4x4 help

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pink_princess

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Thinking of getting a 4x4 as feed up of my little car being wrecked and stuck in winter. Would be ideal if could tow with it but not essential. Is there a huge difference in running costs. Currently drive a fiesta. Also can anyone reccomend any - not masses of money to spend.
 
pink_princess said:
Thinking of getting a 4x4 as feed up of my little car being wrecked and stuck in winter. Would be ideal if could tow with it but not essential. Is there a huge difference in running costs. Currently drive a fiesta. Also can anyone reccomend any - not masses of money to spend.
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Tax is lots more. Fuel will also be lots more but depending on what you do with it this might be manageable ( I now keep my mileage below 5,000 miles a year to save on fuel and insurance and cycle the rest of the time).

If you don't need to tow, what about winter tyres? Obviously I don't know your circumstances but TBH the extra costs of running a 4 x 4 will be much, much higher than, say, the cost of full livery for the days when you can't get your car out each year.
 
If you don't need one to tow and don't need a big car then I would suggest the Suzuki SX4 4 wheel drive or the Fiat Sedici (same as the SX4 but Fiat only do the 4WD version). I bought the Fiat when I traded in my Suzuki Vitara - which I loved (bought a house, needed something cheaper!) and it has been fab in the snow and ice in the winter. We have a very steep one track road to get to and from our stables and 2WD cars cannot get up it in the icy weather (it doesn't get gritted) mine does not have an issue.

It is 2WD the majority of the time but has an option auto 4WD setting (it will pick 4WD if it feels the road surface needs it) or you can lock it in 4WD. Mine is the petrol and an 06 reg so not fab fuel wise but not terrible either. Obviously you couldn't tow a horse trailer or anything like that but as a car with some off-road ability it's great.

Towing wise, although you can get cheapish 4WDs that can tow, the running costs - ie fuel and tax are going to be somewhat higher.
 
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