Which 4x4?

bluesnake

Pixie5740 wrote: »

...I think my friend has a 4x4 V70 so I'll ask him about it.

Probably asking friends (or anyone) about comfort and ease of access is very subjective, especially if you have a back injury.

Best is to go to one of the car supermarket setups and start going through the makes, and try out the chair and sitting position yourself. There is no point in buying something super reliable, if you can't get in and out of it.

To me the xc90 is an estate, that is high off the ground, with small doors, and I have trouble getting in through the door and out of them, but the seats are fairly narrow, but very comfortable.

I currently drive a CR-V, lovely car, but can foresee in the future due to where the lip of the body floor pan meets the bottom door, the lip is quite high, and so I have to lift my legs a good bit up to get my feet up, and this may in future prove an obstacle.

For me, the easiest 4x4 to get in and out of, was the Suzuki Grand Vitara, but at 3 years old already had more rust than my 20 year old ex-Honda. The easiest access of all so far was Ford Galaxy, but the Citroen multipla was also very good (peddles were not), but all is subjective and many will disagree.

loskie

A volvo dealer should give you a decent test drive. Maybe not parks but Lloyd in Carlisle would give a car for a half day, day, weekend to serious potential buyers.

adjests

I'd second a Volvo.
The XC90 is being replaced later this year I think so there should plenty of good deals - have a look at whatcar target price.
Volvo cars in my opinion have the best seats.

Pixie5740

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Get a fiat panda 4x4 and stick a hot water bottle on the seat.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Pixie5740

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and suggestions. It looks like the Volvo has made it on to the short list. :beer:

Spicy_McHaggis

I know the early model disco was in the bottom three for the worst seats. So make sure the new ones are ok for you.

EssexExile

Getting a car that is right if you have a bad back is very personal. I had a Volvo V70 for years & it was very comfortable but getting in & out with my bad back was getting worse. No doubt the 4x4 versions are a bit higher so may be better, but I tried one & it didn't work for me. I have a Honda CRV now but had to go for the top spec to get comfy seats, but it is so much better to get in & out of (& a hell of lot cheaper than the Volvos). If you're used to a Beemer I'm not sure you'll like the internal finish though.
Obviously, with those car choices, I'm quite old.

petrolhead69

A neighbour has had a auto 2.0dci x trail for years, it has been a great car and he takes it offroad shooting regularly. My wife had an old model x trail that was good too but nowhere near as refined as the new one. It rusted badly but it was a cat d we got dirt cheap and the respray on it wasn't great so i dont hold that against nissan. I'd have another over an x3 any day. Our x5 was a neverending problem and our friends x3 is never done costing fortunes and needing recovered. Disco running costs are on another planet. £1200 mots are not uncommon.

Pixie5740

I thought I'd just give a bit of an update and thank everyone again for their input.

I did go to look at some Volvos and I was pleasantly surprised. Volvo wasn't even on my radar either.

In the end though I plumped for a 2012 Discovery 4. It felt like the most comfortable car and I have a longish journey coming up at the end of the month. If I end up crippled at the end of the journey I'll sell it and try something else.

I also managed to negotiate a good deal on the basis I took out some finance which has no ERC and is getting paid off, in full next week.

The salesman tried to sell me car mats, bootliner and mud flaps for £490 :rotfl: but other than that, he was ok.

Mr_Toad

Quizzical_Squirrel wrote: »

I'm a Jeep Wrangler girl, would never have anything else, but I thought the Discovery was the right choice for you right from your first post.

Congratulations!

I love my Wrangler Unlimited. It's been worth its weight in gold in the Scottish highlands during the snow.

Can't wait for the summer, roof off, doors off, windscreen folded flat on the bonnet.