Does anyone know which private type car has the highest driving position?
In this category I'm including e.g. the Nissan Navara which my son has and
is recommending to me. Round here our hedges are extremely high and I feel
safer in a high driving position, given the speed some people insist on
doing in these very narrow lanes.

Here, I have variously driven a Volvo saloon & estate, a Subaru Impreza, a
Landrover Defender and a Jeep Cherokee. The Defender was a great driving
position but I didn't enjoy the rain joining me inside the car or the ice
that formed on its floor one cold February morning. My daughter actually
slipped and fell getting into it!
I've absolutely had it with my Jeep which has done only 15k in 3 years, had
several things wrong with it and now, finally, has blown the turbo as I was
driving back from Somerset on Sunday. Mercifully, it's still *just* under
guarantee but it's got to go, even though it's a great car to drive and v.
comfortable. To be fair, Ray has had no trouble with his, so obviously I
got the Friday car!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
Does anyone know which private type car has the highest driving position?
In this category I'm including e.g. the Nissan Navara which my son has and
is recommending to me. Round here our hedges are extremely high and I
feel
safer in a high driving position, given the speed some people insist on
doing in these very narrow lanes.

Here, I have variously driven a Volvo saloon & estate, a Subaru Impreza, a
Landrover Defender and a Jeep Cherokee. The Defender was a great driving
position but I didn't enjoy the rain joining me inside the car or the ice
that formed on its floor one cold February morning. My daughter actually
slipped and fell getting into it!
I've absolutely had it with my Jeep which has done only 15k in 3 years,
had
several things wrong with it and now, finally, has blown the turbo as I
was
driving back from Somerset on Sunday. Mercifully, it's still *just* under
guarantee but it's got to go, even though it's a great car to drive and v.
comfortable. To be fair, Ray has had no trouble with his, so obviously I
got the Friday car!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/


My daughter and Son in Law has a Mitsubishi Shogun for their run around,
leaving the Rolls or the Jag for more sedate motoring

Mike

On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 10:49:43 +0100, Sacha wrote:

Does anyone know which private type car has the highest driving position?
In this category I'm including e.g. the Nissan Navara which my son has and
is recommending to me. Round here our hedges are extremely high and I feel
safer in a high driving position, given the speed some people insist on
doing in these very narrow lanes.

Here, I have variously driven a Volvo saloon & estate, a Subaru Impreza, a
Landrover Defender and a Jeep Cherokee. The Defender was a great driving
position but I didn't enjoy the rain joining me inside the car or the ice
that formed on its floor one cold February morning. My daughter actually
slipped and fell getting into it!
I've absolutely had it with my Jeep which has done only 15k in 3 years, had
several things wrong with it and now, finally, has blown the turbo as I was
driving back from Somerset on Sunday. Mercifully, it's still *just* under
guarantee but it's got to go, even though it's a great car to drive and v.
comfortable. To be fair, Ray has had no trouble with his, so obviously I
got the Friday car!

I would suggest you concentrate on the road, not what's over the hedges.

Women driving SUV's do not have a good reputation for attention to driving
care in my town, especially on the school run. Unless you have more money
than sense, go and buy a proper car, not an SUV.

Fact: The occupant death rate for SUV's as a whole is 6% higher than it is
for cars. For the largest SUV's, the ones 'people' presume are the safest,
the occupant death rate is 8% higher.

Fact: For every 1 million SUV's on the road, 122 people will die in
accidents involving them. For every 1 million family saloons on the road
only 21 people will die in accidents involving them.

Fact: A-road fatalities have been falling for years even though we are
putting in more miles on the road. Now that SUV's have become "cool"
(chelsea tractor syndrome) to own, fatalities have gone up for the first
time in ten years.

SUV's are safer in collisions because of there size, BUT that "safety" is
offset by being five-times more likely to roll over and the capacity to do
major damage to smaller vehicles.

90% of large SUV's are based on van frames, and vans are not exactly known
for having good traction, and just because it has 4X4 doesn't mean that it
will have good traction.


most SUV's are not designed for off-roading (exit farmers etc)
SUV's are generally more expensive than real cars (exit all sensible
people)
SUV's generally use a whole lot more fuel and they certainly produce more
pollutants than family saloons. (exit the environmentalists)
SUV's are more expensive to maintain (i.e. tires) (exit all but the very
wealthy)

http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/Dep...tp/antisuv.pdf

http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill...818/3_1suv.htm

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"bigjon" wrote in message
. ..

I would suggest you concentrate on the road, not what's over the hedges.

You bloody fool. She wants to see over the hedges to see what's coming the
other way.

If you haven't driven down Devon lanes, you have no idea. so mind your own
business

"Catswhisker" wrote in message
...

"bigjon" wrote in message
. ..

I would suggest you concentrate on the road, not what's over the hedges.

You bloody fool. She wants to see over the hedges to see what's coming the
other way.

A horse is the best for that !!!


If you haven't driven down Devon lanes, you have no idea. so mind your own
business



Much the same as Isle of Wight lanes :-)) When we had our house out in the
country, we were on a very narrow lane which got narrower down to our left.
Fun to watch coaches ignore the 'Not suitable for Coaches' sign further up
at the start of the lane, get to our house, get stuck, and then reverse back
:-))

Mike

Mike

In message , bigjon
writes

I would suggest you concentrate on the road, not what's over the hedges.

Erm - Sacha lives in the country not in town. Have you driven in Devon?
Have you driven in the country at all? If so, you will know what she is
getting at.

Women driving SUV's do not have a good reputation for attention to driving
care in my town, especially on the school run. Unless you have more money
than sense, go and buy a proper car, not an SUV.

Any people driving SUV's in town without a very good reason should be
banished, IMNSHO. However, why did you single out women?

Fact: There are far more men drivers who are much worse than women.

Fact: The occupant death rate for SUV's as a whole is 6% higher than it is
for cars. For the largest SUV's, the ones 'people' presume are the safest,
the occupant death rate is 8% higher.

Snip.
--
June Hughes

"Sacha" wrote
Does anyone know which private type car has the highest driving position?
In this category I'm including e.g. the Nissan Navara which my son has and
is recommending to me. Round here our hedges are extremely high and I
feel
safer in a high driving position, given the speed some people insist on
doing in these very narrow lanes.

Here, I have variously driven a Volvo saloon & estate, a Subaru Impreza, a
Landrover Defender and a Jeep Cherokee. The Defender was a great driving
position but I didn't enjoy the rain joining me inside the car or the ice
that formed on its floor one cold February morning. My daughter actually
slipped and fell getting into it!
I've absolutely had it with my Jeep which has done only 15k in 3 years,
had
several things wrong with it and now, finally, has blown the turbo as I
was
driving back from Somerset on Sunday. Mercifully, it's still *just* under
guarantee but it's got to go, even though it's a great car to drive and v.
comfortable. To be fair, Ray has had no trouble with his, so obviously I
got the Friday car!

You won't find much as tall as a Defender, I find I look down on most other
4x4's . Indeed I have remarked that I wished I was driving our one on the
odd occasion when trying to get to your place. That lane of yours is so
narrow, and yes, I did meet a dustbin lorry coming the other way once. :-(
Anyway, do the door seals still leak in the rain? I know my 20 year old ones
does.

Toyota have a very good reputation for reliability and some of their 4x4's
are quite good for their proper purpose although they do tend to look a bit
brash imo.
The New Discovery is the best looking LandRover at the moment imo and very
capable, reliability seems improved too after the push by BMW and then Ford.
Of the more road orientated 4x4's the BMW X5 is still up there with the best
although soon to be replaced (should be some deals around) and the new
Mercedes M Class has got excellent reviews (unlike the old one).

--
Regards
Bob H
17mls W. of London.UK

On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 12:56:01 +0100, June Hughes wrote:

In message , bigjon
writes

I would suggest you concentrate on the road, not what's over the hedges.

Erm - Sacha lives in the country not in town. Have you driven in Devon?
Have you driven in the country at all? If so, you will know what she is
getting at.

I live in the country... and I do _not_ look over the hedges - I watch the
road and drive at a sensible speed to brake in time for oncoming traffic -
unlike most women I encounter on the single track roads round here.

Women driving SUV's do not have a good reputation for attention to driving
care in my town, especially on the school run. Unless you have more money
than sense, go and buy a proper car, not an SUV.

Any people driving SUV's in town without a very good reason should be
banished, IMNSHO. However, why did you single out women?

because they tend to use the chelsea tractor more than men for the "kids"
and "shopping" and "lunch" etc... Most men would simply drive to work and
back.

Fact: There are far more men drivers who are much worse than women.

Proof please?


Fact: The occupant death rate for SUV's as a whole is 6% higher than it is
for cars. For the largest SUV's, the ones 'people' presume are the safest,
the occupant death rate is 8% higher.

Snip.
snap.

On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 12:34:06 +0100, Catswhisker wrote:

"bigjon" wrote in message
. ..

I would suggest you concentrate on the road, not what's over the hedges.

You bloody fool. She wants to see over the hedges to see what's coming the
other way.

Watching the road is the best place to see whats coming.

If you haven't driven down Devon lanes, you have no idea.

I also live in a rural area, and yes, I have driven devon/cornwall/somerset
lanes regularly. I have friends and family in Glastonbury, Sherborne,
Tiverton, Okehampton, Dunterton, Longcross, Odham, Halwill, Thorndon cross,
Northcott and Upcott etc etc...

so mind your own business

You mind yours.

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On 10/10/06 12:56, in article , "June
Hughes" wrote:

In message , bigjon
writes

I would suggest you concentrate on the road, not what's over the hedges.

Erm - Sacha lives in the country not in town. Have you driven in Devon?
Have you driven in the country at all? If so, you will know what she is
getting at.

Thanks, June. I'm certainly not going to be put off driving the kind of car
I both need and want by some kind of ecoterrorist! I have no patience with
people driving Chelsea tractors but as you say, where we live, it makes
sense.

Women driving SUV's do not have a good reputation for attention to driving
care in my town, especially on the school run. Unless you have more money
than sense, go and buy a proper car, not an SUV.

Any people driving SUV's in town without a very good reason should be
banished, IMNSHO. However, why did you single out women?

Fact: There are far more men drivers who are much worse than women.

Hence "Sheila's wheels" - love it!
snip

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 13:10:35 GMT, bigjon wrote:

On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 12:56:01 +0100, June Hughes wrote:

Fact: There are far more men drivers who are much worse than women.


The IIHS (The International institute for health studies) reports that from
1975 to 2003, female deaths in motor vehicle crashes increased 14 percent
compared to an 11 percent decline for male motorists during that same
period. "We're also seeing women driving more aggressively, picking up that
bad habit from their male counterparts," points out Mr.Kummer, director of
personal lines-auto for the Property Casualty Insurers Association, a car
insurance trade organization. Mr. Kummer believes that there are more women
drivers, because more females hold down jobs today than a quarter-century
ago. "All these factors lead to more deaths among women drivers and their
auto insurance costs are rising in direct proportion to their accident and
death rates from crashes." "Reckless driving used to be the province of
male drivers as opposed to women," he says. "We're seeing more and more
examples these days of women driving aggressively and exhibiting road rage,
which represent poor behavior behind the wheel."

--
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(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your
(")_(") signature to help him gain world domination.

On 10/10/06 14:10, in article ,
"bigjon" wrote:

On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 12:56:01 +0100, June Hughes wrote:

In message , bigjon
writes

I would suggest you concentrate on the road, not what's over the hedges.

Erm - Sacha lives in the country not in town. Have you driven in Devon?
Have you driven in the country at all? If so, you will know what she is
getting at.

I live in the country...

You are posting from Enfield.

and I do _not_ look over the hedges - I watch the
road and drive at a sensible speed to brake in time for oncoming traffic -
unlike most women I encounter on the single track roads round here.

Listen, sweetums, if it were possible to look around corners and over hills
and bumps and bends in the road and through hedges or trees, I'd probably
drive a mini. As it is, I'll drive the car that I consider to be best for
my needs. Your rant against me and women in general would confirm me in
that intention, if it were necessary.

Women driving SUV's do not have a good reputation for attention to driving
care in my town, especially on the school run. Unless you have more money
than sense, go and buy a proper car, not an SUV.

Any people driving SUV's in town without a very good reason should be
banished, IMNSHO. However, why did you single out women?

because they tend to use the chelsea tractor more than men for the "kids"
and "shopping" and "lunch" etc... Most men would simply drive to work and
back.

One. Kids are grown up and the school run for me means walking the grand
daughter through the churchyard to the school next door. Two. I do not do
'shopping' in the derogatory sense you mean it, though occasionally my
family does need food, yes. So quite often I go to our nearest organic farm
which is through the sort of lanes I describe. Three. If I 'do lunch', it's
with people living in this area, therefore in lanes as narrow, with hedges
as high. Four. We run a horticultural business and vehicles with some
stamina, some guts in muddy condition and some space in the back are
essentials. Now you go back to your pushbike and mind your own business.

Fact: There are far more men drivers who are much worse than women.

Proof please?

Check some insurance statistics for yourself.


--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 14:21:47 +0100, Sacha wrote:

On 10/10/06 12:56, in article , "June
Hughes" wrote:

In message , bigjon
writes

I would suggest you concentrate on the road, not what's over the hedges.

Erm - Sacha lives in the country not in town. Have you driven in Devon?
Have you driven in the country at all? If so, you will know what she is
getting at.

Thanks, June. I'm certainly not going to be put off driving the kind of car
I both need and want by some kind of ecoterrorist! I have no patience with
people driving Chelsea tractors but as you say, where we live, it makes
sense.

Women driving SUV's do not have a good reputation for attention to driving
care in my town, especially on the school run. Unless you have more money
than sense, go and buy a proper car, not an SUV.

Any people driving SUV's in town without a very good reason should be
banished, IMNSHO. However, why did you single out women?

Fact: There are far more men drivers who are much worse than women.

Hence "Sheila's wheels" - love it!

Statistics gathered over the years in the UK show claims for both male and
female drivers are similar in number, but the apparent difference in
average amounts in pounds of insurance claims led some companies to spot an
opportunity in offering car insurance just for the women driver.

http://www.gophergas.com/funstuff/womendrivers.htm

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Sacha wrote:
as high. Four. We run a horticultural business and vehicles with some
stamina, some guts in muddy condition and some space in the back are
essentials.

I've no comments about the rest of this thread but I must pick up on
that "some space in the back" bit. Most of the 4WDs seem to have a
trivial amount of space in the back compared with a medium/large
'ordinary' hatchback or estate car. If you want lots of space get a
Granada Estate or a Citroen XM, far more than almost any 4WD.

--
Chris Green

Sacha wrote:

Does anyone know which private type car has the highest driving position?
I'd have to go with the others who recommended a Land Rover. The SWB
one has a smaller turning circle than the old Golf (not tried a new
one) and is not as tiring to drive as you might think.

Failing that, consider the Fiat Multipla or the older Espace, or a
Toyota and cruiser.

Or a periscope.

Lots of road tests at http://www.channel4.com/4car/road-tests