Fronteras... Opinions required!!

[geordieracer]

So I'm in the Market for an extremely cheap 4x4 and I've seen a frontera, 1998 plate; 2.0 petrol. 118000 miles. Manual.
I'm aware of how thirsty a 2.0 petrol is going to be and frontera reviews online seem to be very marmite like (loved or hated!) so I'm throwing it over to the PH masses!

[davemac250]

From my experience of a much lower mileage and newer example, this would be an extremely brave choice.

[BarnatosGhost]

If you're not image conscious, and your interest in a Frontera suggests you aren't, go for a japanese import Shogun. Very cheap and much better.

[bobda]

Marmite is rank.
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/vauxhall/fron...

Start looking at diesel Nissan Terrano IIs instead.

[geordieracer]

I do have a shogun on the short list; however I've not found one that ticks all the boxes (yet.)
The frontera is a bit leftfield, hence the query!

[NotKenBlock]

Unless its a shed for a few hundred quid to tie you over... dont bother.

[alfa pint]

^^^^^ This. Truly dreadful cars. Have you looked at Daihatsu / Shogun? Maybe even an isuzu instead?

[XJSsometimeSoon]

I would avoid. Have a look for some old Nissan Patrol, Jeeps, Shoguns, and maybe even Isuzu Troopers. Most of which can be had dirt cheap and they are big, ugly, bulky thirsty and getting old. Some real bargins can be had on Gumtree especially if you search in a rural area.

[anonymous-user]

There were (I think) three distinct generations - the first ones had leaf springs at the back and a boxy dash and were truly pitiful, the 2nd ones looked the same but had a more curvy dash and coil spring rear suspension and the facelifted car looks different and is a somewhat better car.

They are all very agricultrural to drive, with a wide range of poor engines to choose from. Steering is like turning a stick in a bucket of marshmallow, I hate to think what would happen if you needed to swerve at any speed to avoid something. 4 cylinger petrol engines are all thirsty, gutless and fragile and the diesel engines are noisy, gutless and fragile and still quite thirsty - 1997 2.5 TDS with the VM diesel returns about 25mpg on a run and yet offers barely perceptible acceleration from it's ~100bhp. V6 engines were stupid new and outright comical now - if you can afford to fuel it you can afford a proper car.

I couldn't understand why people bought them new, and unless you want a £400 snotter to rag about up a mountain for a laugh I see no reason to buy one 2nd hand.

[neil_bmw]

Whats your budget and what purpose is it to serve?

[bennyboydurham]

Had one as a pool car a long time ago. Gutless, thirsty, slow, unrefined with shoddy build quality. As above unless it's a snotter to drive around in the mud almost anything else is better for the money.

[Redlake27]

I had two as company cars. a 2.8 Tdi that had turbo failure after 2000 miles and a 2.5 that was much more refined but the interior fell apart.

However, if you find a good one, they are OK in a rough and ready way. The RWD set up makes them surprisingly oversteery and I found them better on road than a Discovery of similar vintage.

Not a good car, but strangely appealling.

If one has lasted 10-15 years, I guess it has been screwed together better than mine.

[PlayersNo6]

Didn't one on (old) Top Gear breakdown on the beach when the tide was coming in?

[redgriff500]

A mate wanted a decent looking 4x4 to use for dogs, tip runs etc

Bought a LWB Frontera and it did the job - 2 yrs no issues.

I wouldn't spend £5k on one but for a £1k snotter they are absolutely fine.

[geordieracer]

Avoidance is the answer then!
Budget? As little as humanly possible (no seriously, there's really not a lot in the car kitty) and usage - trundling around north Yorkshire and Northumberland in all weathers and on/off road where necessary.

And nope snow/winter tyres are not the answer, the current shed is on it's way out, and despite performing fairly well last winter using chains, it only had to travel 2/3 miles along a fairly clear road before I had to abandon and walk to work (impassible access road) or in the other direct to meet a cleared road. This year I've 2 miles of single farm track and 10 miles before an A road... Funtimes!

[Mafioso]

I also believe that Top Gear of the time voted it the worst 4x4 ever!?

[GhostDriver]

I can honestly say its the worse car Ive ever driven.

[BarnatosGhost]

geordieracer said:

Avoidance is the answer then!
Budget? As little as humanly possible (no seriously, there's really not a lot in the car kitty) and usage - trundling around north Yorkshire and Northumberland in all weathers and on/off road where necessary.

And nope snow/winter tyres are not the answer, the current shed is on it's way out, and despite performing fairly well last winter using chains, it only had to travel 2/3 miles along a fairly clear road before I had to abandon and walk to work (impassible access road) or in the other direct to meet a cleared road. This year I've 2 miles of single farm track and 10 miles before an A road... Funtimes!

In that case, if it isn't too big i'd want a nissan patrol or toyota landcruiser, or if it isnt too small, a non-turbo impreza wagon.

[XJSsometimeSoon]

Mid 90s Suzuki Vitara, they are cheap to buy, quite robust off road, reliable and basic to work on, they are small and maybe a bit of an image problem.

The 1.6 ones aren't exactly fast, but its enough for a small light car that doesn't handle well. Could be ideal for cheap, basic capable off road motoring.

[ChiChoAndy]

Well, contrary to the naysayer, I ran a frontera in the US for many years, trouble free. Was the 2.2 16v version of the sport. Plenty of very cold winters, and scorching summers, and not a single issue.

here are pictures of it not giving me any grief at all













Maintain them, and I had no issues at all, despite doing the whole off road thing.