Looking for suggestions - 4x4/pickup c£3k

[543543]

Need a general vehicle for running around/dogs/towing track car. Will probably do around 5k miles a year in it and will be a 4th car so not planning on spending more than £3k on it. Options I’m looking at atm are (obviously older) Cayennes and RRs but haven’t got any experience nor knowledge with the models from 2004-2010 specially with 100k+miles.

Any suggestions on what I should look for or even what cars if any other “good” options around.

Thanks

[ZX10R NIN]

High tax but a great option is the R500:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503180...

More sensible R280cdi:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409063...

ML350:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503130...

3.0i X3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505302...

3.0d:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505192...

3.0i X5:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412117...

[RustyNissanPrairie]

I have an older Cayenne that you mention. Mine was £500 but is representative of a £3k car. In summary they are good cars that were built to a high specification. However you have to spanner them yourself as they don't make financial sense otherwise.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Miserablegit]

ZX10R NIN said:

High tax but a great option is the R500:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503180...

More sensible R280cdi:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409063...

ML350:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503130...

3.0i X3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505302...

3.0d:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505192...

3.0i X5:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412117...

Wouldn’t touch an ML350 of that age. The 3.7 engine suffered balance shaft issues which screwed the engine - fine if the mods have been done.

[543543]

RustyNissanPrairie said:

I have an older Cayenne that you mention. Mine was £500 but is representative of a £3k car. In summary they are good cars that were built to a high specification. However you have to spanner them yourself as they don't make financial sense otherwise.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

4 pages into your thread, very interesting. I’m somewhat handy and have experience with doing works albeit nothing too major. Happy to take a punt.

Which engines of that era seems to be a more “reliable” option/bang for the buck?

[Before the music stops]

Old Ford Ranger (2000's). Cheaper than chips and easy to run. Very agricultural to drive, but will last longer than a cockroach in nuclear armageddon.

[RustyNissanPrairie]

The V6 3.2 is the only sensible reliable engine option to go for. It's a VW unit that was fitted to the Golf R32 allbeit with different manifolds. Mine does 30mpg on a steady motorway run and 21mpg towing.

The V8 Porsche units suffer from bore wear and far worse fuel economy.

[WelshRich]

Freelander 2? Supposedly fairly reliable for a landrover…

[ZX10R NIN]

Miserablegit said:

Wouldn t touch an ML350 of that age. The 3.7 engine suffered balance shaft issues which screwed the engine - fine if the mods have been done.

Wrong the 3.7 didn't have balancer shaft issues, that was the later 3.5 engine that suffered & only on the early models.

[chocolatefingers5000]

ZX10R NIN said:

Wrong the 3.7 didn't have balancer shaft issues, that was the later 3.5 engine that suffered & only on the early models.

https://www.mercedesmedic.com/check-my-mercedes-benz-for-balance-shaft-issue-by-vin-m272273/

[Lefty]

WelshRich said:

Freelander 2? Supposedly fairly reliable for a landrover

Great cars, my mrs had a couple but if the op wants to tow a track car it might not have the cojones - depending on car and trailer weight of course

[geeks]

Lefty said:

WelshRich said:

Freelander 2? Supposedly fairly reliable for a landrover

Great cars, my mrs had a couple but if the op wants to tow a track car it might not have the cojones - depending on car and trailer weight of course

You can put 2 tons behind one to drag along so should be fine for most things.

[Lefty]

Yeah I know but it depends if it’s a little 400kg car trailer or a big three axle covered transporter. And the track car could be 500kg or 1500kg. Plus maybe a spare set of wheels etc etc…lots of variables.

I’ve towed light stuff with an FL2 before and it was fine but, honestly, I prefer bigger, heavier, longer cars for towing.

Disco 3 is a great tow car, might be a risky buy at £3k though.

Pickups are great for this kind of use - you won’t get much of a Hilux for £3k, L200’s have some engine issues, Navaras have rust issues, as do Rangers.

Tricky one. I’d probably try to find a v8 D3.

[543543]

Towing will be a two axel trailer with a track car weighting around 800kg.

[Lefty]

In that case a Freelander 2 might be ideal, you should get a reasonable one for £3k

[543543]

RustyNissanPrairie said:

The V6 3.2 is the only sensible reliable engine option to go for. It's a VW unit that was fitted to the Golf R32 allbeit with different manifolds. Mine does 30mpg on a steady motorway run and 21mpg towing.

The V8 Porsche units suffer from bore wear and far worse fuel economy.

@RustyNissanPrairie - I just got myself a 3.2L petrol 955 however with some issues. Working through them now but stuck on one/two. If you fancy it will appreciate a second more “expert” thoughts.

[RustyNissanPrairie]

543543 said:

RustyNissanPrairie said:

The V6 3.2 is the only sensible reliable engine option to go for. It's a VW unit that was fitted to the Golf R32 allbeit with different manifolds. Mine does 30mpg on a steady motorway run and 21mpg towing.

The V8 Porsche units suffer from bore wear and far worse fuel economy.

@RustyNissanPrairie - I just got myself a 3.2L petrol 955 however with some issues. Working through them now but stuck on one/two. If you fancy it will appreciate a second more expert thoughts.

Edited to say - found your Cayenne thread

[KTMsm]

Jeep Grand Cherokee preferably with the 3.0 mercedes diesel engine

Cheap to buy, likely to be more reliable than everything else mentioned and plenty of parts availability

The only problem is most are in the higher tax bracket of 700 ish

The other option is you buy the older version with the 2.7 Mercedes diesel which is even more reliable but less powerful and older tech but cheaper tax

[Terzo123]

KTMsm said:

Jeep Grand Cherokee preferably with the 3.0 mercedes diesel engine

Cheap to buy, likely to be more reliable than everything else mentioned and plenty of parts availability

The only problem is most are in the higher tax bracket of 700 ish

The other option is you buy the older version with the 2.7 Mercedes diesel which is even more reliable but less powerful and older tech but cheaper tax

I had one a few years back. A cracking big thing. Pre March 2006 will be cheaper to tax.