which (smallish) 4 x 4?
Discussion
I've never liked 4 x 4s of any description, but the floods before Christmas and now the snow have certainly made them more attractive as a family vehicle...I dont fancy a massive one, just a smaller SUV type thing. Thinking Freelander 2, Honda CRV Mk3, RAV 4 (2006 onwards), or a Tiguan/Kuga type vehicle. Anyone got any experiences with any of these good or bad? Personally as a second hand buy, something like the 2.2 diesel CRV seems quite good...I quite like the Freelanders but have read that their running costs are high. Is this true?
I have a Freelander 2. Does around 35mpg, it's an automatic the manual should manage more but IMO it's a vehicle much more suited to an auto box.
Difficult to comment on running costs since mine is under warranty and touch wood nothing has gone wrong with it. Servicing does seem expensive at main dealers but it's all relative when getting something like a Golf serviced can probably cost £300.
As I'm sure people will be quick to point out, keep in mind that 4x4 just helps gives you traction, tyres give you the grip and you still end up with two tons to stop rather than one ton, so don't treat a 4x4 as something that will make you invincible simply because it's 4x4.
Difficult to comment on running costs since mine is under warranty and touch wood nothing has gone wrong with it. Servicing does seem expensive at main dealers but it's all relative when getting something like a Golf serviced can probably cost £300.
As I'm sure people will be quick to point out, keep in mind that 4x4 just helps gives you traction, tyres give you the grip and you still end up with two tons to stop rather than one ton, so don't treat a 4x4 as something that will make you invincible simply because it's 4x4.
I've got a mk3 CR-V 2.2 and it's been faultless.
It's big enough for family camping trips, returns 38 mpg on mixed driving and is still tight after 5 years and 55,000 miles.
Honda servicing isn't cheap but Bristol Honda do value services for cars out of warranty that is reasonable and the car has never visited the dealer outside of scheduled services.
Some people have reported clutch slippage problems with the diesel but I've not had any problems.
I looked at a Kuga but it's a bit too small for me, it did drive nicely though.
The CR-V isn't a driver's car by any means but it suits us at the moment and has been great value.
It's big enough for family camping trips, returns 38 mpg on mixed driving and is still tight after 5 years and 55,000 miles.
Honda servicing isn't cheap but Bristol Honda do value services for cars out of warranty that is reasonable and the car has never visited the dealer outside of scheduled services.
Some people have reported clutch slippage problems with the diesel but I've not had any problems.
I looked at a Kuga but it's a bit too small for me, it did drive nicely though.
The CR-V isn't a driver's car by any means but it suits us at the moment and has been great value.
I sold a Tiguan 2 weeks ago, as I changed jobs and can now justify having an impractical V8. I bought it new so it was specd exactly as I wanted it. In DSG form it would gobble up the miles with ease, and very comfortably too. If careful it can return 45mpg. It's never going to set the world on fire, but it was a nice place to be, and did its job well. Surprisingly capable with the Haldex 4wd too.
The cars you suggest aren't the sort of cars to wade through floods, so you won't have that much advantage over a normal car in any amount of water, and they will be just as buggered if the water gets too deep. They are also likely to be equipped with normal roads tyres so won't be much more use in the snow but will be slightly heavier and have a higher centre of gravity which will likely negate any traction advantage the part time 4wd gives them.
Deerfoot said:
I've got a mk3 CR-V 2.2 and it's been faultless.
It's big enough for family camping trips, returns 38 mpg on mixed driving and is still tight after 5 years and 55,000 miles.
Honda servicing isn't cheap but Bristol Honda do value services for cars out of warranty that is reasonable and the car has never visited the dealer outside of scheduled services.
Some people have reported clutch slippage problems with the diesel but I've not had any problems.
I looked at a Kuga but it's a bit too small for me, it did drive nicely though.
The CR-V isn't a driver's car by any means but it suits us at the moment and has been great value.
I also use Bristol Honda for servicing my 2005 Civic. £148 for a service and MOT and one year Honda break-down cover is given.It's big enough for family camping trips, returns 38 mpg on mixed driving and is still tight after 5 years and 55,000 miles.
Honda servicing isn't cheap but Bristol Honda do value services for cars out of warranty that is reasonable and the car has never visited the dealer outside of scheduled services.
Some people have reported clutch slippage problems with the diesel but I've not had any problems.
I looked at a Kuga but it's a bit too small for me, it did drive nicely though.
The CR-V isn't a driver's car by any means but it suits us at the moment and has been great value.
muckymotor said:
We owned a Jeep Patriot until recently, in the four years we had it it was faultless. Excellent in the snow and the VAG running gear gave 40mpg. Not the most fashionable 4x4 but the prices reflect this which is a bonus if you don't want the latest must have.
I have a 2007 Patriot CRD & although it's a nice car it has on serious design fault which is the front wishbone lower ball joint. Mine has done under 63000 miles but has had to have both sides done twice in the last 2 years, the last time it was the passengers side that failed in the fast lane of the M6 last April. Luckily I was only doing 30 mph & slowing down when the joint gave way, wedging the wheel in the arch, I slid towards the central reservation & stopped just before I hit it..... They had to shut the M6 to recover me.I've done some research on it & it's a fairly common occurrence but Jeep don't want to know.
I wouldn't rule the car out but make sure you have them checked over properly & replaced if there's any wear at all (About £375 per side fitted)
Cheers
Jamie
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