best off road 4x4 for £1000?
Discussion
Hi Everyone,
A friend of mine just bought a defender and we went off roading at the weekend and really enjoyed it.
So was looking at a cheap 4x4 to spend a bit of money into making it a proper off roader.
where would be the best place to start for the money ??
Was thinking maybe a pajero/shogun ??
thanks!
A friend of mine just bought a defender and we went off roading at the weekend and really enjoyed it.
So was looking at a cheap 4x4 to spend a bit of money into making it a proper off roader.
where would be the best place to start for the money ??
Was thinking maybe a pajero/shogun ??
thanks!
callywally18 said:
Hi Everyone,
A friend of mine just bought a defender and we went off roading at the weekend and really enjoyed it.
So was looking at a cheap 4x4 to spend a bit of money into making it a proper off roader.
where would be the best place to start for the money ??
Was thinking maybe a pajero/shogun ??
thanks!
What sort of off roading was it? And is that your main goal?A friend of mine just bought a defender and we went off roading at the weekend and really enjoyed it.
So was looking at a cheap 4x4 to spend a bit of money into making it a proper off roader.
where would be the best place to start for the money ??
Was thinking maybe a pajero/shogun ??
thanks!
Do you think you'll want road comfort too, plenty of seating, hauling ability or towing ability too?
With any 4x4 if you plan to off road it properly, you'll need to budget for some proper off road tyres. Some vehicles might also need a few mods to make them worthwhile.
Personally I'm a Landy man, but I've also had Jeeps. And I like some Jap 4x4's, although I'm not familiar with the Shogun/Pajero's, although I've always been lead to believe while capable, they lack the raw off road ability of something like a Land Rover.
On this basis and the fact that you'll probably find less off road biased parts for them, I'd probably avoid them as a dedicated off roader.
£1000 will get you a Land Rover Discovery with a bit of searching. These are easily as capable as a Defender off road, for the simple fact that everything under the body is mostly the same as a Defender.
Trim the arches and slap some 235/85R16 mud terrains on one and it'll be perfectly capable for most off roading, although they are a bit more chunky/bulky off road than a Defender.
However at this price point I would also seriously consider a Jeep. XJ Cherokees are very affordable at this money and even ZJ Grand Cherokees.
The XJ is actually about the same size as a Defender, only slightly longer and smaller than a Disco. You will need to consider a lift kit however, as they ride a little low in standard UK trim. But lift kits can be cheap and easy to fit (I bought one for £80 and fitted it myself). With a lift kit they are easily as capable as a standard Defender or Discovery off road.
The ZJ is a little bigger, but slightly more compact than a Discovery. Again you'll want to lift it to match the Land Rovers off road.
If you want something more compact and better on fuel. Then take a look at a Suzuki Jimny. These are hugely capable and are a bit like a Series 1 Land Rover with Defender suspension and better built. You might struggle to find one for £1k though, although £1500-1800 should get you one.
An alternative would be the Suzuki Vitara 3 door. These have IFS and technically shouldn't be as good as the Jimny off road, but have better road manners and a bigger engine.
A left field option would be a Lada Niva. A bit rare to find, but are about and usually very cheap. Quite rustic, but capable little off roaders.
Posted this in the "bargain basement" thread earlier... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-JEEP-GRAND-CHEROKEE...
Toaster Pilot said:
Posted this in the "bargain basement" thread earlier... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-JEEP-GRAND-CHEROKEE...
bloody hell , that looks good! I would happily sit in that for only £775!Supernova190188 said:
Toaster Pilot said:
Posted this in the "bargain basement" thread earlier... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-JEEP-GRAND-CHEROKEE...
bloody hell , that looks good! I would happily sit in that for only £775!300bhp/ton said:
callywally18 said:
Hi Everyone,
A friend of mine just bought a defender and we went off roading at the weekend and really enjoyed it.
So was looking at a cheap 4x4 to spend a bit of money into making it a proper off roader.
where would be the best place to start for the money ??
Was thinking maybe a pajero/shogun ??
thanks!
What sort of off roading was it? And is that your main goal?A friend of mine just bought a defender and we went off roading at the weekend and really enjoyed it.
So was looking at a cheap 4x4 to spend a bit of money into making it a proper off roader.
where would be the best place to start for the money ??
Was thinking maybe a pajero/shogun ??
thanks!
Do you think you'll want road comfort too, plenty of seating, hauling ability or towing ability too?
With any 4x4 if you plan to off road it properly, you'll need to budget for some proper off road tyres. Some vehicles might also need a few mods to make them worthwhile.
Personally I'm a Landy man, but I've also had Jeeps. And I like some Jap 4x4's, although I'm not familiar with the Shogun/Pajero's, although I've always been lead to believe while capable, they lack the raw off road ability of something like a Land Rover.
On this basis and the fact that you'll probably find less off road biased parts for them, I'd probably avoid them as a dedicated off roader.
£1000 will get you a Land Rover Discovery with a bit of searching. These are easily as capable as a Defender off road, for the simple fact that everything under the body is mostly the same as a Defender.
Trim the arches and slap some 235/85R16 mud terrains on one and it'll be perfectly capable for most off roading, although they are a bit more chunky/bulky off road than a Defender.
However at this price point I would also seriously consider a Jeep. XJ Cherokees are very affordable at this money and even ZJ Grand Cherokees.
The XJ is actually about the same size as a Defender, only slightly longer and smaller than a Disco. You will need to consider a lift kit however, as they ride a little low in standard UK trim. But lift kits can be cheap and easy to fit (I bought one for £80 and fitted it myself). With a lift kit they are easily as capable as a standard Defender or Discovery off road.
The ZJ is a little bigger, but slightly more compact than a Discovery. Again you'll want to lift it to match the Land Rovers off road.
If you want something more compact and better on fuel. Then take a look at a Suzuki Jimny. These are hugely capable and are a bit like a Series 1 Land Rover with Defender suspension and better built. You might struggle to find one for £1k though, although £1500-1800 should get you one.
An alternative would be the Suzuki Vitara 3 door. These have IFS and technically shouldn't be as good as the Jimny off road, but have better road manners and a bigger engine.
A left field option would be a Lada Niva. A bit rare to find, but are about and usually very cheap. Quite rustic, but capable little off roaders.
i have a few mates with defenders, so the main aim is to just go off roading for a bit of fun, wont be doing any towing and not really bothered about how it is on the road fuel costs etc.
What are the jeeps like off road ?? quite like the look of them
Roo said:
Supernova190188 said:
Toaster Pilot said:
Posted this in the "bargain basement" thread earlier... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-JEEP-GRAND-CHEROKEE...
bloody hell , that looks good! I would happily sit in that for only £775!They seem a bit keener to insure me on something like that these days though which is good
callywally18 said:
thanks for the advice.
i have a few mates with defenders, so the main aim is to just go off roading for a bit of fun, wont be doing any towing and not really bothered about how it is on the road fuel costs etc.
What are the jeeps like off road ?? quite like the look of them
Jeeps are very good. Remember the first Land Rovers were inspired by Jeeps. The only thing they suffer is they ride too low from the factory. A budget boost lift is all you need however. i have a few mates with defenders, so the main aim is to just go off roading for a bit of fun, wont be doing any towing and not really bothered about how it is on the road fuel costs etc.
What are the jeeps like off road ?? quite like the look of them
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