Cheap Jeep - backup vehicle and field driving advice please!

brianiac

Hi,
just after moving out the country to a small farm. Have a car for the road, and commuting already but would like a second vehicle for backup which can do some very light off road capability as well as pulling a light trailer on occasion. I learned to drive on a defender and have some affection for them but they are pricey enough to buy. t
I dont envisage using this on the road for long distance driving so mpg isnt a high priority. It does need to be able to pull a trailer and drive over clean fields but no heroics at all - no mountaintop escapades!
Price is a factor and would like to pay less than 5k, ideally 2-3 - though i would pay a little more for a vehicle that is less inclined to cause problems. I would also be going for a commercial version for the lesser road tax...any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Wossack

are vitaras any good I wonder?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/94-suzuki-vitara-fat-boy/9858485?offset=24

Special Circumstances

First gen crv? Def not suitable for heavy use but some mud tyres should make the most of its 4wd ability? They are fairly agri spec inside by today's standards. You won't feel bad getting it dirty.

Even a second gen petrol one should be in budget.

Squidgy Black

This wouldn't be a bad shout if you're willing to go petrol CRV.

Here's a Discovery already converted, diesel as well Discovery

bazz26

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport:

http://www.donedeal.ie/commercials-for-sale/07-mitsubishi-sport/9976382?offset=5

_Brian

Plenty of 03-06 XTrails out there, just find a well minded one and they are great jeeps..

freddieot

Pulled a Discovery out of the bog once in an 07 Kia Sorento - back in the days when they had low ratio boxes and 168bhp. Very good off road and well specced.

Newer ones are far more car like...

bennyc

Really thinking the same myself, for one reason or another I seem to be looking for vans and trailers more often these days, what I need is to commute 200 miles a week from work and something that can pull a load of turf every now and again. I am thinking XTrail or Sorento around a 5K budget , daft question but if I got something like a pathfinder with crew cab that is already on comm tax can I keep it on that tax or does it revert to normal.

_Brian

bennyc wrote: »

Really thinking the same myself, for one reason or another I seem to be looking for vans and trailers more often these days, what I need is to commute 200 miles a week from work and something that can pull a load of turf every now and again. I am thinking XTrail or Sorento around a 5K budget , daft question but if I got something like a pathfinder with crew cab that is already on comm tax can I keep it on that tax or does it revert to normal.

The problem with crew and all commercial tax is it depends from county to county. Some will tax any way at all, some ask for proof of business for commercial tax, some aparrenty ask for proof of employees before taxing a crew as commercial.

Gumbo

Merc ML

brianiac

_Brian wrote: »

The problem with crew and all commercial tax is it depends from county to county. Some will tax any way at all, some ask for proof of business for commercial tax, some aparrenty ask for proof of employees before taxing a crew as commercial.

Apologies for the delay responding...tbh ive had romantic notions or the defender for quite a while so may end up waiting for one suitable. surely if you are taxing an older car it's simply a matter of renewing online or does that only apply on subsequent attempts to tax the vehicle?