Just dropped Jnr FD off for his first day at pre school.

How ignorant I was, I just thought all this talk off 4 x 4’s and yummy mummies was just urban myth, but no turning up in my 2004 Mondeo diesel I was sooo out of place.

Which 4 x 4 would you recommend? It looked like the new Land Rover 4 x 4 (in white) was the one to be seen in, closely followed by the big Audi thing.

😐

Hummer?

Silver Volvo XC90 used to be the clear winner at my son’s school. Shooting waistcoats and Hunters much in evidence.

Yeah, the Audi Q thing, followed by the X5 are the most practical solutions.

Can I suggest something that looks like a 4×4 but is actually only 2wd. Then put low-profile run-flat tyres on it.

You’ll fit in fine round here.

Choose whichever will look best parked on the blatantly obvious yellow zig-zag no parking markings right outside the school, as this is where most 4×4 owners insist on dumping their vehicles …

Audi Q7 if you can afford it, followed by a Q5 if you can’t.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fM_wX8p2fU[/video]

You know it makes sense.

The Nissan Juke or was it Joke?

Unimog?

Here it’s the range rover vogue, q7 or lexus Rx450h. The Porsche thing is a left field choice and you opt for an xc90 if you’re down on your luck.

Liking the unimog, wonder what it’s ncap is…

For you, probably very good. For other things in your way (trees, elephants, pedestrians) probably not that good.

Have you considered the new Range Rover Evoke? Get it in white and it would fit in really well!

Lamborghini LM02 – makes your presence known.

Clearly one of these

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Quu5Bi5QEPI[/video]

I used to live in Dulwich, S.London and it was always interesting watching the car of choice for the school run. Spoilt round there really, loads of very well-thought-of schools from nursery/infant right up to secondary all very close to each other which meant traffic chaos, parents trying to get Volvo XC90’s round each other down narrow roads.

A few years ago it was mostly Volvo XC90’s, a few BMW X5’s with a fairly even split of Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7 down the bottom end.

Then it moved to Toyota Prius and Smart cars.

Now, there is a very significant percentage of parents doing the school run in bikes with Tag-a-Longs, utility bikes etc. It’s suddenly become the hip, cool choice with lots of yummy-mummy’s in cycle chic clothing.

Are there no roads near the school? 😉

Be different though. Either the only one that counts (range rover), something really whacky (some suggestions above) or be sensible and think about the fuel and servicing costs and have a smug grin every morning.

Victoria Beckham spec Evoque is the only way forward, probably best not to take them to school at all if you can’t take them in the Evoque.

Friend of ours suggested getting one recently – Jesus did we give him a hard time!

When I commute I pass the local private School in Penrith. Every morning I have the theme tune from Men in Black running through myhead as big black Range Rover type 4×4’s roll past. Each one has a mum sat up front with big sunglasses on and a little kid in the back.

Last week I saw a white RR Evoque (that seems to be the only colour they come in). My tune will have to change to Bob Dylan ‘Times they are a Changing’ I think

Audi Quattro?

It’s a crying shame we can’t tax the school run. Bigger bratwagon = more tax. Incentives to those walking, cycling and using the bus.

Mostly X5’s and XC90’s, but there is one lad comes in a Hummer. (It’s pretty wild out in the fens.)

Which 4 x 4 would you recommend? It looked like the new Land Rover 4 x 4 (in white) was the one to be seen in, closely followed by the big Audi thing.

Nah, you’ve missed the point Funky. The Mondeo is perfectly fine, what you need to do is removed the drivers seat so you are in fact sitting so far down you have no chance of actually seeing over the steering wheel, and drive like you are completely out of control of your 2 tonne vehicle. Then stop right outside the school gates ,preferably on the double yellow lines (or bonus points for the zebra crossing…) so FuncyDunc junior doesn’t have to walk more than 3 yards to school.

It’s a crying shame we can’t tax the school run. Bigger bratwagon = more tax. Incentives to those walking, cycling and using the bus.

If the schools are within walking distance, if cycling to school in an urban environment isn’t too risky, if the bus fits in with your work patterns…

It’s a crying shame we can’t tax the school run. Bigger bratwagon = more tax. Incentives to those walking, cycling and using the bus.

Why? We live 3 miles down country lanes from the primary school my 3 girls go to and there is no bus service anywhere nearby – can you tell me how i should get them to and from school?

3 miles? A bicycle or three sounds like a pretty good idea to me.

a very significant percentage of parents doing the school run in bikes with Tag-a-Longs, utility bikes etc. It’s suddenly become the hip, cool choice with lots of yummy-mummy’s in cycle chic clothing.

our daughters primary have made quite an effort to encourage cycling your kids to school, no mass of 4×4’s etc outside, hopefully their numbers are not indicative of the quality of teaching the school provides 😀

3 miles?

Just imagine what fantastical technological or evolutionary leaps forward might one day give humans the ability to travel such incredible distances … maybe not in my lifetime, sadly

😆

3 miles? A bicycle or three sounds like a pretty good idea to me.

Oh why didn’t I think of that? A 8 mile round trip (turns out its further than I thought) every day for 3 primary school kids, carrying book bags, lunch bag and PE kit and in all weathers down an unrestricted country road that is used as a rat-run by cars, vans and lorries.
Yep, that’ll work. I think I’ll stick with to using the Golf – I look forward to your tax proposal 😉

Bigger bratwagon = more tax

Well, bigger cars generally cost more to tax, use more fuel (therefore more tax), cost more in the first place (more VAT) etc.

So, they do pay more tax already don’t they?

Plus I suspect people don’t go out and buy a big 4WD just for the school run, I suspect most have that car and also use it for the school run.

PS. No kids and no 4WD, btw.

sharkbait – if you are using a golf and carrying 3 kids why get involved, this was just a lighthearted go at users of 4×4’s transporting kids on local roads, not you.

Because we also have an XC90 that was bought 9 years ago when it was one of the few cars wide enough to fit 3 child seats across the back.
the Golf was bought 16 months ago to use most of the time to reduce fuel costs but the Volvo is still use occasionally.

a lighthearted go at users of 4×4’s transporting kids on local roads

If we were to be run into by some idiot in his Corsa I’d much rather my children were in the Volvo than the Golf.

If we were to be run into by some idiot in his Corsa I’d much rather my children were in the Volvo than the Golf.

Safety through superior firepower!

percieved increased safety through great height/mass….. probably wrong though.
I should also add that the Golf replaced a Volvo v70 which actually had much worse fuel consumption that the XC90 – but nobody’s going to flame estate drivers are they!