Any proper, automatic 4x4s out there that emit less than 225co2s?

Thanks for your help guys. I need the 4x4ness for stuff outside London, mainly in the alps where I've never had much luck with the 2wd cars I've taken there.

Realistically thinking it makes little sense to have a 4x4 just for that - for me this was a passing thought and I haven't reached a conclusion yet.

I also posted this for the benefit of my flatmate who's in a strange situation. He in fact (obviously) lives in London, but spends 3 days a week in Hampshire towing horses around, and needs a car to replace his dying petrol golf that is seriously, seriously dead and just not up to the job whatsoever. He's looking at the defender, but is worried about the £25 charge and is waiting until May the 2nd before he takes the plunge.
 
If I was in your shoes, I'd get myself a pre-X-plate Mitsubishi Shogun. There's the 2.5 turbo diesel, or the 3.0 petrol, both available with auto boxes. ~L plate or newer should net you the later autobox, in which the torque converter locks up when doing more than 50, which helps greatly with economy.

My dad's got an N-plate 3.0 V6 auto which he picked up for £1500. He pays £185 a year tax on it.
 
thecremeegg said:
Why would you need a 4x4 in london? :confused:
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I saw the advert for the nissan quashquai the other day.
"built for the city"
How in any possible form is it built for the city?
In other words "So dumb city ***** can enlarge the size of their tiny ****"

I mean this guy has genuine reasons to have a 4x4 in the city.
But it's such a waste of money for most people, why not buy a sports car or a hot hatch for your family? Even a hot saloon?
 
Look people you don't understand... you NEED a 4x4 in London, for those of you who live here you'll know why. It's the ****ing potholes, the **** quality of the roads, and speed bumps and lastly taxis!! 4x4s are about the only thing they won't pull out in front of! They're ****s the lot of them - in fact I'd lolve a Shogun for driving round town, good visibilty, and it scares people which is good.

At work some of our surveillance vehicles are Shoguns, took it for a spin, not quick or anything, but flippin' great in town IMO.

If I had to have 1 car though I wouldn't get a 4x4, but as he says it's obvious that it would be useful, a) for horse towing, b) the alsp, and c) why the **** can't he have a 4x4 if he wants one whether he be in London or not!?
 
Freefaller, thanks for that. I was going to bring that up - one of the reasons I specified high ground clearance earlier on was for my benefit and not the benefit of my my flatmate. Driving in London is hard work, but it's not impossible. However, life is made very difficult if one doesn't have a lot of ground clearance.

In central London, where I live, road surfaces range from normal to seriously awful. There are speed bumps everywhere, and in many places forward parallel parking (i.e. kerbing) is often the easiest way to park quickly in moving traffic.

A friend has an M3 - it's a fast car and he likes to throw it around the odd corner, but it so isn't built for London. At all. The ride is too firm and the ground clearance has caused him plenty of problems. On the other hand, I know a chap who drives a range sport (my old boss) and he's had the luxury of being able to own a large number of expensive cars in a short period of time, and he says that based on his experience a car with soft suspension and high ground clearance makes the most sense in London (regardless of whether it's a 4x4 or not).

I liked the freelander, it made sense, for London. Seriously. But I prefer the defender because of its offroading credentials. Both however are a bit too expensive so I'm still searching.

Test driving a VW Tiguan soon - I see it as a cheaper version of the Freelander...but I probably won't like it.

So far I can't come up with a car that suits my needs. The search continues.

PS: I wish the small 2dr shogun diesel autos emitted less than 225 - that strikes me as the exact car I'm after.
 
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izoneiz said:
Freefaller, thanks for that. I was going to bring that up - one of the reasons I specified high ground clearance earlier on was for my benefit and not the benefit of my my flatmate. Driving in London is hard work, but it's not impossible. However, life is made very difficult if one doesn't have a lot of ground clearance.

In central London, where I live, road surfaces range from normal to seriously awful. There are speed bumps everywhere, and in many places forward parallel parking (i.e. kerbing) is often the easiest way to park quickly in moving traffic.

A friend has an M3 - it's a fast car and he likes to throw it around the odd corner, but it so isn't built for London. At all. The ride is too firm and the ground clearance has caused him plenty of problems. On the other hand, I know a chap who drives a range sport (my old boss) and he's had the luxury of being able to own a large number of expensive cars in a short period of time, and he says that based on his experience a car with soft suspension and high ground clearance makes the most sense in London (regardless of whether it's a 4x4 or not).

I liked the freelander, it made sense, for London. Seriously. But I prefer the defender because of its offroading credentials. Both however are a bit too expensive so I'm still searching.

Test driving a VW Tiguan soon - I see it as a cheaper version of the Freelander...but I probably won't like it.

So far I can't come up with a car that suits my needs. The search continues.

PS: I wish the small 2dr shogun diesel autos emitted less than 225 - that strikes me as the exact car I'm after.
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As mentioned though if you get one which is X reg or older you should be fine re: congestion tax.
 
i just found the new jeep patriot, their auto model is 226 g/km... thats the best i've seen for an automatic real offroader
 
[TW]Fox;11509905 said:
Is the Patriot a capable offroader then?
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can't really comment as I've never driven one but Jeep are well known for their offroad capability and to quote a review:

more off-road ability than all the far-eastern SUVs put together
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izoneiz said:
Test driving a VW Tiguan soon - I see it as a cheaper version of the Freelander...but I probably won't like it.

So far I can't come up with a car that suits my needs. The search continues.
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The Tiguan is Manual only AFAIK?

I'm sorry, im getting confused here, Freelander you love yet its too expensive, now if you can afford the Tiguan then surely you can afford a year old Freelander with spare change?

You keep changing the goalposts so I dont think anyone on this forum can help, I'm with Fox on this one.
 
Kappa said:
You keep changing the goalposts so I dont think anyone on this forum can help, I'm with Fox on this one.
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In the last year or so he's asked for advice on buying a £1k diesel and a Jaguar XJ. Now he wants a cheap to run £20k softroader.

Tune in next month where izoniez asks us to spec him a van!
 
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