newbie wants 4x4 advice

[danlightbulb]

Hi all. Newbie here. Looking for advice on getting me a capable 4x4.

Now i probably can guess what the first question might be. No, i dont really need a 4x4. I'd just like one. I like the big truck look, and the thought that i have a go anywhere do anything vehicle. Id like to try some off roading activity too, maybe with my kids, as a new hobby. However 99% of the time this vehicle will be used on roads and motorways.

I currently have a mondeo diesel. Its 12 years old and has done 190k miles. Its starting to cost me money and becoming more unreliable. I cant help thinking that a 4x4 capable of off roading will be more solid and reliable on road, given the sturdier components.

So id like some help on what features to look for, not necessarily car suggestion yet, although feel free to name some. I dont know if i need low range, lockable diff, switchable 2wd, awd. I do need 7 seats, and much prefer the look of a 4x4 to a people carrier.

I will be looking at the used market, budget upto 10k.

I hired what I thought was a 4x4 on my recent holiday in cyprus and I was given a Suzuki Grand Vitara. To be honest I was surprised by what I got. It was a 3 door, fairly small compared to what I was expecting, and it just had a normal 5 speed manual gearbox. No switches or anything else. I was surprised to be honest. I don't even know for sure it was 4 wheel drive, or what features it had if it was. Plus it was petrol.


advice really appreciated.

dan

[danlightbulb]

I want a 4x4. Plus i will need 7 seats within the next couple years. I cant green lane or visit pay and play centres in a mondeo.

Edited by danlightbulb on Friday 26th June 11:22

[danlightbulb]

Thats reall disappointing. I dont think i can justify a 2nd car just as a toy with the extra mot servicing insurance road tax.

[danlightbulb]

If i was doing that id have to massively slice the budget. Can you suggest what i would need to spend and the kinds of vehicles to look for please? A jimny is no good cos id still want something big enough to take the family off roading in.

Edited by danlightbulb on Friday 26th June 12:59

[danlightbulb]

The idea of doing my own repairs and maintenance is quite appealing. I would be starting totally from scratch though. So the general recommendation would be any of the old land rovers and i could get something for about a grand or just over?

[danlightbulb]

Start off gentle yeah of course, but just like i did with my mountain bike, when you get more practiced and advanced i will be wanting to do more serious stuff for sure.

I like the idea of a cheap one as a hobby car. A quick check on autotrader shows a few discoverys and freelanders available for under £1500 having a range of mileage anywhere upto 170k. Can anyone point me in the direction of a buyers guide to cheap used landrovers or give me any specific advice please?

[danlightbulb]

Avdb said:

7 seats for a real 4x4 go anywhere is going to limit your options a lot

Prob wouldn't need 7 seater if it was a 2nd car just for offroading fun. But do want something with some size. Even if I don't use it on the commute, something for the camping trips that will take bikes and stuff would be useful as well. Can't do that in a jimny. I have 2 young boys, and excited for the prospect of going on adventures as they grow up.

schmalex said:

Be careful what you wish for. My old Series 3 is currently sitting in my drive, looking rather forlorn, as I snapped the rear cross-member and the chassis in 2 places last time I went to a pay and play place. I don't particularly mind, as it's only a few quid to re-weld and it needed a new rear beam for its MOT, but I do end up breaking it quite often at P&P sites (I don't drive it particularly hard, as I'm conscious that the old girl's 31 years old).

I'm not sure I'd take my only car to a pay and play place. Greenlaning, absolutely, but not so sure about pay and play.

You guys have convinced me a single car for these things is a bad idea. However aren't these things designed for this tough stuff? Snapping chassis doesn't give me much confidence in the capabilities of these cars??

plasticpig said:

For £1500 I would forget Land Rovers. I would look at either a Suzuki Jimmy or a Jeep Cherokee (XJ). The Jimmy is tiny and not very competent on the road; but they are great fun off road.
The 4ltr Cherokee is a competent off road and is OK on the road (for a 4x4). Some of them even come with a LSD.

But Convert up above got that P reg Range Rover for £1100?

What I need to know is what car I should get, that will be <£1500, that will handle tough stuff and that won't give me a load of repair shop hassle and high bills. If I can learn how to repair things myself, great, if I need fancy tools and workshops to get repairs done I won't be able to do that.

[danlightbulb]

Ayahuasca said:

Land Rover Defender.

Too expensive. Cars nearly as old as I am are still up for £4k/£5k.

[danlightbulb]

Im sure they are worth it, but I don't have that amount of money available for this hobby.

Plus, don't defenders just have benches in the back as opposed to proper seats with seatbelts? No good for my kids if thats the configuration.

[danlightbulb]

Yeah i could have spent 10k on a family car but not on a 2nd hobby car. Max 1500.thanks to the poster above for that detailed write up of some options. Will have a look for the jeep.

[danlightbulb]

Ayahuasca said:

Meh. I use my only car - a Defender- on 'play days' as well as commutes.

I guess you don't have a long motorway commute?


Regarding maintenance. As I mentioned, I like the idea of learning to do stuff myself. In fact, if this is going to be doable at minimum cost to me, I will want to learn how to do a great deal of stuff myself. What sorts of things are we talking about when we are talking of maintenance or repairs? My experience with car mechanics is that generally I know how things work and what things are for, but I have never had a spanner to a car, ever, save for a wheel wrench, changing a battery and changing spark plugs.


Also the only Jeep Cherokees available seem to the be 2.5 litre TD's, mostly. Ive not seen a 4 litre straight 6. Is it just a case of watching and waiting, or are those engines very rare? Is it a 4 litre diesel or petrol?


There are a few grand cherokees around, 4 litre engines. Are these any good?

Also a few grand cherokees in V6 or V8, and some with LPG conversions. Are these ok?

Whats the max mileage I should look at, no matter how cheap. If a V8 lpg had done 212k miles, is this a no go?

Edited by danlightbulb on Saturday 27th June 21:59

Edited by danlightbulb on Saturday 27th June 22:16

[danlightbulb]

I really like the look of the jeep cherokees / grand cherokees now Ive been researching them a bit.

Would like some discussion of my questions in the post just above.

1. Maintenance - what sorts of things are maintainable for a beginner? Im not stupid but neither do I have any mechanics experience, nor any significant toolbox, nor a ramp / workshop. Id be starting from scratch on all of that stuff.

2. Cherokee or grand cherokee - are they both capable? There seems to be more grand cherokees around.

3. The 4 litre straight six - only engine I should be considering or what about the V6s or V8s?

4. LPG conversions - many have this - yes or no?

5. Maximum mileage I should be considering? There's a few approaching 200k - no go?

6. They all seem to be autos? Is this ok?

Many thanks

[danlightbulb]

Thanks for that detail, really helpful.

so there are a handful of jeep cherokees 4 litres pre 2000 around on autotrader and ebay. Some in budget some not. All of them are autos and most of them seem to be the 'limited' model. Whats this mean?

Is an L reg ok or too old?

[danlightbulb]

Seen a few on ebay now. Couple around the £1500 mark and a couple of low mileage ones up at the £3k mark. Overpriced?

Also, is it big enough? Ive seen a men and motors review on you tube and the guy could barely get into the back. Surprising as it looks huge.


Not a 98 model - but looks ok? Can I get an opinion please? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-JEEP-CHEROKEE-4-0-A...

Edited by danlightbulb on Sunday 28th June 11:08

[danlightbulb]

Surprising stats. I kind of like the sound of something bigger, like you see in the USA. How come the mpg is so bad if its so small?

Also a shame about the £25 a month road tax. My mondeo is about half that.

[danlightbulb]

Anyone watch the last top gear last night? They had a 4x4 feature. Hammond got an R reg Jeep Cherokee for just £250, in the 4 litre straight 6. It worked. It drove. They rolled it down a cliff and it started and drove away! They drove like idiots obviously, but the Jeep was amazing off road.

Id rather spend £250 than £1500, as I also want to learn how to maintain it and that leaves some money for parts and upgrades.

Where do I get one from for that money?

[danlightbulb]

2 I went and saw a cherokee tonight. It was in really good nick, engine was spotless and ran beautifully. Body all looked in great nick. Interior nice. Smaller inside than my mondeo though. Drove really nice. It was fitted with Lpg. am i right in thinking that as lpg is half the price of petrol that effectively makes it the same fuel costs as my 45mpg mondeo, despite the 20mpg of the jeep? Car was that good i could have had it as my daily. Not sure how it fairs at 70 on the motorway but it was lovely.

question about the 4wd system. The lever had 2wd, part time 4wd, full time 4wd, and 4wd low range. What do these different modes mean with the centre diffs? Does it have a locking centre diff?

Edited by danlightbulb on Thursday 2nd July 01:11

[danlightbulb]

im very disappointed.

just got an insurance quote from adrian flux and it was £450 a year, for only 2k miles per annum, full no claims and only 3rd party f&t. I pay that for my main car on 10k per year and fully comp. From what i have read on these and other forums a limited use 4x4 policy should be 150/200 a year. I cant afford that kind of running cost for a hobby offroader. Really disappointed.

Edited by danlightbulb on Thursday 2nd July 13:49

[danlightbulb]

Adrian flux is supposed to be specialist 4x4 policy. I had an expectation of 200 a year based on what other people have said their policies cost. Direct line quote was 900!! For an £800 18 year old car doing 2k a year. Complete joke. Its not the car thats the blocker is the f-ing insurance.

[danlightbulb]

Trying Lancaster now.

I put all the details into go compare. Best price was £525. The thing is though thats its making no difference whether I select 10,000 miles per year or £1000, so I'm getting no discount for limited mileage. Just doesn't make sense.


Edit - Lancaster insurance - £3,000 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reason - car too young to be included on their specialist policies. So because I'm already using my no claims bonus on my main car policy, which I'll be keeping, then I can't mirror that no claims bonus on this 2nd car.

This is a fking joke. Sorry for the language but it is a total total fking joke.

Edited by danlightbulb on Thursday 2nd July 19:12