Decent off-road car
Discussion
Hi,
I've recently moved from a smallholding into town and I need to re-jig our cars to be useful for our new surroundings.
The Mrs has a 5 seat Volvo 740 2.9T, it looks crap but is bomb proof, it shifts and you can fit a small country in the boot. We share a Y plate V8 disco which is a lovely leather armchair on wheels but the temptation is to take it on longer runs to save the embarrassment of driving the 740, so the petrol costs become eye-watering. I also have '97 Defender LWB 300TDi County which I've had the luxury of using as a van with mud tyres these past few years but I no longer have a barn to store it in now so I know it's going to start rusting away (it's already in need of a couple new doors)
We're definitely getting the Mrs an 8 seat bus of some sort, a Previa probably as she's about to start childminding and each seat is worth money so we're left with what to get me for both:
1) Driving about longer distance, maybe the odd client visit with the ability to take all 5 of the family in some degree of luxury
2) something that's still relatively tidy off-road as we own some land that I go to regularly with chainsaws and assorted tools in the boot and a quad in-tow.
So, my question is what for #2? Early AWD V70s are dirt cheap and I could easily buy one of those and run it into the ground, keeping it full of my crap BUT it has to be able to drive over a very rutted/muddy access track and at times be pulling up to 1/2 ton (or more if I hire a plant trailer to shift some timber)
Reading some of the other threads in this section Foresters seem to be well regarded and the Jimny has been mentioned too. If I can keep the cost of the utility 4x4 under £1k - dents and shabby interior not a bother - then I'll have a decentish budget for a long distance family cruiser.
The other option is to spend the lot on a newer XC70 and keep it to 2 cars. My only concern there being it may get ruined quickly, though I suppose i can just buy a boot liner for when I'm going to the woods.
Any advice welcomed.
Cheers
I've recently moved from a smallholding into town and I need to re-jig our cars to be useful for our new surroundings.
The Mrs has a 5 seat Volvo 740 2.9T, it looks crap but is bomb proof, it shifts and you can fit a small country in the boot. We share a Y plate V8 disco which is a lovely leather armchair on wheels but the temptation is to take it on longer runs to save the embarrassment of driving the 740, so the petrol costs become eye-watering. I also have '97 Defender LWB 300TDi County which I've had the luxury of using as a van with mud tyres these past few years but I no longer have a barn to store it in now so I know it's going to start rusting away (it's already in need of a couple new doors)
We're definitely getting the Mrs an 8 seat bus of some sort, a Previa probably as she's about to start childminding and each seat is worth money so we're left with what to get me for both:
1) Driving about longer distance, maybe the odd client visit with the ability to take all 5 of the family in some degree of luxury
2) something that's still relatively tidy off-road as we own some land that I go to regularly with chainsaws and assorted tools in the boot and a quad in-tow.
So, my question is what for #2? Early AWD V70s are dirt cheap and I could easily buy one of those and run it into the ground, keeping it full of my crap BUT it has to be able to drive over a very rutted/muddy access track and at times be pulling up to 1/2 ton (or more if I hire a plant trailer to shift some timber)
Reading some of the other threads in this section Foresters seem to be well regarded and the Jimny has been mentioned too. If I can keep the cost of the utility 4x4 under £1k - dents and shabby interior not a bother - then I'll have a decentish budget for a long distance family cruiser.
The other option is to spend the lot on a newer XC70 and keep it to 2 cars. My only concern there being it may get ruined quickly, though I suppose i can just buy a boot liner for when I'm going to the woods.
Any advice welcomed.
Cheers
TheHeretic said:
Go cheap and. Hercules. Get a Delica! Loads of room, comfortable, very good offroad, rarity value, bloody superb driving position, proper 4wd system...
Brilliant things!
I don't think you'll get one of those for £1k Brilliant things!You wont get a decent 300tdi Disco for £1k. You could get an early V8 for £1k, but I wouldn't advise it.
Go for a Pajero or a Jeep Grand Cherokee
Loved my Pajero. Just be cautious around the Mitsi 2.5/2.8TD engines as they're all of an age where you're liable to have head trouble sooner rather than later. Had to give up on mine after it cracked in four places (still drove fine, just blew all of it's coolant out).
I'm not sure if the 3.5 24V is more reliable, but it is widely reported to use less fuel than the Derv!
I'm not sure if the 3.5 24V is more reliable, but it is widely reported to use less fuel than the Derv!
Jeep Cherokee... The 4.0 is thirsty but bomb proof!
I've just bought myself a tidy Orvis spec, 100k on the clock, decent set of BFGs, tax, mot, etc... All for £675!!! Have a look on eBay... OK, there's plenty where people are asking >£1.5k but the ones that are actually selling are <£800.
Apologies to anyone trying to sell a Cherokee at the mo!!!
M
I've just bought myself a tidy Orvis spec, 100k on the clock, decent set of BFGs, tax, mot, etc... All for £675!!! Have a look on eBay... OK, there's plenty where people are asking >£1.5k but the ones that are actually selling are <£800.
Apologies to anyone trying to sell a Cherokee at the mo!!!
M
I run a Cherokee XJ 4.0 sport as a 'workhorse' myself.
Picked it up for less than £600 with 80K or so on the clock, which is barely run in for I6. Not a spot of rust on it so far and the 4x4 modes work as they should. Only major fault is the ABS has gone... quick tug on the relay sorts the warning light for the MOT tester
Couldn't recomend one on a long run though, they're hard work with vague steering a harsh yet bouncy ride. They're not all the spacious inside either, especially if you leave the spare wheel in the standard place. Certainly not going to compare to the car-based 4x4s you mention (although hitting 60 in 9 seconds in a motorised dustbin is amusing).
The V70 doesn't have a great 4x4 system. It'll help the average person out of their drive in a bit of snow but the Subaru offerings run rings around it in real muck. What about a 3L H6 outback? They go pretty cheap now.
Picked it up for less than £600 with 80K or so on the clock, which is barely run in for I6. Not a spot of rust on it so far and the 4x4 modes work as they should. Only major fault is the ABS has gone... quick tug on the relay sorts the warning light for the MOT tester
Couldn't recomend one on a long run though, they're hard work with vague steering a harsh yet bouncy ride. They're not all the spacious inside either, especially if you leave the spare wheel in the standard place. Certainly not going to compare to the car-based 4x4s you mention (although hitting 60 in 9 seconds in a motorised dustbin is amusing).
The V70 doesn't have a great 4x4 system. It'll help the average person out of their drive in a bit of snow but the Subaru offerings run rings around it in real muck. What about a 3L H6 outback? They go pretty cheap now.
Gassing Station | Off Road | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff