Advice 4x4 owners in Scotland

[Tubby2]

My parents are currently searching for a 4x4 for the winter and I'm trying to make sure they don't end up with a dog. Doing my research and my parents have a soft spot for the KIA Sportage. Im not so convinced due to it being a KIA. Did anyone have one up here during the bad weather and if so, how did it cope?

They need reasonable mpg, insurance group. The car isnt going to be off roading, just something that stands a chance in the snow!
Thanks for your responses/advice.

Caroline

[LHD]

Ahem...

[jshell]

LHD said:

Ahem...

[Tubby2]

I thought of you, lovely, but they don't want a land rover, too far out of their price range!!!

[Uncle Gueber]

Any 4wd system should be capable under normal conditions. Unless they're going to be driving down country lanes and trying to plough through drifts up to the bonnet, the tyre choice will be more important.

Make sure it’s shod with some decent Mud & Snow rated tyres. By decent, best to read a few reviews as performance can vary hugely.

[LHD]

Tubby2 said:

I thought of you, lovely, but they don't want a land rover, too far out of their price range!!!

If you want some unbiased opinion then ping me an email.

[Mattymouse33]

Tubby2 said:

My parents are currently searching for a 4x4 for the winter and I'm trying to make sure they don't end up with a dog. Doing my research and my parents have a soft spot for the KIA Sportage. Im not so convinced due to it being a KIA. Did anyone have one up here during the bad weather and if so, how did it cope?

They need reasonable mpg, insurance group. The car isnt going to be off roading, just something that stands a chance in the snow!
Thanks for your responses/advice.

Caroline

Ive had a few, 53 Kia Sorento, 06 RR Vogue, 95 Disco V8, rare F-Reg SWB Petrol Shogun. One thing i would say is all are fab and do the job unless you have big stupid 22" alloys like i had on the Vogue (burst tyres, cracked wheels etc), the Vogue was also ridiculous on fuel, really really ridiculous, and the Disco. The Sorento is good value for money and MPG is not bad.

[rash_decision]

I had a Sportage last year, it was fantasic! Proper 4wd system. I deliberately went places that I thought I would be stuck in, but I wasn't.

Mine was a 2000 model, not sure what age your folks are looking at?

[Sandy59]

If you're not going offroad, a 4x4 is not really needed for driving in snow IMO.
My A class Merc with winter tyres easily outperformed a friends Q7 with summer tyres last year in snow, they do make a big difference.
If you must get a 4x4 then make sure you do put winter tyres on to get the full benefit.

[SSC!]

Sandy59 said:

If you're not going offroad, a 4x4 is not really needed for driving in snow IMO.
My A class Merc with winter tyres easily outperformed a friends Q7 with summer tyres last year in snow, they do make a big difference.
If you must get a 4x4 then make sure you do put winter tyres on to get the full benefit.

Good advice there Caroline. My friends run a VW Touran and live uphill from me, I never see them struggle in the bad weather. Get the right tyres and you are set.... unless ofcourse you also plan on towing and need something with a bit of guts.

I was in getting tyres this week and the dude is handing out advice that if you require winter tyres... get them now!! Even if they have to sit in the garage till the snow comes at least you have them. I think they are anticipating stock troubles this year.

[Shandy81]

If they don't need to go offroad, then a Subaru will be a spot on option for them.

[ViperPict]

I have a Ford Kuga and it provides a good balance between driving on the road and all-weather/'soft-road' ability. I've taken it up some pretty ropey 'land-rover' tracks and it coped very well. And on A-class roads it can give a genuine 45mpg. Bit less on the motorway - sweet spot for mpg is about 60mph in 6th.

[Jayho]

Shandy81 said:

If they don't need to go offroad, then a Subaru will be a spot on option for them.

Ahem.... Neglecting the part about good fuel consumption and good insurance? Even on the basic GX Model with the 2l engine is very thirsty.

If its 4x4 they're after which can get them from A to B then a Kia would be fine (IMO). If they're constant 4WD and have good winter tyres on you'll get anywhere on the roads.

O/T I am getting worried about the amount of talk around my office and some of my friends wishing to purchase winter tyres but are only willing to fork out for two front ones... I tried to tell them that for full effect they should go for all four, but they wont listen. Apparently "Daddy knows best"

[Aidayboy]

Hi, would honestly recommend anything with a quattro system, I had a TT in deep snow and it was fantastic, also had an ML at the time which was also fantastic but if they dont need a large 4x4 why not look at an A3 or A4 or maybe even a golf or passat with 4Motion?

[dycecooper]

Im about to sell my RAV4

[downthepub]

Guess it comes down to what snowy roads that they'll be driving on. If it's deep, uncleared, snow then extra ground clearance is your friend. If they are in the 'urbs and want a bit of stability especially when braking, then winter tyres are a better option.

[jith]

Tubby2 said:

My parents are currently searching for a 4x4 for the winter and I'm trying to make sure they don't end up with a dog. Doing my research and my parents have a soft spot for the KIA Sportage. Im not so convinced due to it being a KIA. Did anyone have one up here during the bad weather and if so, how did it cope?

They need reasonable mpg, insurance group. The car isnt going to be off roading, just something that stands a chance in the snow!
Thanks for your responses/advice.

Caroline

After many years of working on them, the two best 4x4s anywhere are the Toyota RAV4, particularly the early one, or the Honda CRV. I could include the Mercedes G wagon in here, but they fetch ludicrous prices even when really old and done. We use an early RAV as our workshop hack; great to drive, totally reliable, cheap to repair, very comfy and economical, and utterly unbeatable in the snow. The Honda is much more expensive to repair, but has great build quality and bags of room.

The two worst 4x4s ever made are the Vauxhall Frontera followed very closely by the Range Rover. Both have utterly dreadful build quality and horrendous fuel consumption.

J

[Tubby2]

Cheers for the replies guys, they are now looking at the Honda crv and the Rav 4. They nearly got the Honda on Sunday but were offered pretty poor trade ins for their two current cars. I had already told them that private is the best bet!

[LHD]

Tubby2 said:

Cheers for the replies guys, they are now looking at the Honda crv and the Rav 4. They nearly got the Honda on Sunday but were offered pretty poor trade ins for their two current cars. I had already told them that private is the best bet!

What they swapping in?

[Tubby2]

2006 Ford focus estate and ford ka.