Am I socially unacceptable?

[Patriot]

Hey all,

The annual AAMI research into peoples opinions of 4WDs has just been released.

It is interesting that 4WD owners are labled as socially unacceptable.

10% of cars on the road today are 4WD or SUVs.

What are peoples thoughts about this and do people have any ideas on what we can do to change this perception?

James

 

[Patriot]

Interestingly enough, I emailed the Public Affairs Manager at AAMI and he said that they don't release the research - just the relevant figures. That is interesting, becuause without knowing how the survey was conducted, it is impossible to draw any conclusions from it.

James

 

[Luxster]

load of crap in my opinion!

 

[Muddy Waters]

I think a lot of it is people who can't afford to drive a Fourby being jealous.

AAMI release a few of these reports and they are just a bit of publicity for them I think. Maybe we should think about a boycott of AAMI insurance. There are a lot of Fourbies out there, maybe that would slow them up a bit

Muddy

 

[The Rookie]

I was just listening to the 4 Wheel Drive Show on Stereo 97.4 in Vic and they mentioned a couple of things about the research including the lack of rear vision, and they said that Commodores have worse vision than many 4WDs.

Kind of sad to see people like to bash 4WDs so much.

 

[goldrush]

I'm getting used to it. I get bagged for owning a 4wd, I get bagged for being a smoker, I am looked down on for being a blue collar worker and am also short, overweight and been hit too many times with the ugly stick. But I'm O.K. with all that. Just let the media crap roll right off. All they want is a reaction to sensationalize their stories and give them a bit more publicity. As for being socially unacceptable, the reason some of us own 4wd's is to escape into the bush and get away from society. Does that mean that society is socially unacceptable?

 

[GUTSHOT]

To Many Kid Haulers On The Road.hubby Buys The Wife A 4x4 To Take The Kids To School And Go Shopping In...lucky If It Goes Off Road Once In Its 5year
Of Owner Ship.....mercedes Benz Owners Etc.

 

[tektrek]

I'm getting used to it. I get bagged for owning a 4wd, I get bagged for being a smoker, I am looked down on for being a blue collar worker and am also short, overweight and been hit too many times with the ugly stick. But I'm O.K. with all that. Just let the media crap roll right off. All they want is a reaction to sensationalize their stories and give them a bit more publicity. As for being socially unacceptable, the reason some of us own 4wd's is to escape into the bush and get away from society. Does that mean that society is socially unacceptable?

Yeah, funny how we are bagged for owning a 4X4 and yet when the chips are down like with floods these baggers then want us to help them recover their cars from the murky waters, carry them and their kids to high ground, tow them out of bogholes or snow without so much as a thank you. See COTAG 4x4 Response - Supporting the community in times of need, www.4x4response.net.

Mind you, it's only city folk who bag us. Rural citizens on the otherhand love us.

 

[steve80]

Same old story we are ALL(4by owners) arrogant impatient standover merchants(on the road) and bad drivers generalised. Things will never change

 

[The Rookie]

Hey, I haven't had my fourby for long, but it seems a bit strange when so many vehicles on the road are foubies. The research looks like vague 4WD bashing, without any real info. I reckon a boycott is the way to go.

AAMI also runs justcarinsurance.com.au and bingle.com.au. None of them will be getting my business, and it is not just the 4WD that they wont be getting either, but also the wife's.

 

[tektrek]

Hey, I haven't had my fourby for long, but it seems a bit strange when so many vehicles on the road are foubies. The research looks like vague 4WD bashing, without any real info. I reckon a boycott is the way to go.

AAMI also runs justcarinsurance.com.au and bingle.com.au. None of them will be getting my business, and it is not just the 4WD that they wont be getting either, but also the wife's.

Hey Rookie why don't we spread the word acrosss the internet that AAMI is anti 4X4?

I'd like to see them wriggle their way out of that one!

 

[ladysman217]

Found this post here


AAMI also did a survey recently where 96.2% of the "surveyed drivers" stated that they had homosexual thoughts, even though only 12% of "surveyed drivers" were actually gay. These "surveyed drivers" each were 14.3% more likely to eat lamingtons on a Tuesday, as opposed to the belief that Mondays were the biggest lamington eating day of the week. AAMI surveyed 296 dogs to see what type of postie bike they were more likely to attack, and a massive 92% liked attacking the Honda CT110. I love diddled figures. AAMI need to get some legitimacy into their surveys. I'm starting my Poll, and we can send it off to AAMI.

It's on the internet so it must be true

That thread was commenting on there anti scooter stance. At least we aren't the only ones that are being picked on.

 

[GUTSHOT]

HAY THE LONG WEEKEND IS COMING,GOING TO SOUTH COAST WITH FRIENDS WHO BAG 4X4S,BUT ITS FUNNY WHEN THAY WANT TO GET IN MY RIG TO DRIVE UP THE BEACH
4X4S ARE OK THEN.......

 

[centaur]

HAY THE LONG WEEKEND IS COMING,GOING TO SOUTH COAST WITH FRIENDS WHO BAG 4X4S,BUT ITS FUNNY WHEN THAY WANT TO GET IN MY RIG TO DRIVE UP THE BEACH
4X4S ARE OK THEN.......

First things first. I have a 60 series diesel, it is also a 9 seater (I have 7 kids), and it was bought and rebuilt to take my family camping, and to go 4wdriving. I chose this model for its lack of electrics, strength and it doesnt matter if I bend it. lol ( I have spare panels, chassis and diffs)

Funny that, some friends of mine bagged me by saying it is not necessary, and I should have bought a van!!!! Like I would take a damn van 4bying..... They could NOT see the reason for me owning it..

UNTIL.....

His wife took a wrong down a dirt road near Korumburra after heavy rains and got bogged. Never mind turning back because the water was getting deep, lets just keep driving and maybe it will get shallower!!!! Then they rang me and asked if I could do them a favour and drive 70 mins from Crib Point to go and drag her out. There wasnt any comments then about it being a stupid purchase...

It seems that when they are needed, they are a great idea, but until then, we are just cowboys that want to rule the roads and scare young kids and old people with our people killing bullbars and oversized rigs......

 

[BUSHNUT]

Yes this subject comes to light quite often and you can categorize the person who is of this reasoning along with the ones who like the words like Globalisation, Privatization and Deregulation, just glance at them and you know you are talking to a moron.
The minister of finance has a crack at me sometimes when i just have a service done, my beloved fourbie gets called the money pit and all sorts of derogatory things, but it is quite different when her little sporty thing needs something to the tune of $800 or worse, that seems to be okay and its a wonderfull thing if some of the family need something large to get carted home instead of paying delivery .

a good answer is to say something along the lines of " This is my only means of getting out in the real bush and if I didn't get out htere i would go crazy and
(a) choke the living beejeezuz out of you.
(b) have to get drunk every night.
(c) go out with the fella's 3 nights a week.
(d) take up chasing women
(e) smoke gunja

and maybe

(f) all the above

The thing that you have to retain in your mind is you can be thankfull that you will not meet these suburbanites out in the bush, the beauty and the challenge of it all would be wasted on them

Bushnut

 

[Patriot]

Yeah, it is very interesting. All I know is that AAMI, Bingle.com.au nor justcarinsurance.com.au will not be getting any of my business. I wonder what their premiums are like for 4WDs. They would probably be more than happy to take my money for insuring the 4WD if I offered it, which I certainly won't be

James

 

[ChallengeLee]

It is no different to many other situations in life where things, ideas or people are tarred all with the same brush, it is all stereotyping and regardless of how you look at it, the dogooders will have something to say about anything and everything in life that brings anyone any peace and enjoyment. I'm over it.

Yes, l can be counted as one of those females, l own a 4by and l drive my son to school in it and drive around the city when the need arises but l bought it because l go camping and have an interest in 4wdriving, ya can't bloody do that in a small stock standard car.

I bought it for a purpose and intend to use it for that purpose, l'll be stuffed if l will be tarred with the same brush as some irresponsible 'drivers', that being the operative word cos there are good and bad drivers all around regardless of what they are driving.

Just my 2cents worth.

 

[Patriot]

Hi ChallengeLee,

I agree. You need to buy the right car for the right job. Our work cars are Smart Cars. They are very economical and great for zipping around in, but they wouldn't go very well out bush

Just out of interest, how many people have insurance with AAMI, Bingle.com.au or justcarinsurance?

Cheers,

James

 

[Ven]

well, if owning 4wd makes me socially unacceptable, then bring on socially unacceptable

 

[goldrush]

I must admit I have the Patrol insured with AAMI. Started with them a few years back and have not had any problems with them.....Yet. Premiums come in at the right price, the coverage is great and a couple of years back when I got nailed by a car on my way to work on my motorbike their service was fantastic.