What roadtrip 4x4?

[RizzoTheRat]

Tempted to buy a 4X4 and drive up through Denmark and Norway then over to Iceland next summer. Thinking £2-3k and would need to be big enough to fit 4 adults and 3-4 weeks worth of camping/hiking kit, and be reasonably economical (ie diesel) to do 3500-4000 miles without bankrupting us. Wouldn't plan on doing serious offroading (not allowed to Iceland anyway), but there's a lot of 4x4 only roads/track in Iceland that would be worth a visit.

Having learned to drive in a 110 the heart says get some of Solihull's finest, but for that budget you're looking at 12+ years old and 150k miles Disco's, so not too sure about the reliability. Going Japanese the same budget get a 120k ish mile Isuzu Trooper, or Hilux Surf, or there's quite a few Grand Cheroke's on <120k miles which looks surprisingly cheap.

Any recommendations? Am I going to need to spend more to get something that's reliable enough? Plan would be to sell it when I get home but don't want to have to spend a fortune on it. For comparison renting a Grand Vitara in Iceland would cost over £1k per week hence I'm liking the idea of a road trip.

[furrywoolyhatuk]

I was going to suggest a Toyota surf. The 3.0td is the one to go for. That sort of budget would get you a good phase 3 version, which is a bit more refined.

I went to Iceland this year, it's a beautiful country and they love their 4x4's! There seemed to be a few 4x4 specialist garages so you would be sorted if needed!

Edit: just to say this forum is quite useful: http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/

Edited by furrywoolyhatuk on Sunday 26th August 11:28

[tomsugden]

What about something LPG? It's easier to get hold of in Europe, you'd just need to take the correct adaptor for fueling.

[crostonian]

I'd go MItsubishi, either a Shogun or Shogun Sport. Hi Lux Surf not a bad shout either and yes, I'd avoid an old Disco like the plague.

[JREwing]

A Jeep is only a decent bet if you're going for a 4.0 imo. At this money a diesel will be the VM 2.5 or 3.1, and I wouldn't touch either.

[bakerstreet]

JREwing said:

A Jeep is only a decent bet if you're going for a 4.0 imo. At this money a diesel will be the VM 2.5 or 3.1, and I wouldn't touch either.

3k would get you the Grand Cherokee with the 5cyl 2.7 diesel and they are very good lumps

My first choice would be a Mitsubishi Pajero or Shogun. £3k should get you a LWB 7 seater. Try and go for a Pajero as they tend to come with more toys as standard including trick things like rear air locking diffs

[McHaggis]

You need to check your routes first... Don't think the ferry goes from Norway any more. You can go from Denmark, it's about €400 iirc..

[RizzoTheRat]

I know they stopped the Scottish one some years back but I thought it still ran out of Bergen, a bit of googling suggests not though

[iva cosworth]

There is a freight ferry that allows some cars on to Norway.

Can't remember where it sails from,Newcastle or Hull ?

Edit.It sails from Immingham to Gothenburg,Sweden.

Edited by iva cosworth on Sunday 26th August 16:38

Edited by iva cosworth on Sunday 26th August 16:53

[McHaggis]

RizzoTheRat said:

I know they stopped the Scottish one some years back but I thought it still ran out of Bergen, a bit of googling suggests not though

Sadly so, I looked at the same trip a few years ago. Ferry to Norway is not cheap either. Just drive to Denmark and then ferry to Iceland...

Lovely people, impossible language.

[RizzoTheRat]

That would be the plan, though I was thinking drive German, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, would have to just be Germany, Denmark in that case.

[tercelgold]

Has to be a RAV4 http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[dowahdiddyman]

Early landcruiser,just get it serviced before you go.

[billzeebub]

my standard reply to such threads is Subaru Forester. Well specd and permanent AWD. If you are feeling cheeky go for the Turbo, if you are more worried about economy go for the non turbo. They do a Diesel nowadays, but it wasn't around on the age that would be in your budget (2003-2005)

[TheHeretic]

The Subaru's are very popular in Upstate NY, and they get some proper stty winters. Proper AWD, decent ground clearance on the forester, and good engines.

I wouldn't immediately think Rav4 for this sort of trip, to be honest.

[benjj]

For this kind of trip, with this budget I'd be looking at AWD saloons.

Audi A8 quattro
Audi A6 quattro avant
Volvo Vxx AWD

[RizzoTheRat]

On the standard gravel roads that'd be fine but I'm not even sure they're allowed on the highland roads, I certainly wouldn't want to try something with a standard road cars ground clearance.

[RizzoTheRat]

RizzoTheRat said:

On the standard gravel roads that'd be fine (as was the Polo we rented last year) but I'm sure if they're allowed on the highland roads, I certainly wouldn't want to try something with a standard road cars ground clearance.

[McHaggis]

For full fun in Iceland you need ground clearance and 4x4. Subaru Forester, for example, would be a minimum.

[fivetenben]

RizzoTheRat said:

On the standard gravel roads that'd be fine but I'm not even sure they're allowed on the highland roads, I certainly wouldn't want to try something with a standard road cars ground clearance.

Agreed - even the easiest routes across Iceland's interior demand a bit more ground clearance than a 4x4 car can offer. A few years ago I traveled along the F35 Kjour (sp?) route - the easiest way across the middle of Iceland - and even there, I seem to remember the route being sufficiently rocky that I don't think I could have got anything lower than (say) a Freelander through without damaging the underside.

My two pennies worth: I've had positive experiences of a Shogun for this sort of trip in the past, but given the amount of tarmac you'll be covering, If it were me I'd look seriously at the Forester. It's faster, more comfortable and more economical than the Shogun/Land Cruiser/Surf crowd, and probably just as reliable. Obviously, it depends on how far into the rough stuff you want to go though, as ultimately it's not on quite the same level off road as the live-axled stuff...