Four Wheel Drive - £1-2K budget

[Craig W]

I’m after some advice on a suitable 4 wheel drive vehicle. We will soon be moving to a hilly rural area that is on the edge of Exmoor and regularly gets snow coverage, not great roads etc. Therefore looking for something that is 4 wheel drive, I know some will argue that it isn’t necessary but the Mrs would rather the peace of mind too.

Usage will be fairly limited, I’ll commute a 30 mile round trip maybe 4 days in a month and it would be used as necessary in bad weather. Budget 1-2K, closer to 1K the better.

Considering 4x4’s but don’t necessarily need the ground clearance, though the load space in those vehicles could come in handy.

Currently on my list is:
CR-V
Grand Vitara
Rav4

I’ll probably buy on condition at this budget, but anything else I can add to the shortlist? What offerings do Audi etc have in four wheel drive?

No kids to fit in but 4 seats is probably handy, but open to suggestions.

[InitialDave]

Panda 4x4 on winter tyres.

[designforlife]

I would go with an old RAV 4 auto 4x4... cheap as chips and very capable.

ETA - suzuki Jimny? Maybe a bit small, but cracking off-road

[Drl22]

InitialDave said:

Panda 4x4 on winter tyres.

I’d second that, had one in France. The 4x4 cross is an amazing bit of kit.

[tomsugden]

These things are unstoppable:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-Mitsubishi-DELICA-...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mitsubishi-delica-2-8-T...

[CrossMember]

A mate bought a mid 2000s Rav4 unseen for about £500 and it was scratched up and utterly filthy and needed a jolly good service, but otherwise there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. It was comfortable, everything worked, high 20s mpg (petrol), not terribly slow. It had that bombproof feeling to it.

This sort of thing. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[ARHarh]

You won't need a 4x4. It will only snow for 3 or 4 days a year and if it snows phone up and say its snowing i will come when the snow has gone. I live in a rural hilly part of the world, Shropshire / north wales border and could count the number of times in the last 8 years i have needed to use my land rover because of bad weather. I manage to get around most days in an MX5. Mind if you need a toy, man maths will dictate you need to have a fully kited out Land Rover capable of going over anything put in its way. If you don't have one you will be stranded from the end of October till late march every year

[Deesee]

InitialDave said:

Panda 4x4 on winter tyres.

This, a goat on wheels.

[OldGermanHeaps]

x trail is comfy, capable, spacious, and impressive on fuel for the size of it. there are one or 2 minor engine niggles that are cheap and easy to diy, and watch out for rust.

[Jamescrs]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

A bit more left field but what about a Ford Maverick?

I had one of these for a short while and did take it off roading and it held up very well really.

[Craig W]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

Panda 4x4 I think it just slightly out of budget, there are only a few around at 2K.

What do Audi do? A4 quattro etc? Or is that going to be a headache at this sort of price?

[InitialDave]

Craig W said:

Panda 4x4 I think it just slightly out of budget, there are only a few around at 2K.

I saw a slightly rough one for £500 last month, there's usually a few floating about.

[NickGRhodes]

Octavia 4x4/Scout or Audi A4/A6 Quattro/Allroad.
Maybe A Subaru ?

If its purely traction on roads in winter, you would most likely be better getting a 2wd and a 2nd set of wheels with Winter tyres on.

[Craig W]

I can't see any Pandas in the usual places, plus all the interiors I've seen are horrific, not sold on those to be honest.

[loskie]

Forester or Outback: proper 4wd system.

[Busterbulldog]

Get a freelander, td4 , cheap reliable and capable.

[NickGRhodes]

Craig W said:

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

Panda 4x4 I think it just slightly out of budget, there are only a few around at 2K.

What do Audi do? A4 quattro etc? Or is that going to be a headache at this sort of price?

Like with any car in that budget, the cared for ones are hard to find, I found few genuinely looked after Audi/Skodas with twice the budget and I only wanted 2wd and I traveled 70miles to look at one car and a few at 30 miles away (all 3 turned out to have discrepancies with the description/photos).

[sunbeam alpine]

Busterbulldog said:

Get a freelander, td4 , cheap reliable and capable.

A cheap Freelander will probably be 2wd due to their problems.

A Panda 4x4 below 2k will be neither pleasant nor reliable.

If you want a proper 4x4 at this budget you want to be looking at Jeeps, or maybe something a bit left-field like a Daihatsu Fourtrak (if they haven't all rusted away).

Bear in mind that a 4x4 in the snow isn't the answer to everything - if there are 10 cars stuck in front of you you're fked anyway!

[TiminYorkshire]

What about a Daihatsu Terios?

[Busterbulldog]

sunbeam alpine said:

Busterbulldog said:

Get a freelander, td4 , cheap reliable and capable.

A cheap Freelander will probably be 2wd due to their problems.

That is not my experience
)