What SUV should I buy ?
Discussion
Is anyone on here from Croatia/Austria/Slovenia ? I know I'm courting controversy by asking about SUVs on this site but I could use some advice. I'm going to need to buy a soft roader for use in Croatia and wondered if anyone knew how easy it would be to run a Freelander in this part of the world. There don't seem to be any authorised dealerships in Croatia-unless anyone knows differently? I could purchase the car anywhere in Europe but I'd like to have it serviced in Southern Austria, Slovenia or Croatia if possible. The locals mostly use ancient G wagens, but they're bought ex-army and run until they grind to a halt. I don't fancy this approach for a car that I will regularly drive long distances in, this also rules out a Defender for me.
Yours, Jon Dokic
Yours, Jon Dokic
Hi Jon, I am in Hungary but have a Croatian work colleague and have just had a chat with him. Common SUVs are Chrysler Jeeps, Mitsubishi Pajero, Land Rover variants and Toyotas. Subaru are rare. Dealers for all the above are available. My personal preference is Range Rover but these are very expensive to run. I have looked at your profile and wish I owned some of yours! so maybe a Rangie is OK for you. The smaller SUVs such as Freelander may suffer on some of the road surfaces in this general region.
Thanks Kevin. I wouldn't have a Range Rover again, too many build issues and they are perceived as gangsters wheels in much of central and eastern Europe. A Pajero or a Cherokee would probably make a lot of sense, I think the Cherokee is built in Austria ? so parts availability should hopefully be okay. I'm pleased dealerships are available, I've tended to visit my new house from Italy and I haven't been to mainland Croatia for a year or two.
Yours, Jon Dokic
Yours, Jon Dokic
(apart from one of the Porsches) soon as I'm retiring and moving abroad 
Hi Jon, thanks for your help on my questions. I can't help with info on Croatia but I do have a 4.0 Cherokee Jeep LTD SE. Its a 1996 P and I've been running it (mainly for my girlfriend or long trips) for about a year. It has to be one of the best cars I've ever bought. Great on the motorway, will happily sit at 100 for 2 hours, easy around town, parking etc and on the very odd occasion i have gone offroad - snow mud etc it was superb. The only downside is fuel economy but you're used to getting low mpg's from your sportscars! Really comfy too and still looks quite smart. PS. Whats sportscars are you selling?
Everything craigw (they're listed on my profile). I'll post on here when they're for sale.
Domster have you got my email ? I'm hoping to get on with organising the sale at the end of February, probably auctioning the more exotic cars, privately selling the others (probably on here as appropriate.)
McLaren aim to avoid anyone privately selling an F1 by making servicing difficult for the new owner, how's that for maintaining the mystique (also avoids anyone getting accurate build figures...) I don't know of any road cars escaping their clutches yet.
The Cherokee might well be a good idea, thanks for the advice. Petrol's v. cheap in Croatia compared to here too
Yours, Jon Dokic
Edited by jondokic on Tuesday 8th January 12:42
Edited by jondokic on Tuesday 8th January 12:49
Domster have you got my email ? I'm hoping to get on with organising the sale at the end of February, probably auctioning the more exotic cars, privately selling the others (probably on here as appropriate.)
McLaren aim to avoid anyone privately selling an F1 by making servicing difficult for the new owner, how's that for maintaining the mystique (also avoids anyone getting accurate build figures...) I don't know of any road cars escaping their clutches yet.
The Cherokee might well be a good idea, thanks for the advice. Petrol's v. cheap in Croatia compared to here too
Yours, Jon Dokic
Edited by jondokic on Tuesday 8th January 12:42
Edited by jondokic on Tuesday 8th January 12:49
Jesus Jon - that sure is some garage there! As was posted earlier - sell the lot and buy Croatia... and probably some other parts of Eastern Europe!
Oh, and back to the thread - the best SUV that I know of at the moment (note at the moment) is the BMW X5. Depending on how much you wish to spend on fuel you can get the 3.0 or 4.4. The diesel is good too. But this excludes the new Range Rover as I know of no one that has driven one yet. The X5 handles well, is fast (in comparison to its competitors) and well built - if you have to have one, then get the Beemer.
Cheers,
Paul
Oh, and back to the thread - the best SUV that I know of at the moment (note at the moment) is the BMW X5. Depending on how much you wish to spend on fuel you can get the 3.0 or 4.4. The diesel is good too. But this excludes the new Range Rover as I know of no one that has driven one yet. The X5 handles well, is fast (in comparison to its competitors) and well built - if you have to have one, then get the Beemer.
Cheers,
Paul
I think the X5 might be construed as a ganster's motor also. I drove Sytner's demonstrator a while ago, it's a great car but I don't know whether I'd want to use it for off road duties-not that it's not capable of it but it would be hugely expensive to mend any accident damage I suspect. Yours, Jon Dokic
Allroad is a very appealing vehicle but I think a little more off road capability may be required (see kevinday's post.) Hopefully someone might be able to point me in the direction of some decent dealerships in the area so I can further investigate the possibilities. A web search for "car dealerships in Croatia" got me to "Patterns of Global terrorism" worrying 
Yours, Jon Dokic
Yours, Jon Dokic
Jon,
If ease of repair etc is of concern then maybe a German SUV might not be the best choice. Would recommend a Range Rover (older model will seem soooo past its sell-by date in comparison with an X5) but are generally simple to repair and service.
However, the best bet is a big American thing. Something like a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.7 might be right up your street. All of the toys (which rarely break) and good olde USA type technology - fairly simple to repair and easy servicing. Could always consider a Cherokee 4.0 Limited also - even simpler to keep on the road and dead cheap to get now....
For the best off-road then it has to be a Disco. If you can justify it a Series II with the TD5 engine (the V8 doesnt really cut the mustard). Get the traction control and stability control options as well as the hill decent and there wont be many places where you cant get to. Also the Series II's are much better built than the I's so it should be reliable.
Sounds like I know what I am talking about doesnt it - well I dont, dont have a SUV (or ever had one). Just read far too many car magazines. I really should get out more.
Cheers,
Paul
If ease of repair etc is of concern then maybe a German SUV might not be the best choice. Would recommend a Range Rover (older model will seem soooo past its sell-by date in comparison with an X5) but are generally simple to repair and service.
However, the best bet is a big American thing. Something like a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.7 might be right up your street. All of the toys (which rarely break) and good olde USA type technology - fairly simple to repair and easy servicing. Could always consider a Cherokee 4.0 Limited also - even simpler to keep on the road and dead cheap to get now....
For the best off-road then it has to be a Disco. If you can justify it a Series II with the TD5 engine (the V8 doesnt really cut the mustard). Get the traction control and stability control options as well as the hill decent and there wont be many places where you cant get to. Also the Series II's are much better built than the I's so it should be reliable.
Sounds like I know what I am talking about doesnt it - well I dont, dont have a SUV (or ever had one). Just read far too many car magazines. I really should get out more.
Cheers,
Paul
Jon, all the best for your future.
A Mercedes G might be a good idea after all. They were designed and built by Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Austria, so servicing them in Austria will be easy. Try www.mobile.de and you should be able to get one that isn't clapped out. Alternatively, source one in Austria.
Rgds, WalterU
A Mercedes G might be a good idea after all. They were designed and built by Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Austria, so servicing them in Austria will be easy. Try www.mobile.de and you should be able to get one that isn't clapped out. Alternatively, source one in Austria.
Rgds, WalterU
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