Small 4x4 winter car

[DKL]

Having just had my 944 back from a prolonged spell at the bodyshop it looks great and cost a fortune.
Consequently I now have 3 cars I don't really want to trawl through the worst of the winter weather, use them yes, but on selected decent days.

So I wondered about a cheap (sub 4.5k) small, 4x4. I'm thinking along the lines of a panda 4x4 or terios.
What else? The only option I'd really like is heated seats (which is pushing it bit at this level), although would prefer manual.

I could get a freelander in that bracket but bork possibility is high!

[ConnectionError]

Discovery 2

Shogun

Lada Riva

A dreaded Jeep of some sort

[Stick Legs]

I was amazed at just how good the X-Drive in on my wife's 320d. Very sure footed, even with snow. Great where we live near Exmoor.

It's a bit over your budget but something like a BMW 120d X-Drive could be the answer.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11421031

[DKL]

Can you still get Rivas? I quite liked the Cossack ones back in the day.
120 is a bit pricey for it's purpose. There are lots of cheap suvs but I think I'd rather have a winterised car than an suv

[A500leroy]

just get a panda 4x4 or a swift 4x4

[soad]

Mitsubishi Pinin/Toyota RAV4?

[RS Grant]

My folks have run a 2009 Yeti TDI 4x4 as their winter car for the past few years and it’s been brilliant.. nearing 140k miles and still going strong. They got a top spec model which came extremely well specced too.

Well recommended.

[shiversaint]

100% a yeti.

[OldGermanHeaps]

Octavia scout is brilliant.

[Scrump]

DKL said:

Can you still get Rivas? I quite liked the Cossack ones back in the day.

https://lada4x4.co.uk/

[InitialDave]

Panda and heated seat covers?

Though cloth seats aren't as desperately in need of heaters in winter anyway. Leather seats? Definitely worth having.

[anonymous-user]

Get an Impreza WRX with some winter tyres or a Forester turbo. Then you can enjoy the 944 performance all year round.

[georgeyboy12345]

Not many small 4x4s of this age/price bracket come with heated seats as it's a kind-of luxury option. I'd say you can have either a small 4x4 OR one with heated seats!

With that in mind, here are some small 4x4s

This Panda 4x4 TwinAir from an Alfa Romeo / Italian car specialist near me looks excellent
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104091...

1.2 option
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107305...


Alternatively from Fiat, there is the Sedici, which is the same as the Suzuki SX4. This one is really cheap
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108025...


This Sedici is really low mileage, has nearly a full year MOT and is still really cheap
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108025...


Suzuki's version - 2012 SX4 1.6 with a long MOT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106204...


Another small, cheap Suzuki - Ignis 1.5 VVT 4Grip
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107034...


Or a proper 4x4 offering from Suzuki - A Jimny
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106183...


Toyota RAV4 - A proper 4x4 one with low miles and a long MOT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106234...



Bigger 4x4s that have heated seats

Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104221...


Nissan Qashqai 2.0 4WD
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106224...


Subaru Outback 2.5 with an MOT until spring
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104151...


Or if you are feeling brave, this Porsche Cayenne would nicely complement the other one in your garage!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106183...

[stevemcs]

Panda 4x4 or Freelander TD4

[troika]

Forester

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want a small 4x4 with heated seats etc I'd say lookout for a VR6 Golf:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108015...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334102417103?hash=item4...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313625461410?hash=item4...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107165...

Or the slightly more modern A3 3.2:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106254...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105253...

Or 2.0T A3 S Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104131...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010315...

If you want an SUV then I'd go for a mid sized one & the Freelander2 in SE spec is a good shout, they're actually pretty reliable with proven mechanical s:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107255...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106163...

Or the Ford Kuga in Titanium spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107295...

[biggbn]

Panda cross, job jobbed.

[DKL]

Scrump said:

DKL said:

Can you still get Rivas? I quite liked the Cossack ones back in the day.

https://lada4x4.co.uk/

So you can, mind you they aren't cheap now are they.

[DKL]

Cliffe60 said:

Get an Impreza WRX with some winter tyres or a Forester turbo. Then you can enjoy the 944 performance all year round.

Don't. We loved the 2 scoobys we had and we never had any issues in any sort of weather. A trip back from Glasgow to Otterburn one winter springs to mind. We were one of the last cars through before they closed the A68 and it was getting a little snowy but I don't really recall any issues, we just arrived at the hotel and thought nothing of it. When we saw the car in the morning it looked like something from a Siberian adventure.
But I gather they are all getting a bit rusty now and there remains the concerns about the 2.5 engine. Still want a gb270 wagon but good ones are only going one way.

[DKL]

Thanks to everyone else for loads of suggestions, I'll plough through.