Four Wheel Drive for €3k?? or less!

Woofstuff

Would love to drive a four wheel drive just for the fun of it at some stage in the near future

... maybe only for a year or less cause i know itd be expensive to run...(hard to resell??)

any recommendations on a reliable one that i wouldnt have to be spending a fortune on repairs for about €3k??! or maybe less would be better!

Im thinking along these lines.... any views on these cars would be welcome:)

LANDCRUISER

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Toyota/Landcruiser/Automati/201045200151464/advert?channel=CARS

FRONTERA

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2517280

Now i know the next too are a small 4x4 but wouldnt rule that out either rarely carry rear seat passengers anyway, carry dogs more often!

PAJERO


http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2558408

RAV4

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2582782

coolbeans

Unless you're big into off-roading there's nothing fun about 4x4s.

EPM

coolbeans wrote: »

Unless you're big into off-roading there's nothing fun about 4x4s.

Bigish engined Subaru ftw:)

166man

Yeah I second EPM's suggestion a nice 3.0/2.5 litre Subaru with 4 wheel drive is nice...

Btw what kind of fun were you thinking of having in a Frontera?!:D

Woofstuff

166man wrote: »

Yeah I second EPM's suggestion a nice 3.0/2.5 litre Subaru with 4 wheel drive is nice...

Btw what kind of fun were you thinking of having in a Frontera?!:D

I dont know about frontera..it just looked big and cheap so i thought id throw it in there to hear some opinions!


Forester?

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Forester/2.0/201133203955702/advert?channel=CARS

outback? http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Outback/2.5-A%23T-/201138204570062/advert?channel=CARS

Legacy?

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Legacy/2.0-4-Wh/201118202298509/advert?channel=CARS

166man

Woofstuff wrote: »

I dont know about frontera..it just looked big and cheap so i thought id throw it in there to hear some opinions!


Forester?

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Forester/2.0/201133203955702/advert?channel=CARS

outback? http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Outback/2.5-A%23T-/201138204570062/advert?channel=CARS

Legacy?

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Legacy/2.0-4-Wh/201118202298509/advert?channel=CARS

I have a feeling that Forester has many more miles than are advertised...:D

That Legacy looks nice but would be so tempted by that Outback... both look clean though.

bazz26

I'd take the Frontera off that list. They were even rubbish when brand new.

_Conrad_

this would be a lot better off in here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1068


the 4x4 section.

Landcruisers are great machines but personally i wouldn't be too keen on the particular garage that one is being sold at.

The rav4 is just a joke of a thing not a proper 4x4 at all, would be far better to get a 4x4 car like a subaru than one of those, as they have nowhere near the capability of a proper 4x4 but are still thirsty and expensive to tax. So you'd be as well off in that case getting a legacy or forester, or buying a proper 4x4 like the landcruiser.

coolbeans

_Conrad_ wrote: »

this would be a lot better off in here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1068


the 4x4 section.

Landcruisers are great machines but personally i wouldn't be too keen on the particular garage that one is being sold at.

The rav4 is just a joke of a thing not a proper 4x4 at all, would be far better to get a 4x4 car like a subaru than one of those, as they have nowhere near the capability of a proper 4x4 but are still thirsty and expensive to tax.

I have to disagree on the RAV4, your assertions are just wrong. The first generation featured a proper, full time 4WD system, light weight, decent ground clearance and short overhangs; all big pluses in an off roader. They also handle pretty well and lack only a low range transfer box and diff locks which you probably don't need anyway. The two litre engine is also relatively tax friendly. I drove one for a month all over almost roadless, canyon potholed Kenya and it was superb. I can't see a Subaru matching it due to the lack of ground clearance and by extension poor off road capabilities. A petrol Subie would also more fuel. THe first gen RAV4 IS a very capable little machine on and off road. How you think a Legacy would beat it off road is beyond me.

_Conrad_

coolbeans wrote: »

I have to disagree on the RAV4, your assertions are just wrong. The first generation featured a proper, full time 4WD system, light weight, decent ground clearance and short overhangs; all big pluses in an off roader. They also handle pretty well and lack only a low range transfer box and diff locks which you probably don't need anyway. The two litre engine is also relatively tax friendly. I drove one for a month all over almost roadless, canyon potholed Kenya and it was superb. I can't see a Subaru matching it due to the lack of ground clearance and by extension poor off road capabilities. A petrol Subie would also more fuel. THe first gen RAV4 IS a very capable little machine on and off road. How you think a Legacy would beat it off road is beyond me.

Frankly that's a load of sh*te.
I never said a subaru would "beat" a rav4 off road, I said it would be a better bet than a rav4 if someone wasn't going to go for a proper full sized 4x4. In those cases they usually just want something with 4wd, and wouldn't need great off road ability. In which case a subaru would be far more suitable than a half arsed pathetic attempt at a 4x4 which, in comparison to toyota's own landcruiser for example, the rav4 clearly is.
They're not a car and they're not a proper 4x4 either so they're mediocre at best in either situation, merely a toy.

It's also worth noting for future reference that you have no idea what I need or don't need. So don't presume to know.

Woofstuff

_Conrad_ wrote: »

It's also worth noting for future reference that you have no idea what I need or don't need. So don't presume to know.

Alright calm down lads,, lets not get worked up

We have a bit of mountainous land behind the house,, probably could use the 4x4 to carry stuff up there the odd time,, so maybe the high road clearance of the rav4 is a plus.. it is a bit toyish but sure nothing wrong with that.

Woofstuff

Conrad: Are these 4x4 suburus any help on snowy/icey roads??

Coolbeans: Are these Rav4s any help on snowy/icey roads??

coolbeans

_Conrad_ wrote: »

Frankly that's a load of sh*te.
I never said a subaru would "beat" a rav4 off road, I said it would be a better bet than a rav4 if someone wasn't going to go for a proper full sized 4x4. In those cases they usually just want something with 4wd, and wouldn't need great off road ability. In which case a subaru would be far more suitable than a half arsed pathetic attempt at a 4x4 which, in comparison to toyota's own landcruiser for example, the rav4 clearly is.
They're not a car and they're not a proper 4x4 either so they're mediocre at best in either situation, merely a toy.

It's also worth noting for future reference that you have no idea what I need or don't need. So don't presume to know.

Jesus, calm down will you! I don't give a toss what you need or don't need as I was attempting to aid the OP not you.

bazz26

Suzuki Jimny might do you. Cheap to run too.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2465661

coolbeans

Woofstuff wrote: »

Alright calm down lads,, lets not get worked up

We have a bit of mountainous land behind the house,, probably could use the 4x4 to carry stuff up there the odd time,, so maybe the high road clearance of the rav4 is a plus.. it is a bit toyish but sure nothing wrong with that.

Well, the ground clearance of the RAV4 will certainly be no harm. Snow and ice capability is first and foremost determined by tyres. A two wheel drive with good winter tyres will run rings around a 4x4 on summer rubber.
A Jimny is a good choice but they're very uncomfortable if you do a lot of driving which is worth keping in mind. If snow is your main concern a Subaru or RAV would be better as they use a full-time four wheel drive system which works better over surfaces with varying grip.