need help with 4x4 please

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caramac1988

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i currently have a nice (looking) brandnew merc slk which is great when the weather is nice which is never and i cant fit anything in it and its crap basically waste of money but i also have the use of mums range rover when i need to pull my trailer etc but i think i should really invest in my own 4x4 but it needs to be kinda cheap to run and reliable and able to pull a ifor williams 510 with two horses 15.2hh 16.3hh

recomendations please i was thinking of a defender but i dont have a scoobie?

x
 
Stick with ya mums range rover
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Very cheap,cost ya nothing to buy
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,seriously though if you only need it for towing and your mum dosnt mind?
 
Have emailed thread to my dad (The_Financier) who knows about these things so he will probably post later, but I have to recommend the Izusu Trooper we have got, tis FAB! tows beautifully and has even survived being thrown half way off a bank and into a hedge courtesy of moi
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lol i wish i could but she moans and i live in the middle of the countryside my car isnt very suitable and i have two big boxers and its a bit of a tight squeeze plus my cars white and white leather seemed a good idea at the time plus its been stuck in the driveway since xmas eve because of the weather :s

x
 
I agree with Hadfos - I love my 4x4 but it is more expensive to run than a car
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If you've got use of a 4x4 then buy a better car
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I've got a Nissan Terrano II - I love it to bits but its the 3 door version and I'd prefer the 5 door tbh as getting into the back seats is a hassle. The boot space is good tho - the people we bought it from had a pushchair in there and we fit the dog (lab) in there ok (plus two water containers too atm!)
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I have an A4 convertible quattro and a Discovery 4.8 petrol. Out of the two the Disco has done more miles, and is not that bad on fuel either. The A4 is 2 years old with less than 6000 miles on it.

The Disco is 10 and has 125,000 it is ideal for most days, and has been 100% fab in the snow and ice, the weight of it stops you skidding it also has the power to tow fantastically and easily.
 
LOL I think you would find it more than a bit of a culture shock to go from a Merc SLK to a Defender, particularly if you are driving a Range Rover too
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I would say a Disco, you can get decent spec ones which will have all the nicer bits you are used to, but they tow brilliantly too
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Defenders really are very very basic workhorse trucks, much as I love them
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[ QUOTE ]
lol i wish i could but she moans and i live in the middle of the countryside my car isnt very suitable and i have two big boxers and its a bit of a tight squeeze plus my cars white and white leather seemed a good idea at the time plus its been stuck in the driveway since xmas eve because of the weather :s

x

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Aha,just seen were you are located
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,hmm can see why it is stuck in the driveway!I love my disco and it has been a darling to have this weather,however they are costly to run and maintain
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(you can have them chipped for about £300 though which improves fuel consumption)
My dad and a friend have the terranos and love them(however friends was a v and it was thirsty,dads is an 05 and he thinks it ok on fuel?)
They are all much of a muchness when you are buying 2nd hand am afraid
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[ QUOTE ]
I have an A4 convertible quattro and a Discovery 4.8 petrol. Out of the two the Disco has done more miles, and is not that bad on fuel either. The A4 is 2 years old with less than 6000 miles on it.

The Disco is 10 and has 125,000 it is ideal for most days, and has been 100% fab in the snow and ice, the weight of it stops you skidding it also has the power to tow fantastically and easily.

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I agree with everything you have said barring the ice comment
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,mine slid like holy hell round a bend tonight,weight means nothing when you have no steering,other than the fact you are far more likely to flatten someone else
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(however my traction control isnt working atm due to a sensor out on the wheel so may explain a little of its slippy tendancies
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)
 
I'm a massive advocate for the mighty workhorse that is the Defender 110, and what they lack in luxury they make up for in off-road and towing ability. The new ones are plenty nice enough inside but the best compromise would be either a newish Series 2 Discovery [post 2000] or a Series 3 Discovery [all of the electronics & sophisticated traction control may be useful if we keep getting weather like this]!

Anyroad, happy car hunting!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I agree with everything you have said barring the ice comment
smile.gif
,mine slid like holy hell round a bend tonight,weight means nothing when you have no steering,other than the fact you are far more likely to flatten someone else
smile.gif
(however my traction control isnt working atm due to a sensor out on the wheel so may explain a little of its slippy tendancies
grin.gif
)

[/ QUOTE ]

Scary times, we had a similar experience [although with added stuck-in-ditch drama] after swapping a Range Rover for a Toyota Land Cruiser [Dad's business]. As a tentative learning driver I find the added weight and the flattening properties of the Disco make me feel a tad safer, just hope I don't encounter other road users/ innocent farm animals during the flattening!
 
Re the defender - My dad has a "pimped up" defender with all the toys, fan of lights etc. It looks fab BUT the few times I have driven it , it is so heavy on the clutch I get cramp especially reversing the trailer. Its also pretty thirsty. Love our old Diahatsu but shes a but thirsty in 4x4 mode at the moment!
 
It depends how much you want to spend and if you can work on the vehicle yourself (or have a tame person who can!!)
At the cheap end of the market, certainly sub £3000 you can get all sorts of rubbish or if you are lucky/know what you are looking at get a bargin.
Disco, some people love 'em.. I dont! Based on the old short wheelbase Range Rover they rust (look under rear seats) have dreadful electrics and seem very unreliable (stands by to be flamed)

Land Rover, great but early ones can rust badly, heavy to drive and not very comfortable.

Range Rover, Ok but check electrics and rust. V8 petrols very expensive to run hence you cant give old ones away.

Toyota's, Land Cruiser, any at this end of the market will be hard used, get someone who knows Cruiser's to vet it, could save you lots!
Surfs, Cheap but you need a 3.0 litre, check electrics, especially rear window, steering, and cooling system. Good Surf forum with lots of advice.

Nissans,(and the rebadged Fords) Again at this end of the market get it checked by a specialist but OK ,not sure about towing weight thou.

Isuzu Trooper. I've got a 3.1 R reg and love it, tows well, comfortable loads of room. Check for rust at front and back of chassis, check engine recall items done. good forum with plenty of advice

PM if you want more info.
 
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