4 x 4 owners advice please

ROMANY 1959

ROMANY 1959

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After this snow, and slipping and sliding about to see to horse and a few sore bums on the ground, I realized my car is no good in this weather, or for driving up the lane to get to horse. So as I was thinking of a new 2nd hand car I fancy the Hyundai santa fe TD or the Kia sportage TD.
Any H and Hound forum people got one? What are they like? The kia has a 7 year warranty.
All comments welcome
 
We have a LONG steep drive - and during the hard weather - my old Pajero has towed MOST things up it - from the 7,5 tonne lorry, to quite a few 4x4s!
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The big difference between 4x4s is NOT the make and model, it's the tyres!
 
Wev just got a Santa Fe. Got the 2.7 V6 Petrol engine. The desiel will only do 9 more mile to the gallon than petrol so it might not be worth is depending on your critera. We paid about £7000 for it and its still got a years warranty on it. The Hyundai also has 7 years warrenty on it too.
 
Before you cough up for a 4x4 it is worth remembering that front wheel drive cars are much better in the snow than rear wheel drive cars. Nothing will be that good on ice.

As already mentioned, tyres can make a huge difference. In Switzerland we had to put winter tyres on or invalidate our insurance. Our Cayenne did not cope very well in the snow with sports tyres.
 
I have a Kia Sorrento. Now I know nothing about cars or 4x4's I brought the Kia as I did some research (can't remember it though lol) as to which car came up tops on the towing, soundness and price to which the Kia won!

It has a switch (not sure if all 4x4's are like this or not, have no clue) that you can drive it normally or put it into 4x4 (high or lo)

So you only use the 4x4 when you need too! Probably have this all wrong though oh and the Kia sorrento is super to tow with, takes two in the ifor 505 no worries at all.

It's also quite cheap to tax etc than many of the others.

x
 
Hyundai Santa Fe is supposed to be good - looks nice too. Kia sportage is smaller, I think your comparison to the Hyundai would be the Sorrento which is a bit beefier and (apparently - as per this forum) good for towing.

Hyundau def has 5 yr warranty, not sure about the 7 year. Kia may have that but, according to Hyundai Kia warranty is not a full manufacturers warranty or something (but then that was a hyundai dealer telling us that so I wouldn't take that as gospel!)

I have to say though my Vitara has been brilliant in this bad weather. i only have the 3dr but I have scooted up hills that cars were getting stuck on and I feel very safe and secure in it - felt it was better than my mum's Hyundai Tucson anyway. Thing I like most is the diff lock and the high and ,ow ratio gear box option if the surface gets really tricky. they are a tad more expensive though and you don't get as many mod cons nor the extended warranty but I still love mine!!!
 
Another vote for the Kia Sorento, mine is 2wd normally then it selects 4wd high if it thinks you need a bit of help but also has a 4wd low range manual switch for if ur really stuck. Not needed to select low range at all during this snowy period.

2nd hand they are a very good price for the size of the car.
 
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