What would you buy.....

scheming_gypsy

Looking for a cheap winter car, a 4x4 / AWD.

Before we get any further - I don't want to know about winter tyres!
My daily drive is a convertible which I don't want to drive during winter. There's an annoying noise when driving that we can't pin down, drivers window doesn't close fully so when it rains hard it'll drip in. I've spent over a grand on repairs in the last year and don't want to drive it in the snow.

I'm ideally looking to spend around £800 or less.

As well as just a 'winter car' I need to do my garden next spring, which will mean running backwards and forwards to the tip. I'm hoping to pave an area of the back garden so will need to collect paving slabs, which is part of the reason I'm looking at a 4x4... raised suspension and higher up for loading.

So far the price range is throwing up:
N reg Vitara estate. 1.6 petrol. 11months MOT, 4 months tax... but 180,000 on the clock. - £690

T reg Kia Sportage. 10 months MOT, 5 months tax, 82k on the clock, full service history and leather interior - £800 (although that was a cheeky offer as it was up for £950)

Couple of Foresters pop up but one had short tax and ticket and another's clutch has started slipping in the last couple of weeks.

H-RV Just missed a T reg on eBay that finished at £550 with no tax

Freelander - R reg on eBay with 12 months MOT, 2 months tax but a whiney rear diff.. wants £575

Rav4 - Was one on Gumtree with high mileage but 12 months MOT. Only wanted £550 but was a bit pushy which made me think there could be a problem.

Discos usually go out of price range unless they've a short T&T. Had two Cherokee's before but with the fuel consumption they really need to be LPG and that takes up all the boot space.
Frontera's pop up as well and the occasional Monterey / Trooper. Not allowed a Frontera as one of my mates tells me he'll take me to the nearest soup kitchen and force smack heads to beat me up, if I get one.

Can't think of any others and none popping up on Gumtree, eBay, Facebook car pages or Autotrader.

I do a less than 8 miles commute and done under 6k in my daily drive in the last 14 months so I won't be doing a massive amount of miles - so high mileage isn't that much of an issue.

Out of the options available (doesn't have to be the actual ones I've detailed), which would you choose - or any i've not thought of.

OddballJamie

Winter tyres, waterproof jacket and a trailer.





Sorry couldn't resist.

scheming_gypsy

a trailer would be a good idea but then I'd have to buy a tow bar

gilbert_and_sullivan

Sportage sounds a fair bet, HRV might have been a good one too assuming it was a 4WD version?

For this budget you need either the wrong badge or the out of fashion car with the right badge, hence those two fit the bill...anything with the right badge or currently ''fashionable'' you'll pay over the odds for...

if overpaid premiership footballers started buying old Sportages they'd suddenly be desirable to the sheep and more expensive than new.

If that Sportage is genune i'd be round there sharpish to check it out, FSH? not to be sneezed at.

Subaru clutch isn't difficult but gearbox/transaxle is a heavy lump and you'll need a strong mate to help you lift it in/out.

Also consider Legacy, Sportrack/Fourtrak/Terios.

scheming_gypsy

I'd go for a Legacy but I'd want a white GTB.. I've got a thing for fast estates.
The Sportage seems ok from the write up but i've not seen it yet. Isn't as local as Gumtree was telling me (but only 30 miles away).. they also offered to deliver for petrol costs which sometimes gets me suspicious..

There was a fourtrak up for £550 / offers but didn't have a bit write up. Pretty much just car, sale.. the fourtrak is a bit small for lugging stuff about and the Sportrak holds their price well (or the other way around).
Somebody at work has a Terios and it's a bit small, doesn't look like I'd be able to do much with it.

A mate owns a garage, so the clutch wouldn't be too difficult, it's just the extra money. buy car, replace clutch, use for a bit and then try not to lose too much.

[Deleted User]

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

a trailer would be a good idea but then I'd have to buy a tow bar

Only a good idea, if you are used to them.

I know it looks easy, but reversing a vehicle and trailer combo isn't as simple as it seems.

And a small trailer (less than the width of the towing vehicle) is a real PITA to reverse. :mad:

I don't know what area you are in, and how far you would be prepared to travel, but a quick check of Autotrader reveals two Terranos (a 1997 and a 1998) for less than £800 each.

Stooby2

If you get a Legacy, don't get one with air suspension. Very expensive to repair - as in £400 a corner and when they go they can take the air pump with them as you may not notice the leak immediately. I had one and in all honesty, it wasn't that good in the snow. The traction control isn't the best around.

You'd be lucky to get a Discovery for that money that isn't a bag of nails. But, have a look around at Suzuki jeeps. They are very underrated and cheap as chips to buy and look after. But the downside for you is a low load weight. Maybe an older Mitsubishi warrior or similar pickup?

scheming_gypsy

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I don't know what area you are in, and how far you would be prepared to travel, but a quick check of Autotrader reveals two Terranos (a 1997 and a 1998) for less than £800 each.

15 miles away from the '97 one. but it's MOT'ed till January - which isn't too bad, but out of tax, which would be another £125.

Stooby2 wrote: »

If you get a Legacy, don't get one with air suspension. Very expensive to repair - as in £400 a corner and when they go they can take the air pump with them as you may not notice the leak immediately. I had one and in all honesty, it wasn't that good in the snow. The traction control isn't the best around.

You'd be lucky to get a Discovery for that money that isn't a bag of nails. But, have a look around at Suzuki jeeps. They are very underrated and cheap as chips to buy and look after. But the downside for you is a low load weight. Maybe an older Mitsubishi warrior or similar pickup?

I wanted a Vitara when I was younger, so always been drawn to them when looking for a cheap toy.. Also another reason for wanting a 4x4 is because I'd love to get into off roading, not seriously but just to throw one about occasionally.


This one is winning so far - http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/kia-sportage-s/1036666378#photo-content

[Deleted User]

If you are going to get a big, heavy one (eg. a Terrano or Shogun), make sure it's a diesel, as the petrol ones have terrifying fuel consumption, as in the high teens to low twenties.

Also, since you plan to use it in snow, and off road, make sure it has ATs fitted.

Lots of people (and I don't see the logic myself) fit them with standard road tyres.

You are looking at a minimum of £400, for a full set of ATs.

AlexLK

Could you spend a bit more (say £1500) if you were guaranteed to get your money back (or perhaps even make a few quid) come spring time? If so Series Landy every time, though I assure you it WILL be very slow and uncomfortable. However, £100 to insure it and maybe it'll be tax exempt equals happy days in my book.

scheming_gypsy

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Also, since you plan to use it in snow, and off road, make sure it has ATs fitted.

Lots of people (and I don't see the logic myself) fit them with standard road tyres.

You are looking at a minimum of £400, for a full set of ATs.

My commute is from one side of Preston to the other on roads on the gritting route. Last year it literally snowed all around the North West apart from Preston, so I'll just end up on whatever tyres that it comes with.
My main issue with tyres in winter, is that people always say about winter tyres, but it's great having your car on winter tyres but it doesn't stop other people hitting you.. The second car is so my daily drive doesn't get smashed up.

AlexLK wrote: »

Could you spend a bit more (say £1500) if you were guaranteed to get your money back (or perhaps even make a few quid) come spring time? If so Series Landy every time, though I assure you it WILL be very slow and uncomfortable. However, £100 to insure it and maybe it'll be tax exempt equals happy days in my book.

By the time i have a grand and a half spare to play with, they'll be two grand and we'll be in the middle of winter.