Smallish car with good ground clearance?

Smallish car with good ground clearance?

Author
Discussion

Rosedene

Original Poster:

125 posts

105 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
Hi, I am needing to buy a used car that will mainly be used for normal roads but occasional trips to my family home up a really rough track. I have an ancient ('01)Golf at the moment which is useless, manage to knock bits off the bottom every time. Not very bothered by looks more practicality. Is there a site that lists ground clearance for different makes and models? Many thanks.

KevinCamaroSS

11,555 posts

279 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
Not that I know of.

Fiat Panda 4x4 may fit your bill? Alternatively there are Suzukis galore.

Toyoda

1,557 posts

99 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
What's your budget?

Oldandslow

2,405 posts

205 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
Sounds like you need a small 4x4 or cross type.

Suzuki Jimny and Skoda Yeti are 2 that spring to mind.

Solocle

3,247 posts

83 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
I drive a Skoda Citigo. never had a ground clearance probblem with it, but I don't do really rough tracks. I do live in Dorset. I can testify to it being a very nice car to drive on road, and I've done a field before no problem.
From the manual:
Ground clearance - 136mm
Front overhang angle - 14.6 degrees
Rear overhang angle - 22.3 degrees
It's got a torquey little engine, so if you're good on the clutch hills shouldn't be a problem - she'll move off in fifth if you're really good (I don't recommend it though). Fuel efficiency is a dream. Might be worth a test drive.

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
Suzuki SX4
Daihatsu Terios
Skoda Yeti
Qashqai / Juke ?

RSTurboPaul

10,219 posts

257 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
Daihatsu Fourtrack (or whatever the thing was that May drove across South America)
Daihatsu Terios
SWB Defender
Citroen 2CV?
Suzuki Ignis Sport (original, boxy version)

seadragon

1,137 posts

214 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
I have the perfect 4x4, we had one. Mitsubishi Pajero Junior.

Guys at my garage loved it. Hardish to find but cheap to buy, to insure etc. 1lt petrol engine with 2 or 4wd mode. Not geared ideally for highways, but ours took us from Hertfordshire to Yorkshire Dales and back with no problems. Hidden gem for those looking for a cheap off-road toy.

Rosedene

Original Poster:

125 posts

105 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
HustleRussell said:
Suzuki SX4
Daihatsu Terios
Skoda Yeti
Qashqai / Juke ?
Was considering the Suzuki SX4.

Rosedene

Original Poster:

125 posts

105 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
RSTurboPaul said:
Daihatsu Fourtrack (or whatever the thing was that May drove across South America)
Daihatsu Terios
SWB Defender
Citroen 2CV?
Suzuki Ignis Sport (original, boxy version)
Citroen 2CV? As in the little tin snails. Would love one but I fear they might be a tad scary on a Highland winter roads! My mum drove a Renault4 in the early 80's and it was ideal for getting down our track but scary as hell on proper roads!

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
Gen 1 Rav 4.

RSTurboPaul

10,219 posts

257 months

Thursday 27th April 2017
quotequote all
Rosedene said:
Citroen 2CV? As in the little tin snails. Would love one but I fear they might be a tad scary on a Highland winter roads! My mum drove a Renault4 in the early 80's and it was ideal for getting down our track but scary as hell on proper roads!
IIRC their original design brief was to carry a basket of eggs without them breaking when barrelling down an unsurfaced French country lane, so I'm sure they'd be just fine on anything we have! Get some winter tyres on it and have some good lightweight fun - narrow tyres are better for cutting through snow, too! wink

battered

4,088 posts

146 months

Thursday 27th April 2017
quotequote all
2CVs as daily drivers or second car runabouts have been priced out of existence by the classic car boom. Rough ones are £2k and up, it's a shame. For that a Suzuki Jimny type 4x4 is in reach and they are a better machine, if less fun.

steve-5snwi

8,593 posts

92 months

Thursday 27th April 2017
quotequote all
Ford have the jacked up Fiesta Ecosomething or other with the spare wheel on the back. Panda or Jimny would get my vote.

HasToBeV8

153 posts

87 months

Thursday 27th April 2017
quotequote all
Dacia duster?

caelite

4,273 posts

111 months

Thursday 27th April 2017
quotequote all
Mx5?


Rosedene

Original Poster:

125 posts

105 months

Thursday 27th April 2017
quotequote all
caelite said:
Mx5?

That might ruffle a few feathers in the Hebrides!

battered

4,088 posts

146 months

Thursday 27th April 2017
quotequote all
I rather like the Mad Max MX5. Sort of a MMMX 5. Also, by the look of it, it's still using the original chassis arrangement with the mods confined to the actual suspension, driveshafts and steering gear. The ones where they just plonk a shell on an existing truck chassis aren't a modification, they are just a rebody.

sidaorb

5,589 posts

205 months

Tuesday 2nd May 2017
quotequote all
Dacia Sandero Stepway good little crossover SUV, cheap as chips to run

brrapp

3,701 posts

161 months

Tuesday 2nd May 2017
quotequote all
I was looking at similar and found a lot of van based cars have decent ground clearance, particularly the Renault Kangoo and Citroen Berlingo. Earlier(pre 2009) models are better as the newer ones have added body styling which reduces clearance.