Renault Scenic RX4 - Any comments?

[BuzzLightyear]

I got stuck when it snowed last year and, as it appears that I can't get winter tyres for my car without buying different wheels, too, I'm thinking of getting a cheap 4x4 to get me around in the white stuff; for taking stuff to the tip and as a spare family car to also releive the mileage building up on the Infiniti.

Would welcome any input for a budget up to c £1500 for the car but MUST be 4wd, 5+ seats and pref not an import for the sake of the insurance. Must also be economical to run and reliable / cheap parts, ie not something with 200,000+ miles under its wheels.

Front-runner at present is, as the title suggests, the Scenic RX4 - have seen a few 2.0 petrol ones with reasonable miles and decent nick, within budget. Anybody got any knowledge / experience / things to look out for when buying one?

All comments greatfully received (within reason...);)

[BuzzLightyear]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

I have looked at the YouTube footage and it seems fairly capable, with the right tyres (which I'm looking to add).

I'm a bit surprised at your comment Neil but you must know what you're talking about if you had a couple of, presumably, new ones to play with. Unfortunately, as Giles says, you can't find a decent CRV or Rav4 for this sort of money: they are all older and higher mileage examples and my budget won't stretch to a decent one. (I have looked at everything from aged Range Rovers down to Daihatsu Terios).

I'm having a look at an RX4 later today, hopefully and will want a decent test-drive to form my own opinion. Will post it up afterwards...

Thanks again.

[BuzzLightyear]

Carl, thanks for your comments.

Went to have a look at one at a "dealer" today. phoned first to get some info and check it was still available and ok to take for a test drive. When I got there, it was a shonky car lot in SE London, packed with about 40 or 50 cars, all dirty, cobwebby and pretty off-putting but as I'd gone there specially, I found the RX4 hemmed in right at the back of the lot, filthy dirty and no possibility of moving the other cars to get it out for a drive so I left.

The search continues.

Would prefer a diesel if I can find a decent one with ok mileage...

[BuzzLightyear]

Had a look at a low-mileage petrol one today in dark green - all good except for a high biting point on the clutch. Bit concerned that this might mean a new clutch but an Internet search suggests they are often like this. No slippage detected.

Am tempted by this one - any comments about the clutch, anyone???

[BuzzLightyear]

Quick update:

Have heard a few horror stories about the gearbox / transmission and, although the clutch may not have been an issue, the one I looked at hadn't had the cambelt changed so, overall decided not to go for it.

Over the weekend, I also looked at Vitaras and Grand Vitaras; Discoverys etc but have finally decided on a Shogun Pinin from a local garage. It was a bit more money than I was originally looking to pay (no surprise there, huh?) but it is well looked-after, practically one-owner and drives very nicely and also has a proper 4WD system with high and low ratios and diff lock which all works as it should.

Picking it up at the weekend. Hope it's the right choice...?

Thanks everyone who contributed etc