Cheap 4x4

Lagopus

We live up a single track road thats not gritted or ploughed when the snow comes. We're looking for a cheap 4x4 as a second car for doing short runs to the school/shops. Our budget is around £1000 and we're looking at Honda HRV, Subaru Impreza, suzuki Jimny or similar. We've had a variety of larger 4x4's in the past but want something more economical.

Any suggestions as to which one to go for would be much appreciated.

marlot

At that budget I'd be looking for a suzuki. Or you could consider some winter tyres.

Edit: Or maybe a toyota hilux surf - I sawa a good one not long back just over your budget.

scheming_gypsy

For around a grand you're looking at a Cherokee, a Vitara or a Frontera... ideally with LPG conversion.
I'm in Preston and kind of looking at the same thing (either a cheap 4x4 or a Volvo T5). There's a Vitara in Manchester with a reserve of £800, A Cherokee that's had a crack (LPG converted) on the front end but seems ok and currently at £150 and there's also Subaru Legacy that's around the £650 mark.

Padz_2

Jimny's don't do well in reviews by motoring journalists but ask someone who owns one and they love it. Slow, bouncy and thirsty but full of character and great in mud or snow. Look on Youtube for some examples.

But bear in mind rear seats are small so if you have teenagers they may be cramped but you did say the trips were short.

LandyAndy

Lagopus wrote: »

We live up a single track road thats not gritted or ploughed when the snow comes. We're looking for a cheap 4x4 as a second car for doing short runs to the school/shops. Our budget is around £1000 and we're looking at Honda HRV, Subaru Impreza, suzuki Jimny or similar. We've had a variety of larger 4x4's in the past but want something more economical.

Any suggestions as to which one to go for would be much appreciated.

Low mileage? Does economy matter?

Strider590

Sounds like whatever you buy, it'll still struggle without the right tyre's.

My mate got an Impreza last year thinking it'd sort out the problem he had getting up his street the year before. Only this time instead of spinning the rear wheels (like his Merc), the Impreza span all four wheels and skidded sideways into the kurb, damaging his alloys.

It's now been a point of p1ss taking for the last 9 months

There's a video on Youtube of an Impreza pulling a 44 tonne truck out of snow, but that car had snow tyre's (not just winter tyre's).

He spent over £7000 for no benefit, when all he really needed was £300 worth of winter tyre's :rotfl:

ridethelightning

I think every workplace has the person (at least one) who is now the butt of jokes for buying an expensive 4x4 to get through the snow, only to get stuck at the first fall when everyone with winter tires made it in easily.

I have a seat leon and the only problems I had last year was having to drive everywhere at 20mph behind some idiot who doesnt know how to drive in the snow or with the wrong tires. I noticed too that most of the queues of cars were lead by a 4x4, usually a BMW X5 or simmilar.

sillygoose

I see the winter tyres Evangelists will be coming out in droves..

An Impreza! it will have soft high performance road tyres that will go completely inflexible in the cold and will be as slick tread as possible. Any muppet could tell they would be useless. The 4 wheel drive is to get the power down for speed not snow.

Many 4 wheel drives come with M&S tyres now like continental contact, Dunlop Grandtec or Yokohama Geolanders. These are fine on road and perfectly usable in some pretty bad snow.. and I have taken one places a typical car with the MOST EXPENSIVE WINTER tyres in the world simply couldn't go... unless you pump them up so much the ground clearance goes up! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I see plenty of cars each winter all the grip in the world wont help when grounded.

Op get a 4x4 if you feel your access requires it.

I would consider the HRV from your list for Honda reliability at this price range, but beware some are only 2 wheel drive.

Lum

sillygoose wrote: »

An Impreza! it will have soft high performance road tyres that will go completely inflexible in the cold and will be as slick tread as possible. Any muppet could tell they would be useless. The 4 wheel drive is to get the power down for speed not snow.

That's not strictly true. It's true for the performance models (e.g. WRX) but not true for the non-turbo models which they sell to farmers, these even had an option for a low range gearbox.

I'd still agree with the posts about just getting some winter tyres though.

useless_git_requires_wife

For ability in snow on a budget get the Suzuki..........sometimes smaller and lighter is better.


If you want something that'll go through just about anything, get an old Fourtrack.

Limey

I'd go with a SWB japanese 4x4, summat like a Rav4, Pajero or Fourtrak. Then fit a good set of all terrain tyres, I've got Toyo Open Country A/T tyres on the Hilux and the reviews were very good, especially in snow. Although some of the American reviewers moaned that they only lasted 50,000 miles. :rotfl: