Recommend a 4x4

Newtown Warrior

I have recently sold 2 cars on done deal. I have c.7k to spend on a private 4x4 jeep, which will be used for driving in and out of work (10mins each way) and I will need it to tow 1 horse at weekends using a braked trailer (max 1300kg)

Should I go for diesel/petrol jeep? I'm looking to keep the tax down as much as possible & i'm currently looking at around 2005 diesel grand vitra, diesel xtrail (2.2 higher tax) or a 2.0lt petrol sportage.

I have seen a 2005 commercial 2.5lt kia sorento (tax 310) with seats for sale- could this be insured as a passenger?

Any opinions/options welcome.

JohnBoy

any commercial with seats in the back is going to be potentially dodgy from a tax/insurance/doe point of view, I wouldnt view it as being worth it.

I've been looking at changing myself recently, at the opposite end of the spectrum, the smallest things I was looking at were the vitara and co.

in my opinion there's too many horror stories online about the Xtrail, the consensus seems to be that they're the greatest thing in the world, when they're working. That seems to be reflected in their pricing as they're nearly cheaper than freelanders at this stage.


Of your options I'd go for the vitara, but bear in mind that unless you're looking at the XL version then they're quite small in the boot department.

Have you considered a santa fe?

hideous looking yokes, but seem to have a fairly good reputation.

Newtown Warrior

Cheers John Boy...good point on the pricing of the x-trails compared to other jeeps (inc. vitara). At the end of the day you get what you pay for and I don't need a headache. I'm looking at the XL version of the vitara alright.

I have a look at the available santa fe.

slowburner

I'm looking to change from my old '93 Hilux Surf which is still going strong at close to 300K km.
I think few 4 x 4s would match it for road handling and I'll be sad enough to see it go. A great machine off road too.

Not much of a budget to spend maybe 4 - 5K.
So here are my requirements.

Not a Jap import
LWB
Commercial tax.
Reasonable comfort on long journeys.
Decent power for pulling a trailer
Plenty of interior carrying capacity
Good off road (good ground clearance especially)
Above all, reliability, reliability and reliability.

Crew cabs don't have the interior space I need, and pickups wouldn't work either because I need to carry a fair few tools and other bits and bobs I wouldn't want exposed, to the elements or otherwise.
So far I'm leaning towards the Isuzu Trooper or the LWB Pajero - ideally I'd go for the Landcruiser, but I think any half decent ones would be well outside my budget.
I've heard mixed reports about the 3.0 l Troopers, but they seem the best match for my needs.

What do you think?

slowburner

I've just seen a few Nissan Patrols which might fit the bill but I've heard scary stories about their engines being prone to head gasket problems - any truth in this?

JohnBoy

why not a newer hilux surf?

slowburner

JohnBoy wrote: »

why not a newer hilux surf?

I've never seen a commercial one.

DirtyDiesels

stay clear of the 3.0 trooper which is late 98' upwards. The 3.1 is the model to go for if you want a trooper as regards reliability which i think is No. 1. All be it the older model theres still some clean examples around. I parked up my 95 trooper in the shed before i came stateside and tehres 260,000 odd miles on the clock. i wouldnt part with it.

db330

slowburner wrote: »

I'm looking to change from my old '93 Hilux Surf which is still going strong at close to 300K km.
I think few 4 x 4s would match it for road handling and I'll be sad enough to see it go. A great machine off road too.

Not much of a budget to spend maybe 4 - 5K.
So here are my requirements.

Not a Jap import
LWB
Commercial tax.
Reasonable comfort on long journeys.
Decent power for pulling a trailer
Plenty of interior carrying capacity
Good off road (good ground clearance especially)
Above all, reliability, reliability and reliability.

Crew cabs don't have the interior space I need, and pickups wouldn't work either because I need to carry a fair few tools and other bits and bobs I wouldn't want exposed, to the elements or otherwise.
So far I'm leaning towards the Isuzu Trooper or the LWB Pajero - ideally I'd go for the Landcruiser, but I think any half decent ones would be well outside my budget.
I've heard mixed reports about the 3.0 l Troopers, but they seem the best match for my needs.

What do you think?

As for the Pajero if getting the MK3 (99 - 06) don not get the 2.5 the 3.2 is X100 better. The 2.5 is very old and under powered and thirsty. I have an 05 lwb Pajero 3.2 auto 300k km's and been great so far getting 30mpg doing normal driving. There are some great ones out there going for very good money (land cruisers of same spec and year double the money). So I would recommend a auto 3.2 (read previous threads and you will want to avoid the manuals)

createrofall

buy a toyota landcruiser a regular service and these will go for ever about as easy on fuel for its size and engine loads of power...dont buy a petrol jeep they are to expensive to run

redzerologhlen

slowburner wrote: »

I'm looking to change from my old '93 Hilux Surf which is still going strong at close to 300K km.
I think few 4 x 4s would match it for road handling and I'll be sad enough to see it go. A great machine off road too.

Not much of a budget to spend maybe 4 - 5K.
So here are my requirements.

Not a Jap import
LWB
Commercial tax.
Reasonable comfort on long journeys.
Decent power for pulling a trailer
Plenty of interior carrying capacity
Good off road (good ground clearance especially)
Above all, reliability, reliability and reliability.

Crew cabs don't have the interior space I need, and pickups wouldn't work either because I need to carry a fair few tools and other bits and bobs I wouldn't want exposed, to the elements or otherwise.
So far I'm leaning towards the Isuzu Trooper or the LWB Pajero - ideally I'd go for the Landcruiser, but I think any half decent ones would be well outside my budget.
I've heard mixed reports about the 3.0 l Troopers, but they seem the best match for my needs.

What do you think?

I bought a 00 swb Cruiser 18 months ago for €4500 and it was mint with 4 new tyres, full service history, timing belt done, test tax etc. I have driven most kinds of jeeps and the only one I thought was better for handling was the newer model landcruiser. It has been bulletproof for me and I do a good bit of towing with it. Came from a pajero before and would find it hard not to go for a landcruiser if I was trading again in the morning. With a budget of 4-5k I am sure you would pick up a good one if you kept your eye out!!

redzerologhlen

db330 wrote: »

As for the Pajero if getting the MK3 (99 - 06) don not get the 2.5 the 3.2 is X100 better. The 2.5 is very old and under powered and thirsty. I have an 05 lwb Pajero 3.2 auto 300k km's and been great so far getting 30mpg doing normal driving. There are some great ones out there going for very good money (land cruisers of same spec and year double the money). So I would recommend a auto 3.2 (read previous threads and you will want to avoid the manuals)

My uncle has a 3.2 pajero and it nearly has him broke. Endless money pit!! My mechanic hates the sight of them, he reckons the independent rear suspension in them is a pure disaster of a setup aswell not to mind the trouble the manuals give with the flywheel.

slowburner

db330 wrote: »

As for the Pajero if getting the MK3 (99 - 06) don not get the 2.5 the 3.2 is X100 better. The 2.5 is very old and under powered and thirsty. I have an 05 lwb Pajero 3.2 auto 300k km's and been great so far getting 30mpg doing normal driving. There are some great ones out there going for very good money (land cruisers of same spec and year double the money). So I would recommend a auto 3.2 (read previous threads and you will want to avoid the manuals)

Picked myself up an 04 3.2 auto Pajero Warrior LWB for 6K. There's 89K on the clock and a full dealer service history of the one owner from new + a 3 month warranty.
It's one hell of a lot of jeep. I'm happy enough with the deal.

I've heard though, that the very sophisticated transmission selection system can be moody if it's not given a frequent workout in 4WD.

I had a problem with it last night :eek:
Coming down a very steep rough road, I stopped (force of habit) and engaged 4L, just to let her crawl down at her own pace - the feckin thing was in neutral. After some fiddling with different ratios I got some sort of drive but the centre diff warning light started to flash. A quick consult of the manual said; proceed to your nearest Mitsubishi dealer, if the warning light persists.
It persisted. Ah Jaysus.
This morning I fecked around going backwards and forwards in different ratios (that's what they said to do on a Mitsubishi forum) and the problem went away.
Any other Pajero owners had this problem?


(BTW the reason they are called Monteros in America is because the Spanish for w*nker is Pajero )

tony.aspergers

Go for a Discovery.....it will last longer! (If looked after properly)

colm_mcm

tony.aspergers wrote: »

Go for a Discovery.....it will last longer! (If looked after properly)

Spend loads of cash on it to keep it on the road?

OldGuysRule

Don't always equate 'looking after something' with 'spending a load on it'.

Have never owned another 4x4 other than a Discovery, now on fourth. Have no interest in changing it, you either 'get' landrovers or you don't.

Pottler

OldGuysRule wrote: »

Don't always equate 'looking after something' with 'spending a load on it'.

Have never owned another 4x4 other than a Discovery, now on fourth. Have no interest in changing it, you either 'get' landrovers or you don't.

I "got" a Landrover, spent a fortune fixing it continually, then I started "getting" Japanese jeeps and didn't have to "get" anything:D

notsobusy

I've just bought a Kia Sorento 2.5 passenger. Yes the tax is a killer but it's a lovely jeep. I got a great deal on it.

If you're only pulling one horse why no try a Kia Sportage.

vixdname

tony.aspergers wrote: »

Go for a Discovery.....it will last longer! (If looked after properly)

Sorry mate, but thats the biggest load of crap I've ever read
Discoverys are are notoriously unreliable and their electrics are garbage.

Have a look at the dedicated websites below OP before you start taking advise off people who dont know what they're talking about.
I had one and couldnt wait to get rid of it

http://landroverhell.com/

http://www.brentfordgallery.co.uk/landrover.html

vixdname

OldGuysRule wrote: »

Don't always equate 'looking after something' with 'spending a load on it'.

Have never owned another 4x4 other than a Discovery, now on fourth. Have no interest in changing it, you either 'get' landrovers or you don't.

I didnt spend many thousands of euro on a landrover so as I would have to "Get It" I bought it because I wanted a relatively low maintenance and reliable vehicle which the Discovery turned out definitely NOT to be.
I got rid of it as soon as I could, bit the bullet and bought a Pajero and have never looked back since.

So in summary, feel free to keep "Getting" your money pit or should I say Landrover while the rest of us "Drive" our other 4x4s

OldGuysRule

Jeez someone sounds bitter.

The two links you post refer to someone's poor experience with a freelander and with a Discovery 3. The comparative models being discussed above are generally of the age of the Discovery 2, totally different vehicle. However, not many people get around to posting up websites of how much they enjoy their vehicles.

I will repeat what I have said before, my experiences with landrovers have all been favourable. I have bought carefully, serviced carefully and was glad to be able to sell on in good faith.

If vixdname has had a bad experience with one particular vehicle, then so be it, everyone is free to shove their opinions down others router. I am delighted that you have found reliability and solace in the land of the rising sun but do not make the mistake of assuming that my vehicle is a money pit.

vixdname

OldGuysRule wrote: »

Jeez someone sounds bitter.

The two links you post refer to someone's poor experience with a freelander and with a Discovery 3. The comparative models being discussed above are generally of the age of the Discovery 2, totally different vehicle. However, not many people get around to posting up websites of how much they enjoy their vehicles.

I will repeat what I have said before, my experiences with landrovers have all been favourable. I have bought carefully, serviced carefully and was glad to be able to sell on in good faith.

If vixdname has had a bad experience with one particular vehicle, then so be it, everyone is free to shove their opinions down others router. I am delighted that you have found reliability and solace in the land of the rising sun but do not make the mistake of assuming that my vehicle is a money pit.

I'm not shoving my opinion down anyones router my good man, I'm simply saying that not only have I had bad experiences with landrovers but the general consensus in 4x4 circles and mechanics is to keep away from Landrovers (except the Defender, which is a great machine) not only because of their unreliability, their constant need for maintenance to keep them moving, the notoriously bad after sales you get from Landrover dealerships and the high cost for spare parts and repairs when compared to the extremely reliable jeeps that originate in the land of the rising sun. I myself prefer to say Japan

So "Bitter", ha, I think not. You can buy a landy carefully, you can service it carefully but you'll have to be extra careful also when getting your quote from a garage when something goes wrong (and it will). Then again Landys are usually driven by people associated with your username here on boards - I know, its harder for older people to break away from their routine, unfortunately yours was buying landrovers

tony.aspergers

OldGuysRule wrote: »

Don't always equate 'looking after something' with 'spending a load on it'.

Have never owned another 4x4 other than a Discovery, now on fourth. Have no interest in changing it, you either 'get' landrovers or you don't.

Absolutely agreed! I've on Discovery number 5......love them! Never had a breakdown, not once, always kept them properly serviced and have looked after them....do this and they are great!

tony.aspergers

Although I have to admit that there are very few Franchised Land Rover dealers in Ireland at the moment who really know what they are doing, and that applies to sales as well as to servicing....

The best LR franchised dealer of all time was Behan's of Arklow, for prices and stock availability. They were the only dealer in the entire country (as far as I know) who were a standalone LR dealer, sadly this led to their ultimate downfall when the recession struck.......