Car help, small 4x4 - Honda CR V/Freelander/else?

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Twiglet

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I have a rather aging Freelander which today has cost me more than I would have liked to pass an MOT. So have decided possibly it's time to go.
I know there's a real anti Freelander brigade on here, but I'm NOT towing with it, and although I have had problems with this one, I would consider another as long as it was diesel and had the BMW engine
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Also considering a Honda CR-V, or something else in the small 4x4 category. Preferably not a RAV 4 as I think they really are too small.
Want something that will easily fit four bales of woodchips, and feed, and generally roomy without being a tank.
Don't want to spend a fortune either (<£9000) as this really wasn't something I was budgeting for just yet
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Any ideas people?

Thanks
 
Ah before you said about what you were trying to put in it I was going to say a Fiat panda 4x4! hehe

I have a 3 dr Suzuki Vitara and it is actually proving to be very handy. Have had it a year and a half from new and it was a godsend last year in the snow as on the DDis version you have a diff lock so can lock the car in low or high 4wheel drive. Mine was the only car in our family last year that could make it to and from our stables as the roads were thick with snow and it's hilly.

You can pick up a nearly new 5 door pretty cheaply and, with the seats down in the back you'd have plenty of space.

However, if you still think they are too small then maybe try the Kia Sorrento or the Hyundai Tucson or the bigger Hyundai Santa Fe - go for the diesel versions though. The plus with the latter vehicles are you get 5 year warranty as opposed to the standard 3 yr so you can get a 2nd hand one for your budget I would say with a fair bit of warranty left.
 
I don't think I could pick up a new one on my budget unfortunately, so no warrenties
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X Trail is a possibility - are they meant to be reliable etc?
 
Yes, recommend X trail. Nice car, reputation for reliability too. I would recommend. Friend has one, we have bigger brother - Terrano (not made any more and not what you want either!!)
 
Hi I had an old style freelander, towed fantastic beat the Disco handsdown! But TBH I hate Landrovers, they are very over rated and not as good as they say they are and expensive - rant over
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We got rid of both of ours and bought a Nissan Navara, best days work we ever did, you can tow (if you want) and it is wonderful, fit soooo much on the back and chuck the dogs in the cab! Downside is they can be a bit thirsty, but I suppose it depends on the milage you'll be doing, good side, you can pick them up for next to nothing and as a commercial vehicle the tax never goes over £180/yr. Another truck we had was a very old Mitsi pagero - old, but fantastic! my friend has it for sale actually if you want a very cheap truck
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I have a TD4 Freelander - it's a 2000 reg. I'm a really Land Rover lover, and bought this for commuting to work and chucking the doggies and horse stuff in. I love it, it's only a 3 dr one as well so nice and compact. It saves me ruining the RR that my hubby goes ballistic about!! It certainly economical enough for my 40 ish miles a day commute as well. It drives brilliantly and runs perfectly. Parts are so easy to pick up off Ebay for them as well - much easier than some other vehicles!
 
You would be able to get a newish 2nd hand one now trouble - my mum got a Tucson just under 2yr old for not a lot more than your budget. It is a petrol though and she'd have preferred a diesel considering price of fuel these days!

From a very quick look I've found one Hyundai with warranty left but this is only from looking very briefly on one site

http://www.availablecar.com/Search/CarDisplay.aspx?CarID=75849

Get searching is my advice!
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CR V is quite nice OH has for work. Handling is OK for a 4x4 soft roader, not great off road but makes it around point to point couses as vet's car. Nice diesel engine (2.2) is very economical around country roads/town (OH averages about 35mpg for work, about 44 on holidays as it's not as heavily laden). Fuel economy isn't very good at speed on a motorway as the car is too big and square though - still gets 35 or so. Very refined engine for a diesel - much quieter than diesel Laguna.

Reliable - one alternator issue (in warranty) - and it has been worked hard as a vet's car. Coped pretty well in the snow, and has 4 channel ABS which helps if you've got to stop on a country road with leaves/mud everywhere!
 
Thanks for the reviews all, really helpful.

Just booked a test drive for an X Trail (can't believe I might buy a Nissan, sob!).

Will look at the others as well.
 
My OH is looking for something similar as his next work car - current one is getting close to the mileage the like to get rid of them at. We went to the London motorshow and looked at everything there, have also test driven a few.

Santa Fe - newer one is OK, but not sure about build quality - I saw a few when I was working at a garage last year. Handles worse than CR - V and only 2 channel ABS. Warranty pretty good though.

Subaru outback/forester (diesel) would be over budget, quite small boots for a 4x4 - but probably enough for what you want - OH would struggle to get his work stuff in - CR V is a jigsaw puzzle as it is! Maybe worth a look if you don't mind a petrol car though - have decent 4wd kit. Best handling in class, and relatively economical. Budget no object, OH would pick Outback. Downside - quite rare second hand, as people seem to buy to keep and run to death rather than as prestige new cars to be replaced 18 months down the line...

X-trail is apparently best off road of the class, but not great CO2/economy.

Skoda Octavia Scout/ 4 wheel drive non-scout could be worth considering. Apparently handles nicely, more car-like, but relatively rare and the type of car people tend to keep and run to death rather than sell on. More powerful diesel would be OH's second choice (and more likely to be in budget)

Mitsubishi outlander/C-Crosser/Peugeot equivalent could be worth looking at as well, unless it's too new - all the same car, with cosmetic differences/badge. Haven't really looked properly at these - only on show at Cheltenham races and we were ignored by the sales staff (Citroen) Boot looked OK.

Kuga boot is tiny, most estates are better shaped for load carrying than the newer small 4x4s which have gone all soft and curvy!
 
We got an X-trail just 3 years old recently for £5000. It's a top of the range spec, beautiful condition and fuel economy is great (we get 40mpg). I know you don't want to tow, but I'm finding it good for towing, great switchable 4x4 which seems to handle different types of terrain. I love mine.

sue
 
Thanks again for all the replies guys.

I won't ever personally tow - for starters I'm not allowed to on my license, plus my horse is not a trailer fan - but it may be a bonus if I could have a friend insured on the car to use it for towing. Definitely possible with the X Trail.

Although am now considering the RAV 4s again. I know their off road capability is minimal, but so is the amount of time I would use the 4WD. The majority of the time it'll be a road car, and I want something easy, economical and fun to drive. BUT with decent boot space - for woodchips mainly, but also as I go away for the weekend quite a lot and want carrying space.
Anyone have one?

Thanks again for all the help.
 
[ QUOTE ]
We got an X-trail just 3 years old recently for £5000. It's a top of the range spec, beautiful condition and fuel economy is great (we get 40mpg). I know you don't want to tow, but I'm finding it good for towing, great switchable 4x4 which seems to handle different types of terrain. I love mine.

sue

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you got a very good deal!! I can't find anything like that for that price!
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
We got an X-trail just 3 years old recently for £5000. It's a top of the range spec, beautiful condition and fuel economy is great (we get 40mpg). I know you don't want to tow, but I'm finding it good for towing, great switchable 4x4 which seems to handle different types of terrain. I love mine.

sue

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you got a very good deal!! I can't find anything like that for that price!

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a great deal, we got a 4 year old one recently for £7k. Wholly recommend it though, although we did have a problem with ours, the fuel pressure regulator went and caused all sorts of problems and it took the garage 6 weeks to sort out. Apart from that it has been great and tows my tb and the kids section A effortlessly. And no problem with breaking either
 
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