What would you recommend?

The Rook

Hi all,

Just wondering what you'd recommend for a new (09 or newer) 4*4 that I'm thinking of getting.

My situation is that a little later this year I'll have about EUR25k to spend on a 4*4:

I've been told that Nissan Quashqais are not worth it & they're pretty crappy,
Have had a recommendation of a Freelander 2 but know nothing about them
I like the look of the Rav4 but not sure if it's any good
I like the look of the Kia Sportage but read some reviews & they say it's in the same bracket as the Nissan Juke (i.e. a crossover small car)

What would you get if you were me?

Thanks!

Limbo123

Sportage!

Missus has a mk2 from new. Cracking car nothing has gone wrong in 4 yrs. Wouldn't put it in the same class as a juke - Unless you opt for the 2wd.

I've had a quashqai as a courtesy car and I personally think they are utter w$$k! Hated every minute that I had it( a whole two days). noisy, slow, gutless and felt cheap inside. Was a 1.5dci jobbie.

Read a lot of bad reviews about landrovers- more than capable off road but anything and everything electrical appears to go wrong and ex naive to repair. BUT never had the opportunity to drive one.

Sister has a rav4 and hates it. Said her a class was a better drive. Only plus is getting kids out of car seats. Rear door can be a pain because of the way it opens out.

Limbo123

Limbo123 wrote: »

ex naive .

Expensive

wexie

Well it depends on why it is you need/want a 4*4 really.

Will you be doing any offroading? Lots of towing? Or do you just want something a bit roomier with a higher driving position?

I'd be leaning / biased towards the Freelander (don't believe everything you hear they've come a long way) but you really need to think about why you want / need a 4*4. No point in getting something very capable off road if you're never likely to actually need that capability.

Similarly no point in getting a Quashqai if you're going to be wanting to drive up the Sally gap come January. (although in that case I wouldnt recommend any of the ones you mentioned)

If you just want something a bit roomier you might also look at some of the 4*4 estates out there?

The Rook

wexie wrote: »

Well it depends on why it is you need/want a 4*4 really.

Will you be doing any offroading? Lots of towing? Or do you just want something a bit roomier with a higher driving position?

Something roomier with a higher driving position, exactly that.

I don't know why but I'm not a huge fan of estate style cars (sorry to anyone who owns one!).

I've heard good & bad things about pretty much all of them but just thought I'd check out the general consensus here first!

wexie

I'm driving a Freelander at the moment (Freelander 1 TD4) and it's brilliant, haven't had any problems with it whatsoever and have done over 50k KM's in the past 12 months. (well, I changed a bulb) And definitely pretty usefull in the rough, I live pretty remote and even the dreaded winter of 2010/2011 I've had no problems getting around (decent tyres go a long way). The Freelander 2 allegedly is even better and comfier.

Can't really say much about the other ones other than that the mrs has a KIA (Carens) and I'm well impressed with it, very roomy, pretty decent build quality (kinda cheap inside but still very nice) and very good engine (2L CRD).

Looks wise for me it'd be between the freelander and the sportage.

I'm afraid that's all I can say though, the Nissan might be a nice car just doesn't do it for me. (Have you looked at the Skoda Yeti? meant to be a brilliant little car, although I'd forgive you for thinking it's b*t ugly )

wexie

Oh....one thing I forgot to mention, the turning circle on my freelander is HUGE....not sure if that's been sorted on the Freelander 2.

L-M

Get a Freelander 2 in an "S" or above spec. Bloody fantastic and one of the nicest "jeeps" i've driven by far. Very comfortable, very torquey. Nice 6 speed box, too.

iirc the first lot of the 08's weren't in the cheapest of tax, but they sorted that later on with a start stop system and a few other tweaks.

Tea 1000

Honda CRV or Subaru Forester are excellent. Worth a look.

The Rook

Thanks for all the replies, it kind of looks like the general consensus is for either the Freelander or the Sportage.

Will give both a good look over & test drive a little later this year.

Thanks again