What 4x4 on a limited budget

[JakesterUK]

I'm looking for 4x4 for my wife as we live quite rural and as she's a community nurse often ends up visiting patients in quite isolated locations, it has to be an automatic and ideally diesel as she does cover quite a bit of mileage.

I've a purchase budget of £3k, my assumptions are (which may be wrong) that £3k will buy nothing in a Land Rover that hasn't either been to the moon or is rotten, I've owned a couple of Jeeps in the past and presently see these as an option, can anyone suggest any other options??

[G_T]

Not a big 4x4er but a Suzuki Vitari or Diahatsu fourtrack would be my choice of budget 4x4.

The former may be too girly and the latter too utilitarian though.

[fathomfive]

Subaru Forrester?

[HellDiver]

Needing an auto is going to limit your choices. I'm thinking Mitsubishi Pajero/Shogun is going to be your best bet.

[Targarama]

What about something like this:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1982667.htm

[monman321]

Long shot I konw but how about a Fiat Panda 4x4

[anonymous-user]

An diesel auto 4x4 for that budget is pretty much going to restrict you the likes of tdi Discoverys, shoguns and a few other similar sized ones. These cars will struggle to better 22-25mpg.

Does it really have to be an auto? If not you could probably find a 80k td4 freelander within budget, they will do about 35mpg. You can also find the odd manual petrol xtrail for around the 3k mark.

[andy400]

Targarama said:

What about something like this:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1982667.htm

A well cared for one of these ^ could be a good choice IMO.

[TSCfree]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1995902.htm

Forester LPG, although you'd have to think twice buying a car from someone who takes pictures in the dark , but you get the idea.

or

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1944587.htm
MPG shouldn't be too bad, should be able to get the price down

Edited by TSCfree on Wednesday 1st September 14:18

[jbi]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...



1997 NISSAN Patrol 4.2D SLX


EDIT: just seen the auto requirement, but OP should not have a problem finding one of these in auto guise

Edited by jbi on Wednesday 1st September 14:19

[Chris71]

Does it have to be a mud plugger? What about a 4WD saloon/etate (with appropriate tyres if needed in the winter)? A lot of the older off-roaders are pretty dire on road and not necessarily any safer in a shunt (some less so).

If you need a bit more ground clearance then I'd second the Forrestor suggestion. Otherwise I'd be tempted by a Legacy or even something like a 4WD Mondeo or some sort of Quattro-equipped Audi.

[Defcon5]

Chris71 said:

Does it have to be a mud plugger? What about a 4WD saloon/estate

Was just about to post this

[vit4]

andy400 said:

Targarama said:

What about something like this:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1982667.htm

A well cared for one of these ^ could be a good choice IMO.

+1 for the Frontera, if looked after they tend to be very solid.

[B.J.W]

Defcon5 said:

Chris71 said:

Does it have to be a mud plugger? What about a 4WD saloon/estate

Was just about to post this

I can vouch for the Forester - owned one myself for a couple of years. Tough as nails, and coped well off road as well - Despite the part worn Bridgestone H/T's. Use an L200 now - fairly certain that earlier ones will be within budget.

[5potTurbo]

If you've owned Jeeps before and liked them, £3K will buy you quite a piece of kit.

My brother drives an immaculate 2000 (Y reg, on private plate) 4.0 Grand Cherokee Limited, with only about 50,000miles on the clock, and was offered £2,500 in p/x 2 weeks ago against an almost new TDV8 RRS!

[JakesterUK]

Never thought of a Forrester, thanks I'll have a search, although does need to be a mud plugger really as the wife prefers the more upright driving position.

[Emsman]

How about one of these- depends on space requirements too I guess

http://autotrader.mobi/used-cars/advert/2010343664...