Softroader Comparisons

Dr Who said:
Subaru Forester STi

:)
Click to expand...

It's an import only, I had a look at the standard Forester, but it seemed pretty bland and middle of the road, not the largest boot either, had a weird floor which sloped to the back. The XV was the same.


The girlfriend likes the looks of the Toyota FJ Cruisers, pity the budget doesn't match! They have only been out a year, and one year old ones are up for sale at $40'000, when new ones are drive away no more to pay at $45750, makes no sense buying used and losing a year warranty!
 
Last edited:
Have you thought of one of the Outlander platform cars?. Either the Mitsubishi, Peugeot 4007 or Citroen C-Crosser?. We have a 4007 and have owned it for just over a year, it's been a fantastic vehicle so far. Oz review here:-

http://www.caradvice.com.au/64153/peugeot-4007-review-road-test/

Pug 4007 Irmscher Sport. Essentially a Mitsubishi Outlander, same platform. I love it to bits, fairly brisk on the road considering it's size and weight with good performance from the 2.2 PSA engine, loads of room for the family and very practical all round. Great for carting mountain bikes about, fire track roads are no problem - I've had this thing off road in some pretty rough stuff and the clever 3 way manually switchable 4WD system just shrugs it off, even with 19" alloys and Bridgestone Dueler HP Sport rubber which leans towards the road tyre stable more than dual purpose. The split tailgate makes for a handy seat when getting changed into and out of bike gear. Swallows buggies and all the bags of kids stuff you need to take away with you if you go anywhere for even a few days. Can't see me ever using the 7 seat option concealed in the boot floor though.

99.9% of folk will think it is an horribly ugly bus. It's very much a "Marmite" car, I love it's looks, it drives superbly and it's fairly rare on the roads ( maybe because potential buyers think it looks minging??!! :p )

l8nTV.jpg


XrRD4.jpg


k5VVG.jpg


cxaiK.jpg


xQGeD.jpg


Lxazp.jpg


j5pOl.jpg


rJIV2.jpg


dWibQ.jpg
 
Last edited:
That's more marmite looking than a Dodge, I only got mine because my brother wanted one & having two meant we got a superb deal!

I'd recommend that the OP does some test drives because I was pleasantly surprised how good that Nitro actually was, I've driven quite a selection of different metal over the years and it was definitely better than the reviews suggested. I'm sure the European Dodge had much stiffer suspension fitted than the American model for one thing, the handling totally contradicted the reviews. I found it had sharper steering and felt less top heavy than quite a few estate cars I've either owned or driven, though there isn't any getting away from the inertia you feel when changing direction quickly. In 2wd mode and with the active stability turned off, I could quit happily get the rear end to step out on roundabouts.

It was far more fun to drive & own than I ever thought it would be, the only thing I didn't like was that it attracted a lot of attention if it was parked up anywhere with a lot of pedestrians gathered. I'd often come back and find people leaning on it and taking photographs etc, amazed really it only got one minor scratch on the drivers side door during the time that I had it. :mad:
 
Berger said:
It's an import only, I had a look at the standard Forester, but it seemed pretty bland and middle of the road, not the largest boot either, had a weird floor which sloped to the back. The XV was the same.
Click to expand...

The newer forester is pretty bland but the STi is far from bland, and has @1700 litres of boot space with seats folded, and the floor is flat. about 700 litres with the seats up, how big do you need?

There is no other UK sold softroader that offers a driving experience of the STi, but if imports are out then fair do's.
 
Dr Who said:
The newer forester is pretty bland but the STi is far from bland, and has @1700 litres of boot space with seats folded, and the floor is flat. about 700 litres with the seats up, how big do you need?

There is no other UK sold softroader that offers a driving experience of the STi, but if imports are out then fair do's.
Click to expand...

450L according to the Subaru Australia website, which is more than I expected, but doesn't solve the problem of the floor sloping towards you!

The "new" Outlander is due out in a few weeks, will check it out then, should be lots bigger with better 4wd than the options I have looked at already, just depends on price. You can't buy Citroen over here and Peugeot would be a bit of a risk financially!
 
Berger said:
450L according to the Subaru Australia website, which is more than I expected, but doesn't solve the problem of the floor sloping towards you!

The "new" Outlander is due out in a few weeks, will check it out then, should be lots bigger with better 4wd than the options I have looked at already, just depends on price. You can't buy Citroen over here and Peugeot would be a bit of a risk financially!
Click to expand...

I have no idea what you are talking about, the floor is flat on every Forester I have owned (S/Tb and T/Tb) and seen (Sti XT etc etc). Sounds like the rear suspension had collapsed xD
 
Oh, I was going to say BMW X1 until I saw the 'no bmw as they're too expensive' comment.

How about second hand BMW approved?

The X1 handles well(like a 3 series), looks fairly sporty and in Xdrive has the 4WD.
Get what ya pay for in life. Worth spending that bit extra to get something 1, that you want and 2, that will likely be better built.
 
The X1 is not a great car at all - I cannot imagine spending the sort of money they cost in Australia on one! The interior quality is nothing like you'd expect from BMW at all, its cheap and nasty inside.

As for looking fairly sporty.. are we talking about the same car?
 
iX35 is surprisingly good, the interior is hugely improved in comparison to old Hyundais, this is going to be entirely subjective though and unless you have been in an old Hyundai you will have no idea what I mean, I suppose it depends on what you are used to. Get the 2.0CRDi not the 1.7 if at all possible.
 
In Australia? A Toyota Hilux Prado is a good shout. Plenty of room, excellent off road capabilities and top reliability. A Prado took me and 4 other adults across the outback with not a single problem.
 
Berger said:
Depreciation. I wouldn't expect it to hold value as well as a Toyota or larger established brand.[/URL]
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be concerned about depreciation of the 4007. In fact although I can't find any tables that are indicative of the results from the last year or so a previous depreciation chart put the 4007 in second place under a Range Rover for least depreciation - 1% over the course of 12 months. That's the thing about the big Pug, it's a little known quantity and a fairly well kept secret. Only owners will be able to tell you just how good these cars are as most folk see one on the road and think 'Ohh......that's one of those strange looking Peugeot thingies. I know absolutely nothing about them'. ;)

Also, in terms of depreciation you have to bear in mind what the OTR price for these cars was at launch in comparison to other marques and competitors. Because they were priced so keenly to begin with they can now be had for superb used prices. Mitsubishi with the Outlander at the same time the 4007 and Crosser were launched attempted to cash in on their reputation and standing when it came to their historical 4 x 4 prowess and as a result priced the Outlander substantially higher than its French clones. But it backfired on them and they lost sales to their PSA engined brothers.

That coupled with the fact that they chose to fit uninspiring and lacklustre engines to the Outlander including the wheezy MIVEC diesel which they still persist with instead of the PSA 2.2 and you have a car which is almost identical spec wise but inferior in driveability and performance.

Apologies if I sound like I'm shouting from the rooftops about the 4007 but it really is that good. If you can stomach/appreciate the looks that is. :D
 
[TW]Fox;23102978 said:
The X1 is not a great car at all - I cannot imagine spending the sort of money they cost in Australia on one! The interior quality is nothing like you'd expect from BMW at all, its cheap and nasty inside.

As for looking fairly sporty.. are we talking about the same car?
Click to expand...

Yes, with the 18's at least they do look sporty..well for an SUV at least

Granted they're not the best of interiors and people seem to repeat this probably as it's often been noted in reviews, but I wouldn't say they look cheap and nasty inside - still better than most of the lower priced similar cars around. However I am kinda with you. X1's don't generally get packed up with options like 3/5 series etc and with basic fabric interiors they do look a bit rubbish. Okay, I'm biased, I own one but also have owned many other great BMW's (including M's) but I don't think the X1 stands out as one of BMW's bad models, quite the opposite.

I remember reviewers said the 1 series was poor quality especially interior wise but don't see anyone complaining about the £45,000 1 series M that is based on BMW's cheapest poverty model in the BMW range :)
 
Last edited:
DarrenM343 said:
I remember reviewers said the 1 series was poor quality especially interior wise but don't see anyone complaining about the £45,000 1 series M that is based on BMW's cheapest poverty model in the BMW range :)
Click to expand...

I'll complain - it's not fantastic :p Especially the slightly naff "///M x of 450" plate :D

Does the job though.

The new version of the 1 Series isn't much of an improvement either. Quite shabby in places.
 
Get a test drive in a new model CRV 2.2d. Fantastic piece of kit and comes with a lot of toys as standard. Great drive and all! Also super reliable!
 
Alex*TLR said:
Get a test drive in a new model CRV 2.2d. Fantastic piece of kit and comes with a lot of toys as standard. Great drive and all! Also super reliable!
Click to expand...

New CR-V's not too bad.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/honda/cr-v/hatchback-2012/

http://www.parkers.co.uk/company-ca...2-i-dtec-diesel-se-4wd-manual-2012-road-test/

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/advic...tec-petrol-ex-4wd-manual-adas-2012-road-test/

Mazda's CX-5 is better to drive though, Tiguan's better overall too if you can find one for a good price.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom