Due to a change of job I will need to swap my Lexus Soarer for a 4X4 or AWD vehicle. Last winter my car was stranded on the drive for weeks and I need to be sure I can get to work whatever the weather. My car is worth a little under £2K and I dont really want to spend a lot more than a few hundred quid on top - maybe a total budget of £3K?

I toyed with the idea of a Celica GT4 and was really impressed with the performance and roadholding but I am now getting a bit more sensible and think a diesel 4X4 would be a better option.

So what would you recommend as a daily hack? It needs to be reliable and economical (hence the diesel choice) My first thoughts were Freelander or Vitara but I know absolutely nothing about 4X4s sp I thought i would ask you lot as you know everything

*edit* Just in case anyone is interested here is a link to the Pistonheads ad.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2771604.htm

[Edited on 31-5-11 by RazMan]

What about a subaru legacy?

Also, what's the budget?

quote:

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Originally posted by SeanStone
What about a subaru legacy?

Also, what's the budget?

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forget about the english hate for anything british freelanders work ok

Should be able to get a Jaguar x-type 4x4 for that sort of money

No 4x4 will be genuinely economical

That all depends on what you comparing too, some Hybrids have the electric drive on the rear and petrol/diesel on the front and thus are meant to be more economical than the 2WD equivelents.

How economical were you hoping for? A panda 4x4 will give you brilliant economy and my 2WD one isn't bad on snow (Apart from the semi-auto box has a habit of changing down and spinning the wheels). I work with a guy with an x-type with a 3l V6 and he says he gets high 20's out of it, I've got a feeling though that the smaller diesels were all FWD. Lovely cars though.

stuff economy, go for excitement and get a scooby!

Ok the diesel forester, legacy and scooby are economical but not a cheap option as they are too new.

As for getting anywhere I have yet to miss a meeting anywhere because of bad weather, and that includes regular winter trips to Aberdeen.

I know it doesn't help, but the wrx is awesome!

All that really matters is what tyres you fit, I'd save some money on fuel buy getting a 4wd Car (rather than a massive softroader) and then spend that money on a set of decent winter tyres. My 2wd 406 Hack went everywhere through the snow on its Dunlop Winter tyres.

Personally I would go for an Audi A4 or 46 1.9 Tdi Quattro you will see at least 45mpg have a decent car to drive and it will be great in the snow with winter tyres.

You might eve get an Audi Allroad for you budget.

Simple - A RAV4. The older ones (without all the bling styling) are incredibly good.

Freeloaders often come loaded with problems that take a great deal of time/money to fix.

I've tried most. My current is more of a 'toy', it's a SII (1967) SWB Land Rover. I wouldn't go there...

........ Alternatively - a R1150GS? (you'll struggle at £3K), or an XT660Z if speed isn't an issue.

get a disco td5 for 3k just check the chassis other than that there great go any where

im with doc derek myself, a 4wd car is the solution for your problems. You dont need the ground clearance, just the 4wd. Fuel bills are awful in offroaders, and handling is worse than cars.

Ive got a 2002 1.8 petrol Freelander for sale around £2k, used it all over last lot of snow averaging 30mpg, that was over about 3k miles, i was going out just for the crack in end, nearly as much fun as a trouser off episode.

[Edited on 1/6/11 by blue2cv]

my pal just sold one of these, for 3500

get it remapped and they are fast.

lot of car for your money.

2003 03 Audi A4 Avant 2.5 TDI diesel 163PS Estate | eBay UK


Dr derek is correct, fit snow tyres to any car and you will get most places.

IC

Get a passat v6 4motion estate for £1800-2k.

Put the extra cash towards the fuel. It'll take a while to make up the extra price of an oil burner.

Another line of thought that has yet to pop up in this thread, what about a Truck? They seem to have gone out of fashion having been very fashionable around the time my dad bought one (He lost huge money because of this, on in the condition he sold his in would have sold for almost what he paid for it when he bought it). You get cheaper Tax (According to my dad) and that thing would go anywhere assuming the bed didn't hit the ground on slopes (I saw him drive up a verge for fun and have the rear bumper dig it'self into the ground). Economy is rubbish in them though but they're huge fun.

I never had a problem in snow in my 106 with super skinny tyres...