Wednesday 19th April 2017

Proper 4x4s: Market Watch

From Niva to Wrangler, here's the rundown on used values for the ultimate 4x4s

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Remember when dinosaurs roamed the land? No, of course not. Silly question. But chances are you do remember when dinosaurs like these roamed the land; proper, body-on-frame 4x4s that genuinely did justice to the title of 'off-roader', rather than the namby-pamby crossovers that seem to have colonised our roads more recently.

This is what we're talking about!

And you might just be the kind of PHer who laments those days, when men were men and 4x4s were 4x4s. Or something. Well, if you are, we've got a treat for you.

Yes, we've given old-school off-roaders like these the Market Watch treatment. To this end, we've picked five classic 4x4s, each one representing a different part of the world, and we've combed the classifieds to work out exactly what's going on with each one: where values sit, what the market looks like, and indeed, whether you should buy one.

We had to have a British contender; after all, while we didn't invent the 4x4, we came up with the Land Rover, which in one way or another begat pretty much every modern SUV you'd care to mention. Indeed, it doesn't feel right to pick any other car as our UK representative than the trusty old Defender.

Of course, any 4x4 enthusiast will tell you that while a Defender will get you there, a Land Cruiser will get you there and back again. Toyota's workhorse has become the proper off-roader for those in the know, and the only one many survival experts - not to mention the UN's Blue Helmets - will trust to take them into the harshest of terrains. Which should probably tell you all you need to know.

And for a budget option...

From Europe, what else could we include but the fabulous G-Wagen, latterly G-Class? This box-on-wheels combined Teutonic efficiency with the strength of an ox, and has the added advantage of being a little less well-known than a Landie. Of course, in recent years, Merc's turned up the chintz, but a good, honest early G-Wagen is one of the most appealing utilitarian buys out there.

We're not the only ones with a claim to having invented the 4x4 as we know it, mind you. The land of bizarre phrases like 'down home' and 'rootin' tootin'' gave us the Willys Jeep, and in its modern form as the Wrangler, it's a tough old thing, and extremely useful off road thanks to its rather diminutive dimensions.

The same can be said of our last candidate, which hails from behind the Iron Curtain. Yes, you've guessed it - it's the Lada Niva. Fast becoming a cult classic, the Niva is renowned for its basic but rugged nature. In fact, you might say it's the spiritual predecessor to our very own Mighty Duster...

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Introduction
Land Rover Defender
Toyota Land Cruiser
Mercedes G-Wagen
Jeep Wrangler
Lada Niva

[Pica-Pica]

I am sorry, but 4x4 simply means 4 road wheels and 4 of them are driven, nothing more and nothing less. ( a 4x2 is 4 road wheels 2 of which are driven - usually on the same axle).

[Richieboy3008]

Pica-Pica said:

I am sorry, but 4x4 simply means 4 road wheels and 4 of them are driven, nothing more and nothing less. ( a 4x2 is 4 road wheels 2 of which are driven - usually on the same axle).

Oh really? How interesting.

[Pica-Pica]

Yes, it does not mean a SUV nor necessarily any off-road ability, even if the pictures indicate otherwise.

[SlimJim16v]

Maybe it's just me, but I always take it as -
4x4 = off-road vehicle
4wd = road car

[DonkeyApple]

Pica-Pica said:

Fascinating.

[Jimmy Recard]

I'd like a Niva, but I think I'd import it myself. Last time I checked, they were starting from around £6k in Russia and the rouble isn't exactly climbing.


ETA: According to XE, 455,900r comes to about £6300 right now.

Edited by Jimmy Recard on Wednesday 19th April 19:07

[MikeGTi]

[oceanview]

Niva is petrol- all the rest are fked as they tend to be stinky/nox stinking diesels!!

[Gandahar]

I'd rather have a Jimny turned up to factor 11 like the clubs can do for those.

[caelite]

oceanview said:

Niva is petrol- all the rest are fked as they tend to be stinky/nox stinking diesels!!

Can't beat a straight piped td5 defender with the A/F mixture turned all the way rich

[squirdan]

caelite said:

oceanview said:

Niva is petrol- all the rest are fked as they tend to be stinky/nox stinking diesels!!

Can't beat a straight piped td5 defender with the A/F mixture turned all the way rich

defender V8. job done

[AJDMoss]

I was in Reigate yesterday (a relatively urban town in Surrey) and spotted this. I am not usually a massive fan of these kinds of vehicles especially when the underside looks like it has never left clean tarmac, but this Spectre edition looked bad ass!

We stood watching an incapable driver mount the kerb in his Zafira and then he wrecked 2 of his wheels scraping them along the kerb, this guy turned up and parked perfectly and the Zafira driver had the cheek to comment saying "not sure why that gets all the attention" I was so tempted to say at least there is no risk of him kerbing those rims.like you did!

Seemingly stopping production of these has done their values the world of good.

Edited by AJDMoss on Wednesday 19th April 20:47

[Discombobulate]

Pica-Pica said:

I am sorry, but 4x4 simply means 4 road wheels and 4 of them are driven, nothing more and nothing less. ( a 4x2 is 4 road wheels 2 of which are driven - usually on the same axle).

Thank you for clearing up the confusion.
Fascinating.

[cj2013]

Pica-Pica said:

I am sorry, but 4x4 simply means 4 road wheels and 4 of them are driven, nothing more and nothing less. ( a 4x2 is 4 road wheels 2 of which are driven - usually on the same axle).

I thought a 4x2 is a broken 4x4


(usually a Freelander)

[caelite]

cj2013 said:

Pica-Pica said:

I am sorry, but 4x4 simply means 4 road wheels and 4 of them are driven, nothing more and nothing less. ( a 4x2 is 4 road wheels 2 of which are driven - usually on the same axle).

I thought a 4x2 is a broken 4x4


(usually a Freelander)

Or a Shogun with the super reliable electric/vacuum run super select 4wd. I was always petrified of engaging my low range/difflocks as I was never sure they could be disengaged again after use.

[Tinkshusband]

squirdan said:

defender V8. job done

Twisted LS3 defender Job done better

[stuckmojo]

oceanview said:

Niva is petrol- all the rest are fked as they tend to be stinky/nox stinking diesels!!

most G wagens are petrol (thought they do drink more than Ollie Reid on a bender (ask me how I know - 8 MPG on mine)

[richs2891]

caelite said:

Or a Shogun with the super reliable electric/vacuum run super select 4wd. I was always petrified of engaging my low range/difflocks as I was never sure they could be disengaged again after use.

Thats is generally caused by not using it ! The old saying, use it or lose it. Equally true for diff locks, regular use keeps them in good order and stops them sticking.

[Derek Chevalier]

Jimmy Recard said:

and the rouble isn't exactly climbing.

Isn't it?

[thiscocks]

Don't know why but I fancy a mint Lada Niva.

A nice original Land Cruiser: http://lendasvivas.pt/index.php/component/rdautos/...