Help and advice with buying a 4 wheel drive please

HellyM

Hello,

I'm no good with cars so really need some advice.

At the moment I've got a 3 door pugeot 206 but with a new baby and living down country lanes I really need something 5 door and 4 wheel drive so I can get out and about in the ice and snow (last year I couldn't get my car up our track for a week because of the snow). I'm reluctant to buy a big 4x4 for economical and environmental reasons but want to feel safe and to be able to drive on ice.

I want to spend about 5k. Any ideas?

Thanks

jaydeeuk1

I can tell you what not to buy. A !!!!!!! freelander.

DKLS

Subaru forester

LandyAndy

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

I can tell you what not to buy. A !!!!!!! freelander.

I agree, hopelessly unreliable at the OP's budget.

LandyAndy

DKLS wrote: »

Subaru forester

Would be a good choice, as would most of the small Japanese 4x4s.

The OP doesn't need anything with great ground clearance just a bit of extra grip in slippy conditions.

LandyAndy

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/200947346448642/sort/priceasc/usedcars/make/toyota/model/rav-4/price-from/3000/price-to/6000/page/12/postcode/sp61ej/quicksearch/true/radius/200?previous=%2Fsearch%2Fresults%2Fusedcars%2Fpostcode%2Fsp61ej%2Fradius%2F200%2Fmake%2Ftoyota%2Fmodel%2Frav-4%2Fprice-from%2F3000%2Fprice-to%2F6000%2Fpage%2F12%2Fquicksearch%2Ftrue%2Fsort%2Fpriceasc&anchor=advert200947346448642&logcode=p


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/200941343287105/sort/priceasc/usedcars/make/subaru/model/forester/price-to/6000/price-from/3000/postcode/sp61ej/radius/200/page/3?previous=%2Fsearch%2Fresults%2Fusedcars%2Fpostcode%2Fsp61ej%2Fradius%2F200%2Fmake%2Fsubaru%2Fmodel%2Fforester%2Fprice-to%2F6000%2Fprice-from%2F3000%2Fsort%2Fpriceasc%2Fpage%2F3&anchor=advert200941343287105&logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/200943344595068/sort/priceasc/usedcars/make/mitsubishi/model/outlander/price-from/3000/price-to/6000/postcode/sp61ej/radius/200/page/1?previous=%2Fsearch%2Fresults%2Fusedcars%2Fpostcode%2Fsp61ej%2Fradius%2F200%2Fmake%2Fmitsubishi%2Fmodel%2Foutlander%2Fprice-from%2F3000%2Fprice-to%2F6000%2Fsort%2Fpriceasc%2Fpage%2F1&anchor=advert200943344595068&logcode=p

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

May I suggest you buy a few bags of rocksalt now (while they're still in the shops). It's cheap stuff and you'll be able to clear a good length of road near you if local access is a problem.

Then, you want some snow chains.

http://www.snowchainshop.co.uk/

Keep them in your boot for whenever they're required. You'll get through snow and ice no problem with them fitted. Remember though, if you do buy them, remove them once you're out of the ice and snow.

LandyAndy

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

May I suggest you buy a few bags of rocksalt now (while they're still in the shops). It's cheap stuff and you'll be able to clear a good length of road near you if local access is a problem.

Then, you want some snow chains.

http://www.snowchainshop.co.uk/

Keep them in your boot for whenever they're required. You'll get through snow and ice no problem with them fitted. Remember though, if you do buy them, remove them once you're out of the ice and snow.

Somehow I don't see the OP putting chains on for the few yards of the track from her house and then stopping at the road to remove them.

There aren't many locations in the UK where chains are a practical option.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

If its only a few yards then bags of rocksalt would negate the problem. However, the OP may live on a hillside, and have to traverse a few hundred yards.

If the latter is the case, snow chains are simple and easy, and by far the cheapest option. Tyres and drivetrain alone will not get you across snow and ice.

DKLS

I have a ever so slightly tuned twin turbo forester, and driven normally its great in the snow and ice, it just grips and grips and feels planted on the road.

Its also great if you fancy having a play in the snow I hope it snows this year so I can practice my scandinavian flicks I learnt in Finland.
Where incidentally they do have a need for chains/spiked tyres as they dont clear the snow from the roads, but compact it down.

marlot

I'd agree on the recommendation of a Subaru. Some of the best engineered cars out there. Doesn't need to be a forester - a legacy would be fine too.