Most manly 4x4?

[white_goodman]

I can see the appeal of 4x4s. Comfort, high driving position, chunky styling and high ground clearance where required etc but in terms of having a practical car, my preference would be with an estate car for driving thrills (a Subaru or Audi if I need 4WD).

My suspicion is that most 4x4s are not used off-road and appeal to women mostly (not intended to be a sexist criticism) because they look chunky and safe and feel safe to be in. Most of the smaller 4x4s and large Audi/BMW/Volvo and even Land Rover 4x4s I see are driven by women. However, are there any manly 4x4s that just appeal to men? I would suggest not many but here are some suggestions.

Defender
Series 1 Discovery (not when new but quite manly now!)
Classic Range Rover
Mercedes G-Wagon
Isuzu Trooper
Nissan Patrol
Toyota Landcruiser (the big one - is it still called the Amazon?)

So are there any 4x4s just for men?

[PaulB81]

My Paj is looking quite manly with its new wheels and mud tyres. It is only used for offroading btw.

[xspencex]

Most manly? Has to be the Defender or the G Wagen. . . or any of the above if they are covered in mud.

[DJC]

[RemainAllHoof]

Lada Riva.

No A/C? Check.
No leather? Check.
ste handling? Check.

You'll struggle to find a properly manly 4x4/SUV. I call modern SUVs FUVs (Family Utility Vehicles) as the most sporty they'll usually get is the overweight, balding driver wearing trainers at the weekend. My Golf is a proper SUV - I usually carry sports kit to and from venues in the boot... a vehicle utilised for sporty endeavours...

Or the original Hummer. But an old Defender is pretty cool.

[RemainAllHoof]

DJC said:

The funny thing is that they're supposed to be pretty damned good off-road aren't they?

[otolith]

white_goodman said:

My suspicion is that most 4x4s are not used off-road and appeal to women mostly (not intended to be a sexist criticism) because they look chunky and safe and feel safe to be in. Most of the smaller 4x4s and large Audi/BMW/Volvo and even Land Rover 4x4s I see are driven by women. However, are there any manly 4x4s that just appeal to men? I would suggest not many but here are some suggestions.

My suspicion is that in many cases wifey want an MPV (a metaphorical mobile womb) and an SUV is the less girly compromise reached with hubby.

[LouD86]

Id like to think my thumping 4.2td Toyota Landcruiser Amazon is pretty manly, very wide, huge road pressence, comfy as you like, and some serious torque aswell!

[RemainAllHoof]

otolith said:

white_goodman said:

My suspicion is that most 4x4s are not used off-road and appeal to women mostly (not intended to be a sexist criticism) because they look chunky and safe and feel safe to be in. Most of the smaller 4x4s and large Audi/BMW/Volvo and even Land Rover 4x4s I see are driven by women. However, are there any manly 4x4s that just appeal to men? I would suggest not many but here are some suggestions.

My suspicion is that in many cases wifey want an MPV (a metaphorical mobile womb) and an SUV is the less girly compromise reached with hubby.

Yeah, that kinda makes sense. Doesn't help that Clarkson said something like buying an MPV is admitting you've given up on life and while nobody would admit to listening to him...

[white_goodman]

RemainAllHoof said:

Lada Riva.

No A/C? Check.
No leather? Check.
ste handling? Check.

You'll struggle to find a properly manly 4x4/SUV. I call modern SUVs FUVs (Family Utility Vehicles) as the most sporty they'll usually get is the overweight, balding driver wearing trainers at the weekend. My Golf is a proper SUV - I usually carry sports kit to and from venues in the boot... a vehicle utilised for sporty endeavours...

Or the original Hummer. But an old Defender is pretty cool.

Isn't it Niva?

[Mr2Mike]

RemainAllHoof said:

The funny thing is that they're supposed to be pretty damned good off-road aren't they?

They aren't particularly great and have a habit of destroying the front diff. Are you perhaps confusing the Vitara with the far more capable SJ410/413?

[TheD]

How about the 1996 ish Jeep Cherokee 4lt High output with chunkies and a nice big bull bar. Now that is a mans motor.

[Patrick Bateman]

I think we all know the real answer to this-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL4-AVq7hjo&fea...

[white_goodman]

RemainAllHoof said:

Yeah, that kinda makes sense. Doesn't help that Clarkson said something like buying an MPV is admitting you've given up on life and while nobody would admit to listening to him...

Yeah but there are MPVs like the Focus ST-engined S-MAX which redress the balance though. I would still argue that an MPV/decent estate is more practical than a 4x4. From my experience, it's the women that want the 4x4 over the MPV!

[white_goodman]

TheD said:

How about the 1996 ish Jeep Cherokee 4lt High output with chunkies and a nice big bull bar. Now that is a mans motor.

Yeah. Like them!

[Pontoneer]

white_goodman said:

I can see the appeal of 4x4s. Comfort, high driving position, chunky styling and high ground clearance where required etc but in terms of having a practical car, my preference would be with an estate car for driving thrills (a Subaru or Audi if I need 4WD).

My suspicion is that most 4x4s are not used off-road and appeal to women mostly (not intended to be a sexist criticism) because they look chunky and safe and feel safe to be in. Most of the smaller 4x4s and large Audi/BMW/Volvo and even Land Rover 4x4s I see are driven by women. However, are there any manly 4x4s that just appeal to men? I would suggest not many but here are some suggestions.

Defender
Series 1 Discovery (not when new but quite manly now!)
Classic Range Rover
Mercedes G-Wagon
Isuzu Trooper
Nissan Patrol
Toyota Landcruiser (the big one - is it still called the Amazon?)

So are there any 4x4s just for men?

The Mercedes is a G WagEn not wagon .

[RemainAllHoof]

white_goodman said:

Isn't it Niva?

Doh! Yes, you're right. I only did a brief Google check and thought the dodgy pic was a 4x4. Mind you, the checklist still stands for the Riva.

[dugt]

I cant imagine seeing many women driving this

[RemainAllHoof]

Mr2Mike said:

They aren't particularly great and have a habit of destroying the front diff. Are you perhaps confusing the Vitara with the far more capable SJ410/413?

Ah, yes, I thought that was the Vitara. I can't tell the difference without seeing them side-by-side.

[RemainAllHoof]

white_goodman said:

Yeah but there are MPVs like the Focus ST-engined S-MAX which redress the balance though. I would still argue that an MPV/decent estate is more practical than a 4x4. From my experience, it's the women that want the 4x4 over the MPV!

Hehe, well, certainly, if I needed an MPV or estate, I'd just get one. Wouldn't mind a C63 estate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiGXyy7PXgI



I think you'd get done for animal cruelty when the RSPCA notice your pet dog squashed against the rear window.