4x4 running costs vs "normal car"

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Vodkagirly

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Pondering at the moment but I've recently changed jobs so the company car will go soon and I'll need to get my own. I don't do a big mileage probably 8k per year, how much more would I be looking at to run a 4x4 rather that something like a golf/focus type.
I'd be wanting something that could pull a trailer with 2 16h horses in. Would buy 2nd hand around 3k mark.
 
I have just done the same thing - I have had a company car for 20 years and bought myself a Trooper in about Oct/Nov a year to tow with. I haven't used it much - mainly weekends etc and it was a god send through the snow last year as i live on a farm in the middle of now where so would have been stranded!:eek: Its service and MOT - with a few necessary repairs cost me £400. It is 15 years old so is in the lower road tax £200 something a year, my insurance costs just over 300 a year through the NFU. Its is quite thirsty doing maybe 30 miles to a gallon. It is now going to be my main vehicle so will be costing me a bit a more in diesel and repairs I am sure. But I won't be doing much in the way of mileage.:)
 
I went from a 1.9 Renault Scenic to a Nissan Terrano II and tbh the only difference is the fuel - I should have taken out shares in BP before I bought it... The Renault was about £50 a week to feed, the Nissan is about £70+. Insurance etc are the same. I do quite a bit of mileage though :)
 
I recently bought a T reg Jeep Grand Cherokee and love it. It is an LPG conversion and although it has a 4l engine it cost me less to run that my old 2.5l Mondeo did.

If looking at big vehichles definately look for those converted to LPG.

My insurance is the same and my tax the same as my Mondeo was too.
 
I had a 206 (1.1) and then went onto (4x4) a Kia Sorento to use as my main car (to pull my trailer).... It does cost me alot more!!!

I don't drive very economicaly which I know does not help, infact I often wonder if I use less fuel when actually towing somewhere as I drive no nicely with the horses!!

But yeah, fuel wise it's pricey, seems to cost £££'s just going down the road and gone are the ways when I filled up with £30, £30 would last about three days if that in my Kia, but like I said I don't drive very well.

Good to have the trailer though, so I wouldn't swap it.
x
 
I have a Trooper, it's cost me quite a lot in repairs for the first couple of years but thankfully in its 3rd year has been less problematic. I think as long as you make sure they're serviced regularly they will last and last. On the whole I like mine, I like 4x4s, and it tows really well in any conditions (once got lost and ended up taking a trailer through the centre of Bath during rush hour- tis quite wind-y and hilly!)

It's my main car and generally just driving to work/horses/shopping/dad's 35 miles away once a week it cost about £40 per week in diesel.

However, my dad has been in hospital for 2 weeks and i swear I've put in about £200 in diesel racing up and down the M4/A34 to visit him, but that is way out of the norm
 
Mitsi L200 2.5 diesel, about thirty to the gallon, great till the engine died! At one stage when the fuel crisis was on it cost damn near £100 to fill the tank. Am not having another tow car, looking for a lorry and having a volvo diesel car instead. Will defo miss the 4x4 for lots of reasons but looking forward to the economy of the volvo, up to 57 mpg.

Repair bills were large, parts are very expensive and if you're a woman driving one i'm sure the garages add on an extra 20% just coz we is female!!
 
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My Range Rover takes £125.00 to fill and that gives me 300 miles !

My Toyota IQ takes £30 to fill and that gives me 370 miles !!

My Subaru Impreza WRX sti takes £50 and that gives me 160-240 miles ! depends how i drive it .
 
Although - we are looking to buy a 1980 ish Land Rover, to have as a 'fun work' car, and I reckon it will cost pretty similar to the 3L Mercedes estate we have currently....

Scarily tho, the Merc will be kept as a work car, and the Landie will have 'specific' jobs.
 
Vodkagirly said:
Thanks for the info, definetely give food for thought........
now can I afford car & trailer & competition fees.....
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If you passed your driving test after 1997, you will also have to take a towing test before you can legally tow.

I've got an older 2.5TD LWB Pajero and with the trailer on the back, it is down to about 17mpg. Drive it very gently on the motorway (55-60mph) without the trailer and it will return up to 28mpg.

If you need it, you need it, but I couldn't afford to run it as a regular runaround at £1.20 per gallon.
 
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