Fairygirl/Daughter, in your case yes a 4x4 is needed now and then though having driven them for years, Jeeps, Austin Champs, Land Rovers and Range Rovers I can almost count on one hand when I needed 4 wheel drive. Even on Luneburg in mid winter with chains it was just two wheel drive, we put up high mileage on the Autobahn where four wheel drive would have burnt out if used continuously, it was not needed and as an engineer I see very little use for it on modern roads. More parts to go wrong more wear and tear more fuel needed and it makes for top heavy cars, centre of gravity high means more chance of rolling. I just do not see the point, why use a truck when a van would do the job???
Frank/Dad - I loved my Honda CRV, but it became totally unreliable. The unit (forget it's name) which kicks in when you're on unstable ground - mud, snow, ice etc - and slows it down to make it 'safe', started acting up. The issue was that it started doing it at any old time, including a point where I was about to join a motorway. Not a great time to be doing 10 or 15 mph.... and nothing you could do about it. Completely the opposite of safe.
After many trips back and forth to get it sorted, and two thousand pounds for parts( )when it was actually a computer error, the new manager resolved it. Eventually, it was trying to deal with the snotty cow at the dealership that became more of an issue...
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hosta; I fitted a winch on the front which would be perfect for the job. Ideal bit of kit it's brilliant for positioning exhibits in tight spaces I'm sure it'll sort the rock.
You're not precious about your lawn though are you?
The idea of not scratching the paint on my Landy is laughable! When she's cleaned she has a thick layer of wax on as polish; protects the paintwork from most things and makes it easier to clean next time. Christ paint is just paint. Nothing a rattle can can't sort out!
Doghouse my future mother in law has just purchased a Honda 4x4 for a similar reason. Her back is shot so it's ideal to help her get in and our with ease. The dog will be in for one hell of a surprise when it jumps for the boot though!
My only experience of 4x4s was a short wheel base Land Rover we had to pull the boat. My husband treated it like a Meccano set so it wasn't on the road much! Scarily he used to dismantle it whilst I was driving sometimes.
Then I was obliged to drive a Discovery, didn't want it, didn't like it but I can understand why someone would drive down the middle of a country road, for me it would have had nothing to do with the paint, just fear.
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it." Sir Terry Pratchett
Fairygirl/Daughter, beware of anything that is automatic, those computers have a mind of their own. A lad working on Motorway recovery told me the cars he was called to most often were Mercedes and always it was a computer board. "have you got a credit card" right £250 please, then slip out the offending board in with the new and a shocked motorist went on his her way.
I had VW when in Germany then Ford, none ever broke down or let me down at any time, none were 4x4 yet we drove in all weathers, one simple reason, on the Continent it was the law to have chains in the boot from October to Spring, ten minutes to fit the chains unlike some British makes that take forever to untangle and away you went. In Germany spiked tyres would be fitted in the worst weather, you did not see cars sliding downhill there as you do here.
It is mostly common sense and no matter what your driving preference is the same rules apply. You are in a killer machine that needs care and attention, no phones no reading the newspaper and no ducking under the dash board for the sweets you dropped or plugging the kettle into the lighter connection, "Oh" and regular servicing they do not run forever on the same old brake fluid.
I only ever met one stroppy garage manager, he mouthed off, I took my order for the new car elsewhere, a letter arrived from the Garage asking why I told them in no uncertain terms and never went back.
If you need to tow things - I do - it's important to make sure that you don't exceed the limits ref the weight of whatever it is you tow, even if it's "braked". I see some rather fearful sights sometimes where a caravan appears to be badly loaded and far too heavy for safety ref the combination of tow-vehicle + iitem being towed.
HCF I live on a wee back country road and "fearful sights" doesn't even start to cover it. Generally they're just tootling from one field to another but I often wonder what my friend's husband would make of it...he's a traffic policeman. We'd need a defib on standby!
As for meeting things in the middle of the road...it's my road too Come at me...see what happens!
Things I don't get...
I've just mentioned on another thread, adverts that aggravate the wotsit out of you in the vain hope that you'll visit their website. Why would you...they're aggravating?!?!?!
It must work though pp - or they wouldn't keep doing it. For every one they 'catch' there will several thousand who feel like you!
And me....
The thing I liked about the jeep was that it stopped all the a***holes on the school run from ignoring all the basic rules of the road. If the parked cars are on your side love, don't force your way past when I'm coming the other way. I'm not driving on the pavement because you're late. Get out of bed in time....
Frank/Dad - voting with our feet is the best way. Unfortunately, my local garage couldn't deal with the issue I had. I went there for everything else though - always good service.
I 'don't get' why people continue to use companies with poor service if there's an alternative though.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hello HFC, know what you mean there are two large campers in our family although they are towed by the appropriate vehicles, the bit I do not understand is at a camp site they take it off the vehicle pull out a cord and drive it into position with its own motors??? Me I would just reverse it in. They came back from the lakes last week and have all gone back this weekend, the grandchildren love it.
Posts
Fairygirl/Daughter, in your case yes a 4x4 is needed now and then though having driven them for years, Jeeps, Austin Champs, Land Rovers and Range Rovers I can almost count on one hand when I needed 4 wheel drive. Even on Luneburg in mid winter with chains it was just two wheel drive, we put up high mileage on the Autobahn where four wheel drive would have burnt out if used continuously, it was not needed and as an engineer I see very little use for it on modern roads. More parts to go wrong more wear and tear more fuel needed and it makes for top heavy cars, centre of gravity high means more chance of rolling. I just do not see the point, why use a truck when a van would do the job???
Frank.
Totally agree Pdoc
and many many more besides.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Frank/Dad - I loved my Honda CRV, but it became totally unreliable. The unit (forget it's name) which kicks in when you're on unstable ground - mud, snow, ice etc - and slows it down to make it 'safe', started acting up. The issue was that it started doing it at any old time, including a point where I was about to join a motorway. Not a great time to be doing 10 or 15 mph.... and nothing you could do about it. Completely the opposite of safe.
After many trips back and forth to get it sorted, and two thousand pounds for parts(
)when it was actually a computer error, the new manager resolved it. Eventually, it was trying to deal with the snotty cow at the dealership that became more of an issue... 
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hosta; I fitted a winch on the front which would be perfect for the job. Ideal bit of kit it's brilliant for positioning exhibits in tight spaces I'm sure it'll sort the rock.
You're not precious about your lawn though are you?
The idea of not scratching the paint on my Landy is laughable! When she's cleaned she has a thick layer of wax on as polish; protects the paintwork from most things and makes it easier to clean next time. Christ paint is just paint. Nothing a rattle can can't sort out!
Doghouse my future mother in law has just purchased a Honda 4x4 for a similar reason. Her back is shot so it's ideal to help her get in and our with ease. The dog will be in for one hell of a surprise when it jumps for the boot though!
My only experience of 4x4s was a short wheel base Land Rover we had to pull the boat. My husband treated it like a Meccano set so it wasn't on the road much! Scarily he used to dismantle it whilst I was driving sometimes.
Then I was obliged to drive a Discovery, didn't want it, didn't like it but I can understand why someone would drive down the middle of a country road, for me it would have had nothing to do with the paint, just fear.
Fairygirl/Daughter, beware of anything that is automatic, those computers have a mind of their own. A lad working on Motorway recovery told me the cars he was called to most often were Mercedes and always it was a computer board. "have you got a credit card" right £250 please, then slip out the offending board in with the new and a shocked motorist went on his her way.
I had VW when in Germany then Ford, none ever broke down or let me down at any time, none were 4x4 yet we drove in all weathers, one simple reason, on the Continent it was the law to have chains in the boot from October to Spring, ten minutes to fit the chains unlike some British makes that take forever to untangle and away you went. In Germany spiked tyres would be fitted in the worst weather, you did not see cars sliding downhill there as you do here.
It is mostly common sense and no matter what your driving preference is the same rules apply. You are in a killer machine that needs care and attention, no phones no reading the newspaper and no ducking under the dash board for the sweets you dropped or plugging the kettle into the lighter connection, "Oh" and regular servicing they do not run forever on the same old brake fluid.
I only ever met one stroppy garage manager, he mouthed off, I took my order for the new car elsewhere, a letter arrived from the Garage asking why I told them in no uncertain terms and never went back.
Frank.
If you need to tow things - I do - it's important to make sure that you don't exceed the limits ref the weight of whatever it is you tow, even if it's "braked". I see some rather fearful sights sometimes where a caravan appears to be badly loaded and far too heavy for safety ref the combination of tow-vehicle + iitem being towed.
HCF I live on a wee back country road and "fearful sights" doesn't even start to cover it. Generally they're just tootling from one field to another but I often wonder what my friend's husband would make of it...he's a traffic policeman. We'd need a defib on standby!
As for meeting things in the middle of the road...it's my road too
Come at me...see what happens! 
Things I don't get...
I've just mentioned on another thread, adverts that aggravate the wotsit out of you in the vain hope that you'll visit their website. Why would you...they're aggravating?!?!?!
Last edited: 28 August 2016 11:11:51
It must work though pp - or they wouldn't keep doing it. For every one they 'catch' there will several thousand who feel like you!
And me....
The thing I liked about the jeep was that it stopped all the a***holes on the school run from ignoring all the basic rules of the road. If the parked cars are on your side love, don't force your way past when I'm coming the other way. I'm not driving on the pavement because you're late. Get out of bed in time....
Frank/Dad - voting with our feet is the best way. Unfortunately, my local garage couldn't deal with the issue I had. I went there for everything else though - always good service.
I 'don't get' why people continue to use companies with poor service if there's an alternative though.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hello HFC, know what you mean there are two large campers in our family although they are towed by the appropriate vehicles, the bit I do not understand is at a camp site they take it off the vehicle pull out a cord and drive it into position with its own motors??? Me I would just reverse it in. They came back from the lakes last week and have all gone back this weekend, the grandchildren love it.
Frank.