fact, the latest figures from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau tell us that, unlike the US, the accident rate for 4x4s and sedans is almost identical in Australia. And the most recent NSW RTA statistics tell us that in country driving, sedans are nearly twice as likely as four-wheel drivers are to be involved in single vehicle accidents.

Then there are the people who tell you that 4x4s are more likely to roll than other cars because their center of gravity is too high. While the center of gravity is a little higher in a 4x4 than in a sedan, it is only the difference made by the larger tyres.

Any engineer will tell you why: it's to do with how drive trains and how universal joints have to work (this does not take into account highly lifted competition vehicles).

In order of rollover ease (highest to lowest) you could classify vehicles: B-Double, Semi Trailer, Heavy Truck, Bus, Light Truck/Delivery Van, Heavy 4WD, People Mover, Light 4WD, Sedan, Sports Car, Go Kart.

You often hear people moaning that 4x4s take up too much parking space. In fact, if you compare a Nissan Patrol, for example, with-say-a Chrysler Voyager, which is often touted as a replacement model for the 4x4, the Chrysler is longer, wider and higher than the Patrol. And as for the people who tell you it is impossible to see out of the back of a 4x4, they obviously haven't read the report of the survey conducted by IAG and the NRMA, which found that “no car type is inherently better than any other. There are good 4WDs and bad sedans; in fact, the lowest rated car was a sedan, not a 4WD”.

Traffic studies also show that 4x4s are under represented in accidents, relative to the number on the road. Clearly a heavier car is more likely to hurt somebody more than, say, a motorcycle, but even so, sedans were involved in 66 per cent of pedestrian fatalities compared with 15 per cent for utilities, trucks and 4x4s.

As for the gas guzzling theory, studies have shown that, around the city, where average speeds are less than 30kmh and air resistance is negligible, a large 4WD will use exactly the same amount as fuel as any other vehicle of the same weigh: it's just a matter of physics.

So, if someone calls your pride and joy a Toorak Tractor, you'll be able drive straight through their arguments!

The Sunday Telegraph

**Blknight.aus** · 20th May 2007, 07:23 PM

for the gass guzzler arguemtn

go peel the predicted fuel economy sticker off of a td5 deefer 11.0l/100km city (well mine was when we bought it in townsville)

and compare that to say a ford xr6 (12.5l/100km)

sorry what was that you were saying... my bigger heavier landrover is actually more fuel effecient than your normal car?....

**sam_d** · 20th May 2007, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by jimbo110

Four Wheel Drives: myths, facts and stats

You often hear people moaning that 4x4s take up too much parking space.

This 'fact' also ****es me off. My Disco is slightly smaller than my last car (a Nissan Primera) in terms of ground space taken up. Just because it is taller it doesn't mean it takes up more parking space.

In fact, with some car parks the head room is too little for some off road 4x4s so there won't be any in some car parks at all. If I got a 2" lift on my disco there would be one less 4x4 parked in the the space under my unit thanks to the limited clearance under the security gate

**twitchy** · 20th May 2007, 07:31 PM

I have always been a firm believer of no place in the city for 4wheel drives, yes I know I own one, Unless they actually get dirty, properly!~! Just can't stand ******* who buy one & never use it, up here they are Kenmore Tractors....
However I do get P!ssed off that I can't park my Disco in a few car parks due to stupid heights ( or should that be lows???

)
I know that my Disco isn't that much worse on fuel than my V6 Verada & I would rather hit another car in the Disco than the Verada.

**dmdigital** · 20th May 2007, 07:36 PM

The thing that annoys me most is the fact that all new 4WD marketing, design etc is aimed at making these vehicles more and more for people in cities who want to dream that one day they'll take the shiny 4WD off-road.

Now I realise that this isn't the case for most people on this forum, so don't take offense. But you must admit most 4WD ads and the latest designs are making things more like big cars every year... and of course this then fuels the big car argument.

The fuel consumption argument does have some merit unfortunately... Land Cruisers and Patrols (especially 4.8L ones) are very fuel inefficient!

I own a 4WD because I can't get out of town without one. Now let's see the anti-4WD lobby argue against that

**CraigE** · 20th May 2007, 09:16 PM

My Fender returns similar or better fuel economy than most popular family sedans. Also is significantly shorter than our Statesman.
The problem with statistics is they can be interpreted or distorted to represent any point of view. I do not consider 4x4s to be any more dangerous or obtrusive than most other vehicles. Most of the time it is inconsiderate drivers that are an issue.

mcrover · 20th May 2007, 09:33 PM

My Dad had a BA Falcon, and it made the Disco look like it ran on air, in traffic it guzzled the juice like nobodys business and on the freeway wasnt much better.

The ZG Jeep that I thought was exy to run was cheaper than the falcon but not by much.

With the roof top tent and gear, I get around the 11 to 12 mark depending on terrain and speed traveling, worst ever was 13,2, at 135kmh with a head wind in the NT in high 30deg heat (not good for a turbo diesel).

The Carolla which we replaced the Jeep with gets 7.5L/100km which is good but when the car is 1/2 the size and 1/3 the weight it's to be expected but it has no where near as big and comfy as the Landy.

As far as parking, the landy is more manuverable than the average Commodore wagon and even the Tojo 80ser fit within the lines of a smallish parking spot.

As for visability, I havnt hit any kids yet in a 4wd but I have in a 120y coupe (no injuries) and I find it much easier to back and even back a tralier with a 4b.

As for under cover car parks, I havnt seen the inside of 1 for about a 3 years as I used to have an AU work ute that fit in these stupidly low car parks.

Any way, underground car parks have a higher rate of car theft than out door or street side parking so Im not missing much.

If some one hangs it on me about my 4B I just say well im not taking you 4wding then and if they are still being a smart a$$, I threaten that they not want to get in my way as I have a bull bar and because of my shear size, I pretty much get away with it.

Ignorence or jelousy is all it is, I dont waste my time with it normally.

**JohnE** · 21st May 2007, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by twitchy

I have always been a firm believer of no place in the city for 4wheel drives, yes I know I own one, Unless they actually get dirty, properly!~! Just can't stand ******* who buy one & never use it, up here they are Kenmore Tractors....
However I do get P!ssed off that I can't park my Disco in a few car parks due to stupid heights ( or should that be lows???

)
I know that my Disco isn't that much worse on fuel than my V6 Verada & I would rather hit another car in the Disco than the Verada.

Interesting comment, but for my way of thinking, we are all entitled to drive what we like, regardless of what it is, we all pay rego for the privelege. personal choice dictates whether we want to get our vehicles dirty or just drive them for the fun of it.

My pet peeve too is that i can't get into a carpark because of my high roof rack, up here its fine, but forget about anything in the city.

john

**p38arover** · 21st May 2007, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by jimbo110

You often hear people moaning that 4x4s take up too much parking space.

I didn't shift my County for the pics.

Ron

**incisor** · 21st May 2007, 10:20 AM

dont think it is the legth or breadth they are worried about, it is the height and the fact they cant see thru them... the L & B is the furphy that 4wders use to allay any discontent...

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