Commercial Vehicle Advice Needed

markk0719

Hi Folks

Im looking for a good commercial jeep. Willing to consider anything but am looking specifically at either a VW Touareg, LR Range Rover, LR Discovery or an X5. Anyone any experience of these. I've about 20k to spend.

Thanks

Saab Ed

Everyone of the jeeps you mentioned are more trouble than they're worth IMO. In fairness though they are very nice cars that carry a load and you can claim the VAT back on them. If anything, anything goes wrong ( and it will with a LR/RR for sure) then its gonna cost a fortune to sort out.

If its a real work horse that you need, a real trailer puller/field crosser/generator hauler then its got to be a Land Cruiser or my own favorite but far less trendy, the Nissan Patrol. Both are as bomb proof as you can get. Neither will be as nice to drive as any of the ones you mentioned but you'll never by yelling and cursing at them like you will be at your choices either.

101sean

Lots of advice on these over on the 4x4 forum. If you are looking at new or conversions you can forget the luxury ones. Landcruisers aren't as bomb proof as people make out either, they've had their own engine problems.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1068

Saab Ed

101sean wrote: »

Landcruisers aren't as bomb proof as people make out either, they've had their own engine problems.

Agreed. But all things being relative, we are comparing them to Landrovers here

And I know you're a fan, I'm not having a go, just being honest. There's no way in the world you could recommend a LR over a cruiser to a non devoted fan, ordinary bloke kinda person could you!

PS - Just to ad that a Discovery is the nicest jeep I've ever driven. Again its all relative though as I hate all jeeps.

Eddie Smart

markk0719 wrote: »

Hi Folks

Im looking for a good commercial jeep. Willing to consider anything but am looking specifically at either a VW Touareg, LR Range Rover, LR Discovery or an X5.

This is the list of cars which every garage welcomes because these 4x4s are nice up to 50K kms or so and then hundreds and hundreds to be spent on brake calipers, alternators, on-board electrics, EGRs, air suspension etc.
You can go for top spec Pajero, Landcruiser or Pathfinder, they are a bit farmers, but will work for you, not you for them.
I know couple of guys who had the money to buy Range Rovers, but now they fight with dealers, look for parts around the country etc.
Anyway good luck with your new jeep.

101sean

Sorry, should have worded that better! LR v Jap 4x4 arguments is a pointless exercise that's not tolerated over on the 4x4 forum.

Go to any local mart and all you'll see in the car park is Landcruisers which says something.

George Dalton

All 4 are lovely jeeps to drive. All are expensive to run. All will bankrupt you if you are unlucky.

166man

OP you would get more for your money going down the route of something like a Hyundai Santa Fe. Should have a decent warranty and less costly to fix if something goes wrong. Plenty of them around 20k would get a nice one.

db330

I'd don't know anyone with a Touareg so can't comment on those, but a friend worked in a company who had several new discovers (07) and they all gave some sort of trouble, they ended up selling them and going to toyota and it seems to be working well so far.

Another friend has an X5 (08) and it has been the most troublesome car he owned, it gave turbo trouble and cracked 3 rims on it alongwith a few other small electic sensor things (was a passenger and only used on road), when it goes it goes well but when it doesn't it costs dearly.

A colleague had a range rover sport and he hasn't had any issues that i know of yet, its a commercial and he uses it as such, he also loves the air suspension for heavy loads, put in what you want and when it starts it levels out no matter what the weight.
But the range rovers aren't know for reliability so the above could be a rare case.

From the looks you don't want a land cruiser or pajero for what ever reason,
But have you considered the land cruiser V8 or amazon???
But to last but will be very comfortable like a Range Rover, may be touch to get a modern one for 20K though, but i would highly advise having a look anyway, (you could even get a pre 03 with 5 seats if you wanted)


Just thought i'd mention this, I have a pajero 3.2 auto since early 05, now have 300,000KM on it and have done nothing but regular servicing and a front left wheel bearing, and it's driven like a commercial, regularly towing and getting heavy loads in the back

But if i were in your shoes i'd look at the Land cruiser V8 or the touareg the rest are just to much trouble

Zimmerframe

It really depends on what you want from the vehicle.
I have owned or driven for long periods a couple of Touaregs and a Land Cruiser. Despite the "popularity" of Land Cruisers, I personally hated every mile I drove in it (2007 D4D model).
The Touaregs (3.0 V6), I loved, neither gave me any bother whatsoever, were a joy to drive but are expensive to run. You are talking about an average of 25 mpg (without any load or trailer).
When I was buying the Touareg, I test drove all the competition apart from the X5 (too dear) and the only jeep I liked to drive apart from the Touareg was the Discovery, but some of the "reliability" stories put me off.
P.S if you do consider the Touareg, don't get the ancient 2.5 engine.

db330

Zimmerframe wrote: »

It really depends on what you want from the vehicle.
I have owned or driven for long periods a couple of Touaregs and a Land Cruiser. Despite the "popularity" of Land Cruisers, I personally hated every mile I drove in it (2007 D4D model).

I also drove a land cruiser for a while and didn't like it either, coming from a pajero they are similar power wise but the land cruiser was wobbley and leaned alot.

markk0719

Thanks for all the advice. I wouldnt be using it to carry much in fairness. Its more of an opportunity to get a company vehicle without being screwed for BIK.

Thanks again

MidlandsM

Before i bought my X5, I drove and researched them all, and went with the beemer.

I concluded -
The Touareg - unreliable and troublesome.
The Toyotas - common bouncy agri-mobile (but reliable)
The LL/RR - english scrap (to me)

the BM offers to me style, good driveability, good service and good value for money (as i bought 2nd hand)

Vtwin

Bought a 05 sport just over a year ago, put up around 30k kms on it, only had 35k kms on it when I got it. Have to say no bothers at all. Previous owner never drove it but still got it serviced regularly, the first thing when I bought it was gave it a full service, all filters, pads, and brake fluid. Ok it cost a lot, but with planet range rover but worth having the full land rover history.
Got it serviced again a few weeks ago,and got away 250 euro.
I think if you are going to buy one of these
A low miler with a full RR history is a must, I.e one that has had an easy life and has been spoiled from a service perspective.
Brilliant jeep to drive.
Hard on diesel - 25mpg driving hard
Nurse it and you get 27mpg.
Only problem I have had is a dodgy parking sensor and I know how that happened, power washer .
Great space with seats folded down , and great is wet and frost.

LCruiser Kid

Buy a Landcruiser or either a Pajero. Two good jeeps that will do all you want and more.