Shooting/fishing truck...?

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Reality Bites

Soldato
Joined
28 Jul 2003
Posts
5,801
Location
South Wales
My st220 is getting to end of life and considering my requirements now, I'm looking to change to a SWB 4x4. My shooting and fishing trips mean I require a 4x4 or capable all wheel drive car to get me down crappy roads and wet fields and a big enough boot to get the fishing kit Into. I have the occasional towing requirement but don't want to bias a decision mainly on that.

Current choices were a shogun or grand vitara. I believe both have the ability for scary bills, but should I still consider or are there alternatives? I don't need the LWB versions and like the idea of the SWB work horse.

Have a budgeT of around £3-4k plus a few hundred my needing TLC ST220 will get me.

Ideas, options and opinions welcomed.
 
Subaru forester, nice and cheap and should be pretty rugged and it'll drive like a car. Depends how much ground clearance you need i guess but as long as you're not crossing craggy ravines im sure it'd be fine.
 
I've got a SWB Shogun that I use for shooting duties. It gets me to where I need to go without any fuss - although I admit I haven't done any hard core off-roading in it (mostly just across fields and down rutted tracks).

The main thing I would point out is that the boot is tiny so if you need to carry a lot of kit or a dog it may be a little too small. You can put the seats down but then you loose the use of the rear seats if you need to transport people.
 
To be honest, I'd likely have the rear seats down 90% of the time so as long as I can get my kit in it with them down, I'm happy.

Have you had any scary bills? I wouldn't do any hardcore off reading, but need the ability to get thru soggy fields and bumpy roads with ease.
 
A lot of that will come down to tyre choice too (especially the soggy fields bit).

Shogun sounds like the appropriate vehicle for your needs then if you're not shipping bodies about with you.
 
xs2man said:
A lot of that will come down to tyre choice too (especially the soggy fields bit).

Shogun sounds like the appropriate vehicle for your needs then if you're not shipping bodies about with you.
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I like the look of the SWB shogun and know it's capable, scary bills on a 10-15 year old car worry me. I had started looking at the xtrail again. I know I said SWB, but it's a car which ticks the boxes for me.

This car will be used to get me to train station, get me fishing and get me to shooting locations. I'll either be alone or have one passenger.
 
How about a Jimny? A little small but with a set of bfg a/ts almost unbeatable off road. Your budget gets you a nice example but they are a little small.
 
maccapacca said:
How about a Jimny? A little small but with a set of bfg a/ts almost unbeatable off road. Your budget gets you a nice example but they are a little small.
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Too small. We had one on a holiday in Cyprus last week and although i loved it at first, it is too small and struggled to keep at 60-65 on the motorway. I know it may have been a poor power example, but was lacking too much for me to consider one.

Plus, I think I'd struggle to get a rod hold-all in it.
 
I have been driving a vecta c etstae for shooting/fishing/everyday driving to work.

Decent car, diesel means good mileage on long terms, boot space is great for outdoor stuff. Only downside is when shes on been used for a purpose, i.e boot empty, it is a big car and noisy inside.

Modern estates maybe better but am looking at large saloons now just for that better driving experience
 
Gibbs said:
I have been driving a vecta c etstae for shooting/fishing/everyday driving to work.

Decent car, diesel means good mileage on long terms, boot space is great for outdoor stuff. Only downside is when shes on been used for a purpose, i.e boot empty, it is a big car and noisy inside.

Modern estates maybe better but am looking at large saloons now just for that better driving experience
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i really want a 4x4 for the shooting duties (or all wheel drive at the very least). I've got stuck a few times last winter in a 'normal' car...
 
Subaru forester s turbo and fit 215-65-16 yokohama geolander tyres :)

absolutely brilliant for off-roading and quick road driving. although note you will experience a little tyre roll over standard on the road.

I would also recommend trying to find a forester fitted with the self levelling suspension its great.
 
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