Cheapest 4x4 to buy & run ??

Bob_the_Saver

A good Old S3 Short wheelbase Land Rover.
Zero car tax,
£100 ish classic Insurance policy,
Very cheap spares -£42 quid for complete exhaust for example
Up to 20mpg on gas at 68p per Litre ish so about 40 miles for the cost of a gallon of unleaded.
Service it yourself

sconieroany

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

A good Old S3 Short wheelbase Land Rover.
Zero car tax,
£100 ish classic Insurance policy,
Very cheap spares -£42 quid for complete exhaust for example
Up to 20mpg on gas at 68p per Litre ish so about 40 miles for the cost of a gallon of unleaded.
Service it yourself

I love working on Motorbikes and an old Jeep /Lanny would be a great toy for me, the downside is comfort/safety for transporting the family around, as an ex serviceman I would love a lanny, but even the classics like the s3 can cost quite a bit more that say a Terrano.

Food for thought though.
Cheers.

Igol

My SIL used to have a Terrano and was looking at them before I got the Disco, what out me off was when you closed the doors the air pressure would make the roof flex which had me wondering just how thick is the steel on it.
She's now moved onto an Izuzu which seems to be all plastic, the front bumper and grill certainly didnt survive murdering Bambi at Xmas. Having struggled to open the passenger door (upwards) on the Disco following a little creative parking, all it needed was putting back on 4 wheels and a new wing mirror.
More worryingly there was a new Izuzu resting on a tree near me, no major front end damage but the shock wave had sheared the rear axle from the suspension.

astgte

Why not try something smaller if you really dont need a complete 4x4, what about an audi quattro, plenty in dealers and ebay etc for around the 3k mark, they'll return about 30mpg more on a run and are pretty reliable and comfortable. Go for the 1.8t engine or if you can find it a diesel and you'll have a great car, just try you tube for a4/a6 etc in snow, will amaze you what they can get through. Also, look for a 4x4 skoda octavia, lower insurance, same mechanicals and cheaper, should be able to get a 2002 for around 2.5k. Thats what i'm hopefully getting very soon and I have researched them pretty thoroughly on skoda forums and on the interwebs, very little bad to be said for them compared to large 4x4's.
Hope that helps

martinthebandit

To be honest, if your not doing serious off roading but only driving on snow covered tarmac a 4 x 4 will not get you about any better than an ordinary car.

Driving on snow is all about technique and almost nothing to do with the number of driven wheels on a car.

You would be certainly better off taking the money you would spend on a 4 x 4 and spending it on some lessons on how to drive in the snow.

sconieroany

There are lots of severe inclines around where I live. I also drive 4x4 for a living, high speed and rough terain, and none of my standard cars can make the climb up to my house, we have a C4 Picasso and a Nissan note for our normal commute and they give 55 + mpg, so I am looking for a 4x4 Jeep type vehicle, as it would double up as a vehicle I could use for my outdoor hobbies and general DIY needs, I don't intend running it all year round, so I'll sorn it when I don't need it, that's why I am looking to spend only £2/£3 grand, as it will be a long term, little real mileage hobby vehicle.

I have had an X-trail in the past and there are major turbo problems with them, also had a Trooper a few years back, although bouncier than a box of frogs, it is a tough "real" utility vehicle, so thats the type of 4x4 that I'm looking for, another option may be a double cab pickup with the enclosed box on the bed, that could be used for even more diy and hobby use ?.

Thanks for all your time in replying folks.

KillerWatt

Here's a couple for you

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1994-L-ISUZU-TROOPER-BIGHORN-LOTUS-LWB-3-1-TD-PX-SWAPS-/280652576517?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4158327705

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ISUZU-BIGHORN-3-1TD-TROOPER-LOTUS-NO-SWAPS-SUBARU-WRX-/170640883507?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27bafd3f33

Note the recorded mileages are in KM's because they still have the Jap speedo.

sconieroany

Very nice, that's what I'm talking about, a bargain priced workhorse, that will run and run, great for carrrying the family in some comfort during the worst of weathers and good for hobby/diy use.

Thanks.:beer:

KillerWatt wrote: »

Here's a couple for you

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1994-L-ISUZU-TROOPER-BIGHORN-LOTUS-LWB-3-1-TD-PX-SWAPS-/280652576517?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4158327705

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ISUZU-BIGHORN-3-1TD-TROOPER-LOTUS-NO-SWAPS-SUBARU-WRX-/170640883507?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27bafd3f33

Note the recorded mileages are in KM's because they still have the Jap speedo.

Swiss_Toni

I bought a 1991 Range Rover CSK.

Used it to drive through town traffic, commute average - 8mpg :eek:

Paid £4100, ran it for 12 months and sold it for £5500.

Cheapest 4x4xfar.

:beer:

KillerWatt

sconieroany wrote: »

Very nice, that's what I'm talking about, a bargain priced workhorse, that will run and run, great for carrrying the family in some comfort during the worst of weathers and good for hobby/diy use.

Thanks.:beer:

Even though we have the funds to buy much newer, we will never part with our Bighorn simply because it costs (on average based over the last 3 years) less than £250 a year to keep maintained and on the road......now that is cheap motoring by anybody's standards.

Add in the reliability and trim level factors, and they urinate over anything us Brits have to offer by a country mile.