It's ok to see off roaders on the road.
Discussion
I'm thinking of trying a different vehicle to my usual hot hatch choice. A 4x4. The roads around here are so broken beaten and scarred (thanks Metallica) and scattered with disintegrating speed bumps that something with a generous tyre profile 15>mm tread blocks and forgivving grippy suspension is more at home on roads that no kidding are rougher than some Forrest tracks i've been down.
As such i've changed my perspective of 4x4 drivers. At least not the affluent pretentious types. From driving stupid unnecessary heavy vehicles to actually being quite sensible. Although i will not extend that to soft roaders. having previously driven a Ford ranger (that was horrible) and a freelander MK1 i'm prepared to give them a go and be ready expect some fairly major differences to ridiculously taught hot hatches with planks of wood for suspension.
I'm thinking A Pajero or more likely a Shogun SWB would be up my street as i like the look of them and don't want anything too big yet i would still like to retain a decent level of pace (all things relative of course). I would like something that is reasonably firmly sprung for a 4x4 so i can make differences with tyre pressure if i feel the need. maybe i should take up off-roading as a hobby then.
As such i've changed my perspective of 4x4 drivers. At least not the affluent pretentious types. From driving stupid unnecessary heavy vehicles to actually being quite sensible. Although i will not extend that to soft roaders. having previously driven a Ford ranger (that was horrible) and a freelander MK1 i'm prepared to give them a go and be ready expect some fairly major differences to ridiculously taught hot hatches with planks of wood for suspension.
I'm thinking A Pajero or more likely a Shogun SWB would be up my street as i like the look of them and don't want anything too big yet i would still like to retain a decent level of pace (all things relative of course). I would like something that is reasonably firmly sprung for a 4x4 so i can make differences with tyre pressure if i feel the need. maybe i should take up off-roading as a hobby then.
Depends where you live, I live in the stick and see lots of most different makes every day an its looks perfectly normal to me, but in the centre of town, can be a bit big and cumbersome.
Be prepared for the fact that a proper off roader such as the pajero you have mentioned wont have particularly good road manners, a swb pajero especially can be more than a bit choppy and a little tail happy in the wet at round abouts. Had one, got a lwb which is better but is certainly not a Range Rover comfort wise. But is a relaxed driving experience
Unless you need the extra bits a that a true off roader gives, then stick with a cross over, BMW X3 and X5 cover most bases, drive well, Image problem - well maybe if you care about that.
The LR products do both the on road and off road manner probably best - but reliability is not their strong point and just plain expensive.
Toyota Landcruiser if can stomach the purchase price would be a v good choice in my eyes
Be prepared for the fact that a proper off roader such as the pajero you have mentioned wont have particularly good road manners, a swb pajero especially can be more than a bit choppy and a little tail happy in the wet at round abouts. Had one, got a lwb which is better but is certainly not a Range Rover comfort wise. But is a relaxed driving experience
Unless you need the extra bits a that a true off roader gives, then stick with a cross over, BMW X3 and X5 cover most bases, drive well, Image problem - well maybe if you care about that.
The LR products do both the on road and off road manner probably best - but reliability is not their strong point and just plain expensive.
Toyota Landcruiser if can stomach the purchase price would be a v good choice in my eyes
Think about £5k is about as much as i'd go for a 4x4. I hadn't really considered the choppy side of things as now you mention it my parents have a Rav4 3dr and sitting in the back of that thing is pretty bouncy although that could be knackered shocks wouldn't surprise me.
Are the freelander 2's any good, not really in budget i know but would have to see about that. Also living in a built up area the clutch, gearbox and brakes would get quite a lot of use.
Are the freelander 2's any good, not really in budget i know but would have to see about that. Also living in a built up area the clutch, gearbox and brakes would get quite a lot of use.
Soft roaders are the target of much abuse from some PH's but if you only plan on using the car on the road then they are probably a better bet than something like a Shogun, Nissan Patrol Discovery, etc. A previous model Honda CRV is actually a pretty good all rounder in my opinion and the ride quality is fine if you stick with the 16" wheels.
doogz said:
My SWB Shogun was pretty manouverable, although had a very slow rack.
Our Kia is has a cracking turning circle, and is very easy to manouvre.
But my Shogun Sport has the turning circle of a mid sized oil tanker! You have to nail your turn in, in multi story car parks, or you're the dick that has to 3 point it, and piss everyone behind you off!
Lol you have not seen my other half trying to manoeuvre my lwb shogun, yeah its the typical 3 point turn,and generally a dogs dinner, yet I don't have any issues with it length wise.Our Kia is has a cracking turning circle, and is very easy to manouvre.
But my Shogun Sport has the turning circle of a mid sized oil tanker! You have to nail your turn in, in multi story car parks, or you're the dick that has to 3 point it, and piss everyone behind you off!
What Kia have you got as I find my dad old shape kia sorento poor for its turning circle (given its size), but overall a cracking 4x4 - if a little poor on ground clearance as standard, but not sure if it has the correct tyres on it..
Madkat said:
The forrester is also an option like a suppose an Allroad more car manners than a true 4x4 yet with the suspension travel and tyre profile to handle the worse than third world country roads that Liverpool possesses.
The Subaru AWD is unusual in that it is permanent and locked AWB not some electronically controlled system that sits in FWD most the time, gives a few "performance" cars a nasty surprise in Turbo and STi format 
I had 2 freeby 1's. Both td4 and one had a twisted performance remap on it.
I found them really good as a daily driver, great fun in the snow, decent handling. I used to take mine on PH runs...
would average high 30s and had lots of toys.
Go for an auto SE/HSE. Blank the EGR, change the boost hoses, change the crank filter for the BMW one and remap it.
People look down on them but for sliding around in the snow or over wet grass and clay, they are great fun.
£5k will get a really good one.
I moved onto a Disco3 and that's even better for soaking up the bumps and dealing with crap roads.
I found them really good as a daily driver, great fun in the snow, decent handling. I used to take mine on PH runs...
would average high 30s and had lots of toys.Go for an auto SE/HSE. Blank the EGR, change the boost hoses, change the crank filter for the BMW one and remap it.
People look down on them but for sliding around in the snow or over wet grass and clay, they are great fun.
£5k will get a really good one.
I moved onto a Disco3 and that's even better for soaking up the bumps and dealing with crap roads.
Madkat said:
Think about £5k is about as much as i'd go for a 4x4. I hadn't really considered the choppy side of things as now you mention it my parents have a Rav4 3dr and sitting in the back of that thing is pretty bouncy although that could be knackered shocks wouldn't surprise me.
The RAV4 is one of the better riding small 4x4s. It has independent suspension and rides far more car like than the other 4x4s I have driven (SJ, vitara, defender and disco). Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff