advice needed please. 4x4 wanted

[clairesteven]

hi i need to get a 4wd for my new job and fancy a honda CRV. i currently have a SAAB 9-3 convertible but need to sell. i just want to know which 4wd will be cheapish to insure and not to heavy on petrol. am on a budget of about 2000 pounds. Thanks in advance, Claire

[soad]

Manual or auto? Or you don't mind? There's some diesel engined ones too, i guess.

Toyota Rav4 falls into your category i think.

[OnTheOverrun]

Do you need or want a 4wd? Is it for off-roading/towing or do you just fancy one? No criticism if you just want one instead of needing it, but it will change what people recommend.

[clairesteven]

hi i need it as where i will be working i have no chance of getting to in the winter with my saab. also sorry i forgot to say it needs to be automatic. thanks again

[crofty1984]

LPG'd jeep grand cherokee?

[OnTheOverrun]

clairesteven said:

hi i need it as where i will be working i have no chance of getting to in the winter with my saab. also sorry i forgot to say it needs to be automatic. thanks again

OK, so 4wd for bad weather but no heavy off-roading or towing?

I'd probably look at a Subaru Forester, something like this:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

If you then fit a set of good all-season tyres like Vredestein Quatrac 3 you can leave the same tyres on all year and it will be pretty unstoppable in snow and ice.

[clairesteven]

yes just for snow and ice really. thank you for suggestion. that looks quite good. any other ideas?

[OnTheOverrun]

Honda CRV's are OK but my BiL never got more than 20mpg out of his 2.0 petrol auto, Toyota Rav4 again is OK but hard ride and seats IMHO. Freelanders at your price are not overly reliable. Overall and if it was my money, a decent Forester would be my choice.

[jagracer]

clairesteven said:

yes just for snow and ice really. thank you for suggestion. that looks quite good. any other ideas?

You'll still need a decent set of snow tyres on a 4X4 or it'll be no better than the Saab, in fact why not buy a set of proper mud and snow tyres for the Saab?

[edo]

TYRES TYRES TYRES. Look at other European countries, they all do fine with FWD or RWD because they put winter tyres on.

Also look at Quattro Audi's or other 4WD cars - doesn't sound like you need the daily compromise of an off-roader.

[edo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drOtBWhGxks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGfvyPtYR0Y&fea...

Edited by edo on Sunday 23 May 16:01

[clairesteven]

that video is interesting. i will think about tyres thanks

[OnTheOverrun]

edo said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drOtBWhGxks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGfvyPtYR0Y&fea...

Edited by edo on Sunday 23 May 16:01

That's why I suggested Quatrac 3 - they are the only all-season tyre I now approved by the TUV as a full winter tyre, but which can be left on all year round. I have them on my Doblo and they were 95% as good as the Michelin Alpins a ran on a Chrysler Voyager in Switzerland with the bonus of no swapping around amking them ideal for the UK.

Mind you, the first video would've been more convincing if it hadn't been a huge V8 coupe with vast tyres on the back versus a little low-powered one series!