4x4 advice

bebs_3

hi there. i live on a farm. there is a rough track to the house, (pot holes and unven). but, i work in the city and therefore drive on the motorway everyday. i am driving a 3 year old mitsubishi pinin. it is too big, i am aware of the pollution it is causing and the amount of petrol i am putting into it is scary. basically i don't feel "good" driving this car, and i would like to change it. is there a "normal" car that has good ground clearance i could get instead?
thanks

vikingaero

How about a Fiat Panda 4x4 diesel? Essentially a normal Fiat Panda on stilts with 4x4 and the benefits of higher ground clearance, small size and the economy of a diesel engine.

bebs_3

yes, i have got this on my list. i saw one in a car park today, and it seems to have good ground clearance. i am wondering how it would fare on the motorway though....

was also looking at the fiat sedici ....

br1anstorm

The new Fiat Sedici looks interesting - I think it's actually made by Suzuki and relabelled. Or is it a Suzuki design? Which prompts the thought - why not look at the small Suzuki too?

The Subaru 4x4 range (Forester, etc) are very impressive. Unobtrusive, fairly eco-friendly, good on the motorway and on farm-tracks.

For an unusual alternative, how about the Renault Megane (old model) 4x4? Would seem to meet your requirements. Not sure about reliability though.

Me? I drive a 14-year old Jeep Cherokee. A bit thirsty, and needs to be rustproofed. But does very well on and off road, and seems (touch wood) well-nigh unbreakable. You could do worse!

br1anstorm

blue_haddock

Just remember that the vast majority of the damage done to the environment is caused when the vehicle is built so whilst you current vehicle is not the most economical or with the best emmissions by buying a new vehicle you are creating a whole lot more pollution then your current vehicle ever will.

dnc1781

For owners' reviews try:

parkers.co.uk

peachorlemon.co.uk

br1anstorm

blue_haddock wrote: »

Just remember that the vast majority of the damage done to the environment is caused when the vehicle is built so whilst you current vehicle is not the most economical or with the best emmissions by buying a new vehicle you are creating a whole lot more pollution then your current vehicle ever will.

Quite so! It would make much more sense for manufacturers to produce vehicles which are sustainable and easy to maintain - rather than disposable products with built-in obsolescence.

And it would also make sense for the government to adopt measures which encourage owners to maintain and preserve older cars rather than replacing them every few years and adding to the volumes of scrap, landfill etc. So let's have more support for the campaign to restore the rolling exemption from road tax for (classic) cars over 25 years old...

br1anstorm

bebs_3

here is the shortlist so far.... fiat panda 4x4, the fiat sedici and the suzuki x4 (interesting to see if they are really the same car!) i am going to look at the subaru range - forgot about those.... thank you!

save-a-lot

Hi

What about a Mitsibishi Outlander
http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/28032007/45/mitsubishi-outlander-74.html

apk1

br1anstorm wrote: »

Quite so! It would make much more sense for manufacturers to produce vehicles which are sustainable and easy to maintain - rather than disposable products with built-in obsolescence.

And it would also make sense for the government to adopt measures which encourage owners to maintain and preserve older cars rather than replacing them every few years and adding to the volumes of scrap, landfill etc. So let's have more support for the campaign to restore the rolling exemption from road tax for (classic) cars over 25 years old...

br1anstorm

Sounds like an old landrover would be ideal then ! I think something like 2/3 of all landrovers ever built are still on the road, surely they must be one of the most ecologically sound vehicles out there ?