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

forgotmyname

FIAT panda 4x4? Suzuki vitara? Didnt have any problems in the snow in my mondeo.

I thought about some of those snow socks but they were selling like hot cakes and went
for silly prices.

When you say cheap as possible do you mean older than 2001 so not taxed on the emissions?

LPG is good but you need a decent sized tank and they are heavy and bulky.

daveyjp

Subaru diesel - Legacy Outback or Forester will be in your price range.

Stephb1986_2

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.

I'm very aware of cyclist's and children I always give cyclists plenty of room I do also drive a citroen relay van so I know how to give people plenty of room. As for children I am very careful I've even got a reversing camera fitted to the back of my car so I can see small children when reversing. I'm not planning on hitting anything so I should be ok I know the size of my car after having it 12 months now I'm a very courteous driver.

I don't even go out in rush hour I work from home the car only gets used at 6pm till 7pm rare that I go shopping too and at the weekend I drive 25 miles leave it on a drive way and then on sunday drive it back 25 miles and leave it on a drive way. I'm not exactly touring the country everyday in it

Strider590

SarahLou wrote: »

We certainly had abnormal weather problems last winter - my main reason for wanting a 4x4!

Then you'll be sorely disappointed......

It's about tyre's, not 4x4.

Sports tyre's on a 4x4


I intend to put winter tyres on the Vectra this winter (got a spare set of wheels), THAT will make much more difference than 4x4!

In some respects, 4x4's are more dangerous because they give the driver this idea that they can drive in snow just as they would on a normal clear road. It is definitely not the case.....

They may have 4 wheels drive, but WE ALL have 4 wheel braking!!

chieffy72

Jeez! The OP asked for advice on buying a 4x4,not a sermon on the rights and wrongs of owning one! Like she says,she's got the money,she wants to spend it,she can afford to,I'm sure she just wanted pointing in the right direction,not a tyre lecture!!!

Strider590

^^

meh.


Can't help it... I begin to lose the will to live, when people blindly spend money on something purely because it's over (and incorrectly) hyped.

Usually buying a vehicle they don't need, that's more expensive to run/maintain and purely because of advertising and generally misguided opinions/gossip, that is somewhat akin to Chinese whispers.

Bob_the_Saver

I've got a very old Land Rover converted to run on LPG - Brilliant!

I pay about 50p per litre for fuel.

Do you tow? YES
Do you go off road? YES
Do you live in the wilds? YES

sharnad

Hintza wrote: »

So why do you need a 4x4 then? I'm slightly confused.

Do you tow?
Do you go off road?
Do you live in the wilds?
Do you have an abnormal weather problem?

Maybe they just want one

Hammyman

Stephb1986 wrote: »

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

Oh. Dear. The reason that Panda is smashed up is because it has crumple zones. These dissipate the energy. Meanwhile, a 4x4 doesn't so the energy is transferred into the passenger cell which is BAD.

You should see some of the crash tests they do on Fifth Gear. They'd completely change your mind. For example, a Volvo 740 came off far worse than the new car they piled it into. If you'd been in the Volvo, you'd have been seriously injured or dead.

sharnad

Hammyman wrote: »

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.

What is the best NCAP rating
Land rover discovery have a 4 star NCAP rating

I thought the highest is five

I am having trouble finding my new car and would like to know what it is