Reliable SUV - age or mileage (and recommendations!)
Discussion
Hi all
I live about half a mile up a rural track - very pitted and rough. I have a few acres of somewhat hilly, wooded and sometimes slightly marshy land, which occasionally I have need to pull a trailer of logs across. I currently have a 10-year-old BMW X3 with 112k on the clock, which I bought when I moved here, because I wanted something which could
a) Cope with the rough track
b) Potentially pull the trailer (although in theory I have a quad bike, the less said about the reliability of that, the better!)
c) Also allow me to drive 150 miles to a client for the day job and not look like I'd just emerged from a pig sty.
In practice, I do A every day, C most weeks, and only sometimes B.
The X3 has now started getting very expensive. In the last three months, it's had a new battery (£350), 2 new ABS sensors (£400) and now needs new anti-roll-bar bushes and possibly a pair of shocks, which being electronic apparently need to come from BMW, and may be in excess of £500 each. The guy who services it (who I trust) said that although the engine is fine, I should think about getting something else because it's not coping with the rough track (and rough country lanes). He said that it's not really meant for anything other than on-road usage and I should look at something which is more robust and less likely to have 1000 sensors and electronic systems waiting to go wrong...
So, questions. I have a budget of around £12k
Ideally I'd probably go for a Land Cruiser, but that they're not cheap - looking around I'd be looking at 2010 or earlier with around 90k on the clock, or 2013ish with around 150k on the clock. Everyone says that the LC is completely reliable, but given that I'm getting rid of a car with 112k on the clock, I'm nervous of buying another one with 40k more miles on it. Should I be worried? Am I better going for slightly older with slightly lower mileage, or slightly newer with slightly higher mileage?
And what about alternatives? I'm also looking at the Mitsubishi Shogun. Any thoughts?
What else should I consider? I've heard too many horror stories from numerous people about Land Rovers to want one...
Thanks a lot!
I live about half a mile up a rural track - very pitted and rough. I have a few acres of somewhat hilly, wooded and sometimes slightly marshy land, which occasionally I have need to pull a trailer of logs across. I currently have a 10-year-old BMW X3 with 112k on the clock, which I bought when I moved here, because I wanted something which could
a) Cope with the rough track
b) Potentially pull the trailer (although in theory I have a quad bike, the less said about the reliability of that, the better!)
c) Also allow me to drive 150 miles to a client for the day job and not look like I'd just emerged from a pig sty.
In practice, I do A every day, C most weeks, and only sometimes B.
The X3 has now started getting very expensive. In the last three months, it's had a new battery (£350), 2 new ABS sensors (£400) and now needs new anti-roll-bar bushes and possibly a pair of shocks, which being electronic apparently need to come from BMW, and may be in excess of £500 each. The guy who services it (who I trust) said that although the engine is fine, I should think about getting something else because it's not coping with the rough track (and rough country lanes). He said that it's not really meant for anything other than on-road usage and I should look at something which is more robust and less likely to have 1000 sensors and electronic systems waiting to go wrong...
So, questions. I have a budget of around £12k
Ideally I'd probably go for a Land Cruiser, but that they're not cheap - looking around I'd be looking at 2010 or earlier with around 90k on the clock, or 2013ish with around 150k on the clock. Everyone says that the LC is completely reliable, but given that I'm getting rid of a car with 112k on the clock, I'm nervous of buying another one with 40k more miles on it. Should I be worried? Am I better going for slightly older with slightly lower mileage, or slightly newer with slightly higher mileage?
And what about alternatives? I'm also looking at the Mitsubishi Shogun. Any thoughts?
What else should I consider? I've heard too many horror stories from numerous people about Land Rovers to want one...
Thanks a lot!
Subaru Forester I know nothing about - looks interesting, so I'll read around. Is the reliability good? That's the no 1 thing for me right now...
Mercedes M Class. I have owned a couple of small Mercs in the past, and liked them, but I'm a little reticent to buy anything too "posh" given the repair costs I've had with the X3. I think I'd be nervous of towing a trailer of logs up a hill in the M class as it sort of seems (to me) like another "on-roader-that-looks-like-off-roader" like the BMW. But perhaps I'm misunderestimating it?
Mercedes M Class. I have owned a couple of small Mercs in the past, and liked them, but I'm a little reticent to buy anything too "posh" given the repair costs I've had with the X3. I think I'd be nervous of towing a trailer of logs up a hill in the M class as it sort of seems (to me) like another "on-roader-that-looks-like-off-roader" like the BMW. But perhaps I'm misunderestimating it?
andrewmrichards said:
Subaru Forester I know nothing about - looks interesting, so I'll read around. Is the reliability good? That's the no 1 thing for me right now...
Mercedes M Class. I have owned a couple of small Mercs in the past, and liked them, but I'm a little reticent to buy anything too "posh" given the repair costs I've had with the X3. I think I'd be nervous of towing a trailer of logs up a hill in the M class as it sort of seems (to me) like another "on-roader-that-looks-like-off-roader" like the BMW. But perhaps I'm misunderestimating it?
Frankly I don’t know but people seem to rate them and their capabilities. I don’t think they’re renowned for cheap parts and servicing but Japanese Mercedes M Class. I have owned a couple of small Mercs in the past, and liked them, but I'm a little reticent to buy anything too "posh" given the repair costs I've had with the X3. I think I'd be nervous of towing a trailer of logs up a hill in the M class as it sort of seems (to me) like another "on-roader-that-looks-like-off-roader" like the BMW. But perhaps I'm misunderestimating it?
so likely less of a wallet troubler than some upmarket German perhaps.DoctorX said:
Frankly I don’t know but people seem to rate them and their capabilities. I don’t think they’re renowned for cheap parts and servicing but Japanese so likely less of a wallet troubler than some upmarket German perhaps.
Yes, I know what you mean - that's one of the appeals of the Land Cruiser, if I could stretch to it. I had a Corolla for years and never had a problem. so likely less of a wallet troubler than some upmarket German perhaps.Any thoughts (anyone) on the age vs miles question?
Thank you!
Does it have to be an SUV?
The reason I ask is because it sounds like the kind of thing for a Ford Ranger Wildtrack 200 will do in it's sleep:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108246...
or Limited 200
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107044...
The reason I ask is because it sounds like the kind of thing for a Ford Ranger Wildtrack 200 will do in it's sleep:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108246...
or Limited 200
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107044...
andrewmrichards said:
...
Ideally I'd probably go for a Land Cruiser, but that they're not cheap - looking around I'd be looking at 2010 or earlier with around 90k on the clock, or 2013ish with around 150k on the clock. Everyone says that the LC is completely reliable, but given that I'm getting rid of a car with 112k on the clock, I'm nervous of buying another one with 40k more miles on it. Should I be worried? Am I better going for slightly older with slightly lower mileage, or slightly newer with slightly higher mileage?
...
I wouldn't worry about a high mileage Land Cruiser, although I think in 2014 for the UK model there were some significant improvements (including with the off-road tech) but I can't fully remember. Might be worth checking that out. Ideally I'd probably go for a Land Cruiser, but that they're not cheap - looking around I'd be looking at 2010 or earlier with around 90k on the clock, or 2013ish with around 150k on the clock. Everyone says that the LC is completely reliable, but given that I'm getting rid of a car with 112k on the clock, I'm nervous of buying another one with 40k more miles on it. Should I be worried? Am I better going for slightly older with slightly lower mileage, or slightly newer with slightly higher mileage?
...
My brother-in-law has one out in Australia and it's a nice big car. Not as plush as you'd expect for the price tag, but I think you are paying for the safety net of not going to get stuck anywhere, which is probably why you see them in the most inhospitable of areas.
Interesting conundrum OP.
I think it would all come down to your own preference for how much comfort you want for c) the 150 mile business trips? If you are the rugged type, then a double cab pick up like a Hilux or Amarok might be the way forward. However, if you want better on road comfort, I’d go for a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a good grippy tyre like Goodyear Wranglers. I’ll probably now get shot on the reliability front for the Jeep, but I think your good local mechanic should be able to get parts easily and keep it on the road for less than ze Germans or L-R.
Or, keep the X3 for road work and buy a rough pickup for on the land, or a small tractor.
I think it would all come down to your own preference for how much comfort you want for c) the 150 mile business trips? If you are the rugged type, then a double cab pick up like a Hilux or Amarok might be the way forward. However, if you want better on road comfort, I’d go for a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a good grippy tyre like Goodyear Wranglers. I’ll probably now get shot on the reliability front for the Jeep, but I think your good local mechanic should be able to get parts easily and keep it on the road for less than ze Germans or L-R.
Or, keep the X3 for road work and buy a rough pickup for on the land, or a small tractor.
A very fresh Dacia duster?
Land cruisers are good but they’re not invincible, age and mileage take it’s toll and parts are massively expensive. We tow a triple axel, land cruisers and patrols are really the only ones that stick the pace. Tried a shogun or 2 but they blow turbos and clutch’s with the load. Running an older heavy 4x4 is expensive.
Land cruisers are good but they’re not invincible, age and mileage take it’s toll and parts are massively expensive. We tow a triple axel, land cruisers and patrols are really the only ones that stick the pace. Tried a shogun or 2 but they blow turbos and clutch’s with the load. Running an older heavy 4x4 is expensive.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff