Most Comfortable 4wd car/jeep for country roads, 15k budget

[CS111]

As title, im looking to change from my current E60 530d m sport to something more comfortable for bumpy country roads and uk winters. My budget is approx 15k.
Ive already driven a 08 CRV and 07 new shape Freelander, the freelander seemed quite alot more comfortable
than the crv.
Anyone suggest anything to soak up bumps an dinterior rattles and still a little fun if possible.
Cheers

[vescaegg]

Range rover

[FranKinFezza]

Range Rover or Discovery 3 anything else is a poor copy
EOT.

[smileymikey]

Just don't do it. I live in rural Somerset we have an eight mile round trip on single track lanes to buy a paper in the morning! The last two winters our Renault Kangoo on its little skinny tyres has cheerfully passed any number of over priced 4x4's. Stick with a nice executive saloon and either buy a set of snow chains for the two weeks a year you might need them, or if its snowing that bad put your feet up in front of a nice fire and wait it out.

It doesn't matter if you have the best off roader in the world, if everyone in front of you is stuck you aint going anywhere

[Godzuki]

smileymikey said:

Just don't do it. I live in rural Somerset we have an eight mile round trip on single track lanes to buy a paper in the morning! The last two winters our Renault Kangoo on its little skinny tyres has cheerfully passed any number of over priced 4x4's. Stick with a nice executive saloon and either buy a set of snow chains for the two weeks a year you might need them, or if its snowing that bad put your feet up in front of a nice fire and wait it out.

It doesn't matter if you have the best off roader in the world, if everyone in front of you is stuck you aint going anywhere

What other people choose to shod their 4x4's with is of no concern to the OP

To the OP, take a Landcruiser for a test drive. I found it to be a much nicer ride than the LR3 my sister had.

Edited by Godzuki on Saturday 16th April 22:47

[smileymikey]

Dont get me wrong I had a mint restored 1961 Landy series 2a that I used as everyday transport for years, so I'm not anti 4x4. It just doesn't stack up swapping a 530d which is a proper bit of go faster in a frugal kinda way motor for a Chelsea tractor. I reckon the best compromise would be a used Audi A6 Quattro 3.0 Tdi, with a set of winter tyres in the garage for when you need them

[CS111]

Any comfortable 'non 4x4' options from personal experience
SO far i have only driven 3 cars on the same stretch of road to the house
my 530d, can feel every bump and just not suited to country roads
a 05 fiesta, alot better
and a 06 focus, better again on the comfort but rattles like hell inside

[xcentric]

CS111 said:

Any comfortable 'non 4x4' options from personal experience
SO far i have only driven 3 cars on the same stretch of road to the house
my 530d, can feel every bump and just not suited to country roads
a 05 fiesta, alot better
and a 06 focus, better again on the comfort but rattles like hell inside

are you running run-flats on the 530d? if so, try one without - would make it ride a lot better.....

[christofmccracke]

What about an a6 all road.
But if you needs traditional 4x4 range rover is the only answer

[CS111]

xcentric said:

are you running run-flats on the 530d? if so, try one without - would make it ride a lot better.....

Changed to non runflats at last tyre change a year or so ago. I couldnt even get move 5 feet in this car during the snow we had a few months ago, literally couldnt get out of the driveway an onto a road, mums little fiesta put me to shame!

[cptsideways]

Try a Legacy Outback, by the far the best ride of any car I've ever had that still handled well.

[sawman]

Comfortable you say?

Bumpy Roads You say?

this is what you need

[chriscoates]

BMW X5? http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2678735.htm

[ikonic]

If you don't need to do any actual off-roading..... then how about a Lexus RX300?

£15K will get you a minter.....

Ultra reliable, go for an SE-L with plenty of toys, very comfortable as well.

Juts slightly poor fuel consumption owing to lack of diesel option lets it down.

[wackojacko]

As said above A Disco or an A6 allroad / volvo V70 allroad ( or whatever they are called)

[Luke.]

cptsideways said:

Try a Legacy Outback, by the far the best ride of any car I've ever had that still handled well.

Yep. It's amazing

[blueg33]

cptsideways said:

Try a Legacy Outback, by the far the best ride of any car I've ever had that still handled well.

Easily this!. Much more comfortable than the ride on any other car I have had in 10 years. Mrs Blue has one, the 6cyl petrol goes quite well too

[TRUENOSAM]

Landrover Freelander 2 is a belter. Drives so much like a car but yet it can still hack it on the rough stuff

[blueg33]

smileymikey said:

I reckon the best compromise would be a used Audi A6 Quattro 3.0 Tdi, with a set of winter tyres in the garage for when you need them

I have an A6 3.0tdi quattro but for ride comfort and winter use would have the Legacy Outback every time.

[Deva Link]

CS111 said:

As title, im looking to change from my current E60 530d m sport to something more comfortable for bumpy country roads and uk winters. My budget is approx 15k.
Ive already driven a 08 CRV and 07 new shape Freelander, the freelander seemed quite alot more comfortable
than the crv.
Anyone suggest anything to soak up bumps an dinterior rattles and still a little fun if possible.
Cheers

I don't think "fun" and SUV go together at all.

I'm surprised you thought Freelander was more comfortable than CRV but wheel / tyre combination will make a big difference. Obviously for comfort you want the smallest wheels and deepest profile tyres available.

Jeep Grand Cherokee might fit the bill, although they vary a lot. Jeep dealers are getting a bit thin on the ground now but most of the old ones still do servicing, if they haven't gone bust.