economical-ish 4x4? HELP

Hintza

PsiDOC wrote: »

All the above said there is no substitute for training. If anyone does buy a 4x4 SUV I recommend going to your local off road centre and pay for a days training using your own car.

Might be a bit severe for some LINK TO THE PHOTOS:-



I might add some of the hills at Glentarkie will turn you gray!!

cookieshay

never tried a 4x4, wanted to know peoples opinions on them. perfectly competent driver and never been in an accident thanks. mentioned nothing of polar caps, just asking advice. Perhaps hammyman should change name to GOD?

Stephb1986_2

I've had a few FWD cars the last one I had was a VW EOS in the ice it was a no go anywhere at all even slight ice. I decided to get rid of it due to problems with the engine and roof etc. I bought a Jeep Patriot which is 2 and 4 WD in the snow this year it coped perfectly I am a competent driver and my jeep is fantastic in all weathers.

It's not a chelsea tractor it only goes out for a hour in the evening for work other than that it's parked up all day. I get good MPG the road tax isn't that expensive really its a 2 litre diesel which most people don't expect in a jeep.

OP go and have a look at a few 4x4's and decide which one is the best for your needs we can only recommend from our own experiences when yours might be totally different.

Steph xx

PsiDOC

cookieshay wrote: »

never tried a 4x4, wanted to know peoples opinions on them. perfectly competent driver and never been in an accident thanks. mentioned nothing of polar caps, just asking advice

The best thing to do is to go out and test drive a few and see if they suit you and your needs. If you like them then please consider you'll never get the economy that you'll get out of an astra diesel or such like because they usually have larger engines and the aerodynamics of a housebrick. That said the newer Suzuki Grand Vitara Diesel will return 35 - 40 to the gallon with sedate driving. Another thing to consider is a 4x4 car. They range from the Fiat Panda and up so start quite small.
Have a look around, test drive, ask questions and most importantly ask youself what can you afford to run?

@ StephB. Wise advice. The Jeep is a nice car too.

On a personal note. Here's my Daily Drive:
It's a 1996 Hilux Surf 3.4 petrol on LPG with 3" suspension lift and not too agressive mud tyres. When it's not in work it's predominatly used for towing the horsebox complete with 2 full sized Arabians and greenlaning / off road trips - never could understand owning a car like this and just driving it to tecos! The Astra Diesel Estate in the pic is ours too and that is the general runaround / long trip / sensible car!



Psi

Harry_Flashman

Very nice motor there :T

sharnad

4x45 I have had that coped well suzuki grand vitara land rover discovery now got a kia sportage and will see how that does if it snows

TVR2

Who are all these crazy people wanting to change their wheels over in freezing conditions...?

Strider590

^^ Oh just Germany, Poland, in fact most European countries with any common sense.

It's only us Brits who don't because we think we can buy a set of ditch finders that'll work in all conditions.

Watch and learn

And

And here

Hintza

Strider590 wrote: »

It's only us Brits who don't because we think we can buy a set of ditch finders that'll work in all conditions.

To be fair though over the last 10-20 years its hardly been worth the expense for the 2-3 days of the year the vast majority of folk would use them in the UK, especially the further south you travel.

The bigger problem is the width of tyres nowdays, a car with skinny tyres will always handle the snow much better.

TVR2

Strider590 wrote: »

^^ Oh just Germany, Poland, in fact most European countries with any common sense.

It's only us Brits who don't because we think we can buy a set of ditch finders that'll work in all conditions.

Call me soft but I'd only do it if I had a nice heated workshop...