7 seater 4 x 4
Discussion
Sorry for yet another what car thread, however this is my first so please bear with me. As a family we have had a Ford S max for the last 6 years albeit various models, although it's boring they have proved ideal for the five of us especially with the extra seats which are used regularly. We moved to Cornwall a few weeks ago and already there are obvious issues with the Smax as our all rounder. We are at the beach whenever possible and the boys have recently started football and other sports so the car is getting filthy and full of sand on a regular basis. I have decided to look at a more rugged vehicle big enough to carry us and all equipment (boards, wetsuits, kayak on roof etc.
The budget is approx. £20-25K don't really want to go above as we want to change our Mondeo for something more luxurious with better MPG as well (but that's another thread!). 7 seats is a must, MPG not crucial but a bonus if reasonable. At the moment thinking Defender but wanted a list to weigh up pros and cons.
Thanks
The budget is approx. £20-25K don't really want to go above as we want to change our Mondeo for something more luxurious with better MPG as well (but that's another thread!). 7 seats is a must, MPG not crucial but a bonus if reasonable. At the moment thinking Defender but wanted a list to weigh up pros and cons.
Thanks
Personally I love defenders. But make sure you test drive one first as they are like marmite. They are poorly built and poorly equipped. But unbeatable as a work horse. And they hold their money well.
A second hand discovery would fill your need and then some. Volvo Xc 90 or Mitsubishi shotgun are also great cars.
A second hand discovery would fill your need and then some. Volvo Xc 90 or Mitsubishi shotgun are also great cars.
leedogg3 said:
Sorry for yet another what car thread, however this is my first so please bear with me. As a family we have had a Ford S max for the last 6 years albeit various models, although it's boring they have proved ideal for the five of us especially with the extra seats which are used regularly. We moved to Cornwall a few weeks ago and already there are obvious issues with the Smax as our all rounder. We are at the beach whenever possible and the boys have recently started football and other sports so the car is getting filthy and full of sand on a regular basis. I have decided to look at a more rugged vehicle big enough to carry us and all equipment (boards, wetsuits, kayak on roof etc.
The budget is approx. £20-25K don't really want to go above as we want to change our Mondeo for something more luxurious with better MPG as well (but that's another thread!). 7 seats is a must, MPG not crucial but a bonus if reasonable. At the moment thinking Defender but wanted a list to weigh up pros and cons.
Thanks
A defender isn't really a car, it's a piece of equipment like a tractor or jcb.The budget is approx. £20-25K don't really want to go above as we want to change our Mondeo for something more luxurious with better MPG as well (but that's another thread!). 7 seats is a must, MPG not crucial but a bonus if reasonable. At the moment thinking Defender but wanted a list to weigh up pros and cons.
Thanks
You want an LR4.
C
To meet your criteria ,can't see how you can avoid a Defender. As long as you've got a normal car for long journies ,the only thing more suitable for your 'living the dream' lifestyle would be one of those South American VW Type 2's . Modern 7 seaters like Disco's and XC90's would get very tired looking very quickly whereas the Defender will just get more characterful. Make sure you get it properly rustprooofed though!
Disco 3 or Defender.
But, I'll echo what everyone else said about the defender being a tractor not a car.
Also, the disco 6 and 7 seats fold away.
The defenders probably won't - it'll be more like a minibus.
Disco 3 with light guards and non-bodycolour bumpers is rugged enough to deal with the lanes.
But, I'll echo what everyone else said about the defender being a tractor not a car.
Also, the disco 6 and 7 seats fold away.
The defenders probably won't - it'll be more like a minibus.
Disco 3 with light guards and non-bodycolour bumpers is rugged enough to deal with the lanes.
Bit of curve ball here but I was in the same boat a few years ago and bought a Q7, after it ate front tyres as quick at it drunk deisel i sold it and the missus swapped her car for a Pug 4007. OK its not a luxurous as the Q7 but god its up to the job. It pulls our horse trailer around the UK and just did 3k around france without missing a beat.
Its basiscally an Outland but was rebadged as a 4007 or a C-Crossed by the french. Your budget would get top end and they look quite sporty i think for a 7 seater 4x4.
We looked at Discos and XC90 but when I drove them they seemed to feel like you were pulling a train, very heavy
Its basiscally an Outland but was rebadged as a 4007 or a C-Crossed by the french. Your budget would get top end and they look quite sporty i think for a 7 seater 4x4.
We looked at Discos and XC90 but when I drove them they seemed to feel like you were pulling a train, very heavy
D3 is a weighty car.
But, it would pulls the same whether it's empty or whether it's full of a tonne of camping gear and a roofbox on top.
I found the Nissan to have horrible rear seats.
Honestly, I think your best bet is to do so me test drives.
But I'd suggest you start at the Land Rover dealers.
But, it would pulls the same whether it's empty or whether it's full of a tonne of camping gear and a roofbox on top.
I found the Nissan to have horrible rear seats.
Honestly, I think your best bet is to do so me test drives.
But I'd suggest you start at the Land Rover dealers.
Looking at some of these suggestions,I think that my kids must need better training. There is no way an X5 , or a Korean crossover would survive very long with boards and kayaks thrown at or on it let alone anything remotely brittle and French. Just leaning against a nice shiny Merc GL in a sandy wetsuit could do a grands worth of damage.
I kept a battered old 300tdi Disco for these sorts of things and next year will be getting a Defender or old Hi Lux,even though my lot are pretty much grown up, I'm not!
I kept a battered old 300tdi Disco for these sorts of things and next year will be getting a Defender or old Hi Lux,even though my lot are pretty much grown up, I'm not!
Snowboy said:
Disco 3 or Defender.
But, I'll echo what everyone else said about the defender being a tractor not a car.
Also, the disco 6 and 7 seats fold away.
The defenders probably won't - it'll be more like a minibus.
Disco 3 with light guards and non-bodycolour bumpers is rugged enough to deal with the lanes.
Defenders from '07 onwards have forward facing seats with belts rather that the bench seats as before. The new seats fold and can be tied back to provide more room for load bay.But, I'll echo what everyone else said about the defender being a tractor not a car.
Also, the disco 6 and 7 seats fold away.
The defenders probably won't - it'll be more like a minibus.
Disco 3 with light guards and non-bodycolour bumpers is rugged enough to deal with the lanes.
Mitsubishi outlanders can have 7 seats leather sat nav 7 seats 24.8 k prob get it cheaper.
For example
http://www.mitsubishi-usedcars.co.uk/used-mitsubis...
These look great as do pathfinders
For example
http://www.mitsubishi-usedcars.co.uk/used-mitsubis...
These look great as do pathfinders
Edited by Pesty on Monday 9th September 16:51
Is a Discovery more rugged than an S-Max ?
I know it goes off road which an S-Max doesnt but in terms of ruggedness, interior wise it isnt like they are all Vinyl seats and rubber mats, the paint is as delicate as any other car, treat it rough and it will damage as easily as anything else but will climb a slippy 1 in 4.
For Ruggedness I would be thinking a basic of a Japanese something, like a UN spec Landcruiser.
I always describe Land Rovers as farm vehicles you can use on the road, kind of better than Combine Harvesters but outclassed by some of the bigger faster tractors.
I know it goes off road which an S-Max doesnt but in terms of ruggedness, interior wise it isnt like they are all Vinyl seats and rubber mats, the paint is as delicate as any other car, treat it rough and it will damage as easily as anything else but will climb a slippy 1 in 4.
For Ruggedness I would be thinking a basic of a Japanese something, like a UN spec Landcruiser.
I always describe Land Rovers as farm vehicles you can use on the road, kind of better than Combine Harvesters but outclassed by some of the bigger faster tractors.
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