4x4s. Why are they so popular in Qatar?

It is necessry if u R in the construction feild.

I understand that when virtually everyone else is driving an urban tank that others will feel a need to do likewise, it will 'feel' safer if you're up there at a higher level with the other drivers.

However, given the erratic driving in Qatar, driving a 4x4 is actually *more* not less dangerous:

"· The higher centre of gravity has been found in the past to make 4x4s more prone to rollover crashes (especially in emergency manoeuvres) [9]."

[source: http://www.brake.org.uk/index.php?p=267

Brake - a UK road safety charity]

Generally, according to that website, 4x4s are more dangerous to pedestrians (who are more likely to be killed if hit by a 4x4 instead of a regular car), they are more dangerous to other drivers (because if you hit someone else they are more likely to be seriously injured or to die if you hit someone else's car with a 4x4), they are more dangerous to you (i.e. if you are a pedestrian, or if your car is hit by a 4x4), and they are more dangerous to you because of the rollover risk.

[Source: from the same "4x4s The Risks" article linked to above]

If, due to other idiots on the road, you find yourself having to swerve out of someone's way, you are more likely to rollover in a 4x4 than in a regular car.

"...Although SUVs are designed to be driven off the road and roll, very few have rollbars. And to make matters worse, few SUVs meet the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration roof safety standards for automobiles [as weak as those standards are]. The chief hazard occurs when taking emergency action, such as sudden tire tread separation, after steering in one direction and then being forced to rapidly correct in the opposite direction. The result is a rollover. Rollover occurs because of the absence of a lower center of gravity and a wider track width, which allows automobiles to skid, spin and recover. But when taking a common evasive maneuver that car drivers safety complete every day, rapidly corrective action causes SUVs to trip and roll...

"The failure of the roof of the Mitsubishi Pajero, Montero and/or Shogun involved in a 'roll over' accident is the most likely cause of death or permanent injury to the vehicle occupants. The roof is the least crashworthy part of these vehicle. In fact, roofs on most Suv's are often so 'fragile' that when 'test dropped' upside-down for a fall of 12 inches, the result is frequently a 'total roof crush' that in a 'real life' accident is the primary cause of death, permanent brain and spinal cord injuries."

[Source: http://www.rolloverlawyer.com/suv_rollovers/mitsubishi_pajero.htm ]

That site is RolloverLawyer.com - an American lawyer/law firm that appears to do good business on SUV/4x4 rollover lawsuits.

If you drive a 4x4, try Googling your own car, e.g. Pajero +rollover

If you want a compromise between a car and 4x4, try one of those small 4x4 (Toyota RAV4, Mits. Outlander, or a Honda CR-V). They are low to ground, offer 8 inches clearance (only 2 inches less than a Pajero), and are pretty sturdy.

Otherwise, buy a minivan or one of those modern station-wagons (Toyota Matrix, etc.)

Come on Doha is'nt tht bad "Who me" .. There still are roads where u can drive at high speeds even at regular hours.. It might not b the autobahn but its good enough...

I agree with GYPSY.

Somebody would buy that F***KING 2001 Infiniti. Its hurting my brain looking at it in classifieds everyday. You think he would get the hint about the price after one month eh?

Ricaaaaaaaaaaaard, Are u back in Doha?

Why are you talking about control at high speeds...c'mon you're in Qatar, where the hell can you drive at high speeds? And I am not talking about thos 120 or maybe 130 kmh for 1km on corniche at 3 in the night! Come to Germany and drive there. In my country your argument (which is fully true!) is a point for deciding on a sportscar, because you have the roads for highspeed driving (I am talkin about 200kmh for long distances like 30 to 50 km on the Highway!) and the narrow streets for nice upspeeding and drifting. But definetly not in Qatar!

If I would speed up here with a sportscar in Qatar, I am pretty sure either a bumper or a pothole will stop me, my car and may be my life!;)

I've bought one pathfinder recently replacing a nissan maxima I had. Trust me its a pain. I just cannot corner it up as afast as I use to in a maxima, but I do enjoy driving it, but a sedan is a sedan. I like my car when I need to drive it to industrial Area everyday mornin for work and then on weekends when I go dunin. I exchange it with my bro's Accord, whenever I get the slightest oppurtunity.

Honestly speakin this part of the world, you do need a 4X4 for sure. It actually does help if u have one 4X4 at home.

What if the Sedan was a Bmw or a Merc or a Chrysler ???!! I think they have more class than rolling there in a hummmer or a Tahoe or whatever...

of course it is about status. go to a Buissness meeting in a 4x4 has more status than going in a Sedan. (at least this part of the world)

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Don't you think it's mostly about status?

I feel there's nothing beeter than a sports car when it comes to handling or cornering at high speeds... A 4x4 just does not have a good feeling when on the road... It gets really boring to drive around all day rolling around so elevated ... Either way it depends if ur actually going to use it off road tht much.. If not getting a Sedan or a sports car is a much better choice...

4X4s aren't just popular in Qatar. There's a major debate going on in most industrialized nations about the feasibility of these vehicles.

There was talk in the UK a while back about a special tax/fee bracket for 4X4s.

The explosion is the 4X4 market happened in the US first. That is why companies like BMW, Porsche, Audi and Mercedes Benz decided to launch their SUVs, SAVs and whatever else they may call them.

And that's why Toyota and Nissan launched the premium versions of their 4X4s.

Most of the time these are used on the "school run" and for city driving. And they're really not much more spacious than a good-sized sedan unless you're talking about monstrosities like the Suburban and Ford Explorer. They do provide better visibility but with that comes a higher center of gravity and they're therefore more prone to rollover. In the premium brands engineers try to counter this with technology.

Personally, I'd like to see some kind of a projection screen fitted to the rear of a 4X4 so I can see what the 4X4 driver sees and is blocking me from seeing.

Well in mine it's good for getting over those speed bumps, going through the potholes, off roading a bit and feeling less intimidated by the Landcrusiers on the road.

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very simple.....the reasons are as follows:

-the gas is cheap

-the relatively big size of families (inculding maids and servants)

-people have no environemental awareness (even those coming from western countries)

-superiority complex

-more suitable to the horrible roads network (or lack of roads network in many cases)

-and above all beacause they can afford it...

Pl. read posting under Qatar Driving Ethics. All the answers to query are there for you to see.