Fiat Panda 4x4. Fantastic off road cars as long as ground clearance isn't an issue. I remember a friend (Ian )had one of the original 1.0 versions and if I remember right, it was 2 wheel drive till you put it in 4x4 then it connected the rear wheel drive directly, so it acted like a 4x4 with a diff lock in. Unstoppable. We went anywhere his dads Lada Niva, Land Rover and Range Rover could go.

Only downsides are rust and it is quicker to travel by space hopper

Actually that's a thought. How much are Lada Nivas?

Heres one The only thing is I remember they were all LHD, but as long as it isn't a conversion I guess this looks like a possible start

Just asked Ian about his dads Niva

they have dilf lock, transfer box, coil springs asthmatic 1.6 engine, LHD and super bouncy ride.

Only problem is any decent panda 4x4 costs well over a grand even in rusted condition, I tried buying one last year but gave up bidding at £2k, good cars though. So are the nivas, the later ones are 1.7i rather than the 1.6 carb and any original UK models are RHD only thing is they are suffering from rot now. The LHD ones have been imported by individuals wanting them after 1997 ish.

Panda 4x4 too expensive.

Any cheap Land Rover/Range Rover is going to be a potential ownership nightmare at this price. Well abused and old. Repairs not cheap too.

I'd go for a Suzuki.

Talk how the costs will be split and write it down!

If one of you takes it for a bit of off roading and breaks something, who pays?

Always best to have an agreement rather than basing on what people remember six months later.

"I'm sure you said you'd pay for that, it's only fair as you've used it more"

If it's family, don't fall out over a car.

What about buying from an Ex-Army auction?

Panda 4x4 too expensive.

Any cheap Land Rover/Range Rover is going to be a potential ownership nightmare at this price. Well abused and old. Repairs not cheap too.

I'd go for a Suzuki.

Talk how the costs will be split and write it down!

If one of you takes it for a bit of off roading and breaks something, who pays?

Always best to have an agreement rather than basing on what people remember six months later.

"I'm sure you said you'd pay for that, it's only fair as you've used it more"

If it's family, don't fall out over a car.

These are exactly my concerns. I've always said that I'd never buy or sell cars with mates or family and the idea of co-owning one could lead to problems. Would be easier if I found one and he bought it himself. He has the space and being older would be cheaper to insure.

Daihatsu Terios worth a look

Suzuki SJ413, cheap and cheerful and easy to maintain. Maybe even Jimny's in your price range now.

 

This, or possibly a Lada Niva

Our Disco is pretty clean and solid underneath, so while there are definite issues with some corrosion on the bodywork, most of that is down to the alloy/steel contact points reacting.  It's water tight, electrics all work.  Yes, it's 15 years old, yes, it's an auto and likes a drink (about 24mpg round town), but it's got knobbly tyres, a 2 inch lift and has been almost faultless (aside from a poor battery, fixing some usual LR rust issues and electrical window gremlins).......granted, it cost us a fair bit more than £1000 when we bought it, but realistically now not worth a huge amount over £1000, depiste what autotrader might suggest - I've seen some awful examples wanting well over £2k.......cloud cuckoo land for a 15 year old hunk of midlands engineering....

I would forget £1,000 Suzuki SJ or Jimny's, & the the bigger expensive 4x4's that are more than you need.

 

£500-750 should get you a Vitara easy enough, MOT'd or needing some welding,

You can use and abuse and then sell for parts and buy another easy enough.

Breaking a Vitara can easily get you £400 back.

With any Mechanical Knowledge and skills they are virtually free 4x4ing or winter motoring.

 

Remould Mud Tyres @ £50 a time, goes anyplace that any of the others mentioned here and easy to recover if stuck unlike some of the heavyweights, and they can get stuck, just like all 4x4's can.

 

george

Forester? http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201307257994917/sort/default/usedcars/model/forester/make/subaru/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/radius/1500/postcode/bn176sx/page/1/quicksearch/true?logcode=p

Only problem is any decent panda 4x4 costs well over a grand even in rusted condition, I tried buying one last year but gave up bidding at £2k, good cars though. So are the nivas, the later ones are 1.7i rather than the 1.6 carb and any original UK models are RHD only thing is they are suffering from rot now. The LHD ones have been imported by individuals wanting them after 1997 ish.

Actually I am thinking of a lot older than 1997 I do remember the Niva was unstoppable in the snow up in the North East when I was younger I had a trawl for cheap Pandas and found a banger at £600 but it was SORN'd and I doubt it would have made an MOT

 

I've owned five 4x4s and driven many more, and the Panda was probably the most surprising of all. I did have a Sedici and that was surprisingly good in low traction environments but lacked proper ground clearance (it has an equivalent of a diff lock) and currently have a Grand Vitara which has the full Monty of a transfer box and diff lock. Pretty good in proper off-road scenarios, but consumption is appalling.

Well I still say Landrover as they are cheap at the moment and are cheap to repair regaurdless of what some will say.

 

I picked my Non sunroof  Discovery up last year for £1100 with plenty of MOT on it and all the welding had been done.

Its a 95 300 TDi ok it has a few issues that you learn to live with such as crunching into second if you try to change too fst.

I replaced a lot of parts when I bought it just to be safe.

I fitted new timing belt and tensioners, new Rad and waterpump and all the coolant hoses and header tank for under £250.

 

Look around for a Late 200 TDi or an early 300 TDi as they are easy to work on and parts are cheap.

And they will run on at least 50% veg oil as well without any Mods

Make sure it isnt rotten check the inner front wings the sills and boot floor and all body mount.

The boot floor is prone to rust as the alpine windows were prone to leaking as are the gutters and sunroofs.

 

There are plenty around and lots have already had the work done.

Edited 7 August, 201312 yr by ruffday

On your budget and listening to your OP, I reckon the most important thing is to get a car with a full MOT as it seems unlikely it will get through more than one more without spending any cash on it. Still thinking a rusty Niva is what you need. It would have the advantage of having extra holes to allow the water to drain out of the back when you chuck all those fish in there

 

 

btw the one I linked to in post #25 has 12 MOT and 6 months tax on it

Edited 7 August, 201312 yr by Lady Elanore

On your budget and listening to your OP, I reckon the most important thing is to get a car with a full MOT as it seems unlikely it will get through more than one more without spending any cash on it. Still thinking a rusty Niva is what you need. It would have the advantage of having extra holes to allow the water to drain out of the back when you chuck all those fish in there

 

 

btw the one I linked to in post #25 has 12 MOT and 6 months tax on it

 

 

The main problem with a Lada woud be getting spare parts. 

Are there many beaches in Wales where you can take a vehicle and drive on them legally?

 

george

 

EDIT, now i have googled, i have a better idea on access and driving on Beaches in Wales.

The main problem with a Lada woud be getting spare parts. 

maybe, but I suspect the odd scrapper could help. Wouldn't be surprised to find that there are still a few old bits of Fiat 124 in it. Besides they are tough as old boots the OP did describe cheap and driven into the ground.

maybe, but I suspect the odd scrapper could help. Wouldn't be surprised to find that there are still a few old bits of Fiat 124 in it. Besides they are tough as old boots the OP did describe cheap and driven into the ground.

And I would think Fiat 124 bitscare thin on the ground as well.

The Lada would be a good choice for an enthusiast but for someone with limited knowledge then a more recent mainstream motor would be better.

 There are very few Ladas around I only found 1 on ebay and that was in Belfast and there are 8,000 odd items on ebay in total and most car mats and overpriced tat.

The main problem with a Lada woud be getting spare parts.

Parts would be no problem whatsoever, the niva is still made today and there is a lada specialist that inports the full vehicles and parts.

Edited 7 August, 201312 yr by mdon

And I would think Fiat 124 bitscare thin on the ground as well.

The Lada would be a good choice for an enthusiast but for someone with limited knowledge then a more recent mainstream motor would be better.

 There are very few Ladas around I only found 1 on ebay and that was in Belfast and there are 8,000 odd items on ebay in total and most car mats and overpriced tat.

I found 2 around the right budget  on my second search yesterday. both in Midlands. Also as an occasional use car that will be mistreated, it doesn't make sense to keep on top of everything incidental or cosmetic. Niva=tough. My Suzuki Grand Vitara isn't built as ruggedly as one.

Parts would be no problem whatsoever, the niva is still made today and there is a lada specialist that inports the full vehicles and parts.

 

Maybe but you cant just nip down to your local motor factors and get the parts within a few hours when you really need them.

I found 2 around the right budget  on my second search yesterday. both in Midlands. Also as an occasional use car that will be mistreated, it doesn't make sense to keep on top of everything incidental or cosmetic. Niva=tough. My Suzuki Grand Vitara isn't built as ruggedly as one.

 

But you will most likley find 50 landrovers in the same area.

Ladas may be tough but they very never really a good car when they were new. 

and as an occasional car that will be off roaded no matter what you have things will break and need fixing.

But you will most likley find 50 landrovers in the same area.

Ladas may be tough but they very never really a good car when they were new. 

and as an occasional car that will be off roaded no matter what you have things will break and need fixing.

They were a brilliant Off Roader. We used to put them against Series 2 land rovers and original Range Rovers in a muddy hill climb challenge on some farm land. The Niva was never outclassed. 

 

On- road it was harder work and the one I drove a lot had incredibly heavy steering (none assist) and was er....utilitarian (read:- less to break ) but great little cars. even the LHD wasn't a problem because of the elevated driving position. Trouble with newer or more popular cars is cost. The Niva is left-field, but to those in the know they are terrific off road and that is the important bit for the OP. Driving on sand requires a proper 4x4 and the centre diff lock is invaluable. also a transfer case is pretty useful too if the route to the beach involves driving over rough terrain.  Only a fool wold discount them from being a 'banganomics' gem for cheap n' cheerful proper off roading.

 

I have driven a bit 'off road' (not just muddy fields) and would happily tackle a trail in a Niva, certainly anything as tricky as my Suzy would do. partly because I wouldn't mind if I crunched anything on it, where as the Suzy has a lot more plastic to break off

How are they on beaches?

Not great really, unless it is solid sand then you do not even need a 4x4 or AWD.

 

A Beach Buggy might be worth looking for.

Or a boat that can be launched, taken out and do beach landing and launches.

 

george

How are they on beaches?

Not great really, unless it is solid sand then you do not even need a 4x4 or AWD.

 

A Beach Buggy might be worth looking for.

Or a boat that can be launched, taken out and do beach landing and launches.

 

george

Or a hovercar................

Top gear transit...........

Top gear transit...........

That's what I was thinking