I sent a very polite e-mail to the spokesman for the Campaign Against Urban 4x4's. I asked him to clarify what they were campaigning for, how would they wish to enforce the banning of "Urban" 4x4's and indeed, could he please define one.
These were my main points :-
What would you class as an Urban 4x4? Is it a Panda 4x4, an Audi A3 Quattro, an Octavia 4x4 Estate, a Freelander, A range Rover etc. Was it based on size, CO2 or price.
Why do you say a 4x4 takes up more room on the road when something like a Discovery (mk 2) seats 7 people and is shorty than a Mondeo. Defender SW also seat 6 or 7 and sake up less space than a Focus.
Why you only quote "pollution" figures for the running of a vehicle instead of "whole life" figures as quoted by Greenpeace.
Why do you recommend the Toyota Prius as being the perfect car when it is infact longer than most 4x4's, has little luggage space due to the batteries and, in Greenpeaces words, "The worst polluting vehicle on the road today" when it comes to whole life pollution. ( Gave he the link to the Greenpeace statement )
Why do you base your "safety" arguement on figures issued in America in 1986 when a visit to the NCAP website will show you the Freelander, Honda CRV, Nissan X-trail, BMW X3 etc etc have better pedestrian safety ratings than the Focus, Mondeo, BMW series 3 etc etc.
Etc Etc Etc.....
I got a reply
It said,
Foul language removed by Tony
Nice to hear the voice of reason!