Advice on jeep for 5k

Dan82

My dad travels around 400 miles per week, had issues this winter due to floods and is looking to buy a 4x4 , due to milage it has to be diesel and budget is 5k

If anyone can help at all with advice please share, thanks

colm_mcm

If he just needs ground clearance then a 2WD soft roader should be considered. 20000 miles a year in a full-fat 4wd will be expensive.

Del2005

Dan82 wrote: »

My dad travels around 400 miles per week, had issues this winter due to floods and is looking to buy a 4x4 , due to milage it has to be diesel and budget is 5k

If anyone can help at all with advice please share, thanks

Unless you get a snorkel and fully waterproof the engine, drive train and chassis a 4x4 won't be much better than a car in floods as the air intake isn't much higher and there's a lot of places lower which don't like water. Even if you do its still very dangerous to drive into deep floods as you've no idea if the road is still safe.

CJhaughey

400 mile a week in a full size 4x4 will break your father.
I sold my Landcruiser because I was doing similar miles and I couldn't handle putting over 100E in the tank every week.

timmy4u2

Del2005 wrote: »

Unless you get a snorkel and fully waterproof the engine, drive train and chassis a 4x4 won't be much better than a car in floods as the air intake isn't much higher and there's a lot of places lower which don't like water. Even if you do its still very dangerous to drive into deep floods as you've no idea if the road is still safe.

I would imagine his need is for a Chelsea Tractor, in otherwords he does not require it for off road or towing.
I should think a Suzuki Grand Vitara would be his best option

Dan82

Cheers, I don't mean huge floods just over all feel a bit more at ease with weather condition.
He wants to move to a jeep so just looking for best around his budget.

Dan82

Thanks, he was looking at crv / Rav4 size taught they were ok on diesel , maybe he should re look at this

Dan82

colm_mcm wrote: »

If he just needs ground clearance then a 2WD soft roader should be considered. 20000 miles a year in a full-fat 4wd will be expensive.

What would be good to look at in this space?

timmy4u2

Dan82 wrote: »

Thanks, he was looking at crv / Rav4 size taught they were ok on diesel , maybe he should re look at this

I would put the Grand Vitara to the fore.They are good, reliable, compact and easy enough on the Diesel and road tax

colm_mcm

2WD Tucson is where I'd be looking, post 06 6 speed. much more robust than the early ones and quite economical.

ION08

Jeep's aren't that great. Plenty of other SUV's out there that would be better

colm_mcm

ION08 wrote: »

Jeep's aren't that great. Plenty of other SUV's out there that would be better

timmy4u2

colm_mcm wrote: »

2WD Tucson is where I'd be looking, post 06 6 speed. much more robust than the early ones and quite economical.

OK if it has the newer engine but the older engine could give some terrible problems with all aspects of the fuel delivery

Dan82

Think he might look at Crv in the 2.2 , seems like a good machine and drives well

colm_mcm

Keep in mind they're taxed as 2.3 (€994) vs €710 for a 2.0

Not the biggest factor but one worth considering

timmy4u2

Dan82 wrote: »

Think he might look at Crv in the 2.2 , seems like a good machine and drives well

Not my cup of tea but there is a thread here about the CRV. May or may not be helpful
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=69343238

Stavros Murphy

What about a Terios? Only a weeny engine, reasonableish on fuel and unbreakable. Also will go anywhere, through anything and cheap tax..

BorneTobyWilde

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/suzuki-grand-vitara-1-9-litre-diesel/6484223

4x4 small engine

Satanta

You should get a freelander for that money. Or if you want to stretch to 5500 you can have my touareg :-)

BorneTobyWilde

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volvo-xc90-2-4d-6-speed-manual/6493162
d5 engine great on fuel.

BorneTobyWilde

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/suzuki-vitara-ddis-1-9diesel-2006/6443747

low miles

Dan82

Dan82 wrote: »

Thanks, he was looking at crv / Rav4 size taught they were ok on diesel , maybe he should re look at this

Well I drive a Rav4, and I have to say, for me personally, it's a great all-rounder though I do drive the petrol version, and mine is a 2004 (in my opinion, the best looking Rav4/SUV on the road).

Suzuki Grand Vitara was a very close second when I was looking at cars. I see a black, well-kept Grand Vitara around the estate here sometimes and I often slow down passing it to take a look. Very nice piece of kit, but I do prefer the Rav on appearances.


Mine is petrol and gets about 23mpg doing town stop/start driving (presumably the diesel on motorways would be fairly different).

Mine has the leather interior (not sure if it really makes much difference) but I find it very comfortable to be in for long periods of time. Seat height is enjoyable and all in all a great car in my opinion.

I've certainly become a Rav4 fan since getting mine (but then I was a big fan of it as soon as I first seen it, so...).

Just don't get it in silver. Maybe it's just me but either the silver rav owners dont know how to take care of it, or the silver used on it goes very dull/murky over time. One of the two, but I've yet to see an impressive silver one.


EDIT:

Also, for floods, I've been coming across a few flooded roads lately, and I can say that I have made it through a handful that most cars were turning around on, but I am very careful with the car (and dont want to rust it from the bottom up) but I don't think you'll really do much with it in terms of getting through flooded roads, VS what a normal car can do. You've only got an extra, what 2-3 inches clearance. If you really want it for that, then get a lift kit or buy a Land Cruiser.

Also, unrelatedly, if your dad has back problems or such, apparently SUVs are easier for getting in and out of due to their higher floor, seats, etc. Not something that affects me personally, but an extra reason to throw money at an SUV if you decided to a pro/con list

Dan82

Satanta wrote: »

You should get a freelander for that money. Or if you want to stretch to 5500 you can have my touareg :-)

What's your Touareg like?

JohnBoy26

timmy4u2 wrote: »

I would put the Grand Vitara to the fore.They are good, reliable, compact and easy enough on the Diesel and road tax

Outclassed by the rav 4 and crv, and uses a not so nice Renault engine in the diesel version.

pete4130

If you don't mind something older go for a Hilux Surf.

This ones got the reliable 3.0 turbo engine. I've driven the 3.0 non turbo and you have to floor it to get them going but once they are going they cruise easily at 110-120kmh. Great off road, good for towing and good wading depth (think the hilux are rated at 700mm).

The one I linked to is auto so fuel economy will be down on the manual. The old 3.0 Hilux I used to drive would get about 12L/100km give or take, about 10.5-11L/100km on the highway.
I'm currently driving a 3.0 D4D auto in work and get about 12.5L/100km but its running 12 hours a day, doing 200-300km a day and idling for the rest of the time with the aircon running.

Comfort wise they are pretty good unless they are the workmate/basic/commercial spec.

brembo26

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/suzuki-vitara-ddis-1-9diesel-2006/6443747

low miles

That lad has a hell of a lot of cars for sale :P

ironclaw

Stavros Murphy wrote: »

What about a Terios? Only a weeny engine, reasonableish on fuel and unbreakable. Also will go anywhere, through anything and cheap tax..

Remembering being in a petrol (2008 ish?) Terios and you could literally see the petrol gauge drop on the Motorway. It was brutal on petrol with any more than 2 people in it. And the gearing was utter rubbish. That said, could have been the particular model but that was my experience.

Touareg is a great car but has its own issues with water pumps and exhaust system (They like decent motorway cruises often). Also, for that mileage, its going to kill you on fuel.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

Get a fiat panda 4*4

timmy4u2

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Outclassed by the rav 4 and crv, and uses a not so nice Renault engine in the diesel version.

That engine was only in the newer versions. Those within the OP budget have the Peugeot 2.0l engine

JohnBoy26

timmy4u2 wrote: »

That engine was only in the newer versions. Those within the OP budget have the Peugeot 2.0l engine

oops I never seen the budget. The older jeep is outclsssed by it's rivals too, the rav and crv of the time were miles ahead Imo.

Granted the vitara is reliable enough though and the pug unit isn't too bad.

daz16

Audi Allroad or Legacy ouback?

Valtraman2012

Did you look at hyundai santa fe's? They are a good jeep and do around 37MPG

Satanta

Dan82 wrote: »

What's your Touareg like?

The touareg is a great all rounder. I find it great to drive on any road. It's as comfortable as the e61 I had before it. The all wheel drive system is excellent. I had to turn off the esp in the last few snow days to have any craic because she was just so capable.

Since I got mine I replaced the centre support bearing and water pump, which are both common weaknesses, so I should be good for another few years. Honestly, if I was looking to change for another SUV I'd probably only be interested in a Q7 or a Volvo XC90

But long story short, I'd recommend. They are heavy on juice now. 34mpg on a run and low 20's around town. Tax on the 2.5 is E1080 at present.