Economical 4x4

M

Morrigan_Lady

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 December 2006
Messages
5,423
www.teamterrellshowjumping.co.uk
So, its looks like the Trooper may be a no go!

I know 4x4's arent economical, but you know what I mean! I dont want to be stopping at every petrol station on a journey!

I need something about 2 - 2.5 litre got to be desiel.
Pref lwb.

What do we think of the Discovery?
Freelander?

Also, the Nissan Terano looks ok?

Any other ideas / experiecnes....
 
How about a lovely 2.5L TD LR with all the trimmings around £2400
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Is this for towing? How many horses are you planning to tow? That will impact on the size and weight of the vehicle you buy

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, its for towing one horse 16hh in a new Ifor 505, although I would like summut capable of towing two, one 16hh and one 17hh. (Ill be getting a bigger trailer at some point aswell!)
 
[ QUOTE ]
How about a lovely 2.5L TD LR with all the trimmings around £2400
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I know your not advertising your own and Im sure your just letting me know about one Ive missed some where, so tell me more.... Age, miles etc
 
Have been told that the Terano doesn't have a great towing capacity (could have got that wrong), don't know about the Freelander but I test drove a Discovery and it was awful! Rolled around like a ship on the ocean and didn't feel safe at all!
 
I've had several LWB Terranos & I'd have another tomorrow!

Pretty good petrol consumption (never had a diesel in my life! lol), drives like a car, never got stuck anywhere with it (ever!), good spec, if a little 'old-fashioned', plenty of room in the back for dogs, saddles etc., unlike a Disco!
smile.gif


Towing is excellent - we had a whacking great caravan & seldom had to change gear on the motorway, even when overtaking!
Good 0-30 time for its size & weight & once up to speed, will happily accelerate for overtaking etc.
I took mine all over the country & it'll happily cruise at 85-90mph all the way!

Masses of low-down torque, decent gearbox, excellent handling for a 4x4 but get the 2.7 if you're after a LWB.
 
[ QUOTE ]
....I test drove a Discovery and it was awful! Rolled around like a ship on the ocean and didn't feel safe at all!

[/ QUOTE ]
Yep, that is one of their main drawbacks! Best keep the seasickness pills handy if you get a Disco! lol
 
We have the Hyundai Sante Fe - tows my 15.2 (in the HB505) like she's not there, and only a 2l diesel. Very pleased with it. Towed a 15.2 and a 14.2 with no worries at all, but field was flat and dry. Got the feeling it would have been fine in most normal situations though.
Sister has the next size up, called a Terracan and about as beautiful as its name(
confused.gif
) but tows 2 17+handers and if she doesn't watch it, finds herself over the 60mph its so smooth.
Can recommend both, certainly worth looking into.
 
Not a big fan of the discovery (overpriced IMO and very poor turning circle as well as cramped inside) and the freelander will be too small for your needs.

I think you need to be looking at the bigger 4x4s, so Trooper, Nissan Patrol, LWB Terrano or similar so fuel economy will never be great.
 
12 months MOT, towbar SWB, 1989, 95K, new head gasket, pistons, re-skimmed head, radiator, s.motor, pump, pulleys, exhaust...big wheels. Does around 20-25 mpg...nice
 
I think your find the freelanders do not have a very high towing weight beause i looked into them something like 1900 so you could be over weight with 2 horses on board.
 
Freelanders hopeless for towing 2 horses. Terranos are great, economical, good tow weight, loads of space, had one for years super versatile! Now have a Jeep great for towing but much thirstier so wouldnt recommend for economy.
 
nissan every time if you have to have one of these monster chelsea tractor things

the most 'economic' way of having a 4x4 is to not have one and have a normal car with a wheel at each corner, an economical engine and 2 wheel drive

(sorry but I hate 4x4s and agree (not often) with Ken L that they should be taxed off the road - UNLESS they are driven covered in real mud by someone that actuall owns and FARMS land)
 
Have a jeep cherokee and its fab for towing and has abit of a kick to it , when towing you dont know its there plus its fab on the juice . The one we have at the minute is a 2.5 td

My mum drives a terracan but it drinks like nothing normal
 
[ QUOTE ]
nissan every time if you have to have one of these monster chelsea tractor things

the most 'economic' way of having a 4x4 is to not have one and have a normal car with a wheel at each corner, an economical engine and 2 wheel drive

(sorry but I hate 4x4s and agree (not often) with Ken L that they should be taxed off the road - UNLESS they are driven covered in real mud by someone that actuall owns and FARMS land)

[/ QUOTE ]

Well that is a seperate debate and I am sure needs a thread of its own, however I wouldn't ever consider towing my horses with a 'normal' car on weight:weight ratios alone (unless the car is a Roller or similar)
 
Oh what rot! People should have whatever they want and stop being bashed over the head with an argument that doesn't make sense.

Yes Co2 is probably not good, but complared to a solar flare and a volcano cars are going to do diddly squat to our environment. However its a great way to tax people.

So that aside - see if you can get a LPG converted 4x4 - downside is the the tank may be in the back. However this is cheapest way to run any 4x4. There seem to be a few in the likes of countrywide farmers etc, but check prices against an autotrader.

Otherwise try and find the best mpg in a diesel as a petrol will financially cripple you.

I have a kia which had good co2 values and supposed to do 36 mpg, but I'm disappointed so far (£55 for 300 miles!)

For the record it tows every weekend, I live on a farm and I am lazy about cleaning it. However it isn't economical and if I drove more than 10 miles to work I may have to reconsider the lorry / small car thing.
 
Several of my colleagues are ex Land Rover and drive 4x4's. None drive Land Rover 4x4's though. Now I wonder why that is... They tell me some real horror stories!
 
my dads got a ford explorer was doing nearly 100 yeasterday up the motorway (was very scary, dangerous and breaking the law lol!) and tows the trailor amazingly! its got a converted engeine and is now running on LPG but also has a petrol engine at the same time so if LPG runs out can convert to petrol. is'nt the prettiest of cars but is soooooo comfortable but i have just realised you want a diesal lol but LPG is very economical we have never had to stop at a petrol station on the way to somewhere even with the trailor on and travelling from sheffield, to chesire, to hull and then back again in one day isn't bad! (went to a games comp then to pony club camp then home lol!) anyway erm the jeep cherokee's are nice (friends mum has one) and isn't toooo bad on petrol also pulls the trailor well. erm can't think of any others lol
 
For short runs you can't beat an old landrover. Modern vehicles are great but there is the factor of cost e.g. discs & calipers for 2.5L cost around £2-300 plus labour you can't say the same for a Jeep or Ford. I'd weigh up the odds on how much you'll actually use the vehicle it might be you spend more in insurance & tax than fuel in which case go for something like a 3 series. Why don't landrover driver drive landrovers?? because they're sick to death of freezing in them during the winter, they're damp and clostrophobic inside and in the event of an accident they don't always fair too well.
 
'(sorry but I hate 4x4s and agree (not often) with Ken L that they should be taxed off the road - UNLESS they are driven covered in real mud by someone that actuall owns and FARMS land)'

Careful there luv, some of us need them and seriously struggle to pay for them thanks to the ignorant views of people like you!! What ever happened to freedom of chose?
 
'Breezesbenefactor'

I love landys myself but don't put silly ideas in peoples heads - you know that the turo deisels (not tdi's) are under powered for towing and blow head gaskets like its going out of fashion!! There is no way an old TD would pull two big horses! I sold my TD and bought a disco (which i said i would never have) as it cost me a fortune to repair all the time then i split all four pistons, and i wasn't just unlucky, it's just what they do!!! Don't do it!! Tdi's and so are a diffrent matter of course, wonderful car's!! Disco's are lot more practical if it's a daily driver though.
 
TDi's are the superior engine however, splitting pistons won't be down to you towing it'll be more likely due to the lack of engine oil servicing or leaking gaskets. A TD will tow a double trailer no bother the problem arises is where a slight female attempts this task as the poor power steering etc just doesn't help. If that's the case go for a jeep and accept fuel is going to cost but if you own & compete horses then your fuel bill is the last of your financial worries.
 
do not buy a pajero 2.8td lwb brilliant for towing two big horses with a 510 but only getting 25miles to the gallon. as this is my only vehicle is costing over £550 a month in diesel.
 
[ QUOTE ]
nissan every time if you have to have one of these monster chelsea tractor things

the most 'economic' way of having a 4x4 is to not have one and have a normal car with a wheel at each corner, an economical engine and 2 wheel drive

(sorry but I hate 4x4s and agree (not often) with Ken L that they should be taxed off the road - UNLESS they are driven covered in real mud by someone that actuall owns and FARMS land)

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow, what breathtaking arrogance - what better way to keep us plebs in our place than to come out with such tripe as this.
Not everyone is fortunate enough to be a landowner by good fortune or being born into the position.

Perhaps I ought to flog the 20mpg 4x4 and replace it with an 8mpg 7.5 tonne lorry to get the horses to the competitions instead if it fits your sensibilities better ?

No wonder Equestrian pursuits are seen as being elitist by joe public when this sort of attitude is displayed !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top