Friday, Jun 06, 2008 at 23:38
Having read this thread it would appear that there appears to be a bit of 'us and them' here. I don't like Harold Scrubie too much and he gets his fair of criticism but there appears to be a load of people here are showing similar narrow mindedness.
As has been suggested, people buy vehicles for various reasons. When I bought my Prado it only had the Sovereign bullbar and some spotties on it. Complete with Grand Treks and the new look it too would not have 'looked ready for a dirt road let alone Landcruiser Park'. So what. How many peopll (except the show offs) go out and spend $1 000s to $10 000s straight away on their new 4by. Over the past 5 years, mine now has a few scratches and more equipment. I do go off road, have a CT and enjoy the solitude of getting away from it all.
Just because a vehicle isn't covered in mud, insects and crap may mean the owners actually appreciate they have an expensive vehicle and they actually look after it.
Believe it or not, most family people don't buy a car/4wd to show off. Does that mean that if someone buys an SS Commodore or similar XR series Falcon they are showing off? They generally buy it for a reason and it is none of our business in criticising them for doing so! Most 4wds offer safe 7 seats. Add three kids and a friend, guess what...you need an extra
seat. What's the options? Buy a
Tarago instead or have the 3rd row
seat put in a Commodore or Falcon wagon! no thanks! God knows, they might actual take up four wheel driving and join the ranks of those here that (from my observations in this post) appear to be very ready to criticise those that don't APPEAR to get their 4wds dirty.
You know what, there are a heap of guys out there that buy Cruiser or Patrol utes, put a swag in the back and simply go to B&S balls along with those that do the same in utes. Many of these vehicles only get dirty because of the dirt roads they take to get to the balls or from the circle work they do when they get there. Should we also judge these people because they choose to wear RM Williams jeans and boots and Akubras but are only ciy cowboys/girls?
On the expense side. Have a look at what a new Coomodore or Falcon costs these days. Then they depreciate 70 % in 3 - 4 years. Maybe those buying 4wds appreciate the lower depreciation factor and, in some cases, the cheaper cost of ownership. As was also mentioned, people tow boats, caravans, trailers, whatever. Maybe they appreciate the stability and control offered by these larger constant 4WD vehicles. Maybe they want to keep their vehicles for more than 3 years.
In the end, who are we to criticise others and how they spend their money? Not everybody is the same (thank god) and not everyone wants an 'insect covered screen with more aerials than NASA control centre'. We should embrace those that choose such vehicles and encourage them to get out there and see some things. If we start to criticise them, we simply become Harold Scrubies by another name.
By the way, I bought my Patrol then my Prado because I needed room for 4 kids. I have also towed a 5.3 metre boat, caravan and CT with them and now also enjoy the outdoors freedom it offers. At one time, however, I drove a Commodore. I shudder to think of what some of you would have said about my wife or I when we first bought a 4WD and, in fact, now when my wife takes the 'dirty' Prado up to school to pick the kids up.
Stepping off soap box ever so lightly. Flak jacket on.
Rob
AnswerID:
308263
Follow Up By: Col_and_Jan - Friday, Jun 13, 2008 at 05:25
Friday, Jun 13, 2008 at 05:25
Great reply Rob.
I have a 100 series, nearly 9 years old that looks new, and often get criticized that it is a Toorak Tractor.
I use it to tow a large caravan, after having completely stuffed the motor and gearbox in a V6 Commodore trying to do the same job. In the same number of years that I have had this cruiser, I had to call the RACQ more than three times with the Commodore, and had the sedan and the caravan on the back of a tow truck twice. I will never use a "family" car to tow a heavy caravan long term again. The cruiser handles towing like a dream.
I have taken the cruiser to a 4WD park, and was amazed at its capabilities, but there is no way I am intentionally going to take it through mud a meter deep to have mud oozing into every orifice, including into the passenger compartment just for the fun of it. If I wanted to do that, I would buy some old 60 series, and drive it like a hire car. If you can afford to do that with some late model 4WD, and replace it every few years, then good on you.
So when people suggest that you shouldn't own a late model 4WD unless you are prepared to have it looking like it has just come back from the back and beyond, perhaps they are forgetting that there are other uses for the strength and reliability that these vehicles have.
Col
FollowupID:
575582