Sigh... Considering a Soft Roader up to 9k

[Pique]

I live and work in a very rural area, and my daily commute has recently gone up from a 10 minute jaunt to a 40+ minute endeavour. So as much as I love my Impreza WRX, I am considering a change, with the 50+ a week fuel bill and top-whack tax bill getting hard to stomach!

My requirements are 4wd (this is non-negotiable before anyone starts), better than 35 mpg, with a decent level of equipment - and given my area's propensity to flood, it has to be decent in bad conditions. I'm not talking Defender, but I want some peace of mind to be able get home. I like buying low mileage, and wouldn't consider anything over 80k. Fussy much?

At around a 9k budget, I was pretty set on a Freelander. But their reliability issues put me off a little. An X3 is also tempting - I'm not bothered by the looks or interior plastics, and the performance and fuel economy at 2.0d is better than a Td4. In an ideal world I would have an Outback or Diesel Forester, but finding one in budget is hard.

These are on my shortlist right now:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Anyone have any insight or alternatives?

[OJ80]

My dad's got a 2006 Honda CRV 2.2 diesel which he loves. Not a thing of beauty admittedly, but comfortable and with the remap he gets 45+ mpg and a fat slug of torque which I mus admit to enjoying at traffic lights. He doesn't do a lot of miles, but the thing has been very reliable in the 6 years he's had it.

[billzeebub]

Non Turbo petrol Forester?

[loftylad]

Peugeot 4007/Citroen C-Crosser/Mitsubishi Outlander. Same car - choose your badge!

4WD, 35+mpg, all the toys.

You're welcome.

[garycat]

Diesel forester here in budget

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...

or how about an outback

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...

[Pique]

Would love a CR-V, but finding a decent one in budget is next to impossible. Same goes for the Subaru's - those in budget are always hundreds of miles away. Outlander isn't a bad shout, although I have heard they have an appetite for clutches.

Fording depth is also a consideration - an X3 is supposedly limited to 11" while the Freelander is 19" and can be increased.

[Lee540]

If the Impreza copes with your floods.. then why not a diesel quattro Audi of some kind?

[Pique]

Lee540 said:

If the Impreza copes with your floods.. then why not a diesel quattro Audi of some kind?

It doesn't - new job = new commute into a flood prone area that I wouldn't put the Impreza through.

[JimmyTheHand]

Pique said:

an X3 is supposedly limited to 11" while the Freelander is 19" and can be increased.

I am pretty sure both the X3's I have owned (E83 2007 & 2012 F25) have said 18"/50cm - but both have been 3.0D SE.

[smn159]

Sounds like you want a Freelander and if so you should buy one

[mike9009]

Nissan Qashqai?

[Pique]

smn159 said:

Sounds like you want a Freelander and if so you should buy one

I think I would prefer the on-road performance of a 2.0d X3 against a Td4 Freelander - on paper the performance is far superior.

But if it will struggle with snow or water compared to the Landy then it's a pointless acquisition.

[JimmyTheHand]

Pique said:

But if it will struggle with snow or water compared to the Landy then it's a pointless acquisition.

mine had Pirelli Scorpion STR on and pretty much coped with any snow/ice (including trip to Scotland after heavy snow) without incident. The new one has some summer tyres on and doesn't cope with stopping in snow at all.

I have pushed the new through some floods up to about 30cms, I suspect if you are going to encounter anything near that regularly you probably want a more serious off-roader.

[Pentoman]

Does the VW Tiguan come in budget? Are they even 4WD and can they wade?

Mitubishi/Peugeot/Citroen is a good shout - they seem nice and comfy, good interior and well equipped. Maybe I'm biased due to recent modern Citroen acquisition (see other topic).

Old-shape Mitsubishi outlander is not that special though.

[Pique]

Tried an X3 today, and it actually drove really well - I don't get the criticism it gets tbh.

Just on the lookout for a good example now