Four wheel drive cars - advice on what to buy?

Lemonade_Pockets

seconded on the scooby's.

Any other car based 4x4 if you don't need the ground clearance, octavia is good one, as is volvo V70. Most 4x4's even the soft roader sort will be able to handle snow if fitted with the correct tyres.
Plus the lighter the better for snow, 4x4 will get you going but its !!!!!! all use in slowing you down. These will cost considerably less to run than the bigger heavier offroaders and also probably be more practical ironically.

If you need a sophisticated 4x4 for proper off roading where varying terrain and ground clearance is an issue then You can't really beat Landrover, although there are equally valid arguements for offerings from Toyota, Mitsibushi et al.

Hintza

Just to reiterate the biggest problem I have found in the country is ground clearance. Farm tracks and potholed country lanes just do not agree with Golf's and virtually all VAG group cars.

I would be more worried about ripping a hole in the sump first and foremost. That is why the Golf had to go a few years back.

R32 and Impreza are hardly cars for the countr or country tracks!

AdrianHi

DKLS wrote: »

Diesel boxer flat 4 engine is wrong on so many levels, very loud and totally gutless put your foot down and ...........nada !!!!!! all torque.

I will stick to my petrol powered 330bhp Forester, that responds just nicely when you prod the pedal.
Admittedly the fuel economy isnt great, but the engine hasnt been mapped to the most efficient settings.:D

Mmmmm, OK compared to a 330bhp turbo petrol I can see how you think the boxer diesel is lacking.
However back in a world where most people driving family sized cars are used to something like 130bhp to 180bhp the 150bhp boxer diesel performs decently and is one of the more refined 4 cyclinder diesels around. I liked it when I test drove it some time ago. I wasn't quite so fond to the Legacy it was attached too, too plasticky inside and the rolled a lot around corners - this wasn't the higher ground clearance outback version either. On semi rugged terrain I think it would make a lot of sense, but as said, winter tyres is key even with 4WD.

movilogo

Just fit winter tyres in your car. You can even keep them all year round. They had tread depths of 10 mm (compared to 8 mm in summer tyres) so even though they were faster in summer, you should still get similar mileage from a good set of winter tyres.

A 2WD car with winter tyres will outperform a 4x4 with normal tyres in snow

shona_2

Have you tried a Ford Kuga? I got a drive in one today, and it was pretty nice and well-specced... 2wd most of the time, 4wd kicks in when needed...

thescouselander

I reckon something like this would be just the thing

http://www.cars-on-line.com/26405.html

bear1969

kia sorento very underestimated and a great tow car

w.dws

fiat panda 4x4 or new mini 4x4 when released later in the year which is going to be priced around 20k.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAg4DdXAp7Y

xocbc

The Legacy is an excellent car, however the fuel consumption is pretty horrid and they eat tyres, aside from that the reliability was fantastic and it was a good handling and comfortable car.

It was a 2.5 petrol auto I had for info.