Cheap SUV/4x4 wanted
Discussion
I’d like to get myself an inexpensive 4x4, say up to about £3k, for mostly on-road, but also some off-road driving. I have been thinking Rav4, Grand Vitara, Freelander kind of thing, so middle ground SUV type, rather than a 4wd car or hard core off roader.
It will be used for my commute, which partly consists of some pretty mucky (in the winter), narrow country lanes, as well as some A and B roads, so it needs to have fairly decent road manners. Work are never likely to give me a company 4x4, so it will also be used for hacking around the countryside to various work sites, which are generally miles out in the middle of nowhere, often only accessible along farm tracks and across fields, so some reasonable abilities when it comes to the rough stuff would be useful.
It won't be pampered, it'll rarely get cleaned, it'll have work gear strewn all over the inside, but it should be a half decent place to sit, in a modicum of comfort, decent stereo and hopefully a/c. Doing 40-50 miles per day commute, plus business miles it doesn't need to be super frugal, but equally I don't want a serious gas guzzler.
For my limited budget I’m fully expecting to be in older model/higher mileage territory. So which ones are worth considering and which should be ignored? Of the three I mentioned I’m guessing the Jap stuff has the potential to be more reliable? I did think about a Jimny, but I reckon it would be just a little too small for me.
It will be used for my commute, which partly consists of some pretty mucky (in the winter), narrow country lanes, as well as some A and B roads, so it needs to have fairly decent road manners. Work are never likely to give me a company 4x4, so it will also be used for hacking around the countryside to various work sites, which are generally miles out in the middle of nowhere, often only accessible along farm tracks and across fields, so some reasonable abilities when it comes to the rough stuff would be useful.
It won't be pampered, it'll rarely get cleaned, it'll have work gear strewn all over the inside, but it should be a half decent place to sit, in a modicum of comfort, decent stereo and hopefully a/c. Doing 40-50 miles per day commute, plus business miles it doesn't need to be super frugal, but equally I don't want a serious gas guzzler.
For my limited budget I’m fully expecting to be in older model/higher mileage territory. So which ones are worth considering and which should be ignored? Of the three I mentioned I’m guessing the Jap stuff has the potential to be more reliable? I did think about a Jimny, but I reckon it would be just a little too small for me.
Considered a Merc ML? Mate of mine in rural North wales has similar use pattern to you, he had a Freelander which he hated due to unreliability, replaced it with an old Merc ML and it's been brilliant. Think it's an ML270 or 320 CDI.
Very comfy and very nice drive on the road. Decent in moderate rough stuff.
The other thing on his short list when shopping was, was, wait for it....SsangYong Rexton. Brilliant value, and the diesels are Merc engines. Left field, but well regarded up in North Wales. KIA Sorento/Sportage and Hyundai Santa Fe/Tucson maybe worth a look also.
Very comfy and very nice drive on the road. Decent in moderate rough stuff.
The other thing on his short list when shopping was, was, wait for it....SsangYong Rexton. Brilliant value, and the diesels are Merc engines. Left field, but well regarded up in North Wales. KIA Sorento/Sportage and Hyundai Santa Fe/Tucson maybe worth a look also.
Discovery 3's can be had at this money and, while sorely tempting, be prepared for large bills. I see enough of them thundering up and down the motorway so I assume they're good steer and Top Gear took one to the top of a mountain so seem to be utterly dependable off-road too.
Rav4 is a good shout. I have a soft spot for the Frontera too. The Olympus models come with some nice features but I couldn't tell you what their driving experience is like
Rav4 is a good shout. I have a soft spot for the Frontera too. The Olympus models come with some nice features but I couldn't tell you what their driving experience is like
pstruck said:
I’d like to get myself an inexpensive 4x4, say up to about £3k, for mostly on-road, but also some off-road driving. I have been thinking Rav4, Grand Vitara, Freelander kind of thing, so middle ground SUV type, rather than a 4wd car or hard core off roader.
It will be used for my commute, which partly consists of some pretty mucky (in the winter), narrow country lanes, as well as some A and B roads, so it needs to have fairly decent road manners. Work are never likely to give me a company 4x4, so it will also be used for hacking around the countryside to various work sites, which are generally miles out in the middle of nowhere, often only accessible along farm tracks and across fields, so some reasonable abilities when it comes to the rough stuff would be useful.
It won't be pampered, it'll rarely get cleaned, it'll have work gear strewn all over the inside, but it should be a half decent place to sit, in a modicum of comfort, decent stereo and hopefully a/c. Doing 40-50 miles per day commute, plus business miles it doesn't need to be super frugal, but equally I don't want a serious gas guzzler.
For my limited budget I’m fully expecting to be in older model/higher mileage territory. So which ones are worth considering and which should be ignored? Of the three I mentioned I’m guessing the Jap stuff has the potential to be more reliable? I did think about a Jimny, but I reckon it would be just a little too small for me.
Freelanders are good vehicles and capable. Drive very car-like in many ways. And can do some off roading too. The Rav4 is the least off roady of the ones you've have listed.It will be used for my commute, which partly consists of some pretty mucky (in the winter), narrow country lanes, as well as some A and B roads, so it needs to have fairly decent road manners. Work are never likely to give me a company 4x4, so it will also be used for hacking around the countryside to various work sites, which are generally miles out in the middle of nowhere, often only accessible along farm tracks and across fields, so some reasonable abilities when it comes to the rough stuff would be useful.
It won't be pampered, it'll rarely get cleaned, it'll have work gear strewn all over the inside, but it should be a half decent place to sit, in a modicum of comfort, decent stereo and hopefully a/c. Doing 40-50 miles per day commute, plus business miles it doesn't need to be super frugal, but equally I don't want a serious gas guzzler.
For my limited budget I’m fully expecting to be in older model/higher mileage territory. So which ones are worth considering and which should be ignored? Of the three I mentioned I’m guessing the Jap stuff has the potential to be more reliable? I did think about a Jimny, but I reckon it would be just a little too small for me.
If you want a bit more 4x4 biased. Then have a look at the Jeep Cherokee (KJ variant from 2002 onwards). They are IFS and live rear axle and will feel more like a 4x4 to drive.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Cherokee Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Kia Sorento
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Mercedes ML270
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Cherokee Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Kia Sorento
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Mercedes ML270
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
300bhp/ton said:
Freelanders are good vehicles and capable. Drive very car-like in many ways. And can do some off roading too. The Rav4 is the least off roady of the ones you've have listed.
If you want a bit more 4x4 biased. Then have a look at the Jeep Cherokee (KJ variant from 2002 onwards). They are IFS and live rear axle and will feel more like a 4x4 to drive.
I have to disagree with you on JC. I drove one for 24 hours, and honestly, it was the worst car I have ever driven. Gutless (2.4d) crashy, switchgear arranged by a blunderbuss, badly made, 18mg average. A hateful car.If you want a bit more 4x4 biased. Then have a look at the Jeep Cherokee (KJ variant from 2002 onwards). They are IFS and live rear axle and will feel more like a 4x4 to drive.
S had a 2004 Rav 4, it was nice, reliable, comfy (her having to replace the ECU aside) but also very poor on fuel.
What about an x-trail? It ain't pretty, but I'd bet it'd outlive the apocalypse!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:
I have to disagree with you on JC. I drove one for 24 hours, and honestly, it was the worst car I have ever driven. Gutless (2.4d) crashy, switchgear arranged by a blunderbuss, badly made, 18mg average. A hateful car.
S had a 2004 Rav 4, it was nice, reliable, comfy (her having to replace the ECU aside) but also very poor on fuel.
What about an x-trail? It ain't pretty, but I'd bet it'd outlive the apocalypse!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
18mpg, eek! Sounds like something was very wrong with it. Or a miscalculation. Really shouldn’t have been riding badly either. S had a 2004 Rav 4, it was nice, reliable, comfy (her having to replace the ECU aside) but also very poor on fuel.
What about an x-trail? It ain't pretty, but I'd bet it'd outlive the apocalypse!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
300bhp/ton said:
18mpg, eek! Sounds like something was very wrong with it. Or a miscalculation. Really shouldn’t have been riding badly either.
It was a trade in at a dealer I then worked at, so anythings possible, that was off the trip computer. Mind, as eluded above, S's Rav (2 litre petrol auto) was scarcely better, that was on an average of 24. Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:
It was a trade in at a dealer I then worked at, so anythings possible, that was off the trip computer. Mind, as eluded above, S's Rav (2 litre petrol auto) was scarcely better, that was on an average of 24.
Right. So a trip read out on a trade in. Hardly representative of real world mpg. It might have been sat for hour ticking over charging the battery up before you eyeballed the trip. TBH all of your choices are fine. And almost any 4x4/crossover/softroader/SUV is pretty good these days.
All can and will have things that can go wrong, especially at this end of the market.
I'd say the biggest balance is between on and off road ability, spec and parts availability.
Freelander 1's for instance. Something will undoubtedly go wrong with them. But parts supply is great and lots of places specialising in Land Rover's in the UK. Making them for the most part quite easy vehicles to live with.
The biggest issue is the centre viscous coupling failing and being left, which in turn will damage the IRD (the transfer box) and maybe the rear diff.
I've been running about in this one since the beginning of the year. It's a BMW powered Td4 manual. It isn't perfect. The alternator has just started playing, the gearstick wobbles a bit and there is a clonk from the front suspension.
The alternator is BMW supplied, as is the Getrag gearbox. The wobble on the gearstick is nothing to worry about and there is an aftermarket bush for £25 that solves this. It probably needs a new alternator though. But to be fair, it has got just over 194,000 miles on it. So really can't complain.
The trade off, it is actually quite fun to drive and comfortable. And in 3 door guise is fun being able to lift the rear roof off and lift out some of the glass windows.
All can and will have things that can go wrong, especially at this end of the market.
I'd say the biggest balance is between on and off road ability, spec and parts availability.
Freelander 1's for instance. Something will undoubtedly go wrong with them. But parts supply is great and lots of places specialising in Land Rover's in the UK. Making them for the most part quite easy vehicles to live with.
The biggest issue is the centre viscous coupling failing and being left, which in turn will damage the IRD (the transfer box) and maybe the rear diff.
I've been running about in this one since the beginning of the year. It's a BMW powered Td4 manual. It isn't perfect. The alternator has just started playing, the gearstick wobbles a bit and there is a clonk from the front suspension.
The alternator is BMW supplied, as is the Getrag gearbox. The wobble on the gearstick is nothing to worry about and there is an aftermarket bush for £25 that solves this. It probably needs a new alternator though. But to be fair, it has got just over 194,000 miles on it. So really can't complain.
The trade off, it is actually quite fun to drive and comfortable. And in 3 door guise is fun being able to lift the rear roof off and lift out some of the glass windows.
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