Hi here,

We are considering buying a used 4x4 for around £2000, it would be a daily runner for short and occasional long trip. Fuel economy is useful but not cruicial as being a 4x4, we would expect some low figures. The short list so far are:

1) Honda CR-V 2.0 (2nd gen.) - slightly more than £2000

2) Toyota Rav-4 2.0 (2nd gen) - again more than £2000

3) Nissan X-trail 2.0 (1st gen) - again more than £2000

4) Ford Maverick/Mazda Tribute 3.0 V6 - around £2000

5) Land Rover Freelander TD4 - close to £2000

6) Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 2.7 - close to £2000

7) Ssangyong/Daewoo Musso 2.9 TD or 2.3 - less than £2000

8) Vauxhall Frontera 2.2 DTI (post facelift) - less than £2000

All of the cars feature chain cam engine, which is kind of an essential. Any views?

The ford/Mazda is a decent choice, but check it is a 4x4 as some were only 2wd!

I would probably avoid the freelancer based on reliability issues..especially for that sort of money.

The musso uses a mercedes derived engine iirc..so should be fairly reliable as long as the service history is ok. We used one where I used to work for towing cars about with no issues and the specs are quite reasonsonable.

I would say the japanese brands are probably the better ones to go for of you can stretch your budget...or have you considered the KIA sportage/sorrento or even a Hyundai Santa Fe? Those three are also decent and should be within budget or close!!

Hope this helps!!

Hi here,

We are considering buying a used 4x4 for around £2000, it would be a daily runner for short and occasional long trip. Fuel economy is useful but not cruicial as being a 4x4, we would expect some low figures. The short list so far are:

1) Honda CR-V 2.0 (2nd gen.) - slightly more than £2000

2) Toyota Rav-4 2.0 (2nd gen) - again more than £2000

3) Nissan X-trail 2.0 (1st gen) - again more than £2000

4) Ford Maverick/Mazda Tribute 3.0 V6 - around £2000

5) Land Rover Freelander TD4 - close to £2000

6) Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 2.7 - close to £2000

7) Ssangyong/Daewoo Musso 2.9 TD or 2.3 - less than £2000

8) Vauxhall Frontera 2.2 DTI (post facelift) - less than £2000

All of the cars feature chain cam engine, which is kind of an essential. Any views?

CRV very much a soft roader but bomb proof

RAV - rugger and better off road than the CRV

X trail - decent mud plugger

Maverick OK, expensive to fuel

Freelander NO NO NO unless you like lieing on your back in the snow while trying to get it going

Suzi honest and reliableSSAngyong - no idea

Frontera - less reliable than the freelandie!

Thanks for the replies. We currently have a Ssangyong and I am quite keen on them - reliable, cheap and comfortable, there seems to be quite a lot of cost saving since Daewoo took over (almost all Daewoo Musso's driver seat has collapsed on autotrader, but Ssangyongs look fine).

I like the Land Rover looks and the more compact size, definitely not looking at the lemon 1.8s, but looking at TD4s, but price is a little high...

I have had a look at the other Koreans mentioned, unfortunately all cambelt within my price range and adding 3-400 quid on a cambelt change is not really what I want to do at this price.

Quite like the Maverick, Mondeo V6, reliable and parts are cheap.

Will definitely shortlist some, quite like the CR-V (good size) and Suzuki (7 seats). There are quite a lot of pros and cons as mentioned, Honda and Toyota are almost bombproof. Suzuki needs servicing every 6000 miles or the camchain would not last. Ssangyong has Merc engines and legendary OM602 diesel. Nissan - chain might stretch (like the Micra). Freelander has good BMW engines, but might be used hard and offroad.

I think I will actually cut off the Frontera, seems too big and useless, although the Vauxhall engine has a camchain, it might also suffer from the same oil not going far enough problem of the 2.2 petrol.

Edited 10 September, 201114 yr by My_Yeti

On the Freelander, it's not just the petrol engine that's known to fail. The IRD that gives you 4 wheel drive (which is full time 4x4) is know to fail a lot.

Some people can't afford to repair and so convert to front wheel drive by removing a part of the drivetrain.

I am a long term Land Rover and Range Rover fan, but I'd avoid a mkI Freelander and buy Japanese.

You thought about the Terrano? Plenty of them about, and not that bad.

Thanks for the replies. a FWD LR seems strange and pointless, will definitely consider that.

Thanks for the Terrano suggestion. The Nissan Terrano is a good car, great engine, but my budget only stretch to the pre-FL version, and really not keen on the looks and there isn't any near me according to autotrader.

If you go jap make sure they have plenty of service history as the toyota engine dont last long when not serviced, had a Celica and a mr2 that dropped there bottom ends and when i was looking at rav4's on ebay there was a couple with engine problems

Suppose your choice depends on what your going to use it for if you want a full blow 4x4 or a soft roader

Can recommend the Daewoo Musso TDI good MPG and not bad off road and the prices are silly cheap

My mum has a 2.2 Nissan Xtrail- brilliant motor and touch wood very reliable. On a run it also returns very good mpg figures. But now you've got a short list- go and take some of them for drives.

All the best

Dad had frontera, awful car, died quickly. Boss had maverick, chain snapped and it got scrapped. That's all I know of them all tbh.

Matt

I have a suzuki Jimny, the smaller version of the vitara and cant fault it, absolutley great offroad !!!

Thanks for the feedbacks, will discount the Frontera, doesn't seem to be up there with the rest.

Jimny can be a cheap run around.

Subaru Justy if you can find one (not sure if you're needing the ground clearance)

Or an old legacy?

Fronteras are horrible but then a mate of my Dad's runs an old one with few problems, and there was that one the other day that appeared at the top of Snowdon.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1049508&mid=0&nmt=Frontera+up+Snowdon

Daihatsu Terios? Bit bouncy but cheap.

CRVs are heavy on fuel and can need a bit of work on the suspension when they're getting old.

Regarding the Jimny,

Its not as cheap as you may think, its perfect for town i.e. good economy, great visibility and good turning circle, but as soon as you hit 60 its useless on fuel in my opinion for a 1.3. You really have to rev it to get it up to motorway speed and maintain it. The suzuki engines are fantastic though and the 4x4 system with low range is really good for such a cheap car.

You thought about the Terrano? Plenty of them about, and not that bad.

Pretty much the same car as a Maverick isn't it?

Pretty much the same car as a Maverick isn't it?

Yes, Ford Maverick (before they did the joint product with Mazda on the later one) was the same as the early Nissan Terrano.

Isuzu Trooper?

As much as i would love to recommend a Land Rover, if you good with spanners and a welder a MK1 Discovery would fit the bill.

Isuzu Trooper?

As much as i would love to recommend a Land Rover, if you good with spanners and a welder a MK1 Discovery would fit the bill.

I wondered about an old Defender? Going to need work but probably wouldn't depreciate.

I wondered about an old Defender? Going to need work but probably wouldn't depreciate.

As somebody who has had a lot of Defenders...

They don't depreciate much, but they do need a lot of TLC, particularly if using them offroad.

And an old one will be a dog or be expensive.

I've never seen a good Defender for less than 4k. below this allow 2k for repairs in the first few years.

People who have nice ones keep them for a long time. People who abuse them sell when the bills get big.

I've never seen a good Defender for less than 4k. below this allow 2k for repairs in the first few years.

People who have nice ones keep them for a long time. People who abuse them sell when the bills get big.

I'd second that.....the 2nd hand prices are going mental on good tidy ones.

Hence why we bought a less than mint Discovery....not handy with spanners or welder and only spent £128 on parts....in two weeks....so far

Thanks for the feedbacks, will discount the Frontera, doesn't seem to be up there with the rest.

No, it seems to be way, way above the rest. Far higher than most. Frontera Up Snowdon

Still wouldn't buy one though.

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. The old Maverick is the same as the Terrano, however the Terrano had a facelift and the interior looks a lot better, same there isn't any near me.

We need quite a lot of boot place so have to discount the Terios and Jimny (quite like those, they are still making new ones!)

We had a Trooper many moons ago, can definitely vouch on its reliability (only service since new). However, eventhough the engine is non-interference (but linked to water pump), I don't think I want to hassel and cost of changing cambelt.

I noticed there is/was a Frontera in Snowdon! Actually one of the reasons we thought about getting one.....

On the note of LRs, I was going to buy a 90 V8 about 3 years ago, I remember distinctively it was £1500 which was a bargain, phoned up, said someone is coming to view, sold on the day. Then appeared on a LR specialist for £4000......

What about a Toyota Surf? should get a reasonably good one for 2 grand.

Daihatsu Fourtrak 2.8D?

Very solid and reliable if a little basic and old now. You'll easily get one for under 2k.