revtothelimit - motorbike forum

If 12mpg isn't a problem

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2010-Mitsubi ... Sw6JpfWbBo

It's well over budget and if anything goes wrong (and it will) they're hideously expensive for parts, but it's a lot more fun than plodding about in an SUV
Got to go and collect my Lancer from the garage today, how much do we reckon for new rear discs and calipers, and mines a cooking 143bhp version, it's already had a rear wheel bearing that cost £250.

Trinity765 wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 8:25 am

KungFooBob wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 8:17 am I've been looking for something similar, but with a slightly higher budget, I guess it depends how off road you need it to be, but you can't seem to go wrong with a 00's Rav4.

Off roading is a bonus and not something I would do other than for fun.

I'm drilling down on Nissan and Toyota then.

A friend suggested an Audi Avant RS but I don't think they were listening when I mentioned the budget. I could go up but 4k would be very comfortable.

We’ve got an 03 Nissan Xtrail in the family.
Very useful space in the back, rear seats fold down flat and no lip on the boot so you can slide loads straight in.

You’d be limited off-road by the low exhaust box and the ground clearance isn’t great compared to more focused off-roaders, the 4wd system is excellent and quite sophisticated, can be front wheel drive or auto 4wd which only kicks in when loss of traction is detected or it can be locked in 4wd.

Small enough to fit your average parking bay or garage, good visibility from being relatively high up with big windows.

The only problem I’ve had is worn a worn out bushes on a suspension arm.

Must be getting close to 200k miles now, my eldest aka “the car killer”took it all over Europe a few years back and now his brother is abusing it.

Petrol version will have low mpg, it’s a heavy old bus, diesel gets about 36 to 38mpg which ain’t bad for a rattley old tech lump.

My BDad really rated the XTrails

Equally my SDad sold and rated landrovers!! LOL (Older, not modern!)



From experience, I'd have to recommend the Suzuki SX4 (Fiat Sidici). But, that's based on 4x4 for snow, not off roading

Out here, for people that 'need' to get around regardless of how much it snows, it seems to be a toss up between the Suzuki SX4, the Dacia Duster and the big Ford 'truck' things

The Duster has a huge rating on 4x4 but again I have no idea of actual off road - just 4x4 on snow


Being here I don't have any idea of price in the UK

Mussels wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 9:33 am What mileage are you doing?
I bought a V8 Jeep for a song a few years back, top of the range and in great condition. It was cheap because nobody else could put up with an average 12mpg, it only had to go because I started driving to work and £100 a week in petrol got expensive.
Mine was built before the VED changes so you'll need to check that as well.

I thought the diesel ones had Merc engine and were okay?

There's only one answer to this thread - Subaru Forester, pre-08. The Turbo has 230bhp, v well equipped, comfy, lots of fun (around 6 secs 0-60, if that matters), v capable in snow/mud tho obv not a Defender. Non turbo is still good tho less fun. Good value now as they're thirsty - I always got around 25mpg. I've had 6 of them since 1999,so my suggestion is a bit obvious - just sold the most recent one as I've finished work now.

As with all cars at this price, check MOT history carefully. Some of them have gone rusty underneath, and look for a dealer service history which most will/should have. Owners tend to be brand loyal (like me!) Nothing wrong with the Outback but they're bigger.

Honda CRV.

End of thread.

Taipan wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 12:17 pm

Mussels wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 9:33 am What mileage are you doing?
I bought a V8 Jeep for a song a few years back, top of the range and in great condition. It was cheap because nobody else could put up with an average 12mpg, it only had to go because I started driving to work and £100 a week in petrol got expensive.
Mine was built before the VED changes so you'll need to check that as well.

I thought the diesel ones had Merc engine and were okay?

Mine was 5l petrol, it was quick for a big barge.

How about this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/dodge-nitro- ... Swr8VfnuQs

People easily offended by very ugly vehicles might not want to look

Mussels wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 1:06 pm

Taipan wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 12:17 pm

Mussels wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 9:33 am What mileage are you doing?
I bought a V8 Jeep for a song a few years back, top of the range and in great condition. It was cheap because nobody else could put up with an average 12mpg, it only had to go because I started driving to work and £100 a week in petrol got expensive.
Mine was built before the VED changes so you'll need to check that as well.

I thought the diesel ones had Merc engine and were okay?

Mine was 5l petrol, it was quick for a big barge.

Must admit, I've been tempted by a Jeep on and off for the last few years, as they are a lovely bargain of a Luxobarge. I ferry "the olds" around quite a bit and they struggle getting in and out of my BMW and the Wife's Mini, but the road tax is over £500 a year on those Jeeps, so that, and adding it to our multi car policy, makes it a bit of a expensive courtesy for the olds and I'm no sure I can justify it really, especially as I don't even use my car that much...

When you need to climb volcanoes in style

inewham wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 1:32 pm

slowsider wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 9:56 am

Rockburner wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 9:32 am

Trinity: if the 4x4 thing is just a 'fancy', then a regular estate will probably better suit your needs. Don't know where you are in the country, but an estate (eg Mondeo) will be better (eg: more economical, quieter, less prone to wandering in heavy winds) for heading to Cornwall than a tall 4x4.

That, and if you have to have 4wd have you considered an Outback?

+1 in spades, I ran an Outback 2.5 SE Auto for 10 years, it was ace I only got rid when they gave me a company car last year
As a town/motorway car there are better options but as a rural car they really shine and are actually good off road, in snow etc.

I ran a Legacy saloon and it was a hoot, but I was paying for the fuel . Outback seems the best compromise between that and the forester.

Haven’t read the replies but at that budget it’s petrol and Japanese, this is is always the default setting for a friendly AA man I know. So with that in mind RAV4

My son in Oz uses a Mitsubishi Challenger to toosh about the bush and for work.

I don't know if he'd recommend one though,as he's never done fixing it!

You'll get howls of derision but if it was me I would be going for pre discovery 3 discovery

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 500&page=1

Edit - didn't read the petrol bit. Look for a V8 they are brill and cheap as chips. Plus you can get the MPG down to single figures if you put the effort in.

wheelnut wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 2:30 pm You'll get howls of derision but if it was me I would be going for pre discovery 3 discovery

Horrible cars before the D3.
D3 must be nice, as I own 2 of them!

However, big petrol 4x4....Full Fat L322 Range Rover!

Tax will be same as Scooby. I owned a Forrester Turbo and didn't much like it, other than it was easy to work on and, in the end, rolled quite well

Range Rover is such a lovely place to be and the main downside is the mpg. Parts are pretty cheap and readily available. Expertise online and at Indies is immense.

Trinity765 wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 10:04 am

slowsider wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 9:56 am

Rockburner wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 9:32 am

Trinity: if the 4x4 thing is just a 'fancy', then a regular estate will probably better suit your needs. Don't know where you are in the country, but an estate (eg Mondeo) will be better (eg: more economical, quieter, less prone to wandering in heavy winds) for heading to Cornwall than a tall 4x4.

That, and if you have to have 4wd have you considered an Outback?

I've put that on the potential list.

Octavia Scout.
VAG, 4x4, massive boot, seats go flat, etc.
On winter tyres go just about anywhere and give 45+mpg on m’way runs.
Not many private ones for sale but plenty of ex-ambulance rrv’s but mega miles and ran at idle for hours before being thrashed with stereo in weird places.
Looked at loads before getting our private owned one.
Getting on for 180k miles and other than the standard VAG 140bhp turbo whistle it’s goes fine.
Parts cheap, easy to work on and solid.
£2.5k gets you ours with plenty of change and over £800 of new front running gear as we had planned to keep it until it died until huge work changes means it’s done sod all miles in the last 18mths

Yorick wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 2:07 pm When you need to climb volcanoes in style

20210122_140642.jpg

You waiting to be picked up by a Range Rover owning mate?

Taipan wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 6:20 pm

Yorick wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 2:07 pm When you need to climb volcanoes in style

20210122_140642.jpg

You waiting to be picked up by a Range Rover owning mate?

A Range Rover owner wouldn't dare take it where we go

Skub wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 2:20 pm My son in Oz uses a Mitsubishi Challenger to toosh about the bush and for work.

I don't know if he'd recommend one though,as he's never done fixing it!

That must be the Mitsubishi Rapist du jour.

I imagine Iccy will have one on order soon.

Yorick wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 6:31 pm

Taipan wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 6:20 pm

Yorick wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 2:07 pm When you need to climb volcanoes in style

20210122_140642.jpg

You waiting to be picked up by a Range Rover owning mate?

A Range Rover owner wouldn't dare take it where we go

Poundstretcher?