Hi guys,

the Z4 is going shortly (i think)... I've loved the 3.0i NA engine and I've done a few mods to it (Remus catback etc)....but I've grown tired of it.

I'm looking to buy a rugged 4x4. Budget varies a lot..anywhere from £2k - £20k ..

If the 4x4 is going to cost £10k+ i will get rid of the Z4. If less i keep the Z4 as a summer/weekend motor...

So i have trawled through the net and come across a few.

Old Mitsi warriors (£3k+) - Old, built like a brick sh!thouse but slow and poor mpg

Range Rover Sport - Looks nice, fits the bill perfectly but apparantly has poor mpg

BMW X5 - Are these any good????

etc etc....

The RAV4 is a serious contender for me....Cheap to buy, frugal....capable for all season weather etc...

Any Opinions on the RAV4 D-4D???

My parents have a Honda CRV. It has been incredibly reliable, and I notice that in the latest reliability survey by JD Power that Honda absolutely spanked everyone else.

The 4x4's you've listed as so far removed from each other that'd it'd be like comparing a Fiesta to a 5 series touring.

What sort of driving are you going to be doing. How many miles are you gonna cover, and with who/what in the car?

I wouldn't call a Rav4 or X5 a rugged offroader....

If you want a proper offroader go for-

• Nissan Patrol
  
• Toyota Landcruiser (Like this one)
  
• LandRover Defender
  

If you got for a Patrol get the 3.0Di engine and try and get a facelift model, if you get a Landcruiser don't bother with the 120 series just go for a full fat 100 series 'Amazon' with either the 4.2TD 24v motor or the V8 petrol neither of which are great on fuel but they are excellent trucks. The Defenders are good offroad but I'm not a fan personally...

'If you want to go to the desert take a LandRover, if you want to make it home again take a Landcruiser."

I've got a Landcruiser 80 series which is the old design but it's got decent tyres and I haven't got it stuck yet and I've been out trying.

I think you will struggle to find a proper offroader that will do +30mpg a manual TD Lancruiser will just about do that on a run.

If you are willing do go for something a bit more softroader then I think you may have better luck?

Edited 5 November, 201015 yr by Allams Skoda

Yeah - for starters, is it 4x4 for Chelsea Tractor reasons, or because you really need it?

If it's for Reason no.1, get a Range Rover Sport / X5, or a V6 Toerag / RAV4 T180 if an RRS is too expensive or chavvy but you still want a bit of performance.

If it's for Reason no.2, avoid anything with a name ending in -Rover! If they still made Fourtraks, it would be a no-brainer but a twin-cab L200 is probably the next best thing these days...

... but a twin-cab L200 is probably the next best thing these days...

Unless you want decent approach and departure angles!

You could consider something with an LPG conversion (it won't do 30mpg, but the cost per mile will feel like it is), or a Suzuki turnover.

Beancounter,

You say you want a 4x4.

Exactly what do you want it for?

What sort of surfaces are you going to drive on?

What sort of use are you going to make of it?

Do you need load capacity or a certain number of seats?

Many people ask the same question but it is impossible to answer until more details are known. You are going to find that most large, effective 4x4's are slow and thirsty, simply because they are heavy and non-aerodynamic. They have to be to do their job effectively. None will handle like a car, especially like your Z4.

Octy Scout, Subaru (in many guises) as a 4x4 'normal' car

Rav 4, Freelander, BMW (X1,3,5), Yeti as a Softroader

Range Rover (L322, or Sport), Touareg, Cayenne as a 'Chelsea Tractor'

Land Rover (Defender, Disco), Land Cruiser as a proper 'Go Anywhere' vehicle

Beancounter,

You say you want a 4x4.

Exactly what do you want it for?

What sort of surfaces are you going to drive on?

What sort of use are you going to make of it?

Do you need load capacity or a certain number of seats?

Many people ask the same question but it is impossible to answer until more details are known. You are going to find that most large, effective 4x4's are slow and thirsty, simply because they are heavy and non-aerodynamic. They have to be to do their job effectively. None will handle like a car, especially like your Z4.

Reasons include:

- I want it to have good loading capacity. I want to be able to just throw stuff in there and not think twice.

- I need it to hold 5-7 people in decent comfort (Large family)

- We have a terrible route to my house. Last winter i got stuck on each occasion. I abandoned the Z4 on numerous occasions (granted i messed up on NOT buying snow tyres!)

- I want something i could go anywhere in...come rain or shine

- I want something that will last me ages

One of the reasons why i am considering an old 4x4 is so that i dont really care whether it gets the odd nick here and there...

Main reason is the route leading up to my house and needing the loading space.

My father has an X3.....very capable. I suppose an SUV/Crossover could suffice...

I'm going to recommend the XC90 again, then - a useable boot when 7-up, and a huge one when 5-up or less; perfectly capable for bad on-road conditions; wide choice of engines; decent image; Clarkson's owned three, etc, etc...

(Although that last reason might be a reason not to get one!)

I'm going to recommend the XC90 again, then - a useable boot when 7-up, and a huge one when 5-up or less; perfectly capable for bad on-road conditions; wide choice of engines; decent image; Clarkson's owned three, etc, etc...

(Although that last reason might be a reason not to get one!)

The XC90 hold seven people??????

Yeah:

http://www.carpages.co.uk/volvo/volvo-xc90-review-part-1-02-10-04.asp

Yeah, not all of them are sold as 7-seaters, but there are plenty about!

Many thanks mate...defo food for thought now....

Correction to above (but you replied before I edited the post) - they're ALL 7-seaters apparently. I thought the base models only had 5 seats, but I can't actually find any evidence of this...

I love Disco 3s and 4s. You could get a really nice Disco 3 for your money

The downside being they are rather slow and not the cheapest of cars to run. But the upside………….hey, it the worlds finest off roader They are superbly comfortable, quiet, handle reasonably well (surprisingly), Have enough interior space to host a bouncy castle party (and not needing to open the sun roof either) and apart form they can go anywhere, they can ‘arrive’ anywhere. You can turn up in a field or outside a stately home and the car just fits in. Superb vehicle

Reasons include:

- I want it to have good loading capacity. I want to be able to just throw stuff in there and not think twice.

- I need it to hold 5-7 people in decent comfort (Large family)

- We have a terrible route to my house. Last winter i got stuck on each occasion. I abandoned the Z4 on numerous occasions (granted i messed up on NOT buying snow tyres!)

- I want something i could go anywhere in...come rain or shine

- I want something that will last me ages

One of the reasons why i am considering an old 4x4 is so that i dont really care whether it gets the odd nick here and there...

Main reason is the route leading up to my house and needing the loading space.

My father has an X3.....very capable. I suppose an SUV/Crossover could suffice...

Doesn't really sound like you need a rugged 4x4. Just anything of a decent size with 4x4.

XC90, Discovery or Landcruiser sound like the best options due to the 7 seats. There are a lot of cheaper, smaller and softer options but generally only 5 seats.

You should be able to get a 6 year old XC90 for about 10k. That gives you diesel and 7 seats and depreciation will be sensible too. Keep it 5 years and it's only lost about £40 a week.

Neighbour swears by his honda crv, sticks winter tyres on it. He managed a really terrible winter up here with no problems rescuing his elderly parents from up an uncleared dirts track.

Pal also has a Nissan Pathfinder which he likes and also coped well in the snow last year.

If I was getting a big old 'un I think I'd be looking at a landcruiser or a Patrol

Neighbour swears by his honda crv, sticks winter tyres on it. He managed a really terrible winter up here with no problems rescuing his elderly parents from up an uncleared dirts track.

Pal also has a Nissan Pathfinder which he likes and also coped well in the snow last year.

If I was getting a big old 'un I think I'd be looking at a landcruiser or a Patrol

After seeing this video in the first link of this post I'm not so sure about Honda's 4x4 system:

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/159259-4x4-systems-tested/

My dad has a Land cruiser Amazon 4.2TD, and it is an amazing vehicle. Will go anywhere, pulls like a train, and comes with most of the luxary and toys anyone could want.

Obviously a little to expensive new, but I'd go for something like this:

Autotrader Link

HTH

My dad has a Land cruiser Amazon 4.2TD, and it is an amazing vehicle. Will go anywhere, pulls like a train, and comes with most of the luxary and toys anyone could want.

Obviously a little to expensive new, but I'd go for something like this:

Autotrader Link

HTH

Careful posting links like that! Your home postcode is in the link!

Careful posting links like that! Your home postcode is in the link!

Thanks for the concern, but i moved from there 6 months ago, thats why I put that postcode, lol! Not even within 10 miles of that area!!!

I'm going to recommend the XC90 again, then - a useable boot when 7-up, and a huge one when 5-up or less; perfectly capable for bad on-road conditions; wide choice of engines; decent image; Clarkson's owned three, etc, etc...

(Although that last reason might be a reason not to get one!)

Good call.

You could get an OCty Estate DSG 4x4 140bhp for £21k from november. Or even a superb 4 X 4.

You could get an OCty Estate DSG 4x4 140bhp for £21k from november. Or even a superb 4 X 4.

Yeah, but if you order it in November how long will it actually be until it actually arrives??? March, April or even May at the way waiting times are going at the moment