Need a 4x4

[anonymous-user]

Hello all!
I am looking at getting a new car that will require some descent off road ability. It will be a second car and will also be used on road (majority of the time)either diesel or petrol is fine.
I need it for carrying outdoor sports equipment, canoe, fishing gear and the like. I also need it for carrying logs from a wood near me where I have permission to collect as much firewood as I need.
I have aroun 2k to spend and I quite like the Jeep Cherokee, but my wife will drive it quite often and she likes Freelanders.
Any views and advice from the pistonhead experts will be much appreciated!
Thanks Matt.

[AJWB]

Freelander's a good call, or if you want better off road ability how about a Disco?

Alternatively, you could go down the Jap route- Trooper, Pajero etc. Japs are capable off road and will be more reliable than a Landy (but more expensive if they do go wrong).

[uk_vette]

Do you seriously think a Freelander is even remotely as good as a Cherokee !
Just think one word.
.
.
.
Reliability.

Value for money the Cherokee wins hands down.

[normalbloke]

AJWB said:

Freelander's a good call, or if you want better off road ability how about a Disco?

Alternatively, you could go down the Jap route- Trooper, Pajero etc. Japs are capable off road and will be more reliable than a Landy (but more expensive if they do go wrong).

"Freelander's a good call" unless you actually want to venture off road......

[Pat H]

uk_vette said:

Value for money the Cherokee wins hands down.

Yep, they are cheap to buy, reliable, don't rot and are capable.

They are comfortable, well equipped and are much more pleasant to drive than a Land Rover.

But my God, that four litre motor is thirsty.

Mine manages 17mpg around town.

And by all accounts the 2.5 Diesel is a dog.

I'd heartily recommend a Cherokee, unless you intend to drive it very far.

[PATTERNPART]

Freelanders go wrong and don't have much of a reputation as off roaders.
The loadspace in the back isn't huge either. The styling is good.

If fashion isn't as important as rugged reliability try a Ford Maverick or Nissan Terrano. Pretty much the same thing underneath. They say the diesel 2.7 is the only one worth having. Prices from £1500 to £5000.

[mantaray]

Yep another vote for the Jeep , these things are soooooooooo cheap at the moment , yes they can be thirsty but a few lpg ones do come up for sale.
Just stick some m/t tyres on it and they are superb off roaders .

[uk_vette]

Pat H said:

uk_vette said:

Value for money the Cherokee wins hands down.

Yep, they are cheap to buy, reliable, don't rot and are capable.

They are comfortable, well equipped and are much more pleasant to drive than a Land Rover.

But my God, that four litre motor is thirsty.

Mine manages 17mpg around town.

And by all accounts the 2.5 Diesel is a dog.

I'd heartily recommend a Cherokee, unless you intend to drive it very far.

.
.
YES, The petrol is thirsty.

There is a very excellent 2.7 CDI now.Oh, and i don't like the shape of the newest ones, perhaps 2005 onwards ?
They look crap.

Huge performance and quite frugal.
If I wasn't so much into Land Cruisers, this would be second choice

[andy400]

Jeeps are junk.

Go Japanese if you want A1 capability and reliability, Toyota being the top of the heap.

Everything is cheap at the moment, so why not have the best?

[normalbloke]

andy400 said:

Jeeps are junk.

Go Japanese if you want A1 capability and reliability, Toyota being the top of the heap.

Everything is cheap at the moment, so why not have the best?

Parts for modifying Jeeps are far more readily available and far,far cheaper.Some Jap stuff is good,but comes at a massive price when something breaks, and they will break.

Still, Jap or jeep, has to be leptons ahead of anything from Brum......

[andy400]

normalbloke said:

Parts for modifying Jeeps are far more readily available and far,far cheaper.Some Jap stuff is good,but comes at a massive price when something breaks, and they will break.

Still, Jap or jeep, has to be leptons ahead of anything from Brum......

But if they break less often, and they will break less often, you'll still spend less £££ even if the parts are more expensive.

Fully agree on your last point - just a snippet of recent experience with me: 1)My five and a half year old Landcruiser, problems: none 2)My colleagues four year old Cherokee, problems: some 3)My friends one year old RR Vogue, bought new, problems: lots