Daihatsu Sportrak as a green laner / winter runner?

[Godalmighty83]

Hi guys currently looking for a small 4x4 to use over the winter and for a bit of green laning next year (havent done it yet but looks fun), car wont be a daily runner but be will need to be road legal for the occasional trip into work when the weather is a bit too miserable to walk.

Was looking at suzuki SJ's but seem to be pretty rare and newer stuff like jimnys are out of my £1000 budget, have found some older (which imho are the 'better' looking) daihatsu Sportraks, how are they considered for the light stuff, cheap and cheerful or junk?

Repair costs etc arent a massive issue, iam a mechanic with my own garage and to be honest kind of looking for something to mess around with and not feel guilty about tearing apart in the event of pearshapedness.




Thoughts?

[camel_landy]

Sportraks are good and are as cheap as chips. Here are a couple of other options:

• Suzuki Jimny
• Jeep Cherokee (XJ)

M

[eltax91]

If you are a mechanic, then it's an easy choice, no? Ratty old disco with boggo basic 200 TDi engine. Everything you buy to repair it will be soooo cheap to fix.

[Godalmighty83]

Thanks for the input guys,

Jimny- Out of my price range but I have only read good things so maybe in a couple of years.
Disco- Bit big and bulky for my current plans, plus every other guy on the road has one in these parts.

cheers.

[mrdelmonti]

Never driven one but a mate swears by his that he uses on the farm, he reckons its a fantastic little workhorse, I've also seen them get pretty far into the rough stuff on P&P days too.

[sunbeam alpine]

I'm a bit fan of the Fourtrak (we've got 3!), and they are indeed very capable off-road. I reckon the Sportrak should be pretty close.

With Daihatsu, rust is the biggest problem.

The diesel engines are absolutely bombproof, but I think the Sportrak is petrol?

Go for it!

[BFG TERRANO]

Terrios?

[furrywoolyhatuk]

Vitara?! Cheap as chips and good value for money.

Here's mine:

[drgoatboy]

Jimnys do pop up for about £1k but they are pretty rare at that price....

[bakerstreet]

Never seen a Jimny at £1k. You should be able to pick one up from £1400 onwards, but with winter fast approaching, they will soon be starting from £1700.

Don't buy a Disco for £1k.

Spring hangers on the Daihatsu are an area prone to rust,

I'd look at a Vitara or a Jeep Grand Cherokee

[Dave_ITR]

I've owned an SJ an although they are great off road, they are so basic that on road I just didn't get on with it. If you like the Jimny then I think with your budget a Vitara is definately the way to go.

[englisharcher]

I miss my Sportrak, they are competent off road, and better on road than my previous SJ40 Santana.

Buy one and enjoy it.

Here is my old one