Winter hack circa £5k

[Coolbanana]

Hi all,

I'm currently shopping for a winter hack but need it to be a 4x4 ideally as it will go a little off-road. I'm a LR fan but worried about running costs - the car won't do many miles, circa 4000-5000 max per year. Whatever I get will have some Vredestein Wintrac's put on and that'll take care of mud and snow.

I've been looking at the Defender and Discovery 2 route but also a Jeep Cherokee - a 2004 model with 90 000 miles on it to be exact. The Jeep looks okay for its age but I know nothing about them. It seems to go well enough.

So anyone got any advice - budget £5k max? Anyone got a 2004 or thereabouts Jeep Cherokee and, if so, any issues I should be aware of?

Cheers
S

[Happy82]

I'd probably look at the Jeep Cherokee too, probably the best value for money at that price.

Main issue I have heard of is lower ball joints, seems a common theme across Jeep ranges

If you're struggling to find info, search for Jeep Liberty KJ, that is the name in North America and you'll get plenty of info from the forums ( LostJeeps for example)

For an idea of parts costs, look at rockauto.com.

[Tectonic80]

I've got my car for sale now, skoda octavia 4x4 estate, 1.9 tdi, 2006, very well maintained, cracking car off road with full set of vredestein quatrac 3 all season snow rated tyres.
Looking for around £5500, message me

[GTiFrank]

Panda 4x4?

[agent006]

I was too chicken for a Discovery2 after my P38 RangeRover blew up, so I bought a 3.2 Shogun instead. It's been great so far, nothing's broken that isn't really just wear and tear. My only bugbear with it is that you can't be in low range without the centre diff locked.
Can be easily had within your budget.

[Coolbanana]

Cheers for the comments.

I am still looking but definitely want 4x4 as opposed to an AWD car as I like 4x4's for the height.

My shortlist is:
Discovery 2
Shogun
Grand Cherokee


I've seen a few over the last couple of days but nothing remotely worth taking a risk on. I'm looking at 3 cars tomorrow so hopefully one will stand out.

[Bill]

There are a lot of rough D2s out there, I must have looked at 10+ before finding a good one with a proper fsh and full complement of working switches.

[jep]

I'd go for an Isuzu Trooper if you're concerned about a TD5's reliability. There are 30 on Autotrader under £5k, with the top one being a very tidy looking 05 3.0D 5-door with 101k miles on the clock.

Cracking workhorses and they go on for ages. I used an old 3-door V6 petrol K-plater to get me to and from Sheffield every day back in 2010 when we had that prolonged period of snow/freezing weather in Jan/Feb. It was superb.

[BFG TERRANO]

this....and have 3k change...

[wacbas]

My d2 with vreds wintracs will be avaible soon. Just waiting on 3 series xdrive delivery.

[wacbas]

My d2 with vreds wintracs will be avaible soon. Just waiting on 3 series xdrive delivery.

[pcn1]

Known 2004 Grand Cherokee 2.7 crd issues.
Blender doors (£100 fix) most seem to fail eventually.
Some suffer leaks from injector seals, my jeep has 70k and has no signs of any problems.
Rear suspension a little "wobbly" for European tastes, even the yanks moan about it. Upgrade parts available to Improve that if needed. (Poly bushes and bigger sway bar)
There may be others but nothing to concerning. Do your research and get the best you can afford.
Keep on top of the servicing and touch wood they should serve you well.

[Coolbanana]

I've still not found anything worth taking a risk on but I am looking at a couple of Land Cruisers and Mitsubishi Shoguns when I get back from a business trip abroad next weekend - if they are still available.

Reckon a decent Shogun might be the way to go. That said, an Isuzu Trooper or Nissan Patrol are good bets too if I see any near me to view. Huge LR fan but wary of them - older ones tend to need a lot of ongoing expense to keep them viable and if used for off-road entertainment, no doubt worth it, but as a relatively reliable family runabout for occasional use, I think I'll pass.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Off the wall, but SX4 Grip have good credentials

[vjj]

There is a 1999 Range Rover on ebay for 5 grand - it has had EVERYTHING replaced - all ECU's, air suspension, top hat block from Turners, rear diff(known to fail) recent quality LPG with under-floor tanks, full MOT, new tyres, full stainless exhaust, etc etc

Sounds like a great car.

here is the link

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-LAND-ROVER-RANGE-RO...

[Coolbanana]

Good shout but it is LPG and the Eurotunnel doesn't like gas - I need to to use the tunnel 2-3 times a year.

[agent006]

So only the heater matrix, blend motors, gearbox flex plate and all the air springs left to replace then.

[mrdelmonti]

Have you considered a Landcruiser Colorado? You'd get the later D4d engine for that money which is more refined and a bit more powerful than the earlier engine.

They're good strong vehicles.

[bakerstreet]

I'd get the Jeep Cherokee if it was my money.

[BMW3s6]

Land Cruiser Colorado is the way forward, I have the VX model and I prefer driving it over my 08 5 series bmw. Everything works and its built solid...admittedly I have to replace the steering rack, in Oz its said if you want to go in the bush take a land rover and if you want to come back you take a land cruiser I love mine so much, I'm going to sell the BMW and buy a newer one too