Cheapest and most economical 4x4 - also considering LPG conversion?

Hammyman

Stephb1986 wrote: »

You don't have to be doing any of them things to have a 4x4 they are comfortable to drive and a whole lot safer than a ford focus or any other small/meduim sized car. Safety is the main priority. I have never felt safer in my car I've had quite a few cars and I love my patriot I wouldn't be without it.

HAHAHAHAHA

The Land Rover Discovery is more likely to leave you with broken legs and ankles in a head on crash at 40MPH than a Toyota Yaris - its a poor nCAP. With the Yaris, you'd simply open the door and get out. With the Discovery, you'd be needing to be cut out as the passenger cell would've been compromised. Many 4x4 are the same.

And don't forget, they take FAR longer to stop meaning you're more likely to hit the vehicle in front if you have to stop suddenly. Then there's the high center of gravity which means they don't corner that well at speed. On a chicane test, they regularly end up on two wheels or falling over.

Stephb1986_2

Hammyman wrote: »

And don't forget, they take FAR longer to stop meaning you're more likely to hit the vehicle in front if you have to stop suddenly. Then there's the high center of gravity which means they don't corner that well at speed. On a chicane test, they regularly end up on two wheels or falling over.

I've upgraded my brakes so I probably can stop as good as any other car :j Having just seen a fiat panda smashed to smitherines I'm glad I don't have one there is more metal at the front end of my car than one of them

Stephb1986_2

Hintza wrote: »

Well that is why they are called Chelea Tractors in your neck of the woods and the that is why those of us that need a 4x4 have to pay $425 in VED........:mad:

My neck of the woods eh? I live near Manchester not London love. It's not like I don't pay for it to be on the road. Thats not my problem that you have to pay $425 in VED if you can't afford a 4x4 don't get one because I can afford one I have one. :beer:

chieffy72

What about Ford Kuga? Always gets good write ups in the press,http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/220029/ford_kuga.html,low emissions,(£175 per year road tax),decent fuel consumption (best in class I think,but double check that). Probably won't get new for your budget but there have been some great deals on Ford PCP's since they came out which are starting to find their way back to the dealers so there's a decent supply of used stock out there.
Don't forget they brought a 2WD version out about 18 months ago so make sure it's AWD.

Keith

Hintza

Stephb1986 wrote: »

My neck of the woods eh? I live near Manchester not London love. It's not like I don't pay for it to be on the road. Thats not my problem that you have to pay $425 in VED if you can't afford a 4x4 don't get one because I can afford one I have one. :beer:

Manchester is that not a London suburb these days?

chieffy72

Hintza wrote: »

Manchester is that not a London suburb these days?

Well it is full of cockneys about once a fortnight between August and May!

Hintza

chieffy72 wrote: »

Well it is full of cockneys about once a fortnight between August and May!

Brilliant.........:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

zodiac73

JQ. wrote: »

Your best bet if you are genuinely concerned it to buy a set of snow socks or good quality winter tyres, to put on your current car. It will save you a small fortune over the cost of buying one of those pretend 4x4's for the 3 weeks of serious snow we have every 5 years.

Entorely agree ... search on youtube for "snow socks". There was a video of one car TOWING another one on snow!!

blued

Stephb1986 wrote: »

You don't have to be doing any of them things to have a 4x4 they are comfortable to drive and a whole lot safer than a ford focus or any other small/meduim sized car. Safety is the main priority. I have never felt safer in my car I've had quite a few cars and I love my patriot I wouldn't be without it.

You might feel safer but you have to remember if you hit a small car, cyclist, child etc they are far more likely to be killed than if you hit them in something of a "normal" size. It isn't just you that you need to think about. I have an old Pajero that I use to tow and launch my boat and I'm always more aware of the damage that can be done compared to my daily driver.

Also worth noting that upgrading your brakes in something that weighs 2.5 tonnes is still not going to make it stop as quickly as something that weighs 1.4 tonnes.

chieffy72

blued wrote: »

You might feel safer but you have to remember if you hit a small car, cyclist, child etc they are far more likely to be killed than if you hit them in something of a "normal" size. It isn't just you that you need to think about. I have an old Pajero that I use to tow and launch my boat and I'm always more aware of the damage that can be done compared to my daily driver.

Also worth noting that upgrading your brakes in something that weighs 2.5 tonnes is still not going to make it stop as quickly as something that weighs 1.4 tonnes.

Not necessarily,new cars now get judged on pedestrian safety by Euroncap,Kuga,Daihatsu,Suzuki and Honda 4x4's all have 3 out of 4 stars for pedestrian safety (don't think any cars have been awarded 4 stars) whereas a lot of the latest small family cars only get one or two.