New commercial 4x4

WAPAIC

My company is talking about getting me a commercial 4x4 instead of a company car or car allowance. A car isn't suitable for what I do - need to be able to drive through fields, farm roads, etc. No towing.

However the only model available as a factory built commercial seems to the Ford Kuga. Never even seen one but it seems to be pretty small and not that capable off road.

Crew cabs are not an option. Is there anything else that is commercial from the factory and readily available in RoI?

Thanks:)

101sean

Land Rover Defender
Land Rover Discovery 4, not sure about Freelander.
Toyota Landcruiser
Mitsubishi Pajero probably, sure someone else will confirm.
Jeep Cherokee

Don't know if any of the smaller 4x4/SUVs are available as factory commercials now.

WAPAIC

Thanks for that - I thought they'd all stopped providing them. Sadly I think all of those are well above my 35k limit, I'll check a few though.

Has anyone driven a Kuga? Or even seen one...? I think I'll prefer my disco 1 and a car allowance although the Kuga might be easier to park!

Eric Cartman

the New landcruiser is 42k inc vat afaik , which ex vat would be just under 35 , i think the commercial disco is in a similar bracket too

101sean

The change in rules has stopped the conversion after import but the main 4x4 makers have always made commercials with varieties to suit most countries rules.

Never seen a Kuga, don't know whether it's a proper 4x4 or just an AWD car.

Eric Cartman

101sean wrote: »

The change in rules has stopped the conversion after import but the main 4x4 makers have always made commercials with varieties to suit most countries rules.

Never seen a Kuga, don't know whether it's a proper 4x4 or just an AWD car.

its just full time awd afaik , most of them are 2wd here anyway

gofaster_s13

The Kuga's arent a purpose built off roader but are quite capable of handling fields and farm roads etc but the stickier stuff will upset them. I drove one in Wisconsin in January and have to say it handled snow very well. They also have the advantage of driving and handling far better on road than any of the 4x4's listed above.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcEQDmdG9iE

JohnBoy

I'd say a 4x4 kuga on some M&S tyres would handle a hell of a lot.

wet fields, farm roads etc dont really require a whole lot of 4x4 capability.


not sure how many kugas here come with 4x4 though.

CJhaughey

What stops most vehicles is ground clearance and fragile build quality rather than the amount of wheels that are driven.
For instance driving in a field can be done easily in a 2wd car if the field isn't lumpy, once the field has ruts and holes then the car can get stuck because its ground clearance doesn't allow it to be driven over the ruts.
Going faster might get you over the ruts with momentum but the cars underside bashing off the field will cause damage.
There are times when you need 4x4 with the diffs locked but I suspect that much of the time a relatively high and strong 2wd vehicle will make it no problem.
For farm roads and the like a reasonable AWD car with bigger than usual GC would be fine.
Something like a Skoda Octavia Scout may be a better option

kuro2k

gofaster_s13 wrote: »

The Kuga's arent a purpose built off roader but are quite capable of handling fields and farm roads etc but the stickier stuff will upset them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcEQDmdG9iE

Sorry but maybe its just me but that video does not do the Kuga any favours .......... it look like a pos in the imo

Rosahane

What about the Subaru Forester? I saw a commercial version in a garage in Carlow just before Christmas:cool:

WAPAIC

Had a good look at a Kuga parked up somewhere at the weekend - it looks fine except its quite small in the back and it reminds me of a handbag. All the reviews say that it is excellent however and competent offroad up to the limitation of it's clearance. I'd imagine it would just about suffice for the limited offroad use I'd be doing and only get stuck occasionally. It does seem tiny however.

Forester looks like a much better option for me. It also looks much better and it even has a low range gear box for getting properly stuck.

If they let me, I may be better off keeping my 4x4 and taking the car allowance - I'll have to do the sums on it.