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[OM] Re: OT For the 4X4 Listees

Subject: [OM] Re: OT For the 4X4 Listees
From: John Hudson <OM4T@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 02 Feb 2005 10:15:49 -0400
Where is "NA" ? Northern Alberta perhaps ..... oops, no comfortable suburban
habitats there :[:-)],

jh


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert McFetridge" <rmcfet@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <olympus@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, 02 February, 2005 09:41 AM
Subject: [OM] Re: OT For the 4X4 Listees


>
> I apologize to those I offended. I did not mean to be unfair or
> insulting to anyone. I too have owned and driven 4x4's in many parts of
> the world when I needed one. You are correct that they are not only
> useful but can increase personal safety in  many conditions. However
> the sensitivity that many SUV owners express is well earned. Here in NA
> the vast majority are owned by people who rarely drive out of their
> comfortable suburban habitat except for fun. The increased use of them
> in this context has added a measureable (10%) increase in the use of
> fuel in automobiles. They have also been shown to be less safe in these
> conditions because new/ less experienced drivers treat them like they
> would a car when they are purpose vehicles. Anyone who has used/uses
> them  properly, appreciates their increased roll risk, greater distance
> to stop etc inherent in driving one. I currently live about 35km
> outside of my community and in the winter (we get heavy snows and it
> easily gets to -30C)  one of the greatest hazards I encounter is not
> poor conditions but rather busy suburbanites racing to and from town in
> their SUV's (including all wheel vehicles) forgetting that these
> machines may feel a lot more stable in the snow at speed but that they
> take just as long to stop. Popular advertizing for them promotes their
> reckless and inappropriate use on and off road and a wealthy population
> buys into the myth at a cost to all of us, particularly those who have
> a legitimate need for them. Its most unfortunate that the rapid
> increase in the 'misuse ' of a very useful type of vehicle has sparked
> such a huge negative response to a very useful tool. Perhaps I should
> have noted that the use of 4x4 instead of SUV indicated that the owner
> actually lived where he/she needed it. I owned and used my first , a
> Ford 250, over 30 years ago in the coast mountains. It made a huge
> difference to the well-being and safety of all of us. I only drive a
> small car  now as thats all I need and mileage is better by a factor of
> 5. On paved roads safety is the same, unless I get plowed by one of
> them.
> Bob
> On Feb 2, 2005, at 2:20, James N. McBride wrote:
>
> >
> > I took it as a nasty dig at anybody who had the audacity to use
> > four-wheel-drive to go someplace regardless of the circumstances.
> > There have
> > been many of those comments. Just because some of us live in the
> > mountains
> > does not mean we should be deprived of useful transportation. We all
> > have
> > different needs but some do not seem to recognize that. /jmac
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx]On
> > Behalf Of Chris Barker
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 11:43 PM
> > To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [OM] Re: OT For the 4X4 Listees
> >
> >
> >
> > James
> >
> > I took it as a light-hearted comment (using skis instead of a motor
> > vehicle).   And Robert did not suggest closing roads.  I suppose he was
> > merely questioning the automatic reliance on a machine when there are
> > other more eco-friendly methods of transport available for short
> > distances.
> >
> > Global warming has come to the UK and we don't get snow where I live
> > (:-(), but if there were as much as that I might have kept my rather
> > expensive ML270 diesel 4 x 4.  As it is, I have been able to dump it
> > for a much more reliable little BMW 320d, saving myself money for
> > diesel and the world its fossil fuels ...
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > On 1 Feb 2005, at 21:58, James N. McBride wrote:
> >
> >> If we abandoned all roads every time there was a little snow, life
> >> would
> >> come to a screeching halt. To not use "your" road because it might
> >> disturb
> >> the snow is nonsense. It was a totally lame comment especially since
> >> the
> >> responder had no knowledge of the situation. Perhaps he can ski or
> >> snowshoe
> >> without making a mark but I doubt it. He can also perhaps walk on
> >> water.
> >> Some roads should be left undisturbed in wet or snowy weather. The
> >> decision
> >> should be based on meaningful criteria by knowledgeable people though.
> >> /jmac
> >>
> >
> >
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> >
>
> ________________________
> RT McFetridge
> Ottawa, Canada
> E: rmcfet@xxxxxxxxxx
> E: rmcfet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Phone: 613 692 4896
>
>
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