4x4 Recommendations?

Ok so this is only just down the road from me, and seems to tick all the right boxes - what should I look out for if I go and take it for a drive?

Edit: I can't get the ebay link thing to work... Land Rover Freelander 1.8 XEi Completed


Land Rover Freelander 1.8 XEi Completed

Vitara Rossini in bright pink with white leather seats and roof, oh the memory's that brings back

Softly~Softly wrote: Vitara Rossini in bright pink with white leather seats and roof, oh the memory's that brings back

Oooooh want one ...... WANT one!
The operation is next week. I will be then be known as Marilyn. Hairiest cleavage in Leics. After Sue....

The Freelander may be worth a look. 120k not bad for a grand or so. Offer 800.

Hmmm just noticed on the ad - it's listed as £1195 - but further down it say £1995

Jan, with your budget I'd seriously consider the Suzuki Jimny ..... unless you're planning on routinely exceeding 60mph of course!

Seriously, they're the cheapest 'proper' 4x4 around, are solid and well capable, and with a simple construction there's little to go wrong and most things are cheap and easy to fix..... (remember James May opted for one in the Top Gear Bolivia Challenge ... and it excelled!!!)


.....however they're not exactly built for comfort..... harsh seats, basic stereo, minimal load space unless you drop the rear seats ( as most folk do)

The only caveat I'll add is no matter which 4x4 you opt for, make SURE the 4x4 drive actually works ..... many are run as FWD 'cause folk don't realise the 4WD is FUBAR, or are too tight to fix it. :drive:

Jan, if you can hack the lack of finesse, the smart buy is a Jimny. :broon:





EDIT : I see you mentioned about 4x4s struggling on snowy hills ...... note my caveat above , .... oh and proper winter tyres always help!

The Jimny has air operated 4x4 and is known as a problem.. So don't bother with one of them..

The Suzuki SJ range on the other hand ( what James may had) is bomb proof (apart from body work)

My own SJ http://forum.difflock.com/viewtopic.php?t=22387&highlight=tarantulax

No power steering on SJs unless retro fitted

But Vitaras on the other hand are great.. Yes to power steering.. But personally I'd avoid a fat boy version as they have very wide tyres and can be horrible on roads that have 'tracks' from heavy lorries etc.. Like slow lane of motorways

Body work is the biggest issue with both Vitaras and discoveries (check under boot carpet)

Suzuki x90?

Ford maverick?
Nissan Terrano (same as above)
Frontera

I vote for the jimny :broon:

Or if you can find one a panda 4x4

We've run a 2005 Panda 4x4 for 3 years - they are a great winter car for short journeys (just don't expect to go very fast). We get tons of snow up here every year and run the car all year round on Maragoni snow tyres (it only does 3 - 4K miles/year) and have never come close to being stuck. The 4x4 system is very simple - as is everything else on the car - and it has EPAS just like the TF. Hard to find though......

Richard

A freind of mine goes skiing every year to a few different places. He says that's all the locals drive up the slopes is 4x4 pandas

We were in the same position as you Jan and we bought a Freelander for around £1500.

For your budget you will be struggling to find something that isn't on it's last legs, but if you wait it will only get worse as 4x4 prices start to go up as winter approaches (opposite of MGTFs).

As said, if you want 4x4 then make sure that any vehicle you fancy hasn't been converted to 2 wheel drive. A lot of Freelanders have this done for 2 reasons, the first being the one they will advertise (it is better on mpg) but the second is the fact the viscous coupling has failed and it is cheeper to just disconnect the drive shaft and fit a blanking plug.

4x4s tend to be a bit more noisy than normal cars, but test drive them and see if there are any major clunks, whines or mechanical noises that would indicate wear.