Which 4x4 for £3k that won't be a shed?

[paddyhasneeds]

As subject, I'm contemplating one simply on the basis that people with mundane cars get something a bit sporty for fun/weekends, I have a relatively sporty car and fancy a bit of a toy with some practical use i.e. has a boot that lets you buy more than a couple of bag of shopping.

I know of the usual suspects, what I don't know of are the unusual suspects, and which should have reasonable running costs vs. "Yes it costs £3k but that gets you a real shed".

Needs to be reasonably small as a) I don't need 5/7 seats and b) don't really have the room for a monster. Not sure on petrol vs. diesel as I don't envisage doing enough miles for it to matter much.

So far I'm quite taken with the idea of a 3 door Shogun/Pajero.

[T_Pot]

damn i have a 5 door pajero i just today decided to sell for £1600 but its too big for you

you wont regret it though, great toy and work horse and also a very good car. mine has never failed me or let me down in any way

[jtwaring]

weve just bought a honda hrv, seems good, was £2500

[paddyhasneeds]

Shame about the colour..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1998-MITSUBISHI-SHOGUN-SWB-3...

[garycat]

Scooby Forester Turbo

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1424711.htm

A > 2000 model is very tunable with Impreza bits.

[funkyboogalooo]

Dunno maybe? Jeep Wrangler

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1131044.htm

[Backtobasics]

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1418239.htm

This one is over budget, but you will find a good one for £3,000

[paddyhasneeds]

More curiosity than anything on the Wrangler, but I never had them pegged as having much ability, I always thought they were very much for appearances as 4x4's go?

The Scooby is one I'd considered but it's a bit too car-like IYSWIM, I would prefer a proper 4x4 but with some creature comforts i.e. not a Defender.

[Robert060379]

garycat said:

Scooby Forester Turbo

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1424711.htm

A > 2000 model is very tunable with Impreza bits.

That's why all the WRX boys who want to go fast use the 2.5 and bin the 2.0

[raf_gti]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1433655.htm

If I could jutify it I'd have it.

[paddyhasneeds]

Can someone who knows how to read between the lines on adverts find me a SWB Pajero/Shogun in the Midlands

[cptsideways]

I'd buy a MK1 Jap import 2.5td Pajero with all the toys, plenty of minty clean ones out there for £1500ish. Great fun to drive *(for a 4x4) & easy to maintain. Just watch for coolant issues if looking to buy, otherwise not much goes wrong.

[wackojacko]

I would say go for a Pajero or Landrover Disco there not that much of a shed. . . well i dont think so

[anonymous-user]

Unfortunately it would have to be a boring jap one. A Range Rover for that money will be a job list on wheels....

[mat13]

paddyhasneeds said:

More curiosity than anything on the Wrangler, but I never had them pegged as having much ability, I always thought they were very much for appearances as 4x4's go?

The Scooby is one I'd considered but it's a bit too car-like IYSWIM, I would prefer a proper 4x4 but with some creature comforts i.e. not a Defender.

Wranglers are very able, even as standard

[sunbeam_alpine]

paddyhasneeds said:

More curiosity than anything on the Wrangler, but I never had them pegged as having much ability....

You'd be surprised - they've got very good off-road ability, even in standard setup. If you mod them a bit, they're quite amazing.

[jamiebae]

How about a Grand Vitara? They're good off road, reliable, pretty well built and very cheap. £3k will get you a nice 2001 model 2.5 V6 5 door, or a 1.6 3 door with low miles and in good condition. I expect I'll buy one to use as a winter runaround next year, with some decent tyres it should do a good job of getting me out and about in the snow which the local council haven't managed to deal with 2 years in a row here.

[BigS]

What are Hilux Surfs like? Seen a few about whilst idly looking through the classifieds and eBay

[schmalex]

Landy 90?
Daihatsu Fourtack?
Isuzu Trooper SWB?
Disco V8?
Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Jeep Cherokee?
Jeep Wrangler?

[paddyhasneeds]

I did look at the Fourtrak but most of what I see online seem to be used as working vehicles and come in the associated condition.

I intend to go look at a Shogun/Pajero SWB, just got to find something within reasonable distance - shocked how few there seem to be in my area (Birmingham/Tamworth/Derby).