4x4 help please

MotherOfChickens

MotherOfChickens

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Hi
my car has died and am looking for another 4x4.any ideas and experiences, what to avoid gratefully received! am also interested in LPG conversions.

-I travel up to 90 miles per day so fuel consumption is an issue
-don't need to seriously off-road but I live in scotland so needs to be good in snow and ice
-I need room in it, have a large dog plus need to ferry stuff about
-I would like it to be able tow a single trailer and small horse
-top budget of £5K

thanks :)
 
I have a short wheel base Nissan Terrano, which is great, wasn't expensive to buy as not everyone wants only two doors. Has been rock solid in four years I've had it, completely competent in little bit of snow we get "down south", been good off road, and tows well. Its has a surprisingly high towing weight (2800kg I think). I use it as my everyday vehicle, usually with a couple of dogs for company. I can't claim its wonderfully fuel efficient but for its age, (7yrs) its what you get! I would imagine that Terranos would be well within your budget.
I always thought I wanted a Defender, but when I did have one, the reality was that it wasn't so good as an everyday vehicle, not so comfortable for the commuting etc.
 
We used to have have a mitsubishi pajero - which was amazing with all of the above except for the fuel consumption....was quite pricey, but I miss it sooooooo much :(
 
have you considered a double cab pickup? 4x4, front and rear seats, most are well equipped and comfortable enough, and a large load spare on the rear (even better with a canopy on) Usual suspects are L200, navara, hilux, and isuzu. The older Isuzu TF seems the best bargain of the lot! (can you guess what I bought!)
 
dustbinlid said:
have you considered a double cab pickup? 4x4, front and rear seats, most are well equipped and comfortable enough, and a large load spare on the rear (even better with a canopy on) Usual suspects are L200, navara, hilux, and isuzu. The older Isuzu TF seems the best bargain of the lot! (can you guess what I bought!)
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yes, have always wanted a Hilux-but have been told pickups are rubbish in this sort of weather? what are parts etc like in older Isuzus?
 
good set of tyres on them and in 4x4 so unstoppable so far in snow, they can be light on the back end when empty and are rear wheel drive when not in 4x4 so yes you have to be carefull. parts wise, mines the 3.1, same engine as the isuzu trooper, few other common parts as well,others are 2.8 (again early trooper engine, and a 2.5, there are a couple of breakers on ebay that sell parts for them as well. To be honest, touch wood nothing major has gone wrong so far and mine had a hell of a hard life on a farm previously!
 
I have no idea how good they are or fuel economy but for that budget have you looked at Subaru Foresters or Outbacks? There are definitely Foresters around for that budget cos I just looked on exchange and mart. They are more car like so may be lighter on fuel than some of the heftier 4x4 types and they looks big enough for a couple of dogs!

I used to have a Suzuki Vitara and both i have had have been excellent in the worst snow and ice thanks to the low and high ratio gear box and the diff lock in the newer model i had. Don't think they'd be great fuel wise though but there are plenty of the older shape about for that sort of money.

Either that or you could look round for some older Audi Quattros maybe? Think it depends if you're looking for a more comfortable road car or a decent 4x4 workhorse. It is hard to get both I think with a small budget.
 
I got my 2004 Kia sorento for about £6k so they're not to far above budget but in terms of fuel consumption it's no better than my 3.2 Shogun.

My friend has a Hyundai Santa Fe which can tow 2 tonne and has much lower fuel consumption than the Kia.
 
We have a L200 and its been great in the snow, with low and high select 4 wheel drive its been fine. we find it good on fuel as long as you don't boot it about and keep your speed reasonable. You can now get the older shape (longer boot part!) well within your budget.
 
thanks everybody :)

I have thought about Foresters-the car that died is a CRV though and doing the mileage I do I would rather have a diesel and the older Foresters are all petrol as well I think?

interesting about the Kia's fuel consumption-I know someone horsey with the Santa fe so will pick her brains. I think though, that I'll be selling the trailer and getting a bog standard diesel estate/hatchback and making do for now.
 
HoHum said:
I have a short wheel base Nissan Terrano, which is great, wasn't expensive to buy as not everyone wants only two doors. Has been rock solid in four years I've had it, completely competent in little bit of snow we get "down south", been good off road, and tows well. Its has a surprisingly high towing weight (2800kg I think). I use it as my everyday vehicle, usually with a couple of dogs for company. I can't claim its wonderfully fuel efficient but for its age, (7yrs) its what you get! I would imagine that Terranos would be well within your budget.
I always thought I wanted a Defender, but when I did have one, the reality was that it wasn't so good as an everyday vehicle, not so comfortable for the commuting etc.
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^^^^^^ Ditto this

I have a 2005 Terrano, I'm in scotland and it's coped with all the snow thrown at it this year without blinking, I've had all sorts of 4x4's over the years (daihatsu 4track, Mitsubushi Shogun & L200, Landrovers ) and I've got rate the Nissan. It's my 2nd and it's probably the most economical to run. far surpasses the L200 in snow although if I'd had the pickup laden down it'd probably be fine. I do a 50 mile round trip commute each day with 3 collies in the boot of mine. And I'm pleased to say that at a recent valuation it's book price is higher than what I paid for it 18 months ago due to the snow making 4x4's popular again!
 
dustbinlid said:
i'd have to agree with that, the only issue is the price of them!!
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and dont forget how unreliable they can be remember the people who want a 4x4 buy a landrover and the people that need one buy a toyota mitsubishi or nissan!!! however I think your main problem will be fuel consumption as 90 miles in most 4x4s will be £20 ish so maybe better to buy a cheap lorry or 4x4 and a small runabout its not snowing all year round even in scotland!!!!
 
Jeep - get a short wheel base one, you should get a 55 top spec for that sort of money - or put a little of the money to one side and get a petrol and convert it to LPG. (around £900 down here!) but as someone else on the forum said you would need to make sure that was reflected on your car documentation to get the car tax reduction..
 
i have a hilux and was warned as well about them being light in back end and needing weight in it - but ive never had a problem and its been FAB in this snow (im in Aberdeenshire)
 
perfect11s said:
and dont forget how unreliable they can be remember the people who want a 4x4 buy a landrover and the people that need one buy a toyota mitsubishi or nissan!!! however I think your main problem will be fuel consumption as 90 miles in most 4x4s will be £20 ish so maybe better to buy a cheap lorry or 4x4 and a small runabout its not snowing all year round even in scotland!!!!
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Bwahahahahahaha!!! Sorry will have to agree to disagree!!! I have BOTH (Mitsu Shogun and Land Rover 109 LWB. I have abused BOTH. I choose to use the Shogun for comfort and practical reasons but tbh BOTH do the same job. Just the Shogun is more comfy, warmer, practical. I have SERIOUSLY abused both of my old Pajeros. I could tell you stories to make your hair fall out! But I have to confess that I do know what I am doing as I used to off road regularly and I'm not talking green laning either!

I think for what the OP wants she is prob looking at something like the Kia. If she has 1 small horse and trailer and needs something below 5k. Both of the above tend to keep their value until a fairly "ripe" age.
 
peteralfred said:
yes, have always wanted a Hilux-but have been told pickups are rubbish in this sort of weather? what are parts etc like in older Isuzus?
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weve had two ford rangers and ive driven the hi lux and the l200 in deep snow.... both the ranger and the toyota are on a par with each other but i wouldnt touch the L200 with a barge pole... it just doesnt have the same staying power as the others. Im a really experienced driver and i can vouch for the pick
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ups.... sometimes the drivers need a little training though!!!
 
I recently bought a discovery and LOVE it! fuel wise... i filled it totally up for £108.80 last time, and that did 416 miles. i havent had any snow to test it out on yet :(
i know someone earlier mentioned a vitara - i had one for 5 years and loved that also! that was a petrol and wasnt that bad as it was a 1.6, it coped really really well in snow and ice though! you wouldnt be able to tow with one but they would be a good little 4x4 for you to use in winter etc, i am sure you'd pick up an older one quite cheap.
 
peteralfred said:
thanks everybody :)

I have thought about Foresters-the car that died is a CRV though and doing the mileage I do I would rather have a diesel and the older Foresters are all petrol as well I think?

interesting about the Kia's fuel consumption-I know someone horsey with the Santa fe so will pick her brains. I think though, that I'll be selling the trailer and getting a bog standard diesel estate/hatchback and making do for now.
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Instead of that go for a 'cross-over' they are a brilliant alternative for both jobs. I have a Vauxhall Antara 2ltr 4x4. Been so pleased with it. The 4x4 is automatic so it senses when needed. It tows both my boys, (15h Mediumweight 14h chunky NF) has coped with our treacherous hill in the snow and ice yet takes me to work on a daily basis without looking like a total country bumpkin.
If your going to get a deisel estate somehting like this is surely worth a look
 
ChristmasFriesian said:
Bwahahahahahaha!!! Sorry will have to agree to disagree!!! I have BOTH (Mitsu Shogun and Land Rover 109 LWB. I have abused BOTH. I choose to use the Shogun for comfort and practical reasons but tbh BOTH do the same job. Just the Shogun is more comfy, warmer, practical. I have SERIOUSLY abused both of my old Pajeros. I could tell you stories to make your hair fall out! But I have to confess that I do know what I am doing as I used to off road regularly and I'm not talking green laning either!
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me too with the AWDC!!! and yes done some serious off road trials with my hiluxes, and suzukis and I miss hearing the bangs and cracking noises that the landrovers make becoming 2wheel drives with the diffs hanging out or other drive train failure atempting a trial section that we had set out in a fairly standard hilux pick up :D
 
we had a nissan terrano long wheelbase which i loved ,good in all weathers loads of room towed well & comfy to ride in,sadly my other half wrote it off!
we now have a nissan navara(double cab pickup) which i am not so keen on,costly to run/very workman like to drive so not too comfy/very long so can be a problem to park in a tight space + not good turning circle,doesnt hold the road v well/cold in the back for my dogs as totaly separate from main cab,oh & i have got stuck twice whilst towing the trailer in a field.
i think youve guessed i dont like it much:D
good luck in your search
 
Sessle said:
We used to have have a mitsubishi pajero - which was amazing with all of the above except for the fuel consumption....was quite pricey, but I miss it sooooooo much :(
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I have an N reg SWB Pajero - the 2.8 automatic version - bought for £3,000 3 years ago and it's the most useful vehicle I've ever owned! It's been VERY reliable and never cost me more than £250 to get through MOT. And through this 'freeze' I wouldn't have survived without it - it's gone all round the farm doing the feeding - when the damn tractor wouldn't travel 10 yards, it's pulled vehicles twice its size and weight up our steep icey drive.

It pulls an IW 511 with two big IDs on board with no trouble at all - and not TOO heavy on diesel for longer journeys when not towing.
 
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