Classifieds - Why all 4x4's called "Estates"
Classifieds - Why all 4x4's called "Estates"
Author
Discussion

Searider

Original Poster:

997 posts

278 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
Dear Pistonheads,

I've been searching for estate cars of various types.

However, the search results seem to also include 4x4s.

How come all 4x4s seem to be defined as estates on Pistonheads? It doesn't happen on Autotrader.
Autotrader calls 4x4s SUVs.

I specifically DON'T WANT a 4x4.

Thanks



Edited by Searider on Wednesday 11th April 10:45

Hoofy

79,328 posts

305 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
Telling it like it is! silly

MitchT

17,089 posts

232 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
Do you mean the search results are throwing up estate cars with four-wheel-drive or that the search results are throwing up SUVs? For example, a Lamborghini Huracan is a 4x4 ... an F90 BMW M5 is a 4x4... but most people use "4x4" as the default phrase for describing an SUV. 4x4 is any vehicle with four-wheel-drive, no matter how large or small.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

149 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
What is an SUV but a slightly taller estate?

ElectricSoup

8,202 posts

174 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
What is an SUV but a slightly taller estate?
A lot of them are slightly taller hatchbacks and have really poor sized boots. Many of them are not suitable if you need the load carrying capacity of an estate car.

The OP is right, they shouldn't be listed as estates. Estate is estate, SUV is SUV.

Pica-Pica

16,062 posts

107 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
MitchT said:
Do you mean the search results are throwing up estate cars with four-wheel-drive or that the search results are throwing up SUVs? For example, a Lamborghini Huracan is a 4x4 ... an F90 BMW M5 is a 4x4... but most people use "4x4" as the default phrase for describing an SUV. 4x4 is any vehicle with four-wheel-drive, no matter how large or small.
Indeed. Some people are so obtuse and do not understand that 4x4 means: a vehicle has 4 wheels (strictly-speaking, axle ends) with all 4 of these driven.

Hoofy

79,328 posts

305 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
MitchT said:
Do you mean the search results are throwing up estate cars with four-wheel-drive or that the search results are throwing up SUVs? For example, a Lamborghini Huracan is a 4x4 ... an F90 BMW M5 is a 4x4... but most people use "4x4" as the default phrase for describing an SUV. 4x4 is any vehicle with four-wheel-drive, no matter how large or small.
biggrin

What did they call the likes of Honda CRVs before "SUV" became popular? I'm sure SUV is a marketing thing because let's face it, only 3 people have ever utilised such vehicles for the purpose of sport. And isn't every car an SUV?


MitchT

17,089 posts

232 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
What did they call the likes of Honda CRVs before "SUV" became popular? I'm sure SUV is a marketing thing because let's face it, only 3 people have ever utilised such vehicles for the purpose of sport. And isn't every car an SUV?
I believe it's an Americanism, but at least it's useful in so much as it refers to a specific genre of vehicle.

Hoofy

79,328 posts

305 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
MitchT said:
Hoofy said:
What did they call the likes of Honda CRVs before "SUV" became popular? I'm sure SUV is a marketing thing because let's face it, only 3 people have ever utilised such vehicles for the purpose of sport. And isn't every car an SUV?
I believe it's an Americanism, but at least it's useful in so much as it refers to a specific genre of vehicle.
Thought it was! Yeah, it does make it obvious what kind of vehicle we're talking about. I suppose there was no other suitable term. What was used in the 80s and 90s?

MitchT

17,089 posts

232 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
What was used in the 80s and 90s?
In the US, Jeep. In the UK, Range Rover or Land Rover as that was pretty much all there was!

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

149 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
ElectricSoup said:
TooMany2cvs said:
What is an SUV but a slightly taller estate?
A lot of them are slightly taller hatchbacks
Well, a few. But then we get into "what's the difference between a hatch and an estate...?"

It can't be as simple as the rake of the tailgate...

Hoofy

79,328 posts

305 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
MitchT said:
Hoofy said:
What was used in the 80s and 90s?
In the US, Jeep. In the UK, Range Rover or Land Rover as that was pretty much all there was!
Mmm good point.

ElectricSoup

8,202 posts

174 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
MitchT said:
Hoofy said:
What was used in the 80s and 90s?
In the US, Jeep. In the UK, Range Rover or Land Rover as that was pretty much all there was!
Mmm good point.
Matra Rancho.

Suzuki SJ410.

That's about it.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

149 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
ElectricSoup said:
Matra Rancho.
Now that really did fit the label of Stupid Useless Vehicle, in a way not seen again for many years. Who on earth wants something utterly mediocre tarted into a tall, tupperware-bedecked, 2wd-faux-soft-roader with next to no ground clearance?

For the yoof who may have forgotten the true glory...


...and the starting point...


Now, that's a niche that truly overfloweth, selling like hotcakes.

ElectricSoup

8,202 posts

174 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
Now that really did fit the label of Stupid Useless Vehicle, in a way not seen again for many years. Who on earth wants something utterly mediocre tarted into a tall, tupperware-bedecked, 2wd-faux-soft-roader with next to no ground clearance?
Well a lot of current SUVs fit that description perfectly so they must have been on to something. These were 2 decades before their time.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

149 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
ElectricSoup said:
Well a lot of current SUVs fit that description perfectly so they must have been on to something. These were 2 decades before their time.
I think you might have missed the last sentence, hidden below the piccies...

Pica-Pica

16,062 posts

107 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
MitchT said:
Hoofy said:
What was used in the 80s and 90s?
In the US, Jeep. In the UK, Range Rover or Land Rover as that was pretty much all there was!
Mmm good point.
Well in the automotive industry, it was 4x4, or for trucks (lorries to you) 6x4 etc.

MDMA .

10,112 posts

124 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
Searider said:
Dear Pistonheads,

I've been searching for estate cars of various types.

However, the search results seem to also include 4x4s.

How come all 4x4s seem to be defined as estates on Pistonheads? It doesn't happen on Autotrader.
Autotrader calls 4x4s SUVs.

I specifically DON'T WANT a 4x4.

Thanks



Edited by Searider on Wednesday 11th April 10:45
Search works fine for me :

Make -
Model -
Advanced search -
Car type - estate

Only brings up estate cars. Don't see what the issue is.

fido

18,409 posts

278 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
Puzzled. I thought '4x4' referred to the drive-train? Obviously many estate cars are also 4wd. If you want '4x4' that look like '4x4's then you need to search or SUVs. This is case of a genre was defined by it's main attribute - '4x4s' were the original '4x4' and aside from a few Subarus and rally-specials - most estates were RWD.

Hoofy

79,328 posts

305 months

Wednesday 11th April 2018
quotequote all
I think most people would think RR etc when they heard "4x4" and only anoraks and farmers would think "Subaru"...