Which mild 4x4 for ~£5,000?
Discussion
I e had a load of sub 4 k 4x4s as use them for building materials so need to be tough and big ( not like me …)
Had 2 Jeep Grand Cherokees - awesome cars - good engine / dodgy electrics - lots of niggles.
By far the best one as the XC 90 I bought for 3 k - super tough - would that be any good for off roading ?? Or is it more of a town cruiser ?
Had 2 Jeep Grand Cherokees - awesome cars - good engine / dodgy electrics - lots of niggles.
By far the best one as the XC 90 I bought for 3 k - super tough - would that be any good for off roading ?? Or is it more of a town cruiser ?
Silvanus said:
've seen entirely the opposite, not a kerb bumper at all. The OP was looking at Panda 4x4s and Suzuki Vitaras originally they arent exactly big butch off roaders. The Duster is perfectly capable green laning or light off roading, the right tyres are needed though as with most vehicles. I've seen a few lightly modded Dusters that are fantastic off road. If he wanted a serious off roader I would have suggested something else, but for what it seemed he wanted, a perfectly reasonable suggestion
Op said off roading and green laning. In that respect I’d also say no to a Panda and probably to a Vitara (depending on which age one and if they intended to mod). The Duster is very much a crossover car and uses X-Trail running gear. The X-Trail is also pretty rubbish off road. Technically the same category as a Freelander 1. But the Freelander has a better traction system than the X-Trail.
I’m not saying they are bad vehicles at all. But they could very easily be out of their depth laning. Mostly due to poor ground clearance. It of course depends which lanes and which parts of the country.
But if the op is intending “other” off roading. That would either mean pay n play, completions or ???? None of which the Duster is truly going to be ideal for and would be prone to damage. Something more rugged and purpose built as an off road vehicle would likely be a far better choice for any of these activities.
300bhp/ton said:
Silvanus said:
Dacia Duster
Not if you really want to off road. Poor approach, departure and break over angles. No low range. No flex and not really all that good off road tbh. Not terrible if all you want to do is bump up a kerb or two. Or maybe into a grass field. But way out of their depth on any sort of ‘proper’ off roading or even green laning. Way too little ground clearance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QToAP0pe0s
MustangGT said:
300bhp/ton said:
Silvanus said:
Dacia Duster
Not if you really want to off road. Poor approach, departure and break over angles. No low range. No flex and not really all that good off road tbh. Not terrible if all you want to do is bump up a kerb or two. Or maybe into a grass field. But way out of their depth on any sort of ‘proper’ off roading or even green laning. Way too little ground clearance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QToAP0pe0s
300bhp/ton said:
Well that’s a Pretender and not a Defender anyway. That also is no way an actual off road comparison and is an “entertainment” video. Fun but shows naff all on real off road ability. That is also not the gen Duster being talked about.
The OP is not talking about serious off-roading, the Duster will do fine for what he wants. Either series, there is minimal difference in the off-road department.MustangGT said:
The OP is not talking about serious off-roading, the Duster will do fine for what he wants. Either series, there is minimal difference in the off-road department.
You don't know what the op wants, they haven't said. Unless you know them outside of PH?All I can say is. I do a lot of off roading and haven driven a lot of different vehicle types. Including currently having a Freelander 1, Range Rover p38, Land Rover 88, Land Rover 90 and a Suzuki Jimny.
Recently I did 600 miles green laning in Wales over a 4 day rod trip with some mates. I'd not want to have been in the Freelander for many of the lanes. You'd run too much risk of damaging it (like wise with the RR). But the Freelander would have become stuck and grounded in several places and lacking low range would have been hard work with wheels in the air for much of the time. A Duster would do no better. And would also not be my choice.
swanseaboydan said:
Are xc 90s any good off road ?
I've never driven one, never actually even seen on off road.I wouldn't put them in same category as a Disco 3/4 or new Defender. Looks like they use a Haldex AWd system, which means they will need wheel slip to make all the wheels drive. I'm also unsure what additional traction systems they have.
I'd be inclined to view them more as an estate car with increased ground clearance. Driving into a stubble field or up a muddy track should be well within their capabilities. But I reckon they'd struggle on more technical off road situations and end up lifting wheels. They will lack articulation and wheel travel and ground clearance looks quite low. The 2nd gen looks even less off road worthy and has much more vulnerable looking front bumper.
EDIT: Any Land Rover product with a transfer case or a Shogun would be a lot more capable IMO.
But remember with enough determination and if you don't mind the damage. You can off road just about anything. I've off roaded an MG Maestro and Austin Metro in the past. But I wouldn't recommend either as off roaders. A lot of it is about how easy and relaxing the vehicle is to drive off road. and this is where IMHO all of the soft roaders and crossover SUV's suffer. They all lift wheels and have the car rocking back and forth in the air. They all keep you very tense and you have to concentrate a lot. Its super easy to damage the body work and you end up usually having to go way faster than is comfortable in order to clear some obstacles.
Something more rugged and built with off roading as a higher primary focus should be easy and relaxing to off road.
Example here:
The Velar is quite capable for a crossover with no low range. It's a testament that such a road car could conquer the obstacle. But it looked huge effort, skip to this point for major wheels in the air: https://youtu.be/1LMqgzt3uhM?t=513
You could very easily get yourself into real trouble or do a lot of damage.
A Duster (Gen 1) would be less capable than the Velar as they have less wheel travel and less capable traction systems.
Something like a classic Range Rover or traditional Defender would likely have rolled through that obstacle with nothing more than a blip of the throttle in low 1st and would likely have kept all wheels on the ground.
Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 15th August 12:27
MustangGT said:
300bhp/ton said:
You don't know what the op wants, they haven't said. Unless you know them outside of PH?
No idea who the OP is, however, I did read his opening post where he mentions 'mild' along with Yeti, Panda and Grand Vitara.Bloke I know who lives up a mountain in North Wales, and regularly off roads to do shooting and that sort of countrified stuff, swears by his 54 plate Merc ML320 CDi, which he bought a while back for about £5k. Says it knocks spots off his previous Freelander in useability and reliability. Drives his binlids to University in Norwich too with it and says its great on road as well. I hate SUVs but even I'm tempted to get one!
Bannock said:
Bloke I know who lives up a mountain in North Wales, and regularly off roads to do shooting and that sort of countrified stuff, swears by his 54 plate Merc ML320 CDi, which he bought a while back for about £5k. Says it knocks spots off his previous Freelander in useability and reliability. Drives his binlids to University in Norwich too with it and says its great on road as well. I hate SUVs but even I'm tempted to get one!
Even mountains in Wales tend to have paved roads....The level of off roading done on most shoots you'd get away with an MX-5. Just sayin.
300bhp/ton said:
Bannock said:
Bloke I know who lives up a mountain in North Wales, and regularly off roads to do shooting and that sort of countrified stuff, swears by his 54 plate Merc ML320 CDi, which he bought a while back for about £5k. Says it knocks spots off his previous Freelander in useability and reliability. Drives his binlids to University in Norwich too with it and says its great on road as well. I hate SUVs but even I'm tempted to get one!
Even mountains in Wales tend to have paved roads....The level of off roading done on most shoots you'd get away with an MX-5. Just sayin.
Anyway, I was answering the OP's enquiry (Which mild 4x4 for £5k?) with what I hoped would be a useful contribution, what did your comment add?
OK, don't roast me but I have a 2008 Kia Sorento which works well for mild offroading. It has a ladder chassis, good ground clearance lockable centre diff and low range gearbox. Has been perfect in he reliability stakes in the 3 years I've had it and is a decent size for all your kit. Will also tow 3 tonnes.
Everyone says pick ups are crap for off roading but I was always surprised how well my old 56 plate l200 done on green lanes. Sure the tow bar hit the ground reasonably often but it rarely got stuck. Under budget but very leggy and I happily used it as a daily driver for a year. Only mods were steel wheels and Maxxis all terrain tyres.
Well a Google search on a very similar theme lead me here.
Did you ever find out what was purchased?
Seems like a lot of choice for that sort of budget...
High miler Discoveries that are already modded, so likely to have been adused already.
A decent selection of Freelander 1.8 xei 2 doors from about £1500 and Freelander 2 with high miles from £4k.
Plus some decent looking P322 (I think from £4.5k...which does appeal to me.
Then of course there are the Jimnys which seem to be creeping up in price.
Similarly to the original poster, I fancy a bit of green laning and perhaps pay and play type things.
I fully expect that budget never to come back to me.
So a shove in the right direction would really assist.
Did you ever find out what was purchased?
Seems like a lot of choice for that sort of budget...
High miler Discoveries that are already modded, so likely to have been adused already.
A decent selection of Freelander 1.8 xei 2 doors from about £1500 and Freelander 2 with high miles from £4k.
Plus some decent looking P322 (I think from £4.5k...which does appeal to me.
Then of course there are the Jimnys which seem to be creeping up in price.
Similarly to the original poster, I fancy a bit of green laning and perhaps pay and play type things.
I fully expect that budget never to come back to me.
So a shove in the right direction would really assist.
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