best economy 4x4 - help please

Gene_Hunt_2

bigjl wrote: »

Not sure what you mean by that?

Don't remember my Legacy being finished off in Bristol.

But then if they can put in an interior as rattle free and hard wearing as they have done then I am fine with that. I don't care if the Dealer fits it, so long as it is well put together.

None come into the UK with leather. They are stripped and refitted before being sent to the dealers.

deadhead02

maxheadroom wrote: »

Agree bigjl they are awesome vehicles, now have five in the extended family and it all started with me and a cheap high mileage forester with a yrs tax an test off ebay as a temp stop gap. Still going strong 5yrs later and with 310000 miles on the clock!

310,000 wow! That's a great car! Seriously looking now! What is the road tax? do you know the mpg of yours?

bigjl

Gene_Hunt wrote: »

None come into the UK with leather. They are stripped and refitted before being sent to the dealers.

Not something I was aware of, so thanks for that, I suppose it is because the Japanese rarely have leather.

Though the only fault I had with my Legacy was the Black cloth on the edges and sides of the seats, it went all shiny, and just seemed to show more wear than the rest of the seat.

OverlandLandy

have a look here:

http://www.towinghorsetrailers.co.uk/towing_vehicles.htm

It will help narrow down the options as it factors in the trailer and horse weight. It will give you the vehicle options. In reality there are no really cheap 4x4 options that can also tow a fully laden medium horse trailer with!


You might want to 'challenge yourself' if you REALLY need the towing capacity all of the time OR if you sold your Shogun and Trailer could you save a load of £ (on fuel/insurance/servicing/depreciation etc...) and hire a Horse Box only when you need it? The likes of a new Equitrek Sonic 3.5T Horse box are fantastic and you can easily hire and drive one from the age of 17!

bigjl

deadhead02 wrote: »

310,000 wow! That's a great car! Seriously looking now! What is the road tax? do you know the mpg of yours?

I didn't think you could wear out a Subaru, the only ones that have been scrapped in my hme town are the ones where the farmer allowed them to rust, they still ran well and were then driven round the fields by the farmers son and their mates.

Mine had well over 100k, can't remember now, but it had only the front wishbone bushes changed under warranty and some issues with the front brakes, eventually traced to a caliper. It had the ECU remapped twice due to upgrades, though mine was one of the first new ones and one of only a few 2.0 autos with the single cam engine imported, most where the twin cam.

When it was knicked I can honestly say it drove pretty much exactly the same as when i bought it.

bigjl

Inactive wrote: »

Them Japs know how to make proper cars..

Only a few Legacys came with leather.

The reason I bought a Legacy was the only garage that would give me a decent trade for my WRX were Subaru, I had lookde at a Rover 75 diesel estate but the trade in price was a joke.

I still think Rovers are perfectly good and underated cars, but you can't seriously compare a brand new Subaru with a cheap to run old Rover.

If I was skint and needed wheels I would have no problems about driving a Rover, they are cheap because of blinkered viewpoints like yours, so I thank you on behalf of all those that need cheap wheels, with a nice revvy K Series engine.

Now try and not direct this thread in the way you have the other thread with your attacks on Rovers and anybody that doesn't slag them off simply because they think it makes them look or feel better.

Inactive

bigjl wrote: »

Only a few Legacys came with leather.

I was talking in general terms.

Hintza

I had the same dilemma IWT HB506.

Don't get the Cherokee the 2.8 CRD it's a thirsty beast (I should know I have one and cry every time I have to fill up). The Grand Chrokee with the 3.0 CRD Mercedes is much better and you should average closer to 30mpg. Of course short cold start journeys will kill all mpg figures.

To me the new Discos are overpriced and the older ones have reliabiity problems. Defender is worth a second thought but could you live with it everyday? Freelander won't do the weight.

Seeing quite a lot of the local penniless horsey brigade drivig around in old (ancient) Landcruisers so if you can find a good one it shuld be on your short list but I imagine not that frugal.

I decided to play safe and go for higher towing capacity than many around here I have seen some towing quite hefty boxes with Octavias!!!!

maxheadroom

Petrol MPG about 33 combined. Tax is old high rate no idea what newer ones are but its expensive. There are some late 2005 prefacelift turbos about that come is a slightly lower tax bracket that 2006 on they are highly sohought after though.

Manual normally aspirated have benefit of low range box, but tow capacity is less than the turbos.

Turbos 'can' be tharashed/modded by impreza owners who have 'grown up' and need more space (though fitting child seats in the back of forester is a bit tight - they have a small footprint as based on impreza chassis. Legacy and outback are bigger)

The best high milers have full serv hx and pref freq oil changes approx every 5000miles rather than the 10000 it is now engine hasnt changed so only reason i can see for this is to keep fleet buyers happy, same as cam belt used to be 45000 now 60000 - i stick to the old shedules. Caution with cheap 2.5litre models as these are prone to head gasket failure which as its a boxer engine can make vehicle uneconomical repair a surprisingly young age so are they trying to shift it in before it finally gives up the ghost.

Plently of info on online forums for the different models, and can usually recommend a good independant for servicing etc - you really want a specialist as they can be a bit odd to work on and as parts are so expensive you dont want a replace everything approach.

The tow capacity of the though is still less than that of the plate on your trailer.

Gene_Hunt_2

OP please avoid a Rover.