*shudder* - Which Soft Roader?
*shudder* - Which Soft Roader?
Author
Discussion

veevee

Original Poster:

1,458 posts

181 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
I started a previous what car thread which had the requirements: £4k, 4x4, diesel, 40mpg, and not much else. I wanted an estate and had narrowed it down to either an Audi A4, Skoda Octavia, or a Renault Scenic RX4.

Seems like this was too much narrowing, and I can't find many examples of the first two, so now it seems I'm going to be forced to do what I was trying to avoid all along and buy a 'traditional' 4x4, but all of the bigger ones are probably a bit too big, and return around 30mpg. So I'm stuck with the dreaded 'soft-roader' category. Although having looked, most of them actually look reasonably competent.

List so far is:

Honda CR-V
Nissan X-Trail
Land Rover Freelander
Toyota RAV-4

I'm leaning towards the RAV-4, as it seems the most popular, and there are more to choose from than the others, but other than that, I can't find much between them. Which should I pick, or are there any that I've missed?

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

234 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
Spend 3K on a Subuaru Forester and use the 1K to make up for its thirst as the 2ltr petrol isn't the most economical

Ours is excellent and if you get the X model with the all weather pack its brilliant in winter with the proper tyres. Built like a brick outhouse and only thing that limits offroad is ground clearance.

As to the Honda CR-V diesel do budget for a new turbo as to the petrol one it used more fule then my landrover 90

aizvara

2,067 posts

197 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
Subaru Forester or the Outback for something that is just a raised estate.

big_boz

1,685 posts

237 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
Oh Dear

KaraK

13,824 posts

239 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
thinfourth2 said:
Spend 3K on a Subuaru Forester and use the 1K to make up for its thirst as the 2ltr petrol isn't the most economical

Ours is excellent and if you get the X model with the all weather pack its brilliant in winter with the proper tyres. Built like a brick outhouse and only thing that limits offroad is ground clearance.

As to the Honda CR-V diesel do budget for a new turbo as to the petrol one it used more fule then my landrover 90
^ he speaks sense, unless you are planning on doing mega miles in it of course

rob.e

2,863 posts

308 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
brand new dacia duster on pcp?

big_boz

1,685 posts

237 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
rob.e said:
brand new dacia duster on pcp?
Thats a great shout, Saw loads of them in France, they are all right

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

234 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
veevee said:
I started a previous what car thread which had the requirements: £4k, 4x4, diesel, 40mpg, and not much else.
10000miles/40mpg = 250 gallons = 1135 trs x 142 pence = 1611 pounds

veevee said:
return around 30mpg.
10000miles/30mpg = 333 gallons = 1511 Ltrs x 135 pence = 2040 pounds

So 430pounds a year difference over 10000 miles


When our Honda Accord st its turbo is was about a grand

Still want a diesel?

CraigyMc

18,369 posts

266 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
big_boz said:
rob.e said:
brand new dacia duster on pcp?
Thats a great shout, Saw loads of them in France, they are all right
You have to be on angel dust to drive one? Really?

Alriiighty then.

FunkyNige

9,821 posts

305 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
My parents have a Nissan Quashqui (?sp) which isn't massive (you get different sizes of them), they get 65 mpg from the diesel and are happy with it. Not sure if you'd get one with that engine for £4k though as their's is quite new.

Harry Flashman

21,840 posts

272 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
Skoda Yeti? Realy like these...

vrsmxtb

2,003 posts

186 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
Skoda Yeti? Realy like these...
Me too, but not for £4k!

veevee

Original Poster:

1,458 posts

181 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
thinfourth2 said:
veevee said:
I started a previous what car thread which had the requirements: £4k, 4x4, diesel, 40mpg, and not much else.
10000miles/40mpg = 250 gallons = 1135 trs x 142 pence = 1611 pounds

veevee said:
return around 30mpg.
10000miles/30mpg = 333 gallons = 1511 Ltrs x 135 pence = 2040 pounds

So 430pounds a year difference over 10000 miles


When our Honda Accord st its turbo is was about a grand

Still want a diesel?
Diesel is about 20 cents cheaper than petrol in France.

I like petrol too, in fact, I get close to zero enjoyment out of driving diesel cars, but sometimes they're the practical choice. I'm guessing there must be some reason why people buy them?

Subaru Forester seems to be the answer to every what 4x4 thread. I like them too, and Subarus were my first port of call when considering a 4x4, but I've ruled them out for a reason.

EDLT

15,421 posts

236 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
I'm not sure any of the 4x4s you've listed will really do 40mpg, unless you are going to be sitting on the motorway all the time.

How much is LPG in France?

veevee

Original Poster:

1,458 posts

181 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
They probably won't really do 40mpg, but neither will the petrol equivalents do their quoted figures either, so it doesn't matter.

Think LPG is about the same as here, half ish price, but from what I can see, people only bother to LPG cars with particularly low economy anyway, so I'd still be below 30mpg equiv.

billzeebub

3,911 posts

229 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
Forester, can't recommend it highly enough. Sensational motor

Clivey

5,684 posts

234 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
What kind of terrain are you planning to tackle? Out of the cars you mentioned, the Freelander is definitely the most capable off road. The rest are frankly disappointing.

Promised Land

5,422 posts

239 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
thinfourth2 said:
When our Honda Accord st its turbo is was about a grand

Still want a diesel?
Off topic but when my D22 Navara st it's starter motor in February it was £700!

Nothing special really, but the part was £600 and the rest labour, buried deep in the bowels of the engine so you can't reach it yourself.

veevee

Original Poster:

1,458 posts

181 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
billzeebub said:
Forester, can't recommend it highly enough. Sensational motor
We know.

Clivey said:
What kind of terrain are you planning to tackle? Out of the cars you mentioned, the Freelander is definitely the most capable off road. The rest are frankly disappointing.
Alpine/steep/snowy, but on road.

andy43

13,214 posts

284 months

Friday 16th November 2012
quotequote all
If it's on-road not off-road the Subarus are hard to beat at that price point.
Or the Rav-4 if you want something higher up.
Little chance of 40 to the gallon AND 4wd for 4 grand though imho - Subarus aren't great - my current Legacy does 27-ish, 30 on a run.
Freelander diesel might do 40 mpg, but there are alledged internet tall tales of slight reliability issues with those.