Forum menu
If I were going down that route I think I would get an old V8 Range Rover with LPG conversion. Probably a very old one at that 😉
I would kinda agree with a lot of these comments on running costs. I am finding that the tyres on my - admittedly small and not really offroady Mitsubishi Outlander - are lasting about 20k and are £160 a corner for not particularly flash ones.
For proper rufty tufty stuff I would probably go with a Patrol/Landcruiser and an oldish one. For what I do I am probably going to go back to pickups one day... when I have moved somewhere I can actually park one... as they are pretty much designed for the job I do and the terrain I cross!
Though I am waiting to see what the Defender replacement is going to be like too!
hughjayteens - Member
I once asked a vaguely similar question on here before quickly realising it was the wrong place to ask about such things!
Once you have been around here for a bit you will Susan out who the real "experts" may be!! 😉
I read, digest and make my own mind up as should others....
So much jealousy and hatred on this thread, and the OP isn't even buying a new one! If you want one go for it,hope you find something good. My only advice is be prepared for big bills on older expensive cars.
As a non car driver and having to share narrow rural roads with 4x4 the majority of which are driven by people who will not move on to the grass verge in case they get mud on there car and therefore will never need it off road, then all I can say to you is NOB HEAD.........But then I am biased!!
PS also my ice tyres will probably work better on ice than a 4x4.
The concept of buying a big ole 4x4 isnt flawed
Its the bmw aspect that is , they were not much cope as a 4x4- its funny watching them round here in snow
Tbf could be changed by swapping tires
Our golf died last week . Want to replace it with a discovery ( yes i know this is probably a crazy move) but not right now as snow tax is silly !
Trying to wait till spring
if you like the X5 but one, get teh 4.4 big engine model cos they are cheap second hand becuase everyone is scared of petrol prices
then get a lpg conversion put on it - then you will be aking money being paid 45ppm
also look at doing something similar with a large petrol engined Jeep like the 4.7 hemi in the grand cherokee
If I could get my license back and realy did want a vehicle I would have one of these
http://www.polaris.com/en-us/ranger-utv/utility-vehicle/ranger-xp-900-sage-green/build
With windows and doors but robbing b**tards charge 14,000 grand in UK
or better still if you can take the rear seats out
http://www.polaris.com/en-us/ranger-utv/6-seater/ranger-crew-diesel/features Again doors and windows.
Easier than pulling a trailer full of wood on my bicycle
no tree would be safe from me!!
Yep looks ideal to leave on the drive all year round :/
They are good fun though !
So much jealousy and hatred on this thread, and the OP isn't even buying a new one!
And some common sense too.
Oil prices will continue to rise, any fall will be offset by the increase in Tax on emissions and fuel (both the same really)
A cheap 4x4 with a massive engine may have low lifetime wear/tear/purchase cost but by the time you have filled up for the second time in a week it's going to get painful. What happens when fuel is heading towards 2quid/l
Most of the fashion 4x4's have stupid tyres that will leave you stranded in a wet car park. Fit anything decent and add a 3rd trip to the petrol station per week.
[i]As a non car driver and having to share narrow rural roads with 4x4 the majority of which are driven by people who will not move on to the grass verge in case they get mud on there car and therefore will never need it off road, then all I can say to you is NOB HEAD.........But then I am biased!![/i]
Jesus, have you any idea how you come across.
Get a decent newish Forester 2.5T . Brilliant off road and on. Bit of a street sleeper . It may even come with a diff lock. They are reliable not as thirsty as any mentioned above and above all loads of fun!
Subaru Forester.
Why buy the ultimate Joy machine (marketing) and feed national Socialism (joke)
Isn't it interesting - we're all mtb'ers but there's some pretty divided views here!
The debate has made me have a bit of a rethink though.....
😀
I've got a 2001 Nissan Patrol. It's only 3 litres, but with a turbo and ic. Can't remember what torque it develops now, I did research it when I bought but have forgotten since. Sometimes I live in the country, it can wade a fairly deep puddle, I've never been stuck in mud or snow, it's an AWESOME tow car, it's massive - I wanted something that would outweigh my caravan by a significant margin - as someone wrote on here the other week, it's so big it has its own gravity. It does between 5 and 6.5 miles to a litre depending on how I'm driving/if I'm towing or not. It's gorgeously comfy - you can drive all day and get out the other end fresh as a daisy, hardly any wind or road noise in the cabin.
HTH
Well my CR-V performed admirably today running around Gisburn forest on the fire roads, coped well with the sheet ice and mud (which it is now covered in), two wheel barrows in the back plus tools, wouldn't have wanted to do that in our VW Touran, even with the all season tyres fitted (the CR-V has much better ground clearance for a start).
All season tyres on the Touran have made a huge difference in the snow and slush the last couple of days though, stuff it normally would have been stuck dead in, it sailed up. I've noticed a slight drop in fuel consumption but nothing to worry about.
Get a subaru, nice weather proof 4X4 abilities, loads of bike space, and not a BMW so it doesn't automatically keep trying to drive in the middle of the road and the indicators work...
Seriously, an x5?
Just spend your cash on a knob enlargement op.
I'd get a big fast estate like an RS6 over a big 4x4.
Why not get yerself a nice land rover defender for a fun 4x4 experience and with the change get a 3 series touring
Unkle' everyone lets Foresters pull out of junctions too..
Porsche Panamera 4 or 4S? Sporty 4wd saloon... Sweet!
'Porsche Panamera 4 or 4S?'
For £10K?
I seriously wonder if all the nobs who spout the company line about willy waving and penis extensions actually have really small nobs and are secretly harbouring penis envy themselves.
If you want one, get one - just don't ask the opinion of the faux hippies and yoghurt knitters on here. You might as well ask a fox if you should buy a foxhound and a horse.
Anyway, back in the world of sensible answers - (not discarding your desire for an X5), have you considered a V6 tdi VW Touareg?
Otherwise known as the reverse-tardis
'Porsche Panamera 4 or 4S?'For £10K?
Ah, reading comprehension fail. Maybe if it was written off?
I'd ignor most of the post and just make sure you know what's in store running cost wise
And if you still want it. Get it
yoghurt knitters
😆
Loving my murano v6, pick one up from a nissan dealer with a cared 4 warranty. Will give you the big engine, 4x4 you are after but with a good warranty. The lack of the prestige badge makes them v good value. We use ours to tow and it will pull a small village!
Quite nice looking as well.
If your looking for something for actual off roading, remember that dif locks and sealed axels with breather pipes may come into there own. With out dif lock you can end up in real trouble if even 1 wheel starts to spin.
If its more for the fact you like the big cars a 4x4 then go for it with the kind of age and price your looking at if you run it for a year and decide its not your thing or it is costing to much you wont loose much when it comes to selling it.
but as has been said look into the foresters/allroads/volvo xc's if its just for road use.
I'd have the latest shape X5 if I could afford one. Early one looks a bit dated now.
Re: the 4.4 engine though...nah, not for me.
I'd be scared to start it up, using so much fuel.
15-20mpg on loads of reviews online of the 4.4 x5
Would sir be looking for some means of bike carriage too?
[URL= http://i.imgur.com/pmicf.jp g" target="_blank">
It's gorgeously comfy - you can drive all day and get out the other end fresh as a daisy, hardly any wind or road noise in the cabin.
They must make them differently for the UK market, because pretty much every GU Patrol I've driven out here in OZ (and there have been many) have made a Defender appear refined and sporty
Why not get yerself a nice land rover defender for a fun 4x4 experience and with the change get a 3 series touring
How about like this one:
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
Hate to break it to you ^ but that's a range rover not a defender.
*pedant* Its actually a Bobtail Range Rover.
*pedant* Its actually a Bobtail Range Rover.
What does it want to be when it grows up?
*pedant* Its actually a Bobtail Range Rover.What does it want to be when it grows up?
A skoda estate
5 old range rovers, one to drive and 4 to keep it driving
Newshape Ford Mondeo TDCI estate
Well in a different league i looked at a cheap old frontera diesel today to replace our golf
Drove very car like for a 4x4 and 2.2 dti engine was strong and pulling well
Theres just something i cant put my finger on about it that puts me off.
Was the best thing i saw though at under 2k - wish id gone to see te 1.8 d 205 from 1995 - reckon it was probably te best car sub 2k ( 500 quid with 75k on clock) Just too far to see today.
[img] 
[/img]
I haven't been in a Defender for over 40 years so can't comment. I regard my Patrol as a luxury car, very comfortable, nice to drive, smooooth over bumps - maybe you Aussies need to man up a bit? 😆
*is making a joke*
40 year old defender . Defender was launched in 1991 iirc
40 year ago was a leafer series