Winter premium on 4x4s?

[DSharp]

Hello all!

Been looking at a couple of Subaru Foresters online and saw a few Freelanders at the weekend. After a car for ~4K max. Needs to be reliable, comfy enough for long journeys, and a good sized boot for a large greyhound.

Have seen a few possibilities, all with FSH and very good conditions:

Have seen a '52 manual forester (66k) 2.0 AWP for 3500 screen price, an '05 2.0 auto (88k) for 4000 and a freelander (58k) 1.8s (mint with decent new tyres) also for 4000

Looking around these are the sort of prices they go for, but are quite a bit more than the guide prices I have seen online (e.g. Parkers etc). Is this just going to be due to the time of year? I wondered how much premium gets put on these types of cars during winter, especially when it's snowing 50 miles away....

The FOrestered seems to get much better opinions in terms of reliability, but there are just not that many of the around in my price range!

Are these prices what you'd expect this time of year? or is the winter snow + christmas costs level the prices out?

Any input gratefully received!!!

Duncan

[camel_landy]

Although I'm a massive fan of the Freelander, I'd steer clear of the 1.8...

TBH - You might be better off just getting a second set of wheels for your current car and sticking a decent set of winter tyres on them. It'll be much cheaper than getting a 4x4.

If you still feel that you _must_ have a 4x4, have a quick look at the Jeep Cherokee & Grand Cherokee too.

M

[DSharp]

Thanks. I need to buy a new car anyway for long journeys with the dog and luggage etc. Out other car is a BMW 1-series and my girlfriend has to drive a pretty treacherous route to work - so thought that rather than getting an estate (which don't have THAT much head room for the dog) that we might as well get a smallish 4x4 to give us the space and be much safer in the snow / flood etc.

Thanks for the advice on the Freelander, I have seen quite a few negative comments about the 1.8, all the TD4s in my price range have pretty high mileage. We looked at a Cherokee, but thought it was a little brash looking and a bit in your-face. Grand cherokee is too big for the g/f to drive really.

Thanks!!

Duncan

[Steffan]

Freelanders are undoubtedly the most usable car I have ever owned. The 1.8 is a nightmare but my current 1.8 has dome 55,00 miles and is still on the later head gasket. Returns around 30MPG and drives as it should. Al Freelanders suffer from indifferent build quality (later models are better) and drivetrain problems including the Viscous coupling, driveshafts, differentials etc.

The interior of the ES Freelanders is truly excellent in quality and spec: the tragedy of these cars is that the manufacturer never specified the 1.8 engine to the same standards.

So Freelanders are expensive to maintain, fragile and yet truly great cars to drive and enjoy. The driving position, commanding view, ride quality, and all weather performance is not equalled by any other similar priced vehicle.

But caveat emptor with Freelanders. I have owned six so far loved every one. But they may fail and you must find a sensible price specialist garage.

Owned several Jeep Cherokees in years gone by. Great cars but consumption is far below the Freelander, The Cherokee is a heavy car. Not cheap on fuel.

[DSharp]

Thanks for the input!

I really want something really reliable - don't have enough time to be fiddling with cars all weekend anymore!

We did see one Cherokee that looked alright (2004 2.8 CRD SPORT Auto 99k for £4500), as you say not very good on fuel (no too much of an issue!) are they generally prety well put together? Only off puting this is they are a bit in your face, and the boot is quite high access so would have to lift the dog in and out!

Will avoid the 1.8 freelanders though - thanks for the input!

[jgs82]

Go for the Cherokee, they are pretty sturdy if a little agricultural. Seen some people get them into silly situations, so they do have off-road talent. Chuck a plank in the boot for the dog to run up and down on, the boot should be big enough?

[markmullen]

Have a look at Troopers, plenty around, tough as old boots, big boot and cheap.

[bakerstreet]

DSharp said:

Thanks. I need to buy a new car anyway for long journeys with the dog and luggage etc. Out other car is a BMW 1-series and my girlfriend has to drive a pretty treacherous route to work - so thought that rather than getting an estate (which don't have THAT much head room for the dog) that we might as well get a smallish 4x4 to give us the space and be much safer in the snow / flood etc.

Thanks for the advice on the Freelander, I have seen quite a few negative comments about the 1.8, all the TD4s in my price range have pretty high mileage. We looked at a Cherokee, but thought it was a little brash looking and a bit in your-face. Grand cherokee is too big for the g/f to drive really.

Thanks!!

Duncan

What is this treacherous route to work??

Yes the prices of off roaders go up in the winter as as soon as snow hots the ground they can often go up again in price.

[DSharp]

It's accross some coutryside B and small A roads into the outskirts of Harrogate. Not the world worst routes, but the BMW is terrible in the snow, so was thinking that if we wanted soemthing quite big as well (due to new dog), then maybe a 4x4 would provide a good backup for the winter and plenty of space for dog, family, luggage etc.

I'll happily get an estate, but want something with some character / interesting rather than a really mundane car. I know I would get bored and end up swapping it for something else within 6 months (from experience)

Cheers, Duncan

[camel_landy]

Seriously though, a proper set of tyres makes a HUGE difference. You don't see the Scandinavians all rushing for 4x4s when winter sets in!!

M

[y2blade]

DSharp said:

Thanks for the input!

I really want something really reliable - don't have enough time to be fiddling with cars all weekend anymore!

We did see one Cherokee that looked alright (2004 2.8 CRD SPORT Auto 99k for £4500), as you say not very good on fuel (no too much of an issue!) are they generally prety well put together? Only off puting this is they are a bit in your face, and the boot is quite high access so would have to lift the dog in and out!

Will avoid the 1.8 freelanders though - thanks for the input!

My sister has a 2.8CRD Cherokee, it is pretty robust. VERY agricultural and unrefined...horrible for any distance work.

But yeah reliable, rugged and cheap.

her one is this type/model:

[anonymous-user]

y2blade said:

her one is this type/model:

and have a test drive of the Focus ST while you're there

[y2blade]

Crossflow Kid said:

y2blade said:

her one is this type/model:

and have a test drive of the Focus ST while you're there

Her one is a stty burgundy colour, It was a google image to show the model type.

[y2blade]

y2blade said:

Crossflow Kid said:

y2blade said:

her one is this type/model:

and have a test drive of the Focus ST while you're there

Her one is a stty burgundy colour, It was a google image to show the model type.

Just to add, her "hateful heap of st" (her own words just now on the phone) 2.8 diesel is in the £475 dryhump you road tax group

[DSharp]

Ouch!! Yes I had some concerns.

Currently thinking about a forester or an X-trail (2.0 petrol). Probably change my mind again by lunch time though...

No chance I'd buy one in that tax bracket.

[y2blade]

DSharp said:

Ouch!! Yes I had some concerns.

Currently thinking about a forester or an X-trail (2.0 petrol). Probably change my mind again by lunch time though...

No chance I'd buy one in that tax bracket.

It Depends what year the 2.8crd is, her one is only just new enough.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/advice/road-tax-guid...
15 Dec 2004 - 23 Mar 2006
£148.50
£270.00
-
K
262 g/km

vs

23 Mar 2006 - 31 May 2007
£261.25
£475.00
-
M
262 g/km

It is a joke it really is, our XC90 T6 (3litre straight six twin-turbo petrol) is only £270 per year


Edit to add: I'm NOT recommending the XC90, Although we have been VERY lucky with ours so far (nothing other than Servicing)...they can be a real money pit (google them or have a look on the Volvo forums)

Edited by y2blade on Friday 7th December 12:41

[DSharp]

Cheers, don't think I'd be getting anything new enough to worry about the year change - it is scary the way it changes with year.

Going to look about tomorrow.

A Forester that looks a bit highly prcied, but will see. Couple of X-trails, and a CR-V for comparisons sake. Obviously I'm not aiming for a proper off-roader but these things have so much space they trump estatse for what I need. Also decided against any diesels as it will be used for lots of short cold journeys (2.5 miles to train station, then back in the evening - every day.

So hunting for a 2.0 petrol large soft / big car type estatey 4x4(esque) thing - that's at least better than the bmw 1-series on the snow (really bad!!!). So Forester / X-trail / (CR-v?) seem to be on the list. I know the active / fake AWD might not be great - but only to reduce likelihood of GF getting stuck in heavy snow/flood.

Thanks!

[the stigs dad]

Honda crv or a shogun would be my choice.

[y2blade]

Audi S4 Avant

[Unemployed]

Get a 4x4 AND put Winter tyres on. That's the best combo.