6,000 € fine for driving a 4x2 SUV on a beach in Huelva, Spain

A 4x2 SUV on the beach: a 6,000 euro fine, with divorce as the icing on the cake

Driving an off-road vehicle on sand is a tricky business. Doing it in a 4x2 — that is, with front-wheel drive and an adventurer's look — is asking for trouble. This week, police stopped a driver on a beach in Huelva, Spain, at the wheel of a Hyundai Tucson with that configuration. The fine can reach 6,000 euros.

The 4x2's false off-road capability

Marketing irony: the 4x2 is sold as a capable option, but as soon as the car meets wet sand or a slope, the front-wheel drive gives up. It's no secret among those who know the 4x4 world, but there are still drivers who find out the hard way — via the bill.

A recent case reported by a driver: taking a 4x2 into the mountains with 12,000 kilometres on the clock ended up burning out the clutch. The repair at the dealership: 4,000 euros. And that's just the mechanical cost; the embarrassment is priceless. The driver in Huelva, moreover, may face a personal domino effect: according to reports circulating, the vehicle is registered in his vvife's name, and she has reportedly handed him the divorce papers.

The price of looking like a 4x4

The fine for driving in a prohibited area is only part of it. The real punishment is the neighbours' memory — and above all, Charo's.

The predictable outcome is that the driver will appeal and try to justify the unjustifiable. But the maths is stubborn: between the fine and the workshop, the price of appearing to have 4x4 capability exceeds any leasing rate. Perhaps next time he'll consult the manual before gazing at the sea.