Vehicle for high ground

mickmcl09

I'm building a new home in the coming months on high ground - with the current weather, my current runabout will not cut it on steep hills. Gradient as steep as 19 or 20% in places.

I need a vehicle for 3 kids, a dog, deal with steep hills and deal with up to 18 inches of water in severe wet weather.

Best vehicle suggestions from 08 onwards, with total budget between 18 and 34k.

okane1

Really any "big" 4x4, landcruiser, pajero,discoetc. If it was my money with your requirments, in my eyes the best 4x4, land rover defender

Anan1

Is the fording 18" of water requirement really a non-negotiable? Other than that you could have the likes of an Audi Allroad/Subaru Outback auto. If you really need the ground clearance you'll be stuck with the likes of what okane1's suggesting, which are - relatively speaking - pigs to drive.

Matt Simis

FWIW the Allroad's fording depth is 300mm (12") and gradient max is 22degrees. It wont safely do 18" (450mm) though, as Anan1 noted.

thirtythirty

mickmcl09 wrote: »

I'm building a new home in the coming months on high ground - with the current weather, my current runabout will not cut it on steep hills. Gradient as steep as 19 or 20% in places.

I need a vehicle for 3 kids, a dog, deal with steep hills and deal with up to 18 inches of water in severe wet weather.

Best vehicle suggestions from 08 onwards, with total budget between 18 and 34k.

You won't get a better 4x4 that's family friendly than the Jeep Wrangler CRD Unlimited

Northern Ireland one
Carzone (no price) one

OldGuysRule

Upper end of your price range, but you have requested 08 onwards
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Land-Rover/Discovery/XE/201039199724609/advert?channel=CARS

Otherwise
Save 11k
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Land-Rover/Discovery/LAND-ROV/201047200336129/advert?channel=CARS

kermitpwee

What about a Suzuki Vitara?

peasant

18 inches of water? You don't need a car, you need a bridge

Very few unmodified 4x4's have 450 mm fording depth (the good old Defender would be one of them). 18 inches of standing water might just be do-able but if it's a raging torrent you really need a bridge as your car/jeep could be swept away at that depth.

Once you have the bridge, I would recommend a manual Subaru with the low gearbox ...permanent 4WD and extra low gears, that will tackle any hill in any weather

bkehoe

peasant wrote: »

18 inches of water? You don't need a car, you need a bridge

Very few unmodified 4x4's have 450 mm fording depth (the good old Defender would be one of them). 18 inches of standing water might just be do-able but if it's a raging torrent you really need a bridge as your car/jeep could be swept away at that depth.

18 inches isn't much in a vehicle with a high suspension - probably wouldn't even notice you were driving through it. The Discovery 3 (air suspension versions) has a rated wading depth of 70CM, almost 28 inches, 7 seats which can fold up with plenty of room for the dog and car like comfort on the road. Disco4 is probably similar for wading. I've been through far deeper in my Disco3 - just poke your head out the window and make sure the water doesn't go through the air intake which is above the height of the wheel arch.

Anan1

peasant wrote: »

Once you have the bridge, I would recommend a manual Subaru with the low gearbox ...permanent 4WD and extra low gears, that will tackle any hill in any weather

I'd be thinking an auto for that kind of work? A torque converter will do that without wear - even with low range, a clutch isn't going to be happy.

davidoco

see this video from 6 minutes in but the rest is interesting also

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7dVFY5CxT0

The Forester is obviously an option and with the 2 ltr boxer engine very economical.

The Tribeca is a real left field choice and there are two for sale now on carzone for < 30,000 - beautiful machine if you don't do a lot of mileage!

peasant

Anan1 wrote: »

I'd be thinking an auto for that kind of work? A torque converter will do that without wear - even with low range, a clutch isn't going to be happy.

It's just that the reduction gearbox (in the Subaru or any other 4WD equipped with one) gives you more torque at the wheels than the automatic ...really handy for pulling the cars of visiting friends out of the ditch ...the trailer with building materials or garden clippings and/or whatever else has to be shifted up that steep hill during the course of normal family life.

And as the steep hill is going to be a daily companion, IMO a low range gearbox is more or less a must-have

Anan1

peasant wrote: »

It's just that the reduction gearbox (in the Subaru or any other 4WD equipped with one) gives you more torque at the wheels than the automatic ...really handy for pulling the cars of visiting friends out of the ditch ...the trailer with building materials or garden clippings and/or whatever else has to be shifted up that steep hill during the course of normal family life.

And as the steep hill is going to be a daily companion, IMO a low range gearbox is more or less a must-have

I see your point, but doesn't a TC have a torque multiplication effect as well? I'm not 100% myself, but I do have the impression that auto is more popular than manual with the serious off-road Forester drivers.