". Anybody who thinks they need a 4WD in a city is a danger not because they are poor drivers, but because they are morons.
The problem is some of the dicks behind the wheel who think that cars are status symbols rather than tools."
Posted by Toni Lavis,

Without active cruise control to detect a parked class-room a Kluger demolition tractor needs some tool instruction.

Foxy I'm sorry, but that is utter garbage. Modern 4WDs & all wheel drives are no harder to drive than the modern horrible front drive hatchbacks most drive today, & are indeed a damn sight safer to drive, especially in wet conditions. Their handling characteristics are much better.

As you know I raced cars, & won a Bathurst 100 among other races, driving a Formula 1 Brabham Repco. I have some experience to judge from. I have also towed cars, horses & boats tens of thousands of miles, & know why people chose a 4WD for the job. Clowns like Opinionated2 probably believe city folk should be banned from doing such things.

There is this irrational ratbag fringe of greenies who hate 4WDs, basically on consumption grounds, with a bit of jealousy thrown in. Not knowing any Toorak mums I don't know anyone who owns one unless they have a towing or off road requirement.

Dear Hassie,

I admit that my knowledge about cars could not be
equated with yours as an experienced racing car driver.
And, I do realise that there are some 4WDs
that are smaller in size and do
not pose a threat in city traffic. I'm not talking
about those vehicles. What I am
referring to are the huge vehicles that you can't
see through or around them - they present a hazard
to many people. I am not the only one who has
expressed this opinion. You may not agree with me - however
that is what I have experienced.

cont'd ...

Dear Hassie,

Perhaps I'm not explaining things well.

Huge 4WDs are a hazard to regular passenger car drivers in
parking lots, and busy street traffic by virtue of
their blocking the lines of sight for safe driving. You're
talking about the safety issues relating to 4WD usage by the
owners of the vehicles. I'm talking about the hazards these
big vehicles cause to other drivers of standard passenger cars.
And these hazards are getting worse due to the increase in
number of these big "tanks".

Foxy,

" What I am referring to are the huge vehicles that you can't
see through or around them -"

Such as utes with canopies, vans (small and large), small trucks, medium trucks, pantechnicons, long rigid trucks, semi-trailers and B Doubles, plus buses, rigid and bendy;
you can't see through them either but you can position yourself, if you are a safe driver, so that their drivers can see you in their rearview mirrors, you seem to have a problem with this basic driving requirement.

Whoops..

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/storm/elderly-driver-loses-control-of-car-smashing-into-parked-vehicle-and-hospital-building/vp-BBELcEq

Looks like an early 2000's Statesman sedan. Ban Statesman sedans? All sedans?