Which 4x4?

[junglie]

I am going to the Falkland Islands for 6 months over their winter and need a 4x4 to get around with a little off road driving reqd. Leaving my cars over in the UK.

Budget up to £3000.

Requirements:

• Reliability - most important factor.
• Manual.
• Petrol or Diesel.
• Would like 5+ cylinders but not hard over.

I fancy a Discovery TD5 but fear the bork factor at this price!

Any thoughts?

[juan king]

Landcruiser

[big_boz]

juan king said:

Landcruiser

+1

[Disco You]

Doesn't it depend on what is available over there at the time?

[junglie]

Had a flick through the usual ad sites but they seem, quite rightly, to attract a huge premium so perhaps over budget. I could be looking in the wrong place though.

[Carl-H]

I've just bought a TD5 Discovery 2 for this price. It has done 150k but it drives very well, has an alright history and seems to be doing great so far.

I looked at at least 10 and this as it happens is the best one Ive seen despite looking at some for over 4k! Main things to check are the rear chassis for rot, above windscreen for rot and the ace pipes for any corrosion. Ace pipes are located against the chassis under the body on the drivers side then spread to each wheel. Pipes are very expensive and difficult to replace.

I bought a lower spec 'S' in the end. No ACE or air suspension as standard so less to go wrong. Much better for something this age. You can convert to could springs and fit an ace removal kit but its extra cost.

Engines are pretty good apart from a few niggles although if they have made it this far (last disco 2 was made in 2004) then it's probably okay. Just check the usual problems especially head gasket trouble!

[juan king]

junglie said:

Had a flick through the usual ad sites but they seem, quite rightly, to attract a huge premium so perhaps over budget. I could be looking in the wrong place though.

Theres a 98'R' 3.0td swb colorado near me for 2750.on 155k, Looks in good nick too

[junglie]

Carl-H, sounds good. Only needs to be very base spec as there is not any great distance involved.

Should have mentioned that car will be shipped down there.

[geeks]

Usual PH recommendations are:

Subaru Legacy
Suzuki Jimny
Audi Allroad

My personal one is the Frontera but someone will be right along to disagree with everything I have said shortly :-)

Basically go for the one you like the look of that is the best one in your budget and always see more than one of them unless it's mint...

[PhilboSE]

A Mitsubishi Pajero is likely to give you much more car for your money than a Defender at that price. £3000 Defenders will be very old and tired needing TLC. Can you weld?

[C8H18Head]

Land Rover Defender.

Note speed limits are 25 miles per hour in the Stanley area and 40 miles per hour on other roads.

I'd suggest looking at the local market to ensure a good resale.

Edited by C8H18Head on Tuesday 13th November 19:47

[Carl-H]

junglie said:

Carl-H, sounds good. Only needs to be very base spec as there is not any great distance involved.

Should have mentioned that car will be shipped down there.

Even though mine is low spec I still think its great. Once the engines warm its pretty quiet inside, soaks up all the bumps and will sit at 50-60 all day like its nothing. At 70+ it feels like you need a bit of throttle to keep it there so I feel like it'll be drinking the fuel lol. It's got everything I need it to have and is really smooth. The lower spec models do seem harder to come by for me though but the price doesn't really differ much when your down to this price.

Even seems good on the fuel. It went onto half a tank just as I hit 300 miles since filling up (over £120 from the light) with mixed driving and getting used to a turbo diesel. It likes to be changed up at 2100+ or it drops out the turbo and goes backwards in the next gear lol. I reckon I'll get 500 ish to the light from this tank and close to 600 from the next.

[Carl-H]

Defenders are not really worth it in that price. Old series 3's may be worth a look but they really are worlds apart from modern cars. Defenders are too but a lot more up to date than the old series landys. But yeah, 3k will only really buy an old and very tired defender/90/110.

[Unemployed]

Can you stretch your budget a bit?

http://www.ruggedguide4x4.com/ruggedguide4x4/about...

[huwp]

PhilboSE said:

A Mitsubishi Pajero is likely to give you much more car for your money than a Defender at that price. £3000 Defenders will be very old and tired needing TLC. Can you weld?

Would have made my day if Juan King had made that recommendation....

[junglie]

I was thinking some sort or LR would be good for selling down there depending on the market.

[BFG TERRANO]

My terrano has been great. 4 years of ownership has been reliable trouble free pleasure. Sadly currently selling with my wifes car to combine the cash for 1 vehicle.

It's never failed an mot or had a nasty wallet killing bill. It pulls our caravan very well, has 7 seats and averages about 27mpg overall. Not everyone's cup of tea but I can't fault it.

Your budget will get a tidy late one if you look round.

[juan king]

huwp said:

PhilboSE said:

A Mitsubishi Pajero is likely to give you much more car for your money than a Defender at that price. £3000 Defenders will be very old and tired needing TLC. Can you weld?

Would have made my day if Juan King had made that recommendation....

I dont geddit

[huwp]

juan king said:

huwp said:

PhilboSE said:

A Mitsubishi Pajero is likely to give you much more car for your money than a Defender at that price. £3000 Defenders will be very old and tired needing TLC. Can you weld?

Would have made my day if Juan King had made that recommendation....

I dont geddit

Look up the meaning, or one of them, for Pajero.

[juan king]

Rofl