revtothelimit - motorbike forum

I'm looking to buy a petrol 4x4 for around the 4k mark and rather than do something impulsive, like buy one tomorrow because its got nice seats and pretty wheels, I'm trying to be sensible about it.

I'm looking to drill down on a particular model/spec/year, do some research, maybe test drive a couple and then wait for the right one to come up on the market. 4k is a ballpark figure as once I know what I'm looking for it would make sense to spend more on a particularly good deal if I came across one.

It will be used for anything and everything. Popping to my Mum's, filling up with garden rubbish, cruising to Cornwall to see family and if me and it are up to it, pissing about off road with friends.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions, must avoids and other considerations.

How many does it need to seat?

Are you talking 4*4 as in a flat bed Animal type thing? Or like a Fiat Panda with a 4*4 drivetrain?

5 seats @cheb

Not a flatbed. Fiat Panda - what's that (I'd have to Google it)? @weeksy

@Potter That's what I'm talking about

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.

But make sure it's AWD, most are only FWD.

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.

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

£250 on a private plate and no one will know how poor you are.

Kia Sorento's are cheap too, but the rear wheel arches rust like fuck in the passenger door shuts... they are cheap tho'.

What about one of they Dacias? Better ghastly than utterly shagged. Failing that, something fairly small and Japanese (I don't think Nissan have been for some time).

Rusty arches you say?
16.35 mins

KungFooBob wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 8:39 am https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 500&page=1

£250 on a private plate and no one will know how poor you are.

Why wouldn't I get that?

Potter wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 7:49 am Or maybe a Jeep Cherokee, but again I'd be going for the large petrol engines, they use a lot of fuel but anecdotally they break down a lot less than the smaller diesel engines.

I'm on the lookout for a Cherokee*: currently there's a couple at £6K on ebay (same seller), and every now and again a beaten up wreck comes up for around a grand.



* Just because I've always wanted one.

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.

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.

Potter wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 9:37 am

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.

That's not too bad.
I used to spend about £280 a month in diesel to get to work around 20yrs ago, that felt like a lot then, when I got a local job for the same money I felt like I'd had a massive pay rise.

To be fair though a trip to Cornwall from the north of England at 12mpg would have made my eyes water.

It's downhill all the way so you can freewheel

Potter wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 9:37 am That's not too bad.
I used to spend about £280 a month in diesel to get to work around 20yrs ago, that felt like a lot then, when I got a local job for the same money I felt like I'd had a massive pay rise.

To be fair though a trip to Cornwall from the north of England at 12mpg would have made my eyes water.

It wouldn't be quite that bad, if I sliptreamed behind a lorry at 56mph I could get 25mpg out of it!

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?

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.

That's a hard question to answer right now. It would probably never be used for commuting. Around town and then a UK road trip once or twice a year. Brighton to London occasionally. But who knows what the future will bring.

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.

The VED point is worth mentioning.

Stuff with bigger engines could well be in he £560 tax bracket!

Also remember SUV does not equal offroader, some of the early ones were atrocious with no way of locking diffs through gears or brakes (so little better in snow than a normal 2wd hatchback). When looking at options a 4x4 derived from a pickup will not be as comfy as something designed to be a passenger vehicle.

It depends a lot on what you want to use it for, a while back a friend swapped his Freelander for a Discovery and said the Freelander was much better on the road but not off it.
And btw I don't think any of them are designed to go through water more than 8" deep without causing some sort of damage, way before you worry about a snorkel.

If it's for the shopping and school run then I'd stay with with stuff designed for that market.