Discussion
Righty then,I'm not at work now til end of November,so I'm looking to buy a 4x4 for camping weekends away with the little'n. I'm not expecting to be chucking it around cliff faces etc just something I can bounce around muddy paths without really caring about dents scratches etc. Budget is 4k,for this I want something reliable (not the best with a spanner if I'm honest) will only be me and a 3.5 year old so not fussed about number of seats. I've never really looked at off roaders before so its all new to me,hence asking for advice. Thanks people
How about a Jeep Wrangler.
You can get one for that money, and it’s one of the few 4x4s where you can take the roof off (and the doors if you want).
If you only need it for two people you can unbolt the back seats and fit a big metal box for some secure storage.
For something bigger I’d suggest a hilux surf.
3L 3rd gen.
They have enough mod cons to be comfortable, but are still basic enough to be easy to maintain.
You can get one for that money, and it’s one of the few 4x4s where you can take the roof off (and the doors if you want).
If you only need it for two people you can unbolt the back seats and fit a big metal box for some secure storage.
For something bigger I’d suggest a hilux surf.
3L 3rd gen.
They have enough mod cons to be comfortable, but are still basic enough to be easy to maintain.
seriously, hyundai sante fe. permanent 4wd, but not daft fuel economy, ie 32-35 around town and 40+ on a run from the diesel.
will tow 2 tonne and has good ground clearance. not the best looking car ever, but ultra reliable, and a decent drive to boot. done 30k in one now, no major issues. original clutch went at 95k after about 20k towing on it. no rust still at 8yrs old, and a good solid lump of a car. £4k will get you an 05/06 model. read honest johns reviews of them, very well regarded for towing and for reliability.
will tow 2 tonne and has good ground clearance. not the best looking car ever, but ultra reliable, and a decent drive to boot. done 30k in one now, no major issues. original clutch went at 95k after about 20k towing on it. no rust still at 8yrs old, and a good solid lump of a car. £4k will get you an 05/06 model. read honest johns reviews of them, very well regarded for towing and for reliability.
My neighbour has a Jeep Wrangler in that metallic bile colour. Its massive and looks ridiculous, but apparently performs across rough terrain reasonably well.
I assume you are going camping in the woods or something, and not to typical British camp sites with 'facilities' and nice smooth gravelly paths to each pitch.
I assume you are going camping in the woods or something, and not to typical British camp sites with 'facilities' and nice smooth gravelly paths to each pitch.
paulmoonraker said:
My neighbour has a Jeep Wrangler in that metallic bile colour. Its massive and looks ridiculous, but apparently performs across rough terrain reasonably well.
I assume you are going camping in the woods or something, and not to typical British camp sites with 'facilities' and nice smooth gravelly paths to each pitch.
Yea wilderness camping,weekends away from humans I assume you are going camping in the woods or something, and not to typical British camp sites with 'facilities' and nice smooth gravelly paths to each pitch.
I had a drive of a shogun today,quite a lot of fun,going to dedicate my weekend to finding something,a mate let me drive his freelander,and tbh I think my 996 would get up more of a hill than that thing. I like the look of the wrangler,seem to have purpose yet remain cool looking.Nissan Xtrail?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/nissan/x-tra... - £3k
Bonus point -
Handy vehicle for towing on a B licence with a max trailer MAM of 1500 kgs
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/nissan/x-tra... - £3k
Bonus point -
Handy vehicle for towing on a B licence with a max trailer MAM of 1500 kgs
You can have my Dad's Vauxhall Monterey (Isuzu Trooper) for £1000. 3.1TD has leather/ air con CD/MP3 player 7 seats so can take all your kids mates too and BFG all terrain tyres. I have not managed to get it stuck anywhere yet. Already has a few battle scars but can be fairly presentable with a wash.
Has a couple of minor niggles with electrics but priced to reflect this.
(Mods: feel free to remove post if it breaks any rules)
Has a couple of minor niggles with electrics but priced to reflect this.
(Mods: feel free to remove post if it breaks any rules)
paulmoonraker said:
My neighbour has a Jeep Wrangler in that metallic bile colour. Its massive and looks ridiculous, but apparently performs across rough terrain reasonably well.
I assume you are going camping in the woods or something, and not to typical British camp sites with 'facilities' and nice smooth gravelly paths to each pitch.
reasonable is a bit of an understatment. They are very capable off road. Ladder chassis and I believe they still have solid axels front and back. I assume you are going camping in the woods or something, and not to typical British camp sites with 'facilities' and nice smooth gravelly paths to each pitch.
Something like a Mitsubishi Shogun/Pajero would fit your needs or maybe a Jeep cherokee. Plenty of choise for £4k and both will have lots of room for camping equipment
You'd get a good Land Rover Discovery 2, but I wouldn't recommend one.
jbi said:
paulmoonraker said:
My neighbour has a Jeep Wrangler in that metallic bile colour. Its massive and looks ridiculous, but apparently performs across rough terrain reasonably well.
Wranglers are not a large 4x4. The 2 door is about the same as a defender 90 and shorter than a fiesta.
I don't know... It's one of these...
paulmoonraker said:
I don't know... It's one of these...
OP have a look at the Suzuki Jimny too, it looks a bit girly compared to a Wrangler/Defender but is pretty much as capable and probably easier to live with.
Or depending on how much character you want vs comfort consider a Series Landy, £4k would get a good one with the bonus that you won't lose much money when you sell it.
I'm still learning what it can and can't do off road, but my wrangler has taken a fair battering at my hands. Scrapes/scratches/dents not a problem.
Done 160,000m since '98 and still going strong
Pants on the boot space though, keep the seat folded forwards or take it out. LPG tank in the back of mine where boot should be and it hardly takes a weekly shop tescos.
People come over for a chat when they see it in car parks as well, and I've left it with the hood down and caught in the rain twice - dries out overnight
Done 160,000m since '98 and still going strong
Pants on the boot space though, keep the seat folded forwards or take it out. LPG tank in the back of mine where boot should be and it hardly takes a weekly shop tescos.
People come over for a chat when they see it in car parks as well, and I've left it with the hood down and caught in the rain twice - dries out overnight
Bill said:
You won't get one for £4k, just the older SWB variant.
OP have a look at the Suzuki Jimny too, it looks a bit girly compared to a Wrangler/Defender but is pretty much as capable and probably easier to live with.
Or depending on how much character you want vs comfort consider a Series Landy, £4k would get a good one with the bonus that you won't lose much money when you sell it.
You could get a mint series Landy for £4k. Capabale offroad, but my go they are uncomfortable in nearly every way! OP have a look at the Suzuki Jimny too, it looks a bit girly compared to a Wrangler/Defender but is pretty much as capable and probably easier to live with.
Or depending on how much character you want vs comfort consider a Series Landy, £4k would get a good one with the bonus that you won't lose much money when you sell it.
If you decide to go down the Wrangler route, you will be looking at the bottom of the range at £4k.
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