Cheap 4x4 Advice

Axeboy

Axeboy

Axeboy

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Joined
13 Nov 2002
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5,476
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Scotland
Hi Guys

Sold my van project camper thingy today, its was great but always needing a new project.

I fancy a 4x4 this time, and have asked for advice on thew Cherokee 4.0 before now. My budget is around £2k to £3k and i'll keep a grand in the bank for any bits needed.

Advice I'm after is general, ie any recommendations on models to look at. Also wanting to know if I should look anywhere other than the normal Autotrader/Ebay/Gumtree/Pistonheads


The ideas I have are:

Shogun 2.8td/3.0v6/3.5v6 Swb like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MITSUBUSHI-SHOGUN-2-8-TURBO-DIESEL-SWB-MANUAL-GLX-/190879163728?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2c7148e550
Defender like this http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201308028130569/sort/locasc/usedcars/price-to/4000/model/defender/make/land_rover/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/postcode/pa113dx/radius/1500/page/1?logcode=p


Id like a nice defender with rear seats, even a 110, but they command high prices. The Mitsubishi though appears that you can get a good one for the money. Other main option is a 4.0 Cherokee as said above. Should I be considering any others?

Mpg isn't a problem, looking for decent power and reliability. Just after some ideas gents!
 
Can't help with the others but I've had 2 Cherokees and both were great cars to own. They are a bit like the opposite of the Tardis. Massive on the outside and surprising small on the inside. The last one was an orvis which is a special edition model.

They are reliable if you buy right and mechanically not much goes wrong on the 4.0 rear springs go which puts stress on the rear diff which can die after a while. Make sure it changes transmission settings properly.

I regret selling the Orvis. I actually took a plane to Glasgow to pick it up and drove it back to west Wales over a weekend. Great fun!
 
I've had a

Shogun - Awesome but juicy, Very comfortable though.
Landy 90 200TDi - Loved it but they are agricultural.
Suzuki SJ - Mine was heavily modded with exterior cage etc Full off road beast - Beat All other 4x4's on Extreme off road, rescued untold modded Landys. :p
Vitara/Old one - Unbelievable in standard guise you really have to be in one off road to know how good these are as standard motors.
Dihatsu dirtbox. Fantastic 2.5D lump but body is made out of cheese.

What do you want to do with your 4x4 ? Tow, Go off road, Go to play days or just use it on the road ?
 
4T5 said:
What do you want to do with your 4x4 ? Tow, Go off road, Go to play days or just use it on the road ?
Click to expand...

Not sure to be honest, mainly camping/fishing trips and for the odd weekend away.

Its a second car, so itll be more of a toy
 
For the light use you mention I'd say a Shogun but they are juicy & don't take it off road or you'll get stuck. Lovely motors for cruising about though.
 
Id prefer a petrol Shogun but the one I linked to at the top seems good for the cash.

Its not far away either

Does it appear ok to you?
 
Looks straight enough to me & has only just about been run in, Things I don't like though are the colour the interior colour & the different tyres.
Colour is a personal thing but I'd kick him on the price of 2 front tyres to match the rears.
Mine was a red one & looked a lot better than the green one, imho. :)

Can't comment on overall price though as I get most of my motors through trade mates so have no idea on retail.
 
Agree on the colour, not my top choice :)

But it does seem straight enough to warrant a viewing and seems to have come of better bodywork wise than most
 
As it's local & looks a decent one it would be worth going for a viewing & a test drive to see if you actually like a Shogun & even if you don't buy it you can use it as a benchmark.
 
Ive spend a bit of time under a swb shogun and imo everything seemed fantastically laid out and very substantial. I'd have one in a heartbeat if I needed a 4x4
 
Definitely discount a defender for your brief and budget. I'd love to recommend a Disco 2, I have one and love it, but they don't meet your reliability stipulation. I'd still never have a shogun over one though, but that does sound like your most likely best bet.
 
I'd spend about £1000-£1500 on the best pre-facelift Jeep XJ (Cherokee) I could find :)

Much more refined, interesting and stylish (for what it is) than the others too, if you get one in good condition. Timeless, really.









Lots of good tweaks available as well. Quite quick too and handle very tidily if you get one that isn't knackered. A good one should be tight, smooth and responsive.

God, I miss that Jeep. Once pushed a completely seized Vectra all the way up a double deck car transporter. Utterly effortless. Quite an interesting experience mind, wouldn't have taken much to get it horrible wrong :D

Don't expect to average much more than 20mpg though, as standard.
 
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Defenders are silly money as you have found out.

V8 Disco all the way, has luxuries too like room for your arms!
 
I would only go for a Defender if you're really into them. I loved mine, but agricultural is the word; I've been in better equipped and more comfortable tractors. They have character though.
Like Invader said, you'd definitely want a more modern engine (2/300Tdi or Td5). NA defenders are even more terrible, especially if they don't have power steering!

TBH whilst I miss the 90 sometimes, if I was to get another 4x4 I'd probably go Disco (or maybe old-school Range Rover) for the luxuries like proper seats and a better chance of the doors fitting/sealing....
 
Ok, bought the Shogun.

2000, Green on silver, 3.2 Di-D with 77k.

Needs a little work, sunroof bar, clock goosed, but nothing major. Mechanically appears in good order. Pick it up tomorrow and will drop it off at a mates garage for a good going over and service. £1900 wasn't too bad I don't think.

I'll post a few pics when I get it.
 
4.0litre Grand Cherokee Limited for me... sittign right outside next to the RX8... one hell of a combo... it's been faultless... seriously, not a spec of rust, starts first time everytime... done 4k miles in him since buying it 4 months ago... it's going in for a stronger sway bar though in Friday as the roll is a little much when used to the RX8.

BUY THEM!! CHEAP and AWESOME!
 
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