4x4: five doors, low range, £1500. What?
Discussion
Hello. I want to buy a pocket money 4x4 to fill with my family of four for camping/cycling trips, and to fill with junk as necessary for tip runs, and for very occasional recreational off road (pay and plays, laning) fun with my son.
It won't be an everyday commuter car, so it doesn't need to be economical, and can be either petrol or diesel (although I've got one eye on what the budget might do to older diesels).
But it will need to be five door, comfy enough for four for hundreds of miles at a time, able to tow a trailer or small caravan, have a proper low range transfer box, and be no more than £1500.
I've already thought about Suzuki Grand Vitara, Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee, Nissan Terrano as possibles. Discoveries look terrible at my budget. But what am i missing?
It won't be an everyday commuter car, so it doesn't need to be economical, and can be either petrol or diesel (although I've got one eye on what the budget might do to older diesels).
But it will need to be five door, comfy enough for four for hundreds of miles at a time, able to tow a trailer or small caravan, have a proper low range transfer box, and be no more than £1500.
I've already thought about Suzuki Grand Vitara, Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee, Nissan Terrano as possibles. Discoveries look terrible at my budget. But what am i missing?
Birr97 said:
Have you looked at MK2 Shoguns/Pajeros?
They should be within budget.
Briefly, but they all look as shonky as the Discoveries in my budget.They should be within budget.
Marvtec said:
Subaru Forester ticks all the boxes
Forgot them! I love Subarus. But will they be any good at any actual off road playing?sparkythecat said:
Kia Sorento - caravanners love them
Does the Sorrento have low range? They're certainly in budget.ExPat2B said:
You don't need low range for UK off road work.
Rock crawling and pulling tractors out of ditches yes, muddy off road work in the UK ? no need.
Really? I used to do some off road playing years and years ago, in Jeeps - and always used low range then (still managing to get stuck often!)Rock crawling and pulling tractors out of ditches yes, muddy off road work in the UK ? no need.
I've no real experience of "soft roaders", but can't imagine they'd cope well at my local pay and play without low range.
Does anyone play off road in one? Does it manage alright?
Thanks for all the ideas so far!
Just for clarification: by far most of the use for this car will be domestic duties, filling up with tent and sundries, with family bikes on the roof or on a tow bar carrier, and the opportunity to borrow my f-i-l's caravan. As well as rubbish to the tip and diy duties etc.
All of which could be achieved with a Honda crv or an XTrail or something.
But.
With my little bit of off road history, there's no way I'm going to have a 4x4 sitting on the drive that won't give me the chance to do some off road playing with my son from time to time. I'm liking a Jeep as the answer to my question, but don't want to overlook something i should consider, just because my own thoughts wander straight to Jeeps.
I don't mind what the car looks like really either. When i say Discoveries look ropey at my budget, i mean they look knackered. I don't mind if i but something shabby, but it does need to be something the family can go in a couple of times a year to safely drive a few hundred miles.
Just for clarification: by far most of the use for this car will be domestic duties, filling up with tent and sundries, with family bikes on the roof or on a tow bar carrier, and the opportunity to borrow my f-i-l's caravan. As well as rubbish to the tip and diy duties etc.
All of which could be achieved with a Honda crv or an XTrail or something.
But.
With my little bit of off road history, there's no way I'm going to have a 4x4 sitting on the drive that won't give me the chance to do some off road playing with my son from time to time. I'm liking a Jeep as the answer to my question, but don't want to overlook something i should consider, just because my own thoughts wander straight to Jeeps.
I don't mind what the car looks like really either. When i say Discoveries look ropey at my budget, i mean they look knackered. I don't mind if i but something shabby, but it does need to be something the family can go in a couple of times a year to safely drive a few hundred miles.
tr7v8 said:
Just sold a very well maintained Jeep Grand Cherokee 2000 WJ 4L for under a grand. Ideal tow car. And with low range & proper 4WD.
Most importantly over the other options being mentioned here it had ZERO rust on it. LR & a lot of the japs suffer horrific rusting.
According to the spreadsheet I keep including fuel it has cost 43pence per mile over 60K plus.
I think this is exactly the sort of thing i want.Most importantly over the other options being mentioned here it had ZERO rust on it. LR & a lot of the japs suffer horrific rusting.
According to the spreadsheet I keep including fuel it has cost 43pence per mile over 60K plus.
ExPat2B said:
My personal opinion on the whole "on road/offroad" balance of 4x4's is that you are best off with a small, cheap, dedicated and modified off road 4x4 for playing, and a dedicated road vehicle for other duties.
I do agree, but that's not what I'm looking for. I've got a dedicated car to be an actual car, but i want a 4x4 for other duties. And if I'm buying a 4x4 i want it to be capable for a bit of fun from time to time as well.I don't expect to be doing lots of mods and trialling it or anything. Years ago when i last had a Jeep (a Cherokee) it had to be my actual car too, and i bought a spare set of steels to put remould muds on for occasional playing.
This time, the 4x4 doesn't need to be an everyday car, but does need to be used as one now and then.
A compromise, if you will.
Hello again!
Just realised nobody's made any comments about the Suzuki Grand Vitara. I'd heard they were good value, reliable, and decently variable off road. And i must admit i expected to hear from a few people saying "never mind the image, they're surprisingly good cars". But there've been none.
Am i wrong thinking they might be worth a look?
Just realised nobody's made any comments about the Suzuki Grand Vitara. I'd heard they were good value, reliable, and decently variable off road. And i must admit i expected to hear from a few people saying "never mind the image, they're surprisingly good cars". But there've been none.
Am i wrong thinking they might be worth a look?
Hello again! I'm still hopelessly trying to do this, looking at tons of cars and failing to buy anything.
A couple of quick questions: why shouldn't I buy a Jeep Grand Cherokee 2.7 crd? It's a Mercedes engine isn't it? Problems to be wary of?
Also; Nissan X Trail. I know, I know. No low range. But it looks like a terrific answer to the rest of my criteria. But I read terrifying things about reliability with the diesels. Is Di better than DCi? Are they both awful? Or is the internet a fearmongering liar and they're morning to worry about?
A couple of quick questions: why shouldn't I buy a Jeep Grand Cherokee 2.7 crd? It's a Mercedes engine isn't it? Problems to be wary of?
Also; Nissan X Trail. I know, I know. No low range. But it looks like a terrific answer to the rest of my criteria. But I read terrifying things about reliability with the diesels. Is Di better than DCi? Are they both awful? Or is the internet a fearmongering liar and they're morning to worry about?
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