Buying a Diesel 4x4

Wile E. Coyote

Was considering trading in my petrol 1.4 Renault Megane saloon for either a diesel Land Rover Freelander, Suzuki Grand Vitara or a Honda CRV. Currently doing about 1,000km per week spending €70/80 and was wondering if anyone could tell me if I would save money or spend more on fuel per week by upgarding to one of these.

All comments appreciated.

BlackWizard

Why don't you just go for a car or do you need the 4x4 system?

edit: the reason why Im saying this, is that the 4x4s are not as economical as cars.

v300

Your fuel cost will be approx 40 percent higher on the petrol models.

The Honda CRV Diesel would be only 10-15 percent higher,
and would be the best for economy from your group on a long run, but costs a lot to buy.

Anan1

BlackWizard wrote: »

Why don't you just go for a car or do you need the 4x4 system?

edit: the reason why Im saying this, is that the 4x4s are not as economical as cars.

+1. Quite apart from financial considerations, a car will be more comfortable, safer, and will handle better than any of the options you mentioned - and 1,000kms/week is a lot of time behind the wheel.

racso1975

i'd say given the fact you can get 1.4 and 1.5 diesel cars they would be your most economical option. Plus you'd have higher tax and insurance on the 4x4's. Either way i'd stay away from the freelander.

racso1975

And if 4 wheel drive is needed without height maybe look at some of the 4 wheel drive cars.

v300

racso1975 wrote: »

Either way i'd stay away from the freelander.

Seconded.
They are dirt of the lowest order.

Wile E. Coyote

BlackWizard wrote: »

Why don't you just go for a car or do you need the 4x4 system?

edit: the reason why Im saying this, is that the 4x4s are not as economical as cars.

The reason I was going to go with the 4WD is that I live in the middle of nowhere so when we have weather like this I can't go anywhere and can't get to work. I've been stuck at home since Tuesday and it's a pain in the ass.

Anan1

Wile E. Coyote wrote: »

The reason I was going to go with the 4WD is that I live in the middle of nowhere so when we have weather like this I can't go anywhere and can't get to work. I've been stuck at home since Tuesday and it's a pain in the ass.

I'd get a spare set of rims with good winter tyres as a first step. If you really want awd then you could look at the likes of a Subaru Impreza 2.0d.

racso1975

If you give us an idea of your budget we might be able to give some suggestions.

R.O.R

I'm driving a Diesel Freelander commercial at the moment. I'm surprised at how good the engine is, and everything works on this one.

€30 of Diesel got me about 240km - probably worse than you could normally expect because of the snow. But 2/3rds of that journey was 80-100km on Motorways.

colm_mcm

Freelander 2 is miles better than Freelander 1. not too difficult but still a decent yoke.

Dan_B

A guy on boards asks for advise buying a 4X4 and the first response is just buy a car. Some things change and some things never change

Anan1

Dan_B wrote: »

A guy on boards asks for advise buying a 4X4 and the first response is just buy a car. Some things change and some things never change

The OP wants to be able to drive on-road in all weather conditions, and is doing 1,000kms/week. Only a sadist would recommend a 4x4 for that.

Dan_B

Says who?

BlackWizard

Most reps and area managers all drive cars instead of 4x4s. If 4x4s where better for covering 1000km a week then I'm sure they would be using them instead of cars.

The bottom line for the OP is that a 4x4 will cost more to buy and run. The money saved on a car can be put towards some good winter tyres.

But I would hold off buying a new vehicle because of the current mess. It might not be this bad next winter. And buying a set of winter tyres for the current vehicle might be better than any new car or 4x4.

E39MSport

v300 wrote: »

Seconded.
They are dirt of the lowest order.

Seventh most reliable 4x4 according to warranty analysis based on Warranty Direct’s database of 150,000 policies on cars between three and eight years old. I wouldn't mind dirt like that.

v300

E39MSport wrote: »

Seventh most reliable 4x4 according to warranty analysis based on Warranty Direct’s database of 150,000 policies on cars between three and eight years old. I wouldn't mind dirt like that.

I'm aware of that survey but the trade and the JD power survey hate them.
They have improved, but how they are not still in the bottom 10 is a mystery to me.

peasant

In other countries you can get Mercedes 4-matics, Passat/Golf 4Motion, Opel Insignia Allrad, Skoda Octavia 4x4 ...all cars with 4x4 drive systems.