Nooby 4x4 advice needed

[kimbo]

Hi Guys and Gals,

As ever, I need the benefit of your combined wisdom and expertise!

I am soon to be in the enviable position of spending the working week in London and the weekends (and hopefully longer as time goes on) down near the New Forest in a rural location. The aim is to work out my contract and move down there full time as soon as possible!

I am going to need a car and want to get a 4x4 to keep me going in the snowy weather, a little bit of gentle off-roading, to take on camping trips with the pooch and just because I've always wanted one but couldn't justify it I don't anticipate doing many miles but it will get used every weekend at least.

The problem is, I know absolutely nowt about 4x4s so don't know what would be best suited for me. So far, the criteria I have come up with are:

Automatic
Deisel
Around the £5k mark
Able to handle the occasional trip up to London
As reliable as the Sunrise as currently I couldn't tell one end of a spanner from the other (will remedy this)

Don't ask for much do I????

I do realise that most of this has been covered in previous posts but, to tell the truth, I'm getting a bit lost with all the variables

Thank, in advance, for the help

 

[spandit]

Land Rover Discovery Td5

 

[johnboy]

Hi Guys and Gals,

As ever, I need the benefit of your combined wisdom and expertise!

I am soon to be in the enviable position of spending the working week in London and the weekends (and hopefully longer as time goes on) down near the New Forest in a rural location. The aim is to work out my contract and move down there full time as soon as possible!

I am going to need a car and want to get a 4x4 to keep me going in the snowy weather, a little bit of gentle off-roading, to take on camping trips with the pooch and just because I've always wanted one but couldn't justify it I don't anticipate doing many miles but it will get used every weekend at least.

The problem is, I know absolutely nowt about 4x4s so don't know what would be best suited for me. So far, the criteria I have come up with are:

Automatic
Deisel
Around the £5k mark
Able to handle the occasional trip up to London
As reliable as the Sunrise as currently I couldn't tell one end of a spanner from the other (will remedy this)

Don't ask for much do I????

I do realise that most of this has been covered in previous posts but, to tell the truth, I'm getting a bit lost with all the variables

Thank, in advance, for the help

Toyota Landcruiser...

Job done....

 

[Hugo]

Land Rover Discovery Td5

Criteria stated reliability Robin.
What were you saying about Land rovers at the weekend.
Mind you I do like the look of them.

 

[JDO330]

Toyota Lancruiser, hilux, surf. Mitsubishi shogun or pajero. Nissan xtrail, terrano. Any of these as long as they have been looked after.

I run a Landy but can't honestly recommend one for the criteria already outlined by the OP.

HTH, Jon

 

[snozz]

Mitsubishi Delica. Based on the Pajero but you can sleep in it too! Full low box and automatic diesel. About £2k too, and reliable.

Forgot to say, Delica has diff lock too; -)

Snozz

 

[Nice65]

I'm looking for something similar, but with better off road capability. I currently have a Toyota Rav 4, and I think they may be worth a look. I fitted it with some Grabber AT2s and it's been fine in the snow, towing over muddy ground etc. However, I want to 'get out' even further so I'm looking at vehicles with low box and diff lock options like the Pajero and others mentioned.

The fuel economy averages at around 36 mpg for this diesel version, so not too expensive for trips to town. It also doesn't look at all out of place in an urban environment and happily whizzes along motorways. The 3 door is a breeze to park too.

 

[havocsdad]

If you're thinking of going down the landrover route with a defender bear in mind the LEZ that comes into force early Jan 2012 if you're going to go into London

 

[BillyBlade]

Depends on budget, but for that sort of 'soft roading' you could do a lot worse than the Hyundai Tuscon or it's larger brother, the Santa Fe.

They are very cost effective, reliable and well equipped, especially so in later versions. They are also easy to insure and easy to drive, with enough off road ability to take you down a forest track without issue.

 

[kimbo]

Thanks for all your help. Certainly given me some things to think on and a few options to consider.

I had considered a Discovery but didn't think they were too reliable (?). I think Japanese may be the way to go, bearing in mind my ineptitude with all things mechanical.

 

[BillyBlade]

Thanks for all your help. Certainly given me some things to think on and a few options to consider.

I had considered a Discovery but didn't think they were too reliable (?). I think Japanese may be the way to go, bearing in mind my ineptitude with all things mechanical.

Hence my Hyundai reply...seeing as the Landy specialist I know drives one. He never puts a spanner on it in all the time he has them between trade ins.

 

[kimbo]

Thanks Billy, they certainly do look and sound very good!

 

[jeffz]

Subaru Forester. Drives like a car when you need it to (most of the time), but utterly capable off-road. You can get a good one for £5k. Soft-roaders are neither fish nor fowl, and don't drive well. The Subaru's genuinely capable and rugged, with decent ground-clearance, plus great 4x4 provenance. Try one. It'll make Shoguns, Pajeros, Landcruisers, Discoveries, RAV4s and Sportages feel elephantine and crude.

 

[spandit]

We've got a Subaru and they are great. Not diesel for that price & bloody thirsty...

 

[BillyBlade]

You REALLY dont want to go near a diesel Subaru. Friend of mine works for a main dealer, and there is something about that engine you should know. I'll not put it on an open forum, but happy to spill via PM.

 

[TallMikeM]

I've got a sante fe as well, 130k on the clock and been totally reliable in the 3 yrs I've owned it. I do the very occasional 400 mile a day trips in it and it's perfectly comfortable to drive for long trips. Not as economical as a standard car, but I get about 38-40 mpg from it around twisty country lanes.
Ugly as a pig mind, but you can't see that from the inside.

 

[kimbo]

Thanks Billy, yes please mate.... spill away!

Thanks again to everyone giving me some help with this, much appreciated.

Kim

 

[The Lord Poncho]

Its a nice thought to have a 4x4 for the snow, but the reality (if you are going to be anywhere remotely built up) is that other normal cars are just left abandoned everywhere meaning that even if you had the top gear arctic truck you wouldn't be going anywhere!

Its fun though for country lanes etc- so should be great for the new forest! Commuting out of London in the snow by car would/will be a big drama...

 

[BillyBlade]

Lord Poncho, last year I had the 4x4 driving over pavements and at one point over a garden to bypass the stuck BMW's and Mondeos. Not that there were any deliniating markings to show they were pavements or gardens, but I guess they must have been.

I had a newborn son needing medicine. Hence you do what you have to do.

 

[The Lord Poncho]

Lord Poncho, last year I had the 4x4 driving over pavements and at one point over a garden to bypass the stuck BMW's and Mondeos. Not that there were any deliniating markings to show they were pavements or gardens, but I guess they must have been.

I had a newborn son needing medicine. Hence you do what you have to do.

You obviously don't live anywhere near me then!