Category: In the news

The powers that be are at it again. Convinced that we as Australians aren't smart enough to take care of ourselves, the SA Environmental Department are closing -- yes, closing -- the Simpson Desert for the entire duration of the
2008/2009 summer.

"[They are] often in a hired vehicle, with very limited four-wheel-driving experience," says regional operations director Trevor Naismith. " "No real concept of the enormous distances involved and the difficulties that are encountered in driving in desert conditions." (sic) [Source]

So, instead of putting in the effort to educate travellers who want to visit the Simpson Desert, they simply want to shut it down. While we agree that summer isn't the best time to visit the desert, we're opposed to the notion of the typical bandaid fix. What's next? No-one allowed offroad when it rains? Beaches shut off during high tide?

Australia is fast becoming one of the most regulated restricted countries in the world. Will we stand up for our right to enjoy our own country, and ensure our children have the same freedoms, or will we sit down and take it?

What do you think, is it time that we do something about it?

- Brendan Seymour

Assistant Editor
Australian 4WD Action

Category: Opinion

It’s fast becoming the age of environmental awareness and to make it clear upfront I’m all for protecting our natural state of affairs. As most 4WDers will agree, there’s nothing worst than seeing your favourite track littered with trash or some clown cutting up a track just for the sake of it. Hell, I recycle and have even been known to buy organic fruit and vegies, not to mention I’ve bought the odd power efficient light globes in my time.

But just when I’d thought I’d seen it all I come across a car park in a shopping centre that is strictly for hybrid vehicles. I thought it was ironic how much green paint was used just to mark these ‘green’ car spaces out. But I must admit, I did feel an aura of environmental awareness when I drove my 4WD past these vacant car spaces.

Brilliantly targeted marketing campaigns have really sold ‘hybrid vehicles’. You only have to look at the Toyota Prius to realise this, how many over-paid celebrities drive around in these ‘green’ vehicles because they get a bit of self satisfaction out of appearing to be environmentally friendly. It’s like an overweight person ordering a couple of supersized McValue meals and justifying it because they ordered a ‘diet’ Coke.

I don’t want to appear like I’m bashing hybrid vehicles, but they’re not that environmentally friendly that they deserve their own dedicated parking allocations. Take the Toyota Prius for example, its acclaimed fuel efficiency is 4.4L per 100km. Not bad. But just remember there are many little fuel efficient cars on the market that are getting fuel figures of around the 5.0L -7.0L per 100km, they can’t be claimed as ‘green’ because they alternate between electric and petrol power. Don’t even get me started on the fact that ‘Green’ motor vehicles are out of the price range for most of us… Maybe they call them ‘Green’ vehicles because you need a hell of a lot of green notes in your pocket to buy one?

I wonder if 4WDs will ever go ‘Green’ or will we always be relegated to the back of carparks?

- Shaun Whale

Category: Opinion

ATTENTION READERS!

We would like to point out a calculation error in the Petrol V Diesel article, ‘A matter of refinement’ (Issue 122). Referring to the claim that it was more expensive to run a diesel than a petrol, “…It would mean that a diesel owner would pay an extra $1009 a year in fuel.” Based on the fuel economy figures outlined in the article, the diesel would actually be the cheaper of the two in fuel costs each year by $254. Who ever said that calculators are easy to use?



While the diesel is obviously the more fuel efficient vehicle of the two, if you take into account the initial purchase difference it would take a diesel Sorento owner nearly 14 years to break even with the petrol counterpart. That’s not even taking into consideration the fact that servicing costs are also more expensive for the diesel. By that reasoning it is hardly an exercise in saving money when you buy a diesel these days with the price of fuel the way it is. On the other hand, we don’t want to sound like we are ‘diesel bashing’ as there’s no substitution for them in the 4WD world and in the Aussie bush. This is merely an exercise in bean counting.

Sorry if we had mislead anyone, we can assure you that we will continue to keep striving to bring you the quality no-bull journalism 4WD Action has built a reputation on doing and will do our best to make sure any blunders like that are caught before they go to print.

As the petrol versus diesel argument often sparks a lot of debate amongst us 4WDers, let us know what you think by commenting below.

- Shaun Whale

Category: Opinion

After a trip out on the weekend to my favourite 4WD location, I was shocked by the amount of rubbish that could be seen throughout the area. Despite the very fine efforts of locals and other bush users on clean up days, there were more and more dumped vehicles, bottles, lolly wrappers and torn off 4WD parts - all stuff that could have easily been removed by the people who left them there in the first place.

And someone must have had a corker of a headache the next day, judging by the amount of bottles that I saw.

It both frustrates and angers me to see the efforts of so many responsible 4WDers go to waste. Clean Up Days prepared by Clubs and Groups such as the Suzuki 4WD Club, Appin Bushland Users Group and even Port Stephens Council are organised to assist 4WDers and prevent track closures. To blatantly ignore those efforts with the attitude “I come to clean up days, so I can leave that bottle there” is only going to further tarnish the already media-bashed reputation the 4WD community possesses.

It’s pretty easy to make sure you don’t “forget” your rubbish. Rubbish bags now come on a roll, very convenient for storage in the glove box and cardboard boxes also make a great temporary rubbish bin in the back of the wagon. It’s also amazingly easy to do your bit and pick up any rubbish you see, even if it isn’t yours.

Unfortunately, all the dumped rubbish does is fuel the greenies and their perception of 4WDers as beer-swelling, rubbish dumping hoons. It’s a guaranteed one way ticket to track closures.

Come on everyone! Didn’t your mother ever teach you to clean up after yourself?

~ Jess