Frontera/Surf/Disco/Trooper Choice....
Discussion
Looking at swapping our Zafira 2.2 for a 4x4 to use for work - building work and fetching/carrying etc aswell as being able to accomodate 1 and another on the way children and camping equipment etc. Needs to be big a roomy, not bothered about fuel as my other car's a 5.7 V8... so prefer the bigger engines and preferably petrol.
So, question is, on a limited budget lets say of about 3k, whats the best 4x4?
So, question is, on a limited budget lets say of about 3k, whats the best 4x4?
It all depends on what you need your vehicle to be/look like etc. and how much you're prepared to spend.
Landrovers and Disco's, parts are widely available. Disco's rust body floor-wise (boot especially) probably quicker than most cars but replacement boot floors are available, Landrovers last forever if the chassis & bulkhead are adequately protected, even then replacement chassis parts are cheap, you can get a 90 rechassis'ed with galvanised chassis for £1k.
There's a plentiful choice of aftermarket "offroad" bits for both.
Landrovers & Discos were made for offroad, although the Landrover is somewhat agricultural, but I love mine, and really enjoy driving it.
My son-in-law is in a similar position to yourself, wanted a 4x4 for some greenlaning (been using my 90) but....
A) It needed a large boot area for bulders tools etc.
B) He didn't want it looking too "offroad" when turning up at clients houses.
So he bought a LWB Fronterra. It's a nice motor, but it has it's problems. The dash electrics are a common fauling point, The front drive wheels are driven just like a forward drive car, with drive shafts and CV joins, so you're limited how much you can "lift" it.
There are NO offroad accessories available! nothing at all for these. You have to either make your own, or find some other home made stuff from the owners club. We've had to make the under engine/steering guard, and sill protection, towing points etc.
Spares are also very expensive
Landrovers and Disco's, parts are widely available. Disco's rust body floor-wise (boot especially) probably quicker than most cars but replacement boot floors are available, Landrovers last forever if the chassis & bulkhead are adequately protected, even then replacement chassis parts are cheap, you can get a 90 rechassis'ed with galvanised chassis for £1k.
There's a plentiful choice of aftermarket "offroad" bits for both.
Landrovers & Discos were made for offroad, although the Landrover is somewhat agricultural, but I love mine, and really enjoy driving it.
My son-in-law is in a similar position to yourself, wanted a 4x4 for some greenlaning (been using my 90) but....
A) It needed a large boot area for bulders tools etc.
B) He didn't want it looking too "offroad" when turning up at clients houses.
So he bought a LWB Fronterra. It's a nice motor, but it has it's problems. The dash electrics are a common fauling point, The front drive wheels are driven just like a forward drive car, with drive shafts and CV joins, so you're limited how much you can "lift" it.
There are NO offroad accessories available! nothing at all for these. You have to either make your own, or find some other home made stuff from the owners club. We've had to make the under engine/steering guard, and sill protection, towing points etc.
Spares are also very expensive
Thx for replies, so far then...
1. Disco's (in my 3k max price range) are going to rust/be rusty, but spares repairs readily available.
2. Frontera's a big 4x4 car ( probably shares a few components with my Zafira!) and not "upgradeable" as such... ....but otherwise?
so that leaves Surfs, Troopers and Shoguns....
anymore advice folks?
1. Disco's (in my 3k max price range) are going to rust/be rusty, but spares repairs readily available.
2. Frontera's a big 4x4 car ( probably shares a few components with my Zafira!) and not "upgradeable" as such... ....but otherwise?
so that leaves Surfs, Troopers and Shoguns....
anymore advice folks?
How about a Jeep either Cherokee or Grand Cherokee? Great comfortable cars with big petrol engines - either straight 6 or V8. My 1999 Cherokee has been completely reliable. Plenty of off road upgrades are available from the US but these will be quite a bit dearer than for a Land Rover. Jeeps are great value too when compared to Land Rovers.
I've no experience of Jap stuff so cant really comment on those.
I've no experience of Jap stuff so cant really comment on those.
anomaly said:
How about a Jeep either Cherokee or Grand Cherokee? Great comfortable cars with big petrol engines - either straight 6 or V8. My 1999 Cherokee has been completely reliable. Plenty of off road upgrades are available from the US but these will be quite a bit dearer than for a Land Rover. Jeeps are great value too when compared to Land Rovers.
I've no experience of Jap stuff so cant really comment on those.
My dads got a Cherokee (Sport??) The 3.? engine - it is a nice vehicle, very nice, but is smaller than the zafira so not a viable option. The grand cherokee just screams expense if something goes wrong - but I maybe totally wrong on this assumption....?I've no experience of Jap stuff so cant really comment on those.
I love my Shogun (3.0 V6 petrol LWB). It's an S plate with 165k on the clock, and it still feels rock solid - no rattles, no corrosion (other than a small patch welded on one of the sills at a join), no problems at all other than what you'd expect to replace - rubber seals and the like.
If you don't need to rear kiddie seats, then the load space is excellent. If you don't need the middle row, then it's absolutely exceptional!
Off road ability is brilliant, plus it's also decent on the road, despite being on all terrain tyres. I wouldn't hesitate to get another, although if fuel consumption is no issue, I'd go for the 3.5 rather than the 3 litre for a bit more grunt.
If you can find a Shogun GLS with a Diamond pack (I think it's called) then amongst other things it should have a locking rear diff and a 1" body lift as standard, which just makes for that little bit more fun before you get stuck.
If you don't need to rear kiddie seats, then the load space is excellent. If you don't need the middle row, then it's absolutely exceptional!
Off road ability is brilliant, plus it's also decent on the road, despite being on all terrain tyres. I wouldn't hesitate to get another, although if fuel consumption is no issue, I'd go for the 3.5 rather than the 3 litre for a bit more grunt.
If you can find a Shogun GLS with a Diamond pack (I think it's called) then amongst other things it should have a locking rear diff and a 1" body lift as standard, which just makes for that little bit more fun before you get stuck.
Mr Wolfracer, I know all about your situation 
5.7L on the drive with the need for a fun kiddie carrier to compliment it.
We ended up with a £2400 P reg 300TDi disco ES model with 130k miles on the clock as our get around weekend family mobile. It had the rear arches replaced, and a couple of rusty bits repaired just before we got it.
It is now 9 months older, has covered 12,000 miles, and cost us next to nothing along the way. Mileage is about 30/gallon, spare parts have consisted of only some 99p headlight clips and a thermostat, and a single service was just under £100. I've spent a total of £80 on 4 ebay A/T tyres, a decat pipe, and EGR valve blanking plate to make it look and run a bit better. Typically for a Disco it's not perfect, every now and then the oil light flickers at idle, or a rattle comes and goes, or the radio knob needs glued back on, but a good PH friend said never to fix anything on a Disco until you know it's actually confirmed broken. It's more likely the dash light is wrong than the part!
We keep saying if something serious dies on it, then we will sell it for parts... but it just keeps on going. No complaints at all, especially for the price
In saying that, I've had a landcruiser and a Hilux before, and both were fun and reliable too. Good luck!
ETA:
5.7L on the drive with the need for a fun kiddie carrier to compliment it. We ended up with a £2400 P reg 300TDi disco ES model with 130k miles on the clock as our get around weekend family mobile. It had the rear arches replaced, and a couple of rusty bits repaired just before we got it.
It is now 9 months older, has covered 12,000 miles, and cost us next to nothing along the way. Mileage is about 30/gallon, spare parts have consisted of only some 99p headlight clips and a thermostat, and a single service was just under £100. I've spent a total of £80 on 4 ebay A/T tyres, a decat pipe, and EGR valve blanking plate to make it look and run a bit better. Typically for a Disco it's not perfect, every now and then the oil light flickers at idle, or a rattle comes and goes, or the radio knob needs glued back on, but a good PH friend said never to fix anything on a Disco until you know it's actually confirmed broken. It's more likely the dash light is wrong than the part!
We keep saying if something serious dies on it, then we will sell it for parts... but it just keeps on going. No complaints at all, especially for the price
In saying that, I've had a landcruiser and a Hilux before, and both were fun and reliable too. Good luck!
ETA:
Edited by kiwifraser on Tuesday 9th March 22:31
So shogun and troopers still in the running. Grand cherokee not cutting it for the money.
Choice is wide but narrowing
VX Frontera 3.2V6
VX Montery/Isuzu Trooper 3.2V6
Mitsubishi shogun 3.0/3.1 OR 3.5 v6
Toyota surf - too agricultural
LR Disco - Can and Do rust but a good tool?
So looks like i'm on the hunt for a 3.x V6 of some description then...?
unless others have more experienced views?
Kiwifraser are you back in the "other" fold yet?
Choice is wide but narrowing
VX Frontera 3.2V6
VX Montery/Isuzu Trooper 3.2V6
Mitsubishi shogun 3.0/3.1 OR 3.5 v6
Toyota surf - too agricultural
LR Disco - Can and Do rust but a good tool?
So looks like i'm on the hunt for a 3.x V6 of some description then...?
unless others have more experienced views?
Kiwifraser are you back in the "other" fold yet?
Edited by Wolfracer on Tuesday 9th March 23:07
Edited by Wolfracer on Tuesday 9th March 23:13
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
Wolfracer said:
So shogun and troopers still in the running. Grand cherokee not cutting it for the money.
Choice is wide but narrowing
VX Frontera 3.2V6
VX Montery/Isuzu Trooper 3.2V6
Toyota surf - too agricultural
LR Disco - Can and Do rust but a good tool?
I would say that the Frontera and Surfs are a 3/4 size of the Disco's, Shoguns and Troopers.Choice is wide but narrowing
VX Frontera 3.2V6
VX Montery/Isuzu Trooper 3.2V6
Toyota surf - too agricultural
LR Disco - Can and Do rust but a good tool?
(too small for me)
Thinking about it though, I have seen a frontera on the road looking very small compared to a landcruiser that was in front of it, but thought it was mainly due to ride height.
TVR Moneypit said:
kiwifraser said:
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
Ahh the Disco.
My Troop loves pulling them out of drifts and ditches
My Troop loves pulling them out of drifts and ditches
Now I run a TD5 ES with similar mods, 3 years running, pulls 2 1/2 ton trailer, offroads, family hack and daily workhorse!
You gotta luv em.
HCM.
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
O'Rly.....
Must,....... not.........retaliate............
OP - PM me if you want the pics of a Disco On one end of a Recovery Strap, Trooper at the other
A friend of mine, runs a rural garage, uses a Trooper to pull tractors out of fields! So I can vouch for their durability.Must,....... not.........retaliate............
OP - PM me if you want the pics of a Disco On one end of a Recovery Strap, Trooper at the other
Its a Land Rover.
.Yeh, yeh, but there is no disputing the trooper got touched with the ugly stick, big time 
.
This just shows how strong a disco is....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqCy7ZxVdgI&fea...
HCM.
.This just shows how strong a disco is....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqCy7ZxVdgI&fea...
HCM.
haircutmike said:
Yeh, yeh, but there is no disputing the trooper got touched with the ugly stick, big time .
This just shows how strong a disco is....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqCy7ZxVdgI&fea...
HCM.
Does it? .This just shows how strong a disco is....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqCy7ZxVdgI&fea...
HCM.
Doesn't it show what a heavy old, bogged down, can't get itself out of trouble, pile of crap, a Disco is?
V8mate said:
haircutmike said:
Yeh, yeh, but there is no disputing the trooper got touched with the ugly stick, big time .
This just shows how strong a disco is....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqCy7ZxVdgI&fea...
HCM.
Does it? .This just shows how strong a disco is....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqCy7ZxVdgI&fea...
HCM.
Doesn't it show what a heavy old, bogged down, can't get itself out of trouble, pile of crap, a Disco is?
Gassing Station | Off Road | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff