Help me choose a new car!

Which 4x4 would you choose?

  • Total voters
    0
I assume you mean to tow with it? If so Landrover Defender (preferably a 90). No better tow car in my opinion. 10k should buy you one about 5-6 years old which would be the new engine and style. They actually have heating that works, comfortable (relatively speaking!) seats and don't deafen you. They are still quite agricultural though so not ideal if you drive long distances for work as they are still not as comfy or quiet as a more car-like 4x4.

Towing limits are something to consider, not sure what the above are but mke sure they can tow what you need comfortably. I know the CRV doesn't tow a huge amount (maybe 1.5T?) as I wanted to borrow my dad's when my OH was away with my Land Rover but it wasn't quite up to it. Would imagine the Sportage and X-Trail are quite limited in towing capacity too?
 
Depends what you want the car for?

We had a CRV for years which was a fab car for space/ efficiency but couldnt tow.

We now tow with a Navara which is great but very Thirsty and roomy

but i know people rave about the sorento for towing, thing it has a better towing capacity than our Navara IIRC.

If you want a nice car, but lacking in space, speed and towing ability; I love my little Suzuki Swift! :)
 
Land Rover Defender. I've got a 110 which means there's loads of room in the back for tack etc if towing. When not towing I can get approx. eight bales of shavings in.

I love my Defender - haven't had anything else for donkey's years but do now have a more modern version with electric front windows, central locking and heated seats.

ETA - I do do a fair bit of business mileage and motorway driving and it's fine. However, my OH is 6'4" and finds there is not enough driver space for him.
 
Last edited:
The 5 you've narrowed it down to won't show for me, but I've a Jeep Grand Cherokee and it is amazing! Towing capacity very impressive too, it barely notices a car transporter and car on the back.
 
moleskinsmum said:
Land Rover Defender. I've got a 110 which means there's loads of room in the back for tack etc if towing. When not towing I can get approx. eight bales of shavings in.

I love my Defender - haven't had anything else for donkey's years but do now have a more modern version with electric front windows, central locking and heated seats.

ETA - I do do a fair bit of business mileage and motorway driving and it's fine. However, my OH is 6'4" and finds there is not enough driver space for him.
Click to expand...

Have you tried Mud Rails? My OH has fitted them to ours and they allow you to push the seat further back to give about an extra 4" of legroom. You might get even more in a 110 as the seat will only go sor far in the 90 due to the bulkhead which you won't have in a 110. They do take an inch of head room though as they sit on top of the seat rails. My OH is 6'1" and they make a big difference to him.
 
Mitsubishi Outlander is great. Lots of boot space, nice to drive and pretty economical.
Good for towing, although you can only have a detachable towbar.
 
annagain said:
I assume you mean to tow with it? If so Landrover Defender (preferably a 90). No better tow car in my opinion. 10k should buy you one about 5-6 years old which would be the new engine and style. They actually have heating that works, comfortable (relatively speaking!) seats and don't deafen you. They are still quite agricultural though so not ideal if you drive long distances for work as they are still not as comfy or quiet as a more car-like 4x4.

Towing limits are something to consider, not sure what the above are but mke sure they can tow what you need comfortably. I know the CRV doesn't tow a huge amount (maybe 1.5T?) as I wanted to borrow my dad's when my OH was away with my Land Rover but it wasn't quite up to it. Would imagine the Sportage and X-Trail are quite limited in towing capacity too?
Click to expand...

What licence are you going to be towing under - B or B+E?

that last link in my signature below may help you choose a model
 
I have use of a Landrover Defender and Mitz Shogun - Love both!
Have friends with bits and bobs of the others - They are all super envious of mine! :)

The Honda is the biggest 'no' from my friends - its feeble (In my friends experience) and I have to say with one skinny TB it found Buford hill too much - which is a worry!!
 
annagain said:
I assume you mean to tow with it? If so Landrover Defender (preferably a 90). No better tow car in my opinion. 10k should buy you one about 5-6 years old which would be the new engine and style. They actually have heating that works, comfortable (relatively speaking!) seats and don't deafen you. They are still quite agricultural though so not ideal if you drive long distances for work as they are still not as comfy or quiet as a more car-like 4x4.
Click to expand...

This. :) Another for Landy Defender.
 
Thanks for the replies! I should have clarified - I won't be towing with it. It will be the 'family' car, and I'll be using it to commute to work (a 45 mile round trip), so it needs to be comfy and as economical as possible. A 4x4 will be more practical now I live in NE Scotland. I'd love a Landie - I had a Series 3 years ago, and it was such a fun car. But a Defender would be too agricultural and I'd worry about reliability with a Disco. I'm veering toward the Outlander, there's a nice one in my price range at a garage near here. :)
 
I loved my Disco but would never buy a Landy again as so effing unreliable - the new ones are even worse whether Disco or those horrible Evoque things. Even new Range has that squished back window. Daughter worked up until earlier this year for a company supplying courtesy cars for big manufacturers - Landrover were their best customer by miles as they break down all the time.

Have Sorento now - don't tow with it as have truck but it's great for commuting/work, grunty and very comfortable but thirsty. Touch wood in 2 years it's been totally reliable and I do a hell of a lot of miles every week.
 
Forget the 4x4 for good economy!!
Go to a big dealership and test drive as many diesel cars as you fancy- I suggest a Mondeo, Picasso, Scenic, Passat, Laguna etc. You will find one you prefer over the others.
Fit Winter tyres to whatever you buy and store the other ones in the shed (about £400 for most cars, you can buy the cheaper brands but I find "Gislaved euro frost" extremely good)
These will enable you to drive through even 4" snow easily without wheel spin, up and down hills, and decrease your stopping distance in the cold and rain, while still returning 55mpg, or about 600 miles from 1 tank of diesel.
I would save the budget and buy something at 6K to save on depreciation too.
 
GinaB said:
The 5 you've narrowed it down to won't show for me, but I've a Jeep Grand Cherokee and it is amazing! Towing capacity very impressive too, it barely notices a car transporter and car on the back.
Click to expand...

Another vote for a Jeep - however I have the Cherokee 2.8CRD and barely notice the trailer carrying a dwb. Towing capacity is 3300kg
 
angel7 said:
Forget the 4x4 for good economy!!
Go to a big dealership and test drive as many diesel cars as you fancy- I suggest a Mondeo, Picasso, Scenic, Passat, Laguna etc. You will find one you prefer over the others.
Fit Winter tyres to whatever you buy and store the other ones in the shed (about £400 for most cars, you can buy the cheaper brands but I find "Gislaved euro frost" extremely good)
These will enable you to drive through even 4" snow easily without wheel spin, up and down hills, and decrease your stopping distance in the cold and rain, while still returning 55mpg, or about 600 miles from 1 tank of diesel.
I would save the budget and buy something at 6K to save on depreciation too.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I drive a Golf TDi at the moment and get around 53 mpg, but I realise that the chances of getting remotely near that with a 4x4 are very slim!! I do love my Golf, but I drive down a rough track to get to where my horses are and find I'm bottoming it out regularly. Hubby has an Audi A3 Quattro which is great, but I think I'd prefer a bit more ground clearance. May follow your advice on the budget though, sounds sensible. :)
 
Nissan qashqui
Toyota rav4
Kia sportage

If you need a 4WD for location, go small and you'll get a better mpg. Also make sure the 4WD does 2WD too for general drives.
 
angel7 said:
Forget the 4x4 for good economy!!
Go to a big dealership and test drive as many diesel cars as you fancy- I suggest a Mondeo, Picasso, Scenic, Passat, Laguna etc. You will find one you prefer over the others.
Fit Winter tyres to whatever you buy and store the other ones in the shed (about £400 for most cars, you can buy the cheaper brands but I find "Gislaved euro frost" extremely good)
These will enable you to drive through even 4" snow easily without wheel spin, up and down hills, and decrease your stopping distance in the cold and rain, while still returning 55mpg, or about 600 miles from 1 tank of diesel.
I would save the budget and buy something at 6K to save on depreciation too.
Click to expand...

When I looked into winter driving etc, the advise was, best in winter was 4x4 with winter tyres, next 2wd with winter tyres then 4x4 with normal tyres than 2wd with normal tyres
If you want a 4x4 I used to get close to 40mpg in a Rav 4 diesel. I doubt you'll get better than 40mpg. Did love the Rav when not towing
 
The new shape Subaru Forester! Dads does 50mpg on a good run, good off road but also a comfortable family car. Best of both worlds! Don't touch a Land Rover unless you want to spend forever paying out for things going wrong.... We've had several and are now Subaru converts! Like rocking horse s**t to get hold of though, not many about.
 
Had a 40mpg average on my dads old CR-V, but it was mostly used for conservative motorway miles :). Very comfy and easy to drive but I wouldn't want to tow with it and it was a bit cr*p in snow tbh.

I'd go for a non-4x4 with winter tyres if you don't need one to tow. The new Subaru Forester is meant to be fairly good and has decent ground clearance.
 
I love, love, love my Sorento.

I have had mine since new (2005), and bar any normal maintenance issues, the only major repair I have had is replacing the propshaft last yr - not bad for a 9yr old car with over 100,000k on the clock.

It is 100% reliable, comfortable, economical for a 4x4, tows like a dream and am dreading the day it has to be replaced.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top