4 x 4 is it worth it?

[tramp]

hi all you knowledgeable 4x4 owners.

Have come to the decision that altenative transport for the cold/icy winter months is needed.

Wify said get a small cheap van [but their all knackered] and the insurance /tax is high for 6 mnths use.

So thought why not get a oldish 4x4 for the plod to work and back 20miles each way, cheap insurance [classic] not thinking of free road tax pre73 as I like a vehicle heated-[ sorry landrover owners].

thought are a short wheel base mitsubushi pajero,diahatsu fourtrack?

what do you think or suggest?

must be easy to work on have a ready supply of parts at resonable cost with a good knowledge base on the forums, used tp own a suzuki heavy modified Jeep in Africa. Great for the sand but always breaking down and not fast enough for the dual carrigways.

thought of a quad at first [keep with the biking theam] but on a motorway I dont think their safe-unless someone says otherwise as that would be ideal and can play in the Mud too

Russ

[Frad]

What about a Toyota Hilux I had one for 150,000 miles and never missed a beat ? or do you need 4 seats ?

A pick up can be so useful to chuck things in the back even the kids sometimes

[Boris]

I ran an old Range Rover for years but I ended up getting rid of it as it just wasn't getting used. Road tax was going up all the time and I preferred using the bike. Being a v8 petrol (12mpg) I needed a bowser to tow around with me.

In saying that it was a lovely car and great fun and I never got stuck in the snow but all in all it spend too much time sitting in the drive and the last year I had it it only did about 350 miles. I always had to fix something the build quality was horrible. Not the running gear but wipers and windows and tailgate and door locks and lights and.... well you get the picture.

I do miss it a couple of times a year but then I remember the costs and why I sold it.

It did have a smashing heater though.

[Mervinh]

What about a Toyota Hilux I had one for 150,000 miles and never missed a beat ? or do you need 4 seats ?

A pick up can be so useful to chuck things in the back even the kids sometimes

yes and look what they did to that one on top gear and it still ran,
mind you parts can be expensive i beleive if it goes wrong
merv

[tramp]

never thought of a pick up.

2 seats only required as dog would love the back [harnessed in of course]

as i see it 4x4 have car road tax ,pre 2001 fixed on engine cc after 2001 based on emissions hence all the HYPE of £400 a year tax for gas guzzlers which has no relation to their emissions [people ill informed again]
so for 6 mnths use about £104.

But aren`t pickups classed as plg for tax muxh like vans etc? and what are the chances of finding a reasonable one? Tried a toyota hilux at work years ago , okay but hurt me back due to sitting position . thats why I thought of a 4x4 , not saying I`d use the 4x4 option as with the wrong tyres and driver it wont help anyone [ cue BMW/mercdes drivers with wrong tyres]

thought of a Bongo but parts could be a problem -plenty down the docks in southampton

[Grendel]

Oddly enough I was thinking the same recently and found that the old Suzuki SJ jeeps and the Lada Cossack seem to be the cheapest 4X4 around but then as the wife pointed out since she doesn’t drive when would I use the TA, MR2 or 4x4 since you can only use one at a time but you have to pay for all 3. Or I would probably have to sell the TA or MR2 to fund the 4X4.

Ended up thinking it would be cheaper to get a small 125-200cc winter hack instead but they are at silly prices at the moment as well.

[Mervinh]

Oddly enough I was thinking the same recently and found that the old Suzuki SJ jeeps and the Lada Cossack seem to be the cheapest 4X4 around but then as the wife pointed out since she doesn’t drive when would I use the TA, MR2 or 4x4 since you can only use one at a time but you have to pay for all 3. Or I would probably have to sell the TA or MR2 to fund the 4X4.

Ended up thinking it would be cheaper to get a small 125-200cc winter hack instead but they are at silly prices at the moment as well.

Talking to a bloke about the Ladas once and he reckons for grip they are good, in the off road trials type thngs they always do well
merv

[ukTiffy]

Landrover (not a series vehicle) or Discovery are good 4x4's. Easy to work on with cheap parts. However they do have some reliability issues (some Disco's ahve an issue with blowing engines after 100k miles).

Toyota Hilux or Four Runner (Surf) are also good (as is an earlyish LandCruiser if you can find one cheap). They are also easy to work on and reliable. However parts are expensive and if you have an import (Surf) can be difficult to source in some cases. The Nissan Patrol would also fit this description.

Suziki jeeps are again easy to work on and quite reliable. Parts aren't as cheap as Landrover ones but aren't as expensive as Toyota/Nissan. However I find them uncomfortable with a very harsh ride. They also are more unstable than the others with some a little prone to falling over if taken to close to the limits.

Lada Niva/ Cossack are good solid 1950's engineering with heaters that'll keep you toasty in the artic. They are a little basic and spartan inside but reasonably comfortable if a little noisy at full chat. They are incredibly easy to work on. However parts availability and hence cost could be an issue. They are also a little underpowered which isn't a problem if you're not towing or looking to cruise down the motorway at 100mph.

As for the plastic SoftRoaders I wouldn't recommend any of them.

BUT

Have you considered something like a Fiat Panda 4x4. If all you want is a car that'll manage to drive through a bit of snow and ice then it'll do the job with easy and isn't hugh or thirsty. Had a friend who lived up in the peaks who used to use the Panda 4x4 in winter when the roads where closed due to snow and he never got stuck (well much anyway).

[Mervinh]

This niva looks tidy £3000 but only done 11000 milesbut it is a left hooker
merv

[tramp]

yeh Grendel,
I had a SJ suzuki in Africa okay but kept braking down and used oil/parts hard to get [but thats africa] . And would tip over very easy but fit roll bars and the fun begins.

Friends had a panda but its fiat and rotted like a Alfa, neighour has a pajero short wheel base on a `p` paid £2000 only done 90k so thats in my budget with some money left for the service etc will have a trawl on ebay and Autotrader but after the snow has gone as prices are silly .

might try and find a cheap renault kangoo 4x4 or citroen thingy either left or right dont bother me , but the wife gets all "watch that car on me "

anything better than missed work and trashing the beloved Alp