Talk to me about 4x4s...

Siliconslave

Siliconslave

Siliconslave

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As we've moved to the country the misses wants a 4x4, none of this 2wd SUV rubbish but a proper one that can wade through 6 foot of mud and has torque coming out the gunnels.

Well maybe not quite that extreme, but needs to be able to make it down proper dirt tracks and through the odd field when we go shooting...

Now I know pretty much nothing about these things so figured i'd try and tap the collective knowledge of OCUK.

General requirements (all likely to be completely disregarded at some future point)

- £15-25k ish
- Not too old / high milage - 3years/20k max?
- Reliable - does this exclude Landrovers?
- Comfortable for the odd 400mile round trip (no Defenders / Jimneys)
- Can handle a bit of mud without getting stuck - no Chelsea tractors
- Reasonable MPG - 25+ maybe?
- No BMW / Audis (female prerogative - non-negotiable)

Plan is to go kick some tires this weekend and get a general feel for things, so what should we look at?
 
Take a look at the Double cab pickups, Navara, L200, Hilux etc. Very sturdy and have reduced road fund license as not classed as a passenger vehicle.

Andi.
 
You wont get a Disco or a Range Rover with these requirements, you will have to go fairly low end i would imagine if you cant stretch the mileage, age, or budget.

Personally i would drop the mileage and age requirement, and get a Range Rover (thats what i did). They are amazing cars.
 
Jez said:
You wont get a Disco or a Range Rover with these requirements, you will have to go fairly low end i would imagine if you cant stretch the mileage, age, or budget.

Personally i would drop the mileage and age requirement, and get a Range Rover (thats what i did). They are amazing cars.
Click to expand...

How does the Range Rover come up running cost and reliability wise? The disco seems to get universally panned for being hideously unreliable which is pretty off putting... (and there do seem to be some coming up for the money)
 
The Disco and Range Rover are mechanically similar.

Reliability is over rated though, how often does a car really ever go wrong in the scheme of things, even supposedly unreliable ones? I have had zero issues with my Range Rover in around 18 months and many many miles of ownership. Make sure you are comfortable with where a specialist or dealer is located, and fix it if it breaks. In between any faults you can drive around knowing you have the best car you could have.
 
How about Nissan Patrol? Very capable and well priced. Alternatively Land Cruiser, but both will be 4-6 year old.
 
The Grand Cherokee in Overland specification is recommended (and stacked to the nines with equipment) but just out of budget within those mileage and age requirements –*by a grand or two.
 
AWD Maxda CX-5 is worth a look. Will take you shooting. Very reliable. Nice 2.2 diesel. In the lower region of your budget, too. Has impeccable road manners as far as Top Gear and the like are concerned.
 
Country side? Guildford?

Driving around Parkbarn in a 4x4 should be enough of a challenege.

A RR fits in nicely with the Guildford social circles.
 
Having just bought a 2012 Disco 4 (which is outside of your budget), I probably wouldn't have gone for an earlier Disco 4 but maybe a later (last) Disco 3, but that won't meet your age / mileage requirements. You should consider a Jeep Cherokee for these requirements.
 
What sort of off road? A few fields or BOATS and forests? What do you want in respect of space and luxury?

I have a hilux 2007 3ltr diesel double cab with a hard top and a decent set of all terrain tyres. I take it off roading a bit, the only restriction I've found is the rear tow bar digs in and I've bent the side step going over a ditch.

It's not luxurious but I've been to Assen and Le Man's in it and it's been pleasurable to drive. I get about 26 around town and 34 on the motorway.

Toyota customer service is shocking and they lie through their back teeth.
 
Siliconslave said:
As we've moved to the country the misses wants a 4x4, none of this 2wd SUV rubbish but a proper one that can wade through 6 foot of mud and has torque coming out the gunnels.

Well maybe not quite that extreme, but needs to be able to make it down proper dirt tracks and through the odd field when we go shooting...

Now I know pretty much nothing about these things so figured i'd try and tap the collective knowledge of OCUK.

General requirements (all likely to be completely disregarded at some future point)

- £15-25k ish
- Not too old / high milage - 3years/20k max?
- Reliable - does this exclude Landrovers?
- Comfortable for the odd 400mile round trip (no Defenders / Jimneys)
- Can handle a bit of mud without getting stuck - no Chelsea tractors
- Reasonable MPG - 25+ maybe?
- No BMW / Audis (female prerogative - non-negotiable)

Plan is to go kick some tires this weekend and get a general feel for things, so what should we look at?
Click to expand...

Reliability doesn't exclude Land Rovers, your budget / age / mileage requirement does.

I would go for a Land Rover Discovery all day long though. I used to run a P38 Range Rover and LOVED it. Only sold it as it wasn't getting used enough, but I instantly regretted it. Now saving for a Discovery, only because I want 7 seats. Although I will be limiting my budget to £15k, and going for the best Disco 3 I can get for that money, rather than try to stretch to a D4.

I had a quick shot of the latest Disco for 36 hours a few weeks back, and was very impressed. They are great motors. And as with my previous Range Rover, whenever I passed another 4x4, I always felt I was in the better motor. It certainly seemed bigger than anything else I passed, and was more than happy.

On a side note, one of my Fathers friends is a farmer, who once had an L200. Lasted 2 years before it was written off. They aren't good off-road. The 4wd wasn't working once, they took it in to get checked, and they couldn't find any problem. Said it was fine. They called a local farmer to ask for a shot of a field to prove it, and the dealer panicked and said "you cant do that". It was a working 4x4. A silly little field should have been nothing to it.

If you are planning on doing any serious offroading, pretty much doesn't matter what you get, something will break. Might as well get the best one you can.
 
Nissan Pathfinder (or X-Trail) fits your requirements. Used to own a pathfinder and it was a great SUV. All the space and presence of a Disco3 but at half the cost and twice the reliability. The engine is reliable but a bit transit like and it doesnt have air suspension like a disco. Mine did 30mpg avg over 2 years. Will destroy muddy tracks and fields etc no problem; its 90% your tyres in any case.
 
the best bet would be the landcruiser v8 the ones with the 4.5 diesel engine, very capable off road and comfortable on the road too. although 2008 of these go for 35 minimum. if you decide to sell, resale values are quite strong (otherwise keep it in the family for grand kids to use).
 
Have a look at the previous gen X Trail. I had a 2011 and it was a fantastic car, loads of room, nice to drive and pretty powerful. Look at the manual though, the auto is crap.

edit/ you could probably pick up a 2013 Tekna (top of range) for about £20k now.
 
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As mentioned you won't get an RR within budget unless you go older, but I love my RR Sport. Owned it for 20 months and other than a problem on literally the first drive (due to a hose being put on incorrectly during a service) it's been totally reliable since. Mine is a 61 plate but I wouldn't be put off an older one if you have a good warranty.

Awesome cars everywhere. Motorways, crap roads, snow, off-road, tip runs - does everything effortlessly and in luxury. I've taken mine proper offroading a few times and it's very capable indeed and a lot of fun :)
 
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