Best cheap competent 4x4
Discussion
What is going to be the best *competent* 4x4 out there?
Non of this haldex/split when losing power rubbish etc., a proper 4x4 that's also nice(ish) to drive and own for the rest of the year (so no defenders, wranglers etc.).
As I read it L/R Rovers are unreliable and potentially ruinous to run.
I'm guessing Landcruisers will be pretty good but a bit "rudimentary", looking at something relatively "luxurious" for the rest of the year.
I can't see anything that beats a Jeep Grand Cherokee, are they reliable though? Petrol/Diesel?
Talking about £5k or so.
Not *seriously* considering it (yet) but the wife is a doc stranded at home and we live in a village out in the countryside. I would be driving it day to day but as I work from home a lot, we'll swap so she can get in on dodgy days. Also, if kids come along, we'd need something practical (I have bad back so need something easy to get in/out, load with kids stuff/seats etc.
Altho not high ground clearance, we are also considering something like a Legacy.
Non of this haldex/split when losing power rubbish etc., a proper 4x4 that's also nice(ish) to drive and own for the rest of the year (so no defenders, wranglers etc.).
As I read it L/R Rovers are unreliable and potentially ruinous to run.
I'm guessing Landcruisers will be pretty good but a bit "rudimentary", looking at something relatively "luxurious" for the rest of the year.
I can't see anything that beats a Jeep Grand Cherokee, are they reliable though? Petrol/Diesel?
Talking about £5k or so.
Not *seriously* considering it (yet) but the wife is a doc stranded at home and we live in a village out in the countryside. I would be driving it day to day but as I work from home a lot, we'll swap so she can get in on dodgy days. Also, if kids come along, we'd need something practical (I have bad back so need something easy to get in/out, load with kids stuff/seats etc.
Altho not high ground clearance, we are also considering something like a Legacy.
Dracoro said:
Altho not high ground clearance, we are also considering something like a Legacy.
Reading your post, I was thinking that a Legacy Outback sounds just the ticket.... then I got to the last line and saw you'd already thought of that!http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2278329.htm
ETA: Or one of these?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2242148.htm
Edited by TheGreatSoprendo on Thursday 2nd December 09:44
I wanted a Defender but they are bloody expensive, so I bought a cheap Daihatsu Fourtrak off eBay. It's got a billion miles on it but apart from rust it's been well looked after and they are bloody well built.
Haven't tested the 4x4 capabilities to any extremes but they're usually bought by farmers so that's a good endorsement to me. So far it's been brilliant on the ice and snow and it was a great laugh to bounce around in over summer.
It was only supposed to be a workhorse but it's really won me over
Haven't tested the 4x4 capabilities to any extremes but they're usually bought by farmers so that's a good endorsement to me. So far it's been brilliant on the ice and snow and it was a great laugh to bounce around in over summer.
It was only supposed to be a workhorse but it's really won me over
for 5k you should get a pretty nice cherokee, I have had two, both been utterly reliable. My xj lived outside in temps of 35c to -40c and it never failed to start. my current kj has never let me down either, fine in the snow and has been across the occasional muddy field. Ours is a 3.7 petrol auto and its a very relaxing drive albeit a bit thirsty.
Last week I picked up a forester which is fine too, cant comment on the reliability issues yet, but its a pretty comfortable place to be and a bit more car like. My wife prefers the jeep
Last week I picked up a forester which is fine too, cant comment on the reliability issues yet, but its a pretty comfortable place to be and a bit more car like. My wife prefers the jeep
Legacy or Forester for that matter would doubtlessly do everything that you ask of them. Unless you're going seriously off-road, I can't imagine you would overwhelm them in any way. Forester is slightly more 'off-road' IMO.
Jeep Grand Cherokee is a very comfy beast. Can have the odd electrical niggle. If you can stretch the budget a little, i'd try and get a 2005 onwards model (revised shape) with the 3.0 v6 Merc Diesel.
Great engine, great car.
Earlier ones are still supremely capable though.
Jeep Grand Cherokee is a very comfy beast. Can have the odd electrical niggle. If you can stretch the budget a little, i'd try and get a 2005 onwards model (revised shape) with the 3.0 v6 Merc Diesel.
Great engine, great car.
Earlier ones are still supremely capable though.
Countryside doc in Scotland here, last week bought Legacy saloon and fitted winter tyres, astonishingly competent, saves people crashing into R35 GTR which would make me cry a lot. Paid just over £5k for 35000 miles, 53 plate, 3.0R Auto, very clean with a spare set of wheels. Very comfortable and refined too. 25mpg mixed use.
Honestly, You aint going to find a cheap 4x4 at the moment. and if you do it will be royally f*cked.
this is the worst time possible to buy 4x4, as sellers will know only the desperate would want to buy one now. and lets face it, with private sellers, who on earth would want to sell a 4x4 at the moment!!!
this is the worst time possible to buy 4x4, as sellers will know only the desperate would want to buy one now. and lets face it, with private sellers, who on earth would want to sell a 4x4 at the moment!!!
The answer to the question is XC70 / scout or yeti / allroad / forester or perhaps a (none K series) Freelander or for the comedy vote a panda 4*4 or the weeny subaru if you are not prepared to put up with proper off roader complication and compromises , to repeat an increasing PH mantra Pistonheads : tyres matter!
I've seen tricked out (imo inferior) proper 4*4s struggle with 'road' tyres where some thing with winter or decent AT tyres has flown up
The issue can be different things - i've driven a nissan pathfinder on the OEM road tyres around a motorcross track with no hassles but i've seen people get it 'stuck' on wet grass even in 4*4 by injudicidous use of the loud pedal
I've seen tricked out (imo inferior) proper 4*4s struggle with 'road' tyres where some thing with winter or decent AT tyres has flown up
The issue can be different things - i've driven a nissan pathfinder on the OEM road tyres around a motorcross track with no hassles but i've seen people get it 'stuck' on wet grass even in 4*4 by injudicidous use of the loud pedal
If you want something to run around in that is extremely competent off-road then you could a lot worse than a Suzuki Jimny. They're not fast by any stretch of the imagination and I wouldn't want to do massive distances in one, but, they have a ladder chassis and a proper 2/4/low transfer box. Most of the time you'll just drive it as 2/RWD. Mrs. SB loves hers.
TheGreatSoprendo said:
wow!!!Efbe said:
Honestly, You aint going to find a cheap 4x4 at the moment. and if you do it will be royally f*cked.
this is the worst time possible to buy 4x4, as sellers will know only the desperate would want to buy one now. and lets face it, with private sellers, who on earth would want to sell a 4x4 at the moment!!!
£500 discos are going for silly money on fleabaythis is the worst time possible to buy 4x4, as sellers will know only the desperate would want to buy one now. and lets face it, with private sellers, who on earth would want to sell a 4x4 at the moment!!!
Which is a bugger as i want a MOT failure V8 one
thinfourth2 said:
Efbe said:
Honestly, You aint going to find a cheap 4x4 at the moment. and if you do it will be royally f*cked.
this is the worst time possible to buy 4x4, as sellers will know only the desperate would want to buy one now. and lets face it, with private sellers, who on earth would want to sell a 4x4 at the moment!!!
£500 discos are going for silly money on fleabaythis is the worst time possible to buy 4x4, as sellers will know only the desperate would want to buy one now. and lets face it, with private sellers, who on earth would want to sell a 4x4 at the moment!!!
Which is a bugger as i want a MOT failure V8 one
An early Jaguar X-Type 3.0 Manual
Permanent AWD (60% of torque to rear)
Full leathers and all the toys
0-60 in 6.6 seconds
Saw one in the local paper recently for £1500.
ETA: Snow performance is one of it's strong points! (see advert below)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hu4iHYVkdw&fea...
Permanent AWD (60% of torque to rear)
Full leathers and all the toys
0-60 in 6.6 seconds
Saw one in the local paper recently for £1500.
ETA: Snow performance is one of it's strong points! (see advert below)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hu4iHYVkdw&fea...
Edited by FreeLitres on Thursday 2nd December 10:20
TheGreatSoprendo said:
I actually quite fancy one of those. A bit of 
would get you something like this.
sawman said:
for 5k you should get a pretty nice cherokee, I have had two, both been utterly reliable. My xj lived outside in temps of 35c to -40c and it never failed to start. my current kj has never let me down either, fine in the snow and has been across the occasional muddy field. Ours is a 3.7 petrol auto and its a very relaxing drive albeit a bit thirsty.
Last week I picked up a forester which is fine too, cant comment on the reliability issues yet, but its a pretty comfortable place to be and a bit more car like. My wife prefers the jeep
I've got a 2000 Cherokee 4.0 and it's been utterly reliable. They're also incredibly cheap (I doubt mine is worth more than a few grand and it's on < 50k miles!).Last week I picked up a forester which is fine too, cant comment on the reliability issues yet, but its a pretty comfortable place to be and a bit more car like. My wife prefers the jeep
Thirsty though.
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