what cheap (Max £2k) 4x4 that's is reliable?
Discussion
I quite fancy a 4X4 for the winter, for no other reason that I have never owned one before and just fancy a change...
So the criteria is...
Reliable, I don't want something like a Range Rover where they just give big and frequent bills
Age unimportant, but I don't want to spend more than £2k
Fuel consumption - going to be very low miles, so big engines and automatics are OK
So the criteria is...
Reliable, I don't want something like a Range Rover where they just give big and frequent bills
Age unimportant, but I don't want to spend more than £2k
Fuel consumption - going to be very low miles, so big engines and automatics are OK
The temptation is to say Japanese, but at that budget you're looking at a proper shed and when Jap stuff breaks, its usually terminally expensive to fix. We have a sheddy Pajero at my local airfield and it is awful in many many ways.
If economy is not important, then £2k buys a lot of Jeep Cherokee or grand Cherokee, in either 6cyl or v8 flavour. There isnt much to go wrong with them either. Avoid the boat-anchor powered diesel ones though.
If economy is not important, then £2k buys a lot of Jeep Cherokee or grand Cherokee, in either 6cyl or v8 flavour. There isnt much to go wrong with them either. Avoid the boat-anchor powered diesel ones though.
buzzer said:
Just been looking.... that fits the bill!. So what does go wrong with these?
I'm no expert, but I think the main things to check for on Cherokee's are the leaf springs to make sure they're not rusted together and I seem to remember the chassis can be quite prone to rusting. The Grand Cherokee's are pretty bulletproof aside from checking the electricals all work iirc
They are both great cars and if fuel isn't an issue, then go for it. They are amazingly capable off road
I bought a 1998 Cherokee on LPG last October, just for Winter.....still got it, and often jump into it in preference to my Jag.
Did 200 mile round trip in it yesterday in fact.
Early ones appear to rust, later ones (I think 1997 to 2001) are a bit better, and a slight facelift. Noisy diffs appear in the things to look for dept, but there are lots about.
If you go LPG (and there are always LPG jeeps for sale) running costs are fine. The trip computer shows 18MPG on average, (Its in US gallons, so 21 ish in Imperial)
In comparison for winter wheels I've had an old Pajero Diesel (everything still worked, but painfully slow). Range Rover Classic, by far the best, but always something wrong, or about to go wrong. I have 2 friends with well maintained P38 Range Rovers, wonderful cars when everything is working....which isn't very often. The Jeep is great, looks nice, bit bouncy, reasonably comfortable. A bit lively in the back end dept in the Snow, but I think thats more down to my driving than the car.
I think the Grand Cherokee is on springs at the rear, so probably a nicer drive, but also check the 4WD system, I believe 2 sorts were available on the GC, one being a slightly cut down option, no diff locks etc.
Did 200 mile round trip in it yesterday in fact.
Early ones appear to rust, later ones (I think 1997 to 2001) are a bit better, and a slight facelift. Noisy diffs appear in the things to look for dept, but there are lots about.
If you go LPG (and there are always LPG jeeps for sale) running costs are fine. The trip computer shows 18MPG on average, (Its in US gallons, so 21 ish in Imperial)
In comparison for winter wheels I've had an old Pajero Diesel (everything still worked, but painfully slow). Range Rover Classic, by far the best, but always something wrong, or about to go wrong. I have 2 friends with well maintained P38 Range Rovers, wonderful cars when everything is working....which isn't very often. The Jeep is great, looks nice, bit bouncy, reasonably comfortable. A bit lively in the back end dept in the Snow, but I think thats more down to my driving than the car.
I think the Grand Cherokee is on springs at the rear, so probably a nicer drive, but also check the 4WD system, I believe 2 sorts were available on the GC, one being a slightly cut down option, no diff locks etc.
I bought a Ford Maverick 1996 about 3 years ago for when the weather is bad and so far not needed to use it although every time it snowed I went out in it but wasnt the fun I was expecting as it coped so well. Had to put a stereo in it and it took a few days to work out how to get the Ford amp working as I couldnt get any wiring diagrams and gthe last stereo had been cut out. Its a 2.4 petrol SWB so I was expecting rubbish MPG but its not that bad and more than enough power to go over most things. Put a tow bar on it but havnt had anything to tow.
The big concern when buying one is knowing if the 4x4 works as most 4x4`s have a tendancey not to be used in 4x4 and then when needed it doesnt work so I ended up armed with jacks to check.
use it mostly for going to the tip owes me nothing so not bad.
Cherokees have a problem with head gaskets as I had a look at a few but other than that not so bad, Nissan Terrano (Mavereck) LWB in diesel around 2000 - 2001 should be in budget.
The big concern when buying one is knowing if the 4x4 works as most 4x4`s have a tendancey not to be used in 4x4 and then when needed it doesnt work so I ended up armed with jacks to check.
use it mostly for going to the tip owes me nothing so not bad.
Cherokees have a problem with head gaskets as I had a look at a few but other than that not so bad, Nissan Terrano (Mavereck) LWB in diesel around 2000 - 2001 should be in budget.
Subaru Forester XT. Utterly magnificent in every way 
Identical to mine and shouldn't be more than 2k
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Subaru-Forrester-XT-Turb...
Probably the best one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUBARU-FORESTER-XT-Turbo...
Identical to mine and shouldn't be more than 2k
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Subaru-Forrester-XT-Turb...
Probably the best one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUBARU-FORESTER-XT-Turbo...
Edited by Ved on Sunday 29th September 18:29
I could be wrong but I think it's the early diesel Jeeps that have head gasket issues, the 4L petrol has a great reputation.
I also looked at the old shape Maverick, and would have bought one had my offer been accepted ! The diesels have the 2.7 Nissan Engine as fitted to black cabs.
I fell for the chunky looks of the Jeep, and the reasonable amount of toys it had....but suspect the Maverick is a good choice.
I also looked at the old shape Maverick, and would have bought one had my offer been accepted ! The diesels have the 2.7 Nissan Engine as fitted to black cabs.
I fell for the chunky looks of the Jeep, and the reasonable amount of toys it had....but suspect the Maverick is a good choice.
I bought my LPG Grand Cherokee about 5 years ago for £850 and it has done sterling service since.
It's towed all over Europe and up and down the UK many times and has cost very little in that time.
I've put on a front set of discs, pads and calipers, a couple of tyres and a new battery.
It could do with a couple of ball joints and a CV joint and the diffs whine a bit, but that is just "character".
I'd definitely recommend one.
It's towed all over Europe and up and down the UK many times and has cost very little in that time.
I've put on a front set of discs, pads and calipers, a couple of tyres and a new battery.
It could do with a couple of ball joints and a CV joint and the diffs whine a bit, but that is just "character".
I'd definitely recommend one.
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