4x4 Suggestion

[johnte]

Would anyone like to suggest me a 4x4 please, I only need one for maybe a month a year - but for that month, would need to be able to climb a 1:3 hill, covered in, at worst about a foot of snow on a farm track.

Ideally only about £2k if possible, as would be parked up for 11 months.

I was thinking maybe something with locking diffs and aggressive tyres. Which cheap 4x4's had locking diffs as standard?

Thanks in anticipation ..

[Matt UK]

Series 3 land rover

[RJP001]

If you get something like a reasonably looked after old Land Rover you can have something that can be fun to use outside the winter months too, and it won't be really losing any value either.

[johnte]

I've had Land Rovers, but thought something with locking diffs may do better.

[300bhp/ton]

johnte said:

I've had Land Rovers, but thought something with locking diffs may do better.

Very very few 4x4's are sold with locking diffs, even fewer in the UK and not for £2k.

A Land Rover Series or Disco for £2k wouldn't actually be a bad vehicle though, not if fitted with sensible tyres.

Some Jeep Cherokee's have an LSD rear, but I think they are rarer than hens teeth in the UK. The Cherokee is very capable, but will need a suspension lift to match a Disco (had both).

Some Jap 4x4's might have an LSD at the rear, but as a rule they don't offer the same suspension flex and might struggle compared to a Landy or Jeep on the same terrain.

An alternative to locking diffs would be an off road biased traction control as this essentially simulates locking diffs and can be highly affective. Land Rover Freelanders have TCS (optional on early ones though). So these might be a sensible bet.



4x4's I'd personally look at:


-Suzuki Jimny. Proper little 4x4, good suspension and 4wd system. No locking diffs (can get them in the after market). But compact, light and easily as capable as a Defender off road.

-Mercedes G-Wagen. I think you'll struggle to get one in budget, but you can get them for £3-4k sometimes. Early ones are very under powered and slow, but very capable and most/all do indeed have front and rear locking diffs.

-Land Rover Series. Capable, plenty to choose from, solid residuals and easy to work on.

-Land Rover Discovery. Very capable and great VFM. Easy and cheap to maintain.

-Jeep Cherokee. 4.0 is pretty darn quick, 2.5p is still faster than a Tdi Disco. Capable and more compact than a Disco. Needs a suspension lift to compete though (lifts can be had for £100 or so and are easy to fit).

-Jeep Wrangler. Probably over budget, but you might get a 2.5p YJ. Cool, fun and capable. Benefits from a lift too though. Strong residuals as a rule.

-Lada Niva. Surprisingly capable machine, would be ideal for your intended use. Often very cheap (£500-1000), but rare and can suffer rust. Kinda cool in a quirky way too

-Freelander 1.8i or 2.0d (L-Series). Not quite as rough and tough, but when equipped with TCS is arguably better on snow than a Defender is. L-Series diesel is a fab motor. 1.8i is good too, but read up on HG issues. Don't get a non TCS one.

[_Batty_]

Grand Cherokee.
Limited Versions have 'quadra drive' (youtube it) and are *very* capable offroad.
£2k would just reach a 3.1td (VM derv, useful at popping headgaskets) or LPG'd 4.0 petrols.
I had an old Grand and loved it.

[Mr Tom]

Hilux or disco. Either would sort it!

[TheD]

Terrano 2.7 TD.

[300bhp/ton]

TheD said:

Terrano 2.7 TD.

Doesn't have locking diffs of any kind.

[TheD]

300bhp/ton said:

Doesn't have locking diffs of any kind.

I know but for 2k he will struggle on that ask. Mine pulls a 2 ton boat up that sort of incline no problem. Never done it in snow though