Quite specific, some would say fussy
Discussion
I have some ‘needs’ from a vehicle, intertwined with some ‘wants’…..
Want:
6 cylinders
300+ bhp (250 is OK, if 0-60 under 6 sec)
Under 2 tonnes
Reasonable mpg (reading between the lines, I like the torque of a turbo-diesel, but would consider petrol if it wasn’t too ruinous on the wallet)
Need:
4wd - a requirement from the events I support
Enough ground clearance to be able to travel quickly over bumpy roads with a high crown (I’ve seen standard estate cars ripping holes in their sump doing the same job)
Not fragile - needs to be able to traverse gravelled roads with pace (60mph)
RFL - under £400 per year (current is £435, may do the same)
Profile:
WFH quite a lot, and a have a weekend V8 for fun and tip runs - i.e. it will sit on the drive for, sometimes, weeks on end
Hobby involves travelling distances to get to events (often 300 miles or more each way, and at least once a year 500+ miles - which needs to be done in a day)
Hobby involves extensive travel at events, sometimes using forest tracks and occasionally requiring decent cargo space
Events are located in isolated and often rural places without any charging infrastructure
Prejudices/Favourites:
I had an ML320 many years ago, one of the worst SUVs I’ve ever driven and sold within months, I did say to myself I wouldn’t have another Merc
Limited experience of Volvo SUVs would suggest they’re too soft and couldn’t be pushed too hard - early XC90s had an awful turning circle, have they improved?
Italians - Alfa Romeo/Maserati, might be quick and handle, but too fragile for the woods?
Pickup? Just no, not enough use of the load space to be worthwhile and they really don’t handle well - yes, I have driven them on events the the event has rented them for us, and am basing that on recent experience
I like the X3, and have had a few - am I getting hung up on them?
Would the Porsche servicing costs be too bad - have heard some stories, even about indie charges
Budget £25k
Prospective vehicles:
X3 - M40d/M40i - or even a late F25 35d
Porsche Macan - Diesel/S/GTS/Turbo
What am I missing from my prospective list?
Want:
6 cylinders
300+ bhp (250 is OK, if 0-60 under 6 sec)
Under 2 tonnes
Reasonable mpg (reading between the lines, I like the torque of a turbo-diesel, but would consider petrol if it wasn’t too ruinous on the wallet)
Need:
4wd - a requirement from the events I support
Enough ground clearance to be able to travel quickly over bumpy roads with a high crown (I’ve seen standard estate cars ripping holes in their sump doing the same job)
Not fragile - needs to be able to traverse gravelled roads with pace (60mph)
RFL - under £400 per year (current is £435, may do the same)
Profile:
WFH quite a lot, and a have a weekend V8 for fun and tip runs - i.e. it will sit on the drive for, sometimes, weeks on end
Hobby involves travelling distances to get to events (often 300 miles or more each way, and at least once a year 500+ miles - which needs to be done in a day)
Hobby involves extensive travel at events, sometimes using forest tracks and occasionally requiring decent cargo space
Events are located in isolated and often rural places without any charging infrastructure
Prejudices/Favourites:
I had an ML320 many years ago, one of the worst SUVs I’ve ever driven and sold within months, I did say to myself I wouldn’t have another Merc
Limited experience of Volvo SUVs would suggest they’re too soft and couldn’t be pushed too hard - early XC90s had an awful turning circle, have they improved?
Italians - Alfa Romeo/Maserati, might be quick and handle, but too fragile for the woods?
Pickup? Just no, not enough use of the load space to be worthwhile and they really don’t handle well - yes, I have driven them on events the the event has rented them for us, and am basing that on recent experience
I like the X3, and have had a few - am I getting hung up on them?
Would the Porsche servicing costs be too bad - have heard some stories, even about indie charges
Budget £25k
Prospective vehicles:
X3 - M40d/M40i - or even a late F25 35d
Porsche Macan - Diesel/S/GTS/Turbo
What am I missing from my prospective list?
Sounds like you need one of poppopbangbang's Maroc Challenge converted Cayennes (based on the V6). 
No idea if it's in budget, but designed to drive to Morocco, blast through the desert, and drive home. 
Thread is here
No idea if it's in budget, but designed to drive to Morocco, blast through the desert, and drive home. Thread is here
Subaru Forester? If you have a genuine need for 4x4, get something with a proper 4x4 system. Might be too thirsty though, especially the quicker one, and no idea on RFL. Well within budget though. If you actually need to do 60mph on gravel I'm not sure I'd even consider a road-optimised SUV from BMW/Audi/VAG.
I know you said 2 tonnes, but £25k gets a decent L405 Range Rover with a V8 and 6.5 to 60, proper 4x4 system and one of the more reliable JLR products of late (especially the SDV8). Comfortable and I've done 1000 mile days in mine. 500 is a breeze.
I know you said 2 tonnes, but £25k gets a decent L405 Range Rover with a V8 and 6.5 to 60, proper 4x4 system and one of the more reliable JLR products of late (especially the SDV8). Comfortable and I've done 1000 mile days in mine. 500 is a breeze.
WH16 said:
Subaru Forester? If you have a genuine need for 4x4, get something with a proper 4x4 system. Might be too thirsty though, especially the quicker one, and no idea on RFL. Well within budget though. If you actually need to do 60mph on gravel I'm not sure I'd even consider a road-optimised SUV from BMW/Audi/VAG.
I know you said 2 tonnes, but £25k gets a decent L405 Range Rover with a V8 and 6.5 to 60, proper 4x4 system and one of the more reliable JLR products of late (especially the SDV8). Comfortable and I've done 1000 mile days in mine. 500 is a breeze.
Only an XT would get near op’s requirements as the newer one is only available as a hybrid which has only 150bhp.I know you said 2 tonnes, but £25k gets a decent L405 Range Rover with a V8 and 6.5 to 60, proper 4x4 system and one of the more reliable JLR products of late (especially the SDV8). Comfortable and I've done 1000 mile days in mine. 500 is a breeze.
L405 is a great shout. Lovely machines and, in my mind, looks better than the later ones if specced correctly.
Some great suggestions, thanks all
SQ-5 - considered one of the bi-tdi versions when I bought my 35d a few years ago. When test driving it just didn't feel quick and a bit numb.
Also having seen one with a hole in it's crank case on an event recce, I was a bit put off.
A6 all-road - yes, but big foot print. An A4 all-road with the 3.0 may be an answer, but how good is the ground clearance really?
Touareg - a definite possibility, the new ones are attractive and almost fit the brief. Always had a soft spot for them.
F-Pace - I'm really trying to avoid budget and scope creep and getting an SVR.......
Jeep GC - yes, I have another soft spot here. We rented one for a West Coast road trip holiday through Yosemite, Death Valley and more. Again though, they're a slow (8.2 sec) and 2.3 tonnes.
Forester - Love these, a friend had one and it was just so good at everything, but.....
The diesels are too old and slow, the newer petrols are slow and have the god-awful Lineartronic gearbox. Imports have performance, along with questionable economy and again, too old really.
L405 - yes, would have a TDV8 in a heart beat if you could take 30% out of the volume (no, not a RRS) and half a tonne off the weight. The journeys to and from events would be in unmeasurable comfort, but It's just too big and heavy to thread down a single track road with pace.
Agility could be considered more important than comfort at times. Strange I know when discussing an SUV on PH, but experience has taught me it's a good thing to look for.
SQ-5 - considered one of the bi-tdi versions when I bought my 35d a few years ago. When test driving it just didn't feel quick and a bit numb.
Also having seen one with a hole in it's crank case on an event recce, I was a bit put off.
A6 all-road - yes, but big foot print. An A4 all-road with the 3.0 may be an answer, but how good is the ground clearance really?
Touareg - a definite possibility, the new ones are attractive and almost fit the brief. Always had a soft spot for them.
F-Pace - I'm really trying to avoid budget and scope creep and getting an SVR.......
Jeep GC - yes, I have another soft spot here. We rented one for a West Coast road trip holiday through Yosemite, Death Valley and more. Again though, they're a slow (8.2 sec) and 2.3 tonnes.
Forester - Love these, a friend had one and it was just so good at everything, but.....
The diesels are too old and slow, the newer petrols are slow and have the god-awful Lineartronic gearbox. Imports have performance, along with questionable economy and again, too old really.
L405 - yes, would have a TDV8 in a heart beat if you could take 30% out of the volume (no, not a RRS) and half a tonne off the weight. The journeys to and from events would be in unmeasurable comfort, but It's just too big and heavy to thread down a single track road with pace.
Agility could be considered more important than comfort at times. Strange I know when discussing an SUV on PH, but experience has taught me it's a good thing to look for.
Ranger 6 said:
L405 - yes, would have a TDV8 in a heart beat if you could take 30% out of the volume (no, not a RRS) and half a tonne off the weight. The journeys to and from events would be in unmeasurable comfort, but It's just too big and heavy to thread down a single track road with pace.
It's not a Lotus of course, but they do surprisingly well for a 2400kg (almost 400kg lighter than the previous L322 model) car. The dynamic response system keeps it pretty flat and 740NM of torque goes a long way to smoothing out the progress through the backroads.I had a A6 allroad many moons ago it was I thought the thinking mans SUV and on the adjustable air suspension the ride was nothing short of amazing on the 17" wheels it would eat pot holed unmade farm tracks and lanes up for breakfast.
I like the style and image of the all road style estates whether it's the Merc, Volvo or Audi versions.
WH16 said:
Ranger 6 said:
L405 - yes, would have a TDV8 in a heart beat if you could take 30% out of the volume (no, not a RRS) and half a tonne off the weight. The journeys to and from events would be in unmeasurable comfort, but It's just too big and heavy to thread down a single track road with pace.
It's not a Lotus of course, but they do surprisingly well for a 2400kg (almost 400kg lighter than the previous L322 model) car. The dynamic response system keeps it pretty flat and 740NM of torque goes a long way to smoothing out the progress through the backroads.
Wills2 said:
I had a A6 allroad many moons ago it was I thought the thinking mans SUV and on the adjustable air suspension the ride was nothing short of amazing on the 17" wheels it would eat pot holed unmade farm tracks and lanes up for breakfast.
I like the style and image of the all road style estates whether it's the Merc, Volvo or Audi versions.
I like the style and image of the all road style estates whether it's the Merc, Volvo or Audi versions.
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