What is the best jeep to buy?

farmer2018 · 04-05-2018 10:09pm #1

I am looking at buying a jeep for a small bit of towing. My budget is €1000-€3000, what is the most reliable jeep to buy?

Odelay · 04-05-2018 10:18pm

Kia sorento. The passenger versions are dirt cheap. I got a 2005 in feb, was taxed to July, nctd to jan 2019, one owner and 116k miles for €1400.
While not a farm jeep, it is rated to tow 2800kgs. It's grand for occasional towing.
Takes a while to find a right one however...

squinn2912 · 04-05-2018 11:27pm

That looks a serious bit of bargaining!

Odelay · 04-05-2018 11:39pm

squinn2912 wrote: »

That looks a serious bit of bargaining!

It wasn't! They had it advertised for €1500 on a Tuesday. Got time off work and after a few checks told him I'd be there in two hours.
The weekend is a bad time to buy cars. Look for ads midweek. Retired couple that had bought a new car. He even drove it back for me. Full service history, hasn't missed a beat since.

squinn2912 · 04-05-2018 11:41pm

Jesus that was some doing! I’ll have to remember that midweek advice! Just looked at a few of them online there round that age/mileage and they’re round 3k stg!

farmer2018 · 04-05-2018 11:42pm

Odelay wrote: »

Kia sorento. The passenger versions are dirt cheap. I got a 2005 in feb, was taxed to July, nctd to jan 2019, one owner and 116k miles for €1400.
While not a farm jeep, it is rated to tow 2800kgs. It's grand for occasional towing.
Takes a while to find a right one however...

Did you convert to commercial? How do you find it on diesel?

Odelay · 04-05-2018 11:48pm

squinn2912 wrote: »

Jesus that was some doing! I’ll have to remember that midweek advice! Just looked at a few of them online there round that age/mileage and they’re round 3k stg!

I had looked at the uk but between flights, ferry, vrt and rust issues from the amount of salt they spread on the roads I couldn't justify it.
When checking make sure it is in the owners name and hasn't been traded recently. Also him offering to drive it home for me showed that he had confidence in the car.
Don't think I'll ever get a bargain like it again. Being honest I'd happily have paid €3k for it considering the good condition it was in.

Odelay · 04-05-2018 11:56pm

farmer2018 wrote: »

Did you convert to commercial? How do you find it on diesel?

No, I don't think the cost of it is worthwhile. You still have to pay tax and the commercial insurance is more expensive.
She's not as bad on diesel as a landcruiser but nothing is cheap on diesel. Scared to measure properly... but for rough figures I get 250 miles for €50. Tis harder than the older one but much more powerful.
Don't bother with the manuals, the autos are far better ( and cheaper to buy). There is another poster on here that had one, he will also confirm the autos are better.

squinn2912 · 05-05-2018 12:08am

Fair play to you you had the homework done anyway. All the best with it. Would you be happy towing a box full of cattle with it?

Odelay · 05-05-2018 12:15am

squinn2912 wrote: »

Fair play to you you had the homework done anyway. All the best with it. Would you be happy towing a box full of cattle with it?

No! Wouldn't class it as a farm jeep. I'm very cautious about what I tow, regardless of viechle.

squinn2912 · 05-05-2018 12:17am

Right thanks. I would be tempted to change the car sick of it getting abuse on the roads. I’d like something that would pull the trailer though

Boilermaker · 05-05-2018 12:19am

Odelay wrote: »

No, I don't think the cost of it is worthwhile. You still have to pay tax and the commercial insurance is more expensive.

Is the tax on them €1080? Commercial tax would be a tax saving of €750 a year.
€40 in the difference between Cvrt and NCT, were down to a €710 saving per year.
And rough difference between commercial and private insurance?

emaherx · 05-05-2018 6:44am

Boilermaker wrote: »

And rough difference between commercial and private insurance?

Im paying a lot less for my 2.5L commercial Jeep policy than my 1.5L private car. 500 for Commercial V 700 Private, both Comprehensive with FBD.

farmer2018 · 05-05-2018 9:07am

Commercial insurance is cheaper than private vehicle.

Who2 · 05-05-2018 7:05pm

farmer2018 wrote: »

Commercial insurance is cheaper than private vehicle.

Problem may be the no claims bonus. Commercial insurance no claims won’t transfer across to private and likewise so some may end up starting from scratch.

yellow50HX · 06-05-2018 11:38am

farmer2018 wrote: »

I am looking at buying a jeep for a small bit of towing. My budget is €1000-€3000, what is the most reliable jeep to buy?

Depends on mileage, what your using it for how much you wanna pay in diesel. Jeep will cost €1,000! A year on tax, test and insurance before even getting on the road.

The land cruiser is the bench mark TBH look around the marts and building sites and it mostly them and hilux's you will see.

Pajero's have their fans too and the horsey crowd still go for the land rovers

Pidae.m · 06-05-2018 4:12pm

farmer2018 wrote: »

I am looking at buying a jeep for a small bit of towing. My budget is €1000-€3000, what is the most reliable jeep to buy?

Ranger or mazda b2500...... Bomb proof

farmer2018 · 06-05-2018 7:40pm

Pidae.m wrote: »

Ranger or mazda b2500...... Bomb proof

There doesn't seem to be many of these for sale.

mahoney_j · 06-05-2018 9:08pm

Pidae.m wrote: »

Ranger or mazda b2500...... Bomb proof

Big thumbs up for the ranger ,I actually have a 07 one for sale atm if interested ......

farmer2018 · 06-05-2018 9:12pm

mahoney_j wrote: »

Big thumbs up for the ranger ,I actually have a 07 one for sale atm if interested ......

Is it on done deal? Price?

mahoney_j · 06-05-2018 10:09pm

farmer2018 wrote: »

Is it on done deal? Price?

Nope not yet ,driving perfect going for doe next week then for sale .needs 2 Tyres and brake/indicator light cover replaced outside of that driving sweet .4wd works perfect ,air con /leather seats etc etc .will be advertised for circa 5500 .im trading up to newer model ranger

Gobble deGook · 06-05-2018 10:12pm

Odelay wrote: »

Kia sorento. The passenger versions are dirt cheap. I got a 2005 in feb, was taxed to July, nctd to jan 2019, one owner and 116k miles for €1400.
While not a farm jeep, it is rated to tow 2800kgs. It's grand for occasional towing.
Takes a while to find a right one however...

Wouldn't recommend of of those
They drink fuel, road tax is very high, noisy engine
Bit like owning a tractor!

Alibaba · 07-05-2018 1:53pm

Am on the lookout myself for something also.

How does the Hyundai Santa Fe compare with all these ?

Green farmer · 08-05-2018 5:30pm

Alibaba wrote: »

Am on the lookout myself for something also.

How does the Hyundai Santa Fe compare with all these ?

Doesn’t really have a high towing capacity.

Who2 · 08-05-2018 7:40pm

There’s a few old type hiluxs on done deal that can be bought around 3-4K. Even with massive mileage they would be 100 times better than a Santa Fe. Next to impossible to kill them.

farmer2018 · 08-05-2018 7:46pm

Green farmer wrote: »

Doesn’t really have a high towing capacity.

It surely would pull a trailer with two cows.

billie holiday · 08-05-2018 7:48pm

In my honest opinion Toyota Hi Lux agus Landcruiser are just so reliable and tough and comfortable to drive. I would find it hard to leave Toyota lad. Yes they are dear but i never had regrets about buying them. They hold value too.

farmer2018 · 08-05-2018 7:48pm

What's people's thoughts on Kia Sorentos?

Who2 · 08-05-2018 7:54pm

farmer2018 wrote: »

What's people's thoughts on Kia Sorentos?

Another half arsed car effort that should be kept in the city with people who like the idea of driving a Jeep.

Lambman · 08-05-2018 8:11pm

Bought an 08 Nissan navarra crew cab the aventura model top off the range automatic leather seats heated seats electric adjustable seats sunroof sat nav cruise control 6 disc CD changer multi function steering wheel alloy wheels and full chrome pack... everything working as it should taxed and tested till end off the year for €3150 2 months ago off a farmer who I knew was changing... bad points on jeep are back tailgate rough enough as it chrome back bumper will need tyres for test and there's 200k miles on clock but I've receipts from a engine replacement last year he had done but he doesn't know miles on replacement engine.

Who2 · 08-05-2018 8:20pm

Lambman wrote: »

Bought an 08 Nissan navarra crew cab the aventura model top off the range automatic leather seats heated seats electric adjustable seats sunroof sat nav cruise control 6 disc CD changer multi function steering wheel alloy wheels and full chrome pack... everything working as it should taxed and tested till end off the year for €3150 2 months ago off a farmer who I knew was changing... bad points on jeep are back tailgate rough enough as it chrome back bumper will need tyres for test and there's 200k miles on clock but I've receipts from a engine replacement last year he had done but he doesn't know miles on replacement engine.

Have a good look in under it. They are splitting at the cab. Upshot is Nissan will give you 7k for it if you buy a new one, but I wouldn’t mention or drive up in it until after the deal was done.

greysides · 08-05-2018 8:31pm

Who2 wrote: »

Have a good look in under it. They are splitting at the cab. Upshot is Nissan will give you 7k for it if you buy a new one, but I wouldn’t mention or drive up in it until after the deal was done.

The price of a new one is eye-watering though.

Who2 · 08-05-2018 8:43pm

greysides wrote: »

The price of a new one is eye-watering though.

It would be eye watering sitting along the road with a cattle box and the tray a quarter mile back and you still tipping along with the front half.
To be honest I bought 1 new Jeep in my life and I picked a bad one. I have plenty of other ways to avoid tax and I couldn’t give a monkeys about what the neighbors think. I buy what works best for me and that isn’t new. The last two yolks I had I sold for more than I paid for them after a couple of years driving.

Lambman · 08-05-2018 9:30pm

Perfect underneath think 08s is ok he had it fully waxoiled underneath at a cost off €350 as he heard that problem or in them... hopefully get a few years outta it sure youd lose more than that in the first year of buying a new one

Inchilad · 09-05-2018 12:45am

Just picked up a hilux 06 on done deal.
1 owner with genuine 75k miles.lovely to drive.great yoke.hav had a pajero and a nissan(cant remwmber the model) and hilux is class of its own.

squinn2912 · 09-05-2018 9:18am

I always thought the hilux was the holy grail. Neighbours of ours have one and it's a great looking yoke anyhow and they seem to like it. Fella was with us last night pairing the bull and a few cows' feet and he has changed to a hilux but is talking about getting the old trooper fixed up and selling the hilux - he hates it for reversing and reckons the automatic gives you no power on slippery surfaces either. I was surprised.

feartuath · 09-05-2018 4:14pm

Older Hilux up to 05
2,5 engine is not the fastest or best to pull a box of cattle but you will never see the end of them.

twin_beacon · 09-05-2018 4:31pm

https://www.donedeal.ie/commercials-for-sale/trooper-3-1/18739096

Old I know, but great machine to pull. I think the 3.1L was made until around 2000, the 3L that followed gave lots of trouble.

squinn2912 · 13-05-2018 9:58pm

What about the outlander? They seem economic and not too dear to buy

Green farmer · 14-05-2018 9:34am

squinn2912 wrote: »

What about the outlander? They seem economic and not too dear to buy

Afaik, towing capacity is 2 tonne on them. Never drove one, but it’s the same old issue, anything remotely ok on diesal doesn’t have the towing capacity and vice versa. Plenty of family cars have 2Tonne capacity but would be cheaper to run, imo

farmer2018 · 14-05-2018 10:05am

I know a butcher that tows a 12 x 6 trailer full of lambs a few times a week with a Kia Sorrento and he swears by it, never gives a problem.

Lambman · 14-05-2018 11:19am

Farmer2018 I know a few farmers up here aswell that use sorentos never asked about them but they have them a wile now so must be happy enough... cheap jeep for what it getting

squinn2912 · 14-05-2018 12:13pm

What sort of weight would be on a trailer full of lambs?

farmer2018 · 14-05-2018 12:15pm

squinn2912 wrote: »

What sort of weight would be on a trailer full of lambs?

Around the 1000kg mark id say.

Bullocks · 14-05-2018 1:07pm

squinn2912 wrote: »

What sort of weight would be on a trailer full of lambs?

Decks ?
Easiest way would be to see how many lambs and multiply by their average weight

squinn2912 · 14-05-2018 2:20pm

aye I know that but I have cattle. I'm trying to work out an equivalent to see what it would pull. If a full trailer of lambs is 1.5 tonnes or thereabouts and that's the pulling power of the jeep then it wouldn't take you too far with cattle. I suppose you'd need something fit to pull 3 tonnes for it to be any good? As mentioned above, to do that you're going down on fuel economy.

db1690 · 15-05-2018 3:10pm

I have a hilux surf for more than 10 years and its been great(same chassis and engine as landcruiser) but its now needs some work so i got a dmax to kep me going while i do this, Not a refined as the toyota but a bit better on fuel.. starts well, goes well, its nice to drive and like the toyota cheap to run, just keep them serviced.Can take 1000kg in the back and tow 3000kg. Tickes a lot of boxes...

FeelTheBern · 15-05-2018 3:46pm

squinn2912 wrote: »

aye I know that but I have cattle. I'm trying to work out an equivalent to see what it would pull. If a full trailer of lambs is 1.5 tonnes or thereabouts and that's the pulling power of the jeep then it wouldn't take you too far with cattle. I suppose you'd need something fit to pull 3 tonnes for it to be any good? As mentioned above, to do that you're going down on fuel economy.

Uncle has a Sorrento for past few years. Wouldn't be the smoothest to drive but tows 12x6 full of cattle the finest. He's had no problems at all with it - good value for money.

selectamatic · 15-05-2018 5:52pm

Sorento's are great bang for buck. Great towing capacity and supposedly not too bad on diesel when not towing.

They're a bit of a lottery though with even well minded ones imploding. They've a soft-ish timing chain setup and the injection system is hit and miss too. Dear put right when they go wrong aswell.

Still at the prices they can be got at they're nearly worth the risk.

Bullocks · 16-05-2018 1:59pm

Anyone driving a 08ish Discovery?
I have half a mind to change the patrol for something crewcab and there seems to be the odd one on donedeal sub 10K .
What are the problems to expect and are they good for towing ?

selectamatic · 16-05-2018 4:05pm

Bullocks wrote: »

Anyone driving a 08ish Discovery?
I have half a mind to change the patrol for something crewcab and there seems to be the odd one on donedeal sub 10K .
What are the problems to expect and are they good for towing ?

They've quite a few problems. One to get you started is the god awful electric parking brake. Which is dear sort as are many other parts.

They look great imo and they're decent off road but they certainly can't hack it with the cruisers, old troopers and patrols, too soft and too complicated to put right.

They tow well.

Few more hoops to jump through at the tax office too over it being a crew cab depending on the county.

What is the best jeep to buy?

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