Which 4WD (or 2WD) For My Wife For £15-18,500?

Which 4WD (or 2WD) For My Wife For £15-18,500?

Author
Discussion

bozmandb9

673 posts

181 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2011
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mikearwas said:
Have you put a women in a turbo car and floored it on boost?
For those of us with ladies not impressed with turbo acceleration, please enlighten us? My wife objects to hard acceleration whether in an n/a, supercharged, or turbo charged car. I'm sure there are women who would be really impressed, but not sure I'd be marrying them!

bozmandb9

673 posts

181 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2011
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To O/P, I'd have to recommend a Range Rover or RRS, coming from a BMW you'll really appreciate the quality, if you get a TD6 you'll even have a BMW engine! Obviously it won't be fast compared to what you're used to, but you don't buy a 4x4 for speed!


aeropilot

34,699 posts

228 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2011
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ewenm said:
Volvo XC90?
Would be my choice..... or an XC70.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

191 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2011
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Big Tav said:
Hi guys,

The Mrs has decided she wants a 4WD and wants to spend closer to £15,000 but would go higher for the right car. A 4WD would be great but would also consider a 2WD version is it was still a great car. Basically she wants a car that is high up, room in the back for the dog, prams etc and she HATES Estates and MPV's. Also only wants a manual with leather and a diesel to help with running costs. Also wants it to be modern with good spec and be reliable. We want to keep for 5 years minimum.

I just thought I would check here to see if anyone has any good or bad experiences with the following cars.

I was thinking:

BMW X3 2.0d Sport - Great car but still fairly pricey and old in this price range. 05-06 models have 60,000 miles on them. Are getting pretty out of date now maybe?
Ford Kuga - Ford build quality anything to worry about? Maybe I can only get the base spec for this money?
Toyota Rav 4 - Great build and reliability with good 4wd ability but boring?
VW Tiguan? Maybe a bit small in the back? Might still be too new to get the spec we want.
CRV? Strong contender but maybe the nice spec is still at the top or above out price range?
Qasquai - Maybe? Might be a bit small?

Maybe:
Chev Captiva? - Not sure about the badge though? Too average?
Hyundai ix35 - Looks quite good but still a Hyundai. They do look like they have come a long way though. Any good?
Mazda CX7 - Love it! Great looks and heaps of extras for about £12-14,000 BUT 2.3t petrol uses wayyyy too much fuel and is £400 per year to tax. Shame.
Out:
Land Rover Freelander - Too agricultural and boxy looking and she hate it.

What do you all think?
The BMW probably drives the best on the road. My pick would be the Freelander though, not sure how it's agricultural though?? Or maybe a 2nd hand high spec Jeep Grand Cherokee. Wouldn't give any of the others in your list a first look, let alone a 2nd.

What sort of money is something like a Skoda Yeti or Nissan Juke?

Boba Fret

438 posts

157 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2011
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my old man bought an X3 recently.

Dreadful car.

Paint thinner than a Size 0 model, more squeaks and rattles than a 1980s Alfa (on a 2 yr old BM?????)

Horrible.

Big Tav

Original Poster:

645 posts

165 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2011
quotequote all
Hi and thanks for the replies!

Would a Range rover be to expensive to maintain? I heard some have some reliability issues and it would be well out of warranty.

I would never buy a jeep of any type sorry. They are one of the worst cars I have ever driven.

The juke I like but they are still to small I think and my wife would never, ever drive a skoda.

CS111

273 posts

185 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2011
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I'll be glad to see the back of my BMW also, this is my second one and last for a long time id imagine
Very uncomfortable of all surfaces unless very smooth ie motorways, not suited to any town / country driving
HAs become very rattley inside which i dont expect from something which cost over 35k new
I think i will have to look into the freelander 2 a little more, only drawback seems to be the fuel consumption
Definately the best from the 3 cars i have driven thus far.

Turbodiesel1690

1,957 posts

171 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2011
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Have you considered an Audi Q7? I bought a late 2006 recently with 71,000 miles for £18,500 - lovely car, well built, plenty of room, great driving position, all the toys you could think of and still does 30mpg+ on a run

chibbard

1,554 posts

261 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2011
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I was in the exact same dilemma 18 months ago and went for a NEW Ford Kuga 2.0L Diesel for £19.200. Slightly over your budget but would really reccommend considering. (although the boot space may be your only concern. PS I have 2 kids btw.

Sorry forgot to mention it was 2WD that was fine in the snow (also cheaper road tax)

Big Tav

Original Poster:

645 posts

165 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2011
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Wow that is cheap for a Q7. Nice find.

I want to try and buy with less than 40,000 miles so it will probably rule the out frown

bozmandb9

673 posts

181 months

Tuesday 3rd May 2011
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Big Tav said:
Hi and thanks for the replies!

Would a Range rover be to expensive to maintain? I heard some have some reliability issues and it would be well out of warranty.

I would never buy a jeep of any type sorry. They are one of the worst cars I have ever driven.

The juke I like but they are still to small I think and my wife would never, ever drive a skoda.
Range Rover maintenance costs are probably not as bad as you think. Funnily enough I think on an older car, you can end up paying less, than you think. There are lots of issues usually resolved under warranty. A TD6 that you'd get for this price would give you 25mpg, and you'd have the reliable BMW 3.0 turbo diesel, which is vastly improved with a remap.

Big Tav

Original Poster:

645 posts

165 months

Wednesday 4th May 2011
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I know it's auto but what about an 06 BMW X5 diesel sport exclusive edition? Old shape but have everything on it for about the same price as a 2 year old Rav4 or Kuga!

CS111

273 posts

185 months

Wednesday 4th May 2011
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Nissan Xtrail seems to get great reviews all round also.
Im going to try and get a drive in one before the weekend.

AlexKing

613 posts

159 months

Wednesday 4th May 2011
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Willy Nilly said:
Divorce hehe
+1

GreatGranny

9,141 posts

227 months

Wednesday 4th May 2011
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I would go for a newer smaller MPV rather than the older more expensive to run Q7/RRS sized 4WD. Running costs and repair bills will be alot more. Had a look round an ix35 a few weeks ago and was impressed. Niceinside and 5 year warranty.

bozmandb9

673 posts

181 months

Wednesday 4th May 2011
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AlexKing said:
+1
Anybody else find this puerile offensive and not remotely funny?

greggy50

6,173 posts

192 months

Wednesday 4th May 2011
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Why does she want a 4x4 out of interest the (or 2WD) suggests to me she clearly has no need for one so why not get a normal car and not have something that is better on the road for the same money. Whole host of car's that look nice for that money if she just want's it for image which is what it appears to be why not a 3 series M sport or something may as well make it the 318...

Big Tav

Original Poster:

645 posts

165 months

Wednesday 4th May 2011
quotequote all
bozmandb9 said:
Anybody else find this puerile offensive and not remotely funny?
I do a bit to be honest. Especially when my wife is pregnant.

Big Tav

Original Poster:

645 posts

165 months

Thursday 5th May 2011
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greggy50 said:
Why does she want a 4x4 out of interest the (or 2WD) suggests to me she clearly has no need for one so why not get a normal car and not have something that is better on the road for the same money. Whole host of car's that look nice for that money if she just want's it for image which is what it appears to be why not a 3 series M sport or something may as well make it the 318...
We want a 4wd for the snow and we also want the room for a dog and buggy etc so a saloon is no good.

greggy50

6,173 posts

192 months

Thursday 5th May 2011
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Big Tav said:
We want a 4wd for the snow and we also want the room for a dog and buggy etc so a saloon is no good.
How about a Subaru Legacy Outback then?