A car for rural duties
Discussion
My wife works as a carer.
We live in north Devon in a very rural area with bad roads.
She drives to clients some of whom live on farms and down small unmade roads and lots of country lane driving. The calls tend to be a few miles apart, so maybe 45 miles a day, stopping and starting, so I think diesel may be ruled out as I’m not confident we could drive enough long runs to avoid DPF issues.
I would like her to have something bigger than her current Aygo as livestock wandering about on the roads is not uncommon and it would be better to be higher up for visibility over Devon hedges, it will also be our only car so has to be flexible.
Small SUV then?
Which genuinely have any rural credentials?
Budget £8 to £10 k
So far I’m looking at
Sandero stepway
Duster, possibly a bit big.
Mitsubishi ASX , does it have any rough road cred or is it another soft roader ?
Subaru XV , pricey ,critics say it has a rough ride? (My favourite, but head should rule heart)
Suzuki Sx4 cross
Skoda yeti seem to be crazy money for tired cars.
Rav 4, CRV , Vitara, Forester all a little to big for her preference and and a bit heavy on petrol
Anything I’ve missed?
Thanks
We live in north Devon in a very rural area with bad roads.
She drives to clients some of whom live on farms and down small unmade roads and lots of country lane driving. The calls tend to be a few miles apart, so maybe 45 miles a day, stopping and starting, so I think diesel may be ruled out as I’m not confident we could drive enough long runs to avoid DPF issues.
I would like her to have something bigger than her current Aygo as livestock wandering about on the roads is not uncommon and it would be better to be higher up for visibility over Devon hedges, it will also be our only car so has to be flexible.
Small SUV then?
Which genuinely have any rural credentials?
Budget £8 to £10 k
So far I’m looking at
Sandero stepway
Duster, possibly a bit big.
Mitsubishi ASX , does it have any rough road cred or is it another soft roader ?
Subaru XV , pricey ,critics say it has a rough ride? (My favourite, but head should rule heart)
Suzuki Sx4 cross
Skoda yeti seem to be crazy money for tired cars.
Rav 4, CRV , Vitara, Forester all a little to big for her preference and and a bit heavy on petrol
Anything I’ve missed?
Thanks
Virtually none at that price have real capability, save getting a Jimmy, but at that cash you're looking at very old cars and crash protection is pants if livestock is a real concern.
You have few choices which are really dinky, like an EcoSport. Yes, really.
Slightly longer, as in 30cm ish, you have the 1.4T Mokka, can be 4WD, in SE spec you get heated leather. Surprisingly nice inside. Off road capable? Not really
The Renegade is, can get them from 8k, but not much choice.
You have few choices which are really dinky, like an EcoSport. Yes, really.
Slightly longer, as in 30cm ish, you have the 1.4T Mokka, can be 4WD, in SE spec you get heated leather. Surprisingly nice inside. Off road capable? Not really
The Renegade is, can get them from 8k, but not much choice.
We were fairly rural for over 20 years. Over that time as practical bad weather cars we had a couple of Landrovers, a Range Rover, a Hilux 4x4, a D-Max 4x4, a Suzuki Vitara 4x4, a Rav4 and, for good measure an Evo 6 TME.
Have to say that the Rav4 was probably the most flexible and car-like and simple fun without being as basic as some of the others or as exotic or fragile as some.
Have to say that the Rav4 was probably the most flexible and car-like and simple fun without being as basic as some of the others or as exotic or fragile as some.
lemmingjames said:
What age forester are you thinking as the pre 08 ones are tiny in comparison to modern machinery.
Get a turbo if you go down this route as the n/a isn't that more economical.
I've got a 2011 forester, if I happened to park next to MINI Clubman, it makes the Forester look quite small.Get a turbo if you go down this route as the n/a isn't that more economical.
The Forester's obviously bigger, but not by much.
I do that kind of driving including forestry tracks regularly, I use my Dacia Logan Stepway. It's more than capable. Also have use of an MG HS AWD, not sure it's actually any better to be honest. Good ground clearance is as important as anything on unnmade roads and farm tracks, 4x4 is a nice to have but not essential.
Honda CRV would be a decent compromise. The older 2.2 CDTI doesn't have a DPF to worry about either.
I live in North Devon, and while farm access roads can be rough and potholed, I have never needed "proper" off road ability to get down any of them. If we get a winter freeze, decent tyres are a better bet than 4WD.
I live in North Devon, and while farm access roads can be rough and potholed, I have never needed "proper" off road ability to get down any of them. If we get a winter freeze, decent tyres are a better bet than 4WD.
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