From: Ret. on
the gods have made us mad wrote:
> "Smurf" <smurf(a)smurf.com> wrote in message
> news:7qn70eFefbU1(a)mid.individual.net...
>> Ret. wrote:
>>> Turk182 wrote:
>>>> The man who denied dying soldiers their helicopters, Gordon Brown,
>>>> has also been a key figure in the demonisation of four wheel drive
>>>> owners in the UK.
>>>>
>>>> How typical; on my local radio station there are now appeals being
>>>> made for anyone with four wheel drive vehicles to contact support
>>>> agencies and in some cases, ambulance stations, who are finding
>>>> they are unable to get assistance to old people and the injured in
>>>> rural areas.
>>>>
>>>> If anyone hid their four wheel drive, rather than be victim to the
>>>> government hate campaign, could you now bring your vehicle out of
>>>> hiding - you country needs 4WDs'.
>>>>
>>>> Come to think of it - we're short of everything except debt!
>>>
>>> Yes indeedy. For the first time in 30 years there is, at last, some
>>> valid use for these monstrosities!
>>>
>>> Kev
>>
>> I bought my first one within the last couple of months, and spend my
>> time driving round rural areas for my job. There isnt a hill or path
>> my monster has not being able to get up with ease. I have
>> practically pissed myself laughing at bmws and mercs, with their
>> rear wheel drive.... The great thing with the four wheel drive, the
>> chunky tyres and the
>> extra traction, is the fun you have when you lose a bit of grip and
>> the vehicle starts to slide, as it begins to slip away, you gently
>> tap the accelerator, and its as if someone put steel spikes into the
>> ground, as it immediatly gets control and traction and its off, as
>> if you were driving on a rubber track<<<.
>
>
> Not all peaches and cream, though ;) A Patrol, with its
> recirculating ball steering, and it's *extremely* agricultural
> long-throw gear lever is not the best of fun on tarmac. Great fun
> off it, though.
> Perhaps one of he most compelling reasons for buying a 4x4 is the
> inherent strength of the the thing when someone crashes into you. It
> might not be PC, but a family stand a much better chance of
> emerging unscathed than from a Mondeo, etc.

But a family being collided into by a 4x4 stand a much lower chance of
emerging unscathed!

Kev

From: Ian Jackson on
In message <zs2dnaXWoehhb9vWnZ2dnUVZ8sqdnZ2d(a)bt.com>, Brimstone
<brimstone(a)hotmail.com> writes
>
>
>"thomas" <toooommygin(a)retardedloony.com> wrote in message
>news:7qo3viFmlrU1(a)mid.individual.net...
>>
>> "the gods have made us mad" <staring(a)destruction.com> wrote in
>>message news:hi5svu$1h85$1(a)energise.enta.net...
>>>
>>> Perhaps one of he most compelling reasons for buying a 4x4 is the
>>>inherent strength of the the thing when someone crashes into you.
>>>It might not be PC, but a family stand a much better chance of
>>>emerging unscathed than from a Mondeo, etc.
>>
>> As much as I love my (part time) 4x4 I have to point out that due
>>to their weight they will damage the other vehicle more (so long as
>>the other vehicle is not a bigger 4x4) however they are not inherently
>>"safer"
>>
>> I'l not bother with the physics just point out that an egg in an egg
>>box can be dropped onto concrete and remain safe but one dropped
>>inside a small metal petty cash box will be broken
>>
>I did once see a Vauxhall Viva (it was a long time ago) write off a
>Land Rover (long wheelbase IIRC). The Viva suffered nothing more than a
>minor ding in the bonnet. The LR's chassis was twisted.
>
Obviously Vauxhall learned to economise when they replaced the Viva with
the Chevette. The metal of mine was about as thick (and durable) as Izal
toilet paper. It would hardly have withstood a collision with a Dinky
Toy model of Land Rover, let alone a real one. A relatively mild
rear-end shunt completely wrote it off (mainly because of a twisted
body, and not that the rear had been well stove in).
--
Ian
From: Adrian on
Ian Jackson <ianREMOVETHISjackson(a)g3ohx.demon.co.uk> gurgled happily,
sounding much like they were saying:

> Obviously Vauxhall learned to economise when they replaced the Viva with
> the Chevette.

Yet the Chevette was heavier than the HC Viva...
From: Tim on
Smurf wrote:
> I only use them as a means to get around, but i understand that diff
> lock is an integral part of how a 4x4 drives, its the way that the
> rear wheels and front wheels can both be driving in sync, despite the
> fact that the front wheels will cover more distance (ie turning).

Then your understanding is wrong. A differential enables axles to turn at
different speeds (as when turning etc.) but a diff *lock* prevents the axles
on either side of the diff from turning at different speeds. This means
that when the diff is locked, even if one wheel on an axle has no traction
(and would ordinarily spin), drive will still go to the other axle.

Differentials are essential part of any drive train, diff locks are
optional. On some vehicles traction control systems are used instead of
mechanical diff locks and do a pretty good job.

Tim


From: Big Les Wade on
Turk182 <digitalradiouk(a)aol.com> posted
>on my local radio station there are now appeals being
>made for anyone with four wheel drive vehicles to contact support
>agencies and in some cases, ambulance stations, who are finding they
>are unable to get assistance to old people and the injured in rural
>areas.

This would be illegal under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act.


--
Les
If by creating a police state we can save just one child, then it will all have
been worthwhile.