Winter 4WD - Suzuki Vitara Vs Honda HRV

ronanc15

Hi all,

I'm picking up a cheapy cheap 4wd jeep for the winter as I do quite a bit of driving on hilly roads that will require the 4wd. (Lack of this stopped me getting certain places last two winters). Im not looking to spend more than 2k so what I've been looking at is mostly 1.6 Suzuki Vitara and 1.6 Hona HRV. It may have to tow a light bike trailer from time to time also.

I'm leaning towards the Vitara but the majority are soft top and I can imagine this being a nightmare in the winter.

Any opinions on either of the two?? I realise the 1.6 would probably struggle to pull the socks of a dead man but I'm not keen on paying high tax.

Regards
Ronan

rusty_racer94

Here is the one and only asnwer to your question:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2395935

Quite well equipped I must say!

doyle61

Ild go for the Suzuki, but that's because it has a low box. Have to say the Honda would be more comfortable though, but I reckon if you keep an eye out a hard to Suzuki is the better all round option

ronanc15

rusty_racer94 wrote: »

Here is the one and only asnwer to your question:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2395935

Quite well equipped I must say!

Was going to go for that but I don't think the auto would really suit! Not biased, I already have one auto

doyle61 wrote: »

Ild go for the Suzuki, but that's because it has a low box. Have to say the Honda would be more comfortable though, but I reckon if you keep an eye out a hard to Suzuki is the better all round option

I was thinking along the same lines, I don't think the Honda would cope the best with any type of rough/country roads up against the vitara.

Im assuming the low box just non existent in auto jeeps is it? Im a jeep noob

colm_mcm

Auto box not great for engine braking

ronanc15

Not the best anytime i come across icy conditions either

rusty_racer94

Stick the Gear in L/1 and you 'might' be grand.
Don't know how my Auto Corolla will be getting on this year.

kermitpwee

Most vitara's for 2k or under are well past it, the tps switch on the throttle causes problems with the idle so check that if your buying one, its usually under load or when your pulling out from a junction when the car has warmed up that you will notice it.
I have had a 94 vitara, 99 Jimny and now have a Daihatsu Terios. The terios dosen't have a low box but you wont need it and they are far superior on the road and i have found them surprisingly good off road tbh.
Personally I would never go Suzuki again after the Terios.

ronanc15

kermitpwee wrote: »

Most vitara's for 2k or under are well past it, the tps switch on the throttle causes problems with the idle so check that if your buying one, its usually under load or when your pulling out from a junction when the car has warmed up that you will notice it.
I have had a 94 vitara, 99 Jimny and now have a Daihatsu Terios. The terios dosen't have a low box but you wont need it and they are far superior on the road and i have found them surprisingly good off road tbh.
Personally I would never go Suzuki again after the Terios.

1.3 might be pushing it though even with the trailer being relatively light?

kermitpwee

ronanc15 wrote: »

1.3 might be pushing it though even with the trailer being relatively light?

Sorry I forgot about the trailer. I don't know anything about the Honda hrv but a mate has a crv and it is not to be underestimated, it was good in the snow and not bad off road either. I am guessing very similar to the hrv.

CiniO

Can't really understand that trend to get 4x4 for winter.

It's not the type of vehicle you need to change for winter but tyres.

What's the gain if you even make it up the hill in 4x4, if you crash on the way down.
4x4 doesn't have better brakes that other vehicles.

Anan1

ronanc15 wrote: »

I'm picking up a cheapy cheap 4wd jeep for the winter as I do quite a bit of driving on hilly roads that will require the 4wd. (Lack of this stopped me getting certain places last two winters). Im not looking to spend more than 2k..

Have you budgeted for winter tyres? The right tyres make more of a difference than 4wd.

peasant

If you are looking for a 4x4 especially to make it up snowy hills you would be bonkers not to go for something with a low gear box.

Not for going up ...but for coming down

Remember ...going down an icy, slippery slope is much scarier than going up!

A low gear is a great thing for that. Slide it into lowest gear at the very top of the hill and let it creep down slowly on all fours under engine braking without ever touching a pedal.

Unless you hit sheer black ice you will make it down safely on every hill without ever breaking a sweat ...more so with good profile skinny tyres on it (another point against the fatboy)

kermitpwee

peasant wrote: »

If you are looking for a 4x4 especially to make it up snowy hills you would be bonkers not to go for something with a low gear box.

Not for going up ...but for coming down

Remember ...going down an icy, slippery slope is much scarier than going up!

A low gear is a great thing for that. Slide it into lowest gear at the very top of the hill and let it creep down slowly on all fours under engine braking without ever touching a pedal.

Unless you hit sheer black ice you will make it down safely on every hill without ever breaking a sweat ...more so with good profile skinny tyres on it (another point against the fatboy)

Very valid point that I had forgotten about

peasant

You might also want to consider Vitara's little brother Jimny

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2564238

Surely, no motorway or long distance cruiser but small and nimble and with 1100 kg and ninety horses quite happy on backroads. This particular one even comes with a towbar (which is over 300 new + fitting). Also legally pulls 1300 kg ...so should cope with a bike trailer no probs.

And should you ever be so unfortunate to slide off an icy road and into the ditch, this little yoke will most like come out of it again on its own steam (i.e. ...it's very capable off road)

wee truck big driver

i have a vitara and last year i couldnt get it up any hill and would just spin round on th road at any time. admitedly the tyres werent great. also have a 4x4 sierra that would go anywhere

kermitpwee

peasant wrote: »

You might also want to consider Vitara's little brother Jimny

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2564238

Surely, no motorway or long distance cruiser but small and nimble and with 1100 kg and ninety horses quite happy on backroads. This particular one even comes with a towbar (which is over 300 new + fitting). Also legally pulls 1300 kg ...so should cope with a bike trailer no probs.

And should you ever be so unfortunate to slide off an icy road and into the ditch, this little yoke will most like come out of it again on its own steam (i.e. ...it's very capable off road)

Great jeep off road, chronic on the road as a daily driver, I clocked 18000 miles in a year and never again. I have a feeling that jimny was for sale a few weeks ago in tipp for 1650 but I could be wrong.
My Jimny developed a problem where it would lose power momentarily, a few mechanics and 2 trips to the main dealer and we were no wiser.

kermitpwee

wee truck big driver wrote: »

i have a vitara and last year i couldnt get it up any hill and would just spin round on th road at any time. admitedly the tyres werent great. also have a 4x4 sierra that would go anywhere

There must have been something wrong with the 4wd because because I found them excellent off road and in the snow.

Anan1

kermitpwee wrote: »

There must have been something wrong with the 4wd because because I found them excellent off road and in the snow.

It's all about the tyres - I was in a LR Discovery last winter that couldn't handle the snow at all either. A Micra on winters will p1ss all over a 4wd on ropey summer tyres in snow & ice.

ronanc15

I have factored in the winter tyres alright, my own car at the moment is a 530d which is obviously RWD which meant it was a no go for a lot of the icy hills i needed to tackle last winter. The roads I tow the trailer on up the mountains arent suitable for anything but a jeep to be honest so I need to get one anyway.

Very good reasoning in favour of getting one with a low box. Unfortunately I've had many a brown pants moment coming down icy hills!!!

This vitara would be perfect only for the soft top, already has the winter tyres and all!

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2551854

Anan1

ronanc15 wrote: »

This vitara would be perfect only for the soft top, already has the winter tyres and all!

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2551854

That looks very good. Wear a big coat, hat & gloves - you'll be grand.:)

ronanc15

Lol - problem sorted. Am I right in saying I would be frozen out of it?

peasant

A petrol engine should put out enough heat to have the heater setting on "full Sunday roast" at all times ...should be all right.

Only problem could be drafts and iced up plastic windows that won't clear (and can't be scraped, obviously)

ronanc15

peasant wrote: »

Only problem could be drafts and iced up plastic windows that won't clear (and can't be scraped, obviously)

That's precisely what I would be worried about!

kermitpwee

Anan1 wrote: »

It's all about the tyres - I was in a LR Discovery last winter that couldn't handle the snow at all either. A Micra on winters will p1ss all over a 4wd on ropey summer tyres in snow & ice.

I have always had all terrain on so maybe they helped me out, never had winters.

Anan1

kermitpwee wrote: »

I have always had all terrain on so maybe they helped me out, never had winters.

The Disco was on all terrain tyres too - it could go, but it was squirming all over the place. Tread looked good, but they might have been old - or I might just have been spoilt by my winters.;)

kermitpwee

Anan1 wrote: »

The Disco was on all terrain tyres too - it could go, but it was squirming all over the place. Tread looked good, but they might have been old - or I might just have been spoilt by my winters.;)

Maybe I got lucky as my jeep was lite or something, my uncle had a pajero on Falken snow tyres and it was really good, what type of pattern had your winters? Was it very aggressive?

wee truck big driver

kermitpwee wrote: »

There must have been something wrong with the 4wd because because I found them excellent off road and in the snow.

well as said the tyres did have a close resemblance to a babys behind

Anan1

kermitpwee wrote: »

Maybe I got lucky as my jeep was lite or something, my uncle had a pajero on Falken snow tyres and it was really good, what type of pattern had your winters? Was it very aggressive?

Not really, here's a pic: http://www.michelin.co.uk/tyres/michelin-alpin-a4

I think it has as much to do with the softer compound as with the pattern. My car had Yokohama all season tyres on it before - they're actually supposed to be pretty good on snow, but the Michelins are a whole different world.

kermitpwee

wee truck big driver wrote: »

well as said the tyres did have a close resemblance to a babys behind

HaHa:D Not the best so

101sean

Drive on ice like there's eggshells on the pedals, too many give it too many beans or have vehicle on wrong settings (RTFM!) and sit spinning wheels going nowhere.

Wouldn't worry too much about a soft top if hood is in good condition, shouldn't be draughty and whack the heater up to full!

Those Michelin Alpins are supposed to be best winter tyre available, doubt if they'll be cheap though. They will be a softer compound so not something to leave on all year.

ronanc15

Out of curiousity would it be hard to panel across the back of the 2 front seats and make it similar to a pick-up? I see a lot of off road pics where this is done.

Would this have implications for NCT?