Off course in 4×4 feature?

Your feature on the imminent downturn in the 4×4 market (MW September 17) issue is tame and inconclusive.

How can you lead with a hard-hitting headline – “Crash on the way…” and end with a whimpering “It’s impossible to say when the cars will lose their mass appeal…”

It is not up to your usual standards and contains a number of contradictions, for example:

The price ranges quoted are misleading. Cherokees start at about 19,000 – not 25,000.

The “Toyota” in your main picture is so clearly a Land Rover Freelander.

One source says that they are fashion items but then suggests that the market leaders are style brands (and therefore not victim of fashion changes?).

Alan Horn

Operations director

Albemarle Interim Management

London W1

It’s hands up on the second point – a production error. Most Cherokees cost more than 25,000 and the point being made was that only those vehicles in the 25,000+ bracket have staying power. On the last item, the commentator was attempting, perhaps clumsily, to draw a distinction between “street fashion” and classic appeal – Editor.