4x4 for muddy roads and motorways

[harmeetjohal]

We have just moved about 5 miles from civilisation, we have a 0.5 mile muddy farmers track followed by a single track lane and daily have to face deep potholes, driving on muddy verges, 6" deep puddles etc and it's not even winter yet.


We need:
Big tyres for the potholes
4x4 for the constantly wet / muddy lanes plus the snow.
Reliability.
Good on the motorway as we do about 30 miles a day at 70.
It's just me and the wife, sometimes the mastiff although 99% of the time it's just us.
And the wife isnt an estate fan, and I don't like French stuff...(sorry)
We have between £4-7,000 to spend

Anyone made a similar choice?
Thanks

Edited by harmeetjohal on Thursday 20th July 23:13

[Hoofy]

Hybrid Lexus RX something?

[TobyLerone]

See my email matey.

I'd recommend a big Japanese 4x4. Reliable, tough as old boots, comfortable, and as capable on farm tracks and rough muddy / snowy roads as it is on motorways.

[ambuletz]

go toyota or subaru.

[Hoofy]

FWIW, I happily drove my mk1 RX the length of the country recently. No discomfort at all. Even clipped 30mpg (the hybrid models should clip 40mpg). I've seen videos of crazy Russians(?) driving their RXs in 12inch deep snow, too. so I guess it'd be good for UK winters.

[Aids0G]

For the budget, £5000 on the best late td5 discovery 2 you can find, set of high sidewall all terrains and the rest of the budget on suspension refresh new airbags remap and anaything else it needs then enjoy! Good ride on the road on proper tyres and reliable if well looked after + 30 mpg easy and easy to fix any problems.

Or a landcruiser but where's the fun in that! Some kind of Subaru Forester would be good to at that Money.

Wildcard lease a cheap pickup for three years?

Good luck anyway!

[harmeetjohal]

TobyLerone said:

See my email matey.

I'd recommend a big Japanese 4x4. Reliable, tough as old boots, comfortable, and as capable on farm tracks and rough muddy / snowy roads as it is on motorways.

Can you email [e-mail] as I have left that job... Thanks

[Obison]

Honda crv, my wife has one for the very same reasons as you, brilliant car.

[Obison]

Honda crv, my wife has one for the very same reasons as you, brilliant car.

[48k]

harmeetjohal said:

Anyone made a similar choice?
Thanks

Yes, 2008 Nissan XTrail. Excellent car.

[Willy Nilly]

Fix the road.

I will edit to add...

I'm about to start my 28th consecutive harvest and there is nothing you can tell me about farm tracks.

Seriously, get the road fixed. If you keep using the road there will come a point where it is too rough for a Defender.

A man with a 7 tonne 360 and some road plainings (sp) will be able to put a slight grade on the road so that the rain runs off it leaving you with a nice track that any car can use.

If you are needing a decent 4 wheel drive to get up you track, how is the postman going to get up there, or a builder, or the plumber or your mates. Believe me, it's very tiring driving along a rough road, no matter what vehicle it's in.

Getting the track sorted now should give you enough time for the plainings to settle and go hard before winter arrives, then just keep a load of plainings on hand and get your man to give it a scrape in the spring to keep it smooth so water doesn't collect in the holes and make craters.

If you feel the need to get a 4x4 to fit in with the countryside (you don't), then get one, but fix the road.

Edited by Willy Nilly on Friday 21st July 09:51

[Pica-Pica]

ambuletz said:

go toyota or subaru.

I would go Subaru Forester. Or, watching all the war zone news, Toyota pick up.

[harmeetjohal]

Thanks, and you are right would love a nice smooth road but the thought of laying just over half a mile of road sounds very very expensive... (To be fair have never looked into cost.
At the moment all our post is left at the top of the lane so we have to drive up.
So for the moment will need a 4x4 and would have to get some prices for the work.. issue is that the farmer owns the access to the property so it's not my road to work on....

[harmeetjohal]

Also didn't want something too big as lanes can be tight especially if another car is coming towards us.

[oop north]

Forester

[boyse7en]

harmeetjohal said:

Thanks, and you are right would love a nice smooth road but the thought of laying just over half a mile of road sounds very very expensive... (To be fair have never looked into cost.
At the moment all our post is left at the top of the lane so we have to drive up.
So for the moment will need a 4x4 and would have to get some prices for the work.. issue is that the farmer owns the access to the property so it's not my road to work on....

I imagine it will be cheaper than a new car and the ongoing suspension repairs...

I bought 20mm scalpings at £7 per tonne delivered late last year if that helps.

[Willy Nilly]

harmeetjohal said:

issue is that the farmer owns the access to the property so it's not my road to work on....

Have you approached him about the track? If you go to see him in a friendly manner, probably with a bottle of wine to lubricate the negotiations and offer to pay a fair share of the repairs and up keep, you may find he's quite open to getting the track fixed. It would almost certainly be cheaper than changing your car to suit a very small proportion of your mileage

[Hoofy]

Out of interest, where do you live? It sounds idyllic, rough track aside. (Bin day must be a PITA as well, dragging a wheelie bin half a mile!)

[harmeetjohal]

We in a village called Marlow.

[Hoofy]

harmeetjohal said:

We in a village called Marlow.

Oh right, imagined it was somewhere in the Lake District.