Budget 4x4?

muddyl

Last year I sold our family saloon and bought a people carrier as we needed the extra space.
The saloon was great in the snow but the people carrier is not so. Its not bad, but not confidence inspiring like the saloon was.
2 years ago i got stuck for a couple of hours in the snow and was just glad i was on my own. I dont want to risk it with little kids.

I dont want to get rid of the people carrier as it is great, so im thinking of getting (in the summer for next year) a budget 4x4 but not sure what to get.

Ideally i would like a diesel and something on the larger side to fit the family in (7 seater would be perfect).
But im not bothered on age (not to bad with a set of spanners if its a little older) and i don't really care what it looks like inside or out, its just the functionality im after.

Any recommendations as ive not owned a 4x4 before (not one that was road legal anyway) and so don't really know whats good and bad out there?

Cheers, Mark

marlot

What budget?

Have you thought of winter tyres instead? They are astonishingly effective

motorguy

marlot wrote: »

What budget?

Have you thought of winter tyres instead? They are astonishingly effective

+1

A set of winter tyres on a people carrier will be more effective on snow than a 4x4 on normal tyres.

Also, most people who get 'stuck in the snow' are really stuck in traffic, or held up by traffic. No 4x4 will solve that.

muddyl

marlot wrote: »

What budget?

Have you thought of winter tyres instead? They are astonishingly effective

pgilc1 wrote: »

+1

A set of winter tyres on a people carrier will be more effective on snow than a 4x4 on normal tyres.

Also, most people who get 'stuck in the snow' are really stuck in traffic, or held up by traffic. No 4x4 will solve that.

I don't have a budget as such, but probably £1k or less.

As to snow tyres, we have them on our small car and they do make a difference. Not so much on the people carrier unfortunately.

As for the stuck in traffic as opposed to weather bit, thats not what i mean. I live in a culdisac, which is on an incline. Getting out as soon as it snows is difficult. You then have to turn off to a main road, which is another incline then again at work (industrial estate) there's another incline that rarely gets gritted. Many of my colleagues get stuck there when its bad.

Strider590

The whole 4x4 thing is a strange British myth, mention snow and people say "get a 4x4", mention reliability and people say "get a Golf" (it was a good car once upon a time in around 1980).

In Scandinavia they have snow most of the year and they all drive around in hatchbacks and estate cars.

Winter tyres are cheaper and much more effective.

Having a 4x4 tends to make people drive much faster than normal when they see a hint of snow........ Like the guy that went past the petrol station sideways in his RAV4 on Friday while trying to overtake a sensibly driven hatchback.

Stooby2

I don't have a budget as such, but probably £1k or less

Winter tyres are really your only option then - a 4x4 for under a grand will be pretty old and in all likelihood, unreliable and cost you even more in the long run. And as Pgilc1 states, normal road tyres on a 4x4 won't make it much more effective than a normal car.

Driven carefully a 4x4 is better for getting around as it will make better use of low grip levels, (especially the modern Landies with their superb traction control) but most people don't realise until it's too late that braking is the same no matter how many wheels are driven and a 4x4 will lock up and slide under braking as easily as any other car.

Lum

muddyl wrote: »

As to snow tyres, we have them on our small car and they do make a difference. Not so much on the people carrier unfortunately.

Which ones do you have? There are good and bad ones just like with summer tyres.

Nokian make good ones.

Mankysteve

£1k add onto insurance, repairs on a cheap possibly unreliable car, plus mot and service for perhaps twice a year use, not really worth it.

Better snow tires and perhaps a set of chains/snowsocks.

Cknocker

A seven seater 4x4 for under £1k? The answer that question you are probably looking at an older Disco or possibly a shogun - expect to get your spanners out and probably a welder as well!

If you don't need a 4x4 generally don't bother - unless you want one anyway.

In contrast to most people here I would argue that a 4x4 does give you a much better chance of getting through the snow, by virtue of the fact that you have 4 driving wheels and greater ground clearance and the bonus of diff locks - the key is to know how to drive he vehicle - most people are of the belief that once you have a 4x4 you can carry on regardless - you can't! If you're on ice and you lose traction to all four wheels you are snookered just the same (But you are a disadvantage due to the weight)- you may have seen the brand new Range Rover on the news this week that went through someones wall!

Other options are: -
1. Winter Tyres - again most people are ignorant of the benefits and limitations of these.
2. Snow Chains/Boots - These deal with snow NOT ice.
3. Avoid driving in the snow unless essential.

Cknocker

Something like this: -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LAND-ROVER-DISCOVERY-ES-V8I-PETROL-LPG-/281050452876?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item416fe9938c

motorguy

muddyl wrote: »

I don't have a budget as such, but probably £1k or less.

As to snow tyres, we have them on our small car and they do make a difference. Not so much on the people carrier unfortunately.

As for the stuck in traffic as opposed to weather bit, thats not what i mean. I live in a culdisac, which is on an incline. Getting out as soon as it snows is difficult. You then have to turn off to a main road, which is another incline then again at work (industrial estate) there's another incline that rarely gets gritted. Many of my colleagues get stuck there when its bad.

The sub £1,000 4x4 to keep the kiddies safe is not going to solve any of the problems you're describing.

Get really good proper winter tyres.

And during the winter watch the weather forecasts, park your car at the top of your cul de sac and plan ahead for journeys that will involve the kids for those couple of days a year that its a problem.