Stuart I agree, dad waa / is a citroen fan thus I learnt to grow up in them, DS's etc to Xm's and had a couple of bx's then a xantia myself...The suspension is the single greatest asset of these cars and can be fun as well as practical and a great booze cruise vehicle thanks to never really looking overloaded suspension systems tm.

2005 Suzuki grand vitara....looks nice

If it was just for marshalling it would be a battered old defender.

This will be replacing the Octy so the wife has to have something with a similar interior standard. The X-Trail has everything the octy has inside and more - full leather, air con, heated girlie seats, sat nav, cruise control, privacy glass, electric seat positioning etc.

Freelander is expensive for what it is and is now quite outdated in my view.

RAV4 is crap (dealer said that).

L200 as Col has servicing issues for a woman.

Thought the freelander had had the worst press of all time for unreliability

i say Nissan Navaro twin cab pick up truck... if you go for the outlaw this is second from top of the range it comes in at the price your looking at and comes with all mod cons and comfort is out of this world... you may think err a truck but put on a fibreglass covered back and its turns into a over grown estate that can carry over a ton!..plus 5 people...the 2005 model is slightly bigger then the 2004/2003 so carrying 5 people is a realistsic propersition!

with a turbo diesel engine a MPG at approx 30mpg its relativly cheap 4x4 to run and so so versitle...and if you are self employed you can claim back the VAT anyone for a instant 17.5% discount ??

other 4x4's x-trail, frelander, disco...really come with a boot space that less or about as much use as a furby's for this to be increased you lose the back seats...this is one big benifit i see the truck gerne has over the 'normal' 4x4's on the market at the moment...

Joel

Disco? Pretty much as capable as a Defender off-road' date=' but with all the creature comforts on road

Chris[/quote']

LANDIE the whole way!!!! Obviously the biased view...

The new Disco (LR3) is currently the best 4x4 in the world bar none, it's won i think over 40 awards so far including What Car "car of the year", it definately has the creature comforts, however i don't think you'd ever manage to get one for your budget as there's still a very high demand!

Been out in a Supercharged Range Rover Sport recently and WOW, it was an incredible machine ... but rather expensive.

Would personally avoid the old Disco as it was truelly awful, amazingly capable off road, but... quality is a bit questionable.

Freelander - not the best quality but again amazing abilities, really wouldn't expect it to be as good as it is, we took it out on Bovington Army Camp and followed tanks round the training ground and it kept up well.

*Got a video of that actually if anyones interested*

So in conclusion if you cannot afford a Disco, RRS or RR, then go for another PAG product ... the Volvo XC90, also won many awards!

If you want to go off road, buy a tractor, or a catarpillar. If you want to take your kids to school, buy a ***ing bus.

How about a 2yr old Audi Allroad? They come as 2.5TDI which should give decent mpg or if you want performance you could go for the 2.7 V6 twin turbo.

If you want to go off road' date=' buy a tractor, or a catarpillar. If you want to take your kids to school, buy a ***ing bus.

[/quote']

I'm of the same opinion to be honest but I can't justify another vehicle in the family so need a dual purpose motor.

Besides my Massey Ferguson is bloody freezing in the winter

I'm of the same opinion to be honest but I can't justify another vehicle in the family so need a dual purpose motor.

Besides my Massey Ferguson is bloody freezing in the winter

The modern John Deere range are quite well equipped with climate as standard.

Uncle just bought himself the latest Jeep Grand Cherokee with merc 3.0 diesel engine.Looked v.nice.(about 30k new)

Autotrader seem to have loads of newish second hand ones

2.2dci Nisaan X-Trail SVE is the one for me.

2.2dci Nisaan X-Trail SVE is the one for me.

How did you find the 2.2dci (130 bhp?) compared to the VAG PD 130 lump?

Chris

How did you find the 2.2dci (130 bhp?) compared to the VAG PD 130 lump?

Chris

Well it has a huge 6bhp more than the fabia :eek:

Actually I was very surprised, it's got plenty of torque and is a much nicer ride than the Furby and is more comfortable than the both the octy and furby - I was really expecting to hate it but was very surprised.

Have a quick look at Rexton too - Mercedes M Class with a Korean badge for little money - supposedly the best 4x4 deal on the market.

Have a quick look at Rexton too - Mercedes M Class with a Korean badge for little money - supposedly the best 4x4 deal on the market.

Too four wheel drivey it you get my drift.

It will be replacing an Octavia vrs so needs all the toys and confort that the wife has already.

It's only goin to be at the weekend that it will see any muck when it's used as a stage commanders car or as a service barge.