MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Thinking about buying a car in the autumn. Personal run-about for someone who lives in the Alps and runs a ski-holiday business. And lives up a horrendous driveway.
So, a wee 4x4 would be perfect.
There's the obvious wee jeepy things (Suzuki Jimny, Vitari, etc.), but what more "normal" cars come in small/cheapish/4x4?
Got a big Landy and a minibus for business stuff.
Pandas get rave reviews
Panda
A3 Quattro
Golf 4motion
Panda is a good shout actually! Loads of them around here.
Any other suggestions? (Very) second-hand, BTW.
Panda.
Suzuki Jimny
Had the same problem. A 4x4 which doesn't look too much like a 4x4 was what we wanted. Try Suzuki sx4, any Subaru, Skoda yeti.
Daihatsu Terios?
I'd have a Panda though.
Stevo, you could get one of those megane 4x4's. They're very cheap as a bit naff but they run for ever. There is an instructor in brev who works in Val and uses it every day. Doesn't have much good to say about it but it has lasted.
Not sure if it lands in the small class, but Nissan Xtrail, its not as high as traditional 4x4's, but still has great ground clearance, handles like a car, goes really well with 140bhp in the 2.2 diesel, 0-60 less than 10 seconds, mpg around 35-40, and even has a 2WD / 4WD switch for economy 2wd on the road, 4wd on the rough stuff.
Dacia Duster.
I work round the Peak District, and after the last 2-3 hard winters there are lot more Jimnys about than there used to be.
Suzuki SX4 or it's Fiat cousin, or the Ignis I think had a 4x4 version?
If yer in the alps, then +1 for a Panda or how's about a Kangoo 4x4?
Honda HRV?
I've got an 04 Terracan up for sale. Selectable 4wd and Lo range.
Jeep Cherokee (old xj variant). They look big until you park them next to another 4x4. They're really not. But they are very cheap.
Honda HRV not small but not massive and loads about and cheap!
MrsCat has a Panda, never missed a beat in the snow in the Peaks. Only drawback is seating options and small boot. Otherwise a great little car.
My sister-in-law has the old style Panda 4x4. It seems pretty bullet proof and has the added advantage of not being all that quick. I've been in her car with her before - she needs it. :-/
Subaru Justy.