Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Dale]

Landrover Defenders have this kudos and rugged appeal, but if you actually drive one, you'll realise that its awful for an everyday family motor......ok for farmers and off roading.

You cannot beat Jap.  Most have 2wd with 4wd high and low selectors, so you only need the 4wd in snow and mud (so everyday economy is good).  Jap stuff is most reliable...period.  I have had a few, and done offroading and greenlaning in them.  They take a lot of punishment.  The Subaru Legacy is a great choice, and gets good write ups.   Cherokees suffer from axle problems.   You could always look for one with an LPG conversion.....LPG has come a long way in the last few years, and is very reliable and simple to live with.....Massive savings

[allsorts]

bought a vw toerag this autumn,gr8 bit of kit,permanent 4x4 2.5 td,auto.
My wife needed a good towing vehicle as she competes in Equestrianism,& it doubles as a gr8 family car,supposedly heavy on tyres tho'.
Once owned a forester but it was costly on servicing but a gr8 winter tool..
Cheep & cheerful;u can't beat a nissan terrano tho it'll feel like you're toppling over in the corners..lol
Everyone has different ideas & experiences m8,just do your homework & trust yer gut..
Chris

[roy]

Landrover Defenders have this kudos and rugged appeal, but if you actually drive one, you'll realise that its awful for an everyday family motor......ok for farmers and off roading.

You cannot beat Jap.  Most have 2wd with 4wd high and low selectors, so you only need the 4wd in snow and mud (so everyday economy is good).  Jap stuff is most reliable...period.  I have had a few, and done offroading and greenlaning in them.  They take a lot of punishment.  The Subaru Legacy is a great choice, and gets good write ups.   Cherokees suffer from axle problems.   You could always look for one with an LPG conversion.....LPG has come a long way in the last few years, and is very reliable and simple to live with.....Massive savings

have a drive in  a new one there nothing like the old one's

[jamma10566]

They're still noisy, uncomfortable and slow tho'. And hugely overpriced. I had a '96 mk 2 Shogun 3.5 v6 for a few years. Comfortable, powerful and reliable and would give 22mpg with 2 bikes on the trailer going up to Donington. And it was easily as good as a Defender off road. You can pick up a really nice one for a grand or less now. You'd pay a hell of a lot more for the equivalent Landy!

[docta13]

9 seats? Oh you mean the thinly padded shelves in the back!

all depends what seat layout you get ?  four occasional rear seat's or four will padded fold up rear seat's ...or even two long well padded bench seat's ..and then it will seat 11 people .. and you can Evan put one more seat up by the driver if you want and then seat 12 

so roy you hiring out this mini bus or what?   

[john.658]

Will need to move fast on this now as 'she who must be obeyed' wants an X5. Any 4x4 will be slightly dearer at this time of year though, should have bought one last summer.

[HammyUK]

[barrie10r]

what about a nissan pathfinder , huge , diesel ,kind of a navara estate , not that expensive either , easily get dogs in that 

[jamma10566]

Hammy, agree with you totally with regards to the Volvo vs BMW thing. As for the petrol vs diesel, mpg and price per litre are not the only considerations with economy. Add in the extra cost of servicing of diesel over petrol and the potentially HUGE expense of possible turbo or fuel pump failure and the difference in real term running costs are small. And petrol is so much nicer to drive!

[Dale]

[john.658]

Won't be going down the X5 route, she's been told 
Volvo is a good shout Hammy, not enormously bulky so the missus should be able to park it. Lots of good info here to help with my search. 

[HammyUK]

[john.658]

My last 2 cars have been diesel and although not performance cars more than adequate for trailing the family around in. They are fairly smooth and great for cruising, ideal for long journeys to family in Engerlund and Wales. 406 and scenic returned great mpg but any 4x4 will give me less, that I will need to accept. Diesels I've had have never missed a beat, don't splutter and cut out in wet weather and good low down torque for the snow, 3-4 feet this year on the commute!! Current car has 130k, has has 2 timing belts and new discs. Apart from tyres/brakes and normal service stuff, all is original.
I prefer driving diesel now, and all the works vehicles are diesel and apart from pricey, smelly fillups can't fault new diesels.
Wife's petrol 206 was a nightmare in the snow/ice, she had a few close calls'  not doing that again next year so it will be sold on soon.
Largish 4x4 or Mumbus on the horizon.
 The bike will more than do my petrolhead fix.  Roll on summer 

[roy]

john.. at the end of the day its what you like not what we like . we can only give you an idea of what we have all had or owned in the past or present  and the best advice i can give now is go and test drive as manny as you can and then get the one that best suits your needs and way you will drive it . lets face it most modern 4x4's out there at the Minuit are all capable of a good motorway speed and Handel better than the 4x4's of the old days    good luck take your time and get whats right for you....
 happy hunting 

[wedgiewolves]

We run a 2008 Navara lovely car full leather, sat nav, cruise control, Had my 3 kids in the back loads of room not too bad on diesel just dont get the auto one had on as a cortesy was getting 15 miles to the gallon a t one point