And they usually have a lot more back up options than the average awayday stalker.
Small 4x4
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countrryboy
Well-Known Member
Aye but plenty of there staff will be working on there own often a long way from other staff or an easy tow or out of phone signal.
Far more about a bit of common sense and being able to drive, i still put my van some queer bits for a 2wd and my old escort used go up spome dodgy tracks.
A cheap winch and long rope (or for heavier vans a proper 'tirfor' type) u should be able to self rescue out of many situations
It wasn't that long ao that even many farmers didn't have 4x4's, i can mind keepering with a fiesta van
Think I'm leaning towards a Rav4. I do at least 15,000 road miles a year, its not just a shooting wagon, and it'll have to last a while and I can't help thinking, rightly or wrongly, that it'll be hard to beat a Toyota. I still thinking about petrol though. The Government are really going to start persecuting diesels.
Had been thinking Grand Vitaras are absurdly cheap, what's wrong with them, but Rav4s are nearly as cheap. I was looking at the petrols which I guess is why. Seems like you get a lot of car for the money though with petrol.
Had been thinking Grand Vitaras are absurdly cheap, what's wrong with them, but Rav4s are nearly as cheap. I was looking at the petrols which I guess is why. Seems like you get a lot of car for the money though with petrol.
One here for the Terios. I had one for about three years. It was an excellent all round vehicle but they stopped importing them a few years ago. It would go anywhere and I really liked it. If you can get hold of a good s/h model it would be a good buy. I traded mine in for a Hilux as I needed a bigger truck. I think the garage sold my Terios the same day it went on the forecourt.
Check out Jeremy Clarksons test of ther Terios where he goes hunting. Quite impressive.
Check out Jeremy Clarksons test of ther Terios where he goes hunting. Quite impressive.
Think the OP had a valid point here ........
Where are we going to be with regards to Diesel engines ?
Already hearing rumours of heavy tax and city exclusions etc .....looking ahead could be a real good opportunity for a reasonable petrol 4x4 soon other than the jimmy ....cracking but too small .....
All the others too gutsy on fuel ...but if using like me as a 2nd vehicle or shoot wagon doing little miles very soon it may be cheaper to go big petrol than diesel
?
Paul
Where are we going to be with regards to Diesel engines ?
Already hearing rumours of heavy tax and city exclusions etc .....looking ahead could be a real good opportunity for a reasonable petrol 4x4 soon other than the jimmy ....cracking but too small .....
All the others too gutsy on fuel ...but if using like me as a 2nd vehicle or shoot wagon doing little miles very soon it may be cheaper to go big petrol than diesel
?Paul
Chasey
Well-Known Member
I get a real world 45mpg with my 2.2 Diesel commuting to London down the M20/25 then driving round London all day
I do about 20K a year miles so that's 445gallons costing me about £3300
The petrol will give you around 35mpg so that's £4285
Basicly another £1000 a year
BUT The truth is I bet you will get more like 30MPG so allow an extra £1500 a year
So now I wait to see what this punative Diesel tax will be?
Its got to be at least 1000 a year for it to make economic sense to switch
I lease my nice car so I don't reely care about that one, but my work / stalking car (Rav4 2.2D) is just tipping over 100K miles so Ill be interested to see what the plans are
I renew my lease car in March 2018 so it will be interesting to see what happens then. At present the 535 series BMWs performance in Diesel is within a tenth of a second on the V8 Petrol but it does an easy 40mpg against more like 25 for the petrol.
If I can justifie the tax v cost of the Petrol id much rather have the V8
Ranger22
Well-Known Member
Vast majority of FCvans are 2wd and i know plenty of cutters/harverters drivers/forestry workers that run 2wd vans and they're up rough tracks all the time
Alot of the FC vans are guarded underneath so they slide over things rather than do damage. Still wouldn't buy one of them though
Alot of the FC vans are guarded underneath so they slide over things rather than do damage. Still wouldn't buy one of them though
Haggis Hunter
Well-Known Member
So, let me get this right, by switching us all to petrol motors the Government will be making more cash out of taxes.....................oh and of course saving the planet.
So what about the diesel buses and trucks (and even trains) belching out ****? I know, lets tax trucks more heavily too!! So driving up transportation costs nicely.....
Back to the point.
We owned a Rav4 2.0 D4D diesel (2005 model) for five years and it was reliable and relatively economical - around 40mpg seems to spring to mind.
It was fine over firmish fields and reasonable hill/forestry tracks. I never had any need to properly 'off road' it so made do with road tyres mainly. With the seats down it was quite roomy in the back, in fact I think the rear seats could be taken out (never did). They can suffer from flywheel issues and some Toyota D4D engines also have cylinder head issues (I know because our 2.0 D4D Auris got a new engine under warranty at about 67k).
Would I buy another Rav4? Yep, in a minute, if I had the cash and genuine need for a 4x4.
Cheers,
hh
So what about the diesel buses and trucks (and even trains) belching out ****? I know, lets tax trucks more heavily too!! So driving up transportation costs nicely.....
Back to the point.
We owned a Rav4 2.0 D4D diesel (2005 model) for five years and it was reliable and relatively economical - around 40mpg seems to spring to mind.
It was fine over firmish fields and reasonable hill/forestry tracks. I never had any need to properly 'off road' it so made do with road tyres mainly. With the seats down it was quite roomy in the back, in fact I think the rear seats could be taken out (never did). They can suffer from flywheel issues and some Toyota D4D engines also have cylinder head issues (I know because our 2.0 D4D Auris got a new engine under warranty at about 67k).
Would I buy another Rav4? Yep, in a minute, if I had the cash and genuine need for a 4x4.
Cheers,
hh
badbob
Well-Known Member
2000 to 2005 Grand Vitaras with good tyres are excellent off road and ok on road.
you can get them for £1k to £3K
Long wheel base is more comfortable and more room.
Short wheel base excellent for driving around the woods but need to
fold rear seats down to get any room in the back.
Ive had landrovers and suzukis and actually prefer the Suzuki
all round.
you can get them for £1k to £3K
Long wheel base is more comfortable and more room.
Short wheel base excellent for driving around the woods but need to
fold rear seats down to get any room in the back.
Ive had landrovers and suzukis and actually prefer the Suzuki
all round.
THis is a useful site:
Car Reviews for Both New and Used Vehicles | RAC Drive
The Terios it seems is essentially a Toyota underneath. Quite good off-road, the best of the mini 4X4s but limited by ground clearance. It should be cheap to run and they're inexpensive S'H.
I don't know what's going to happen with diesel. All I do know is whatever I buy will have to last a few years and I'm trying to future-proof myself as best I can with little information to go on. If we're to believe the politicians we can assume that road tax on diesel cars is going to become progressively more expensive than petrol but we don't know how they're going to treat fuel duty or how widespread urban pollution taxes will be. That annual £1000 differential could easily be overturned. The things you have to think about when you haven't much money...
The Rav4 would seem to be the most economical of the bigger petrols, the Vitara the least economical. A diesel would be better if I need to tow a trailer as well. Which I will - bike trailer, nothing heavy but a consideration.
Bigboab29
Well-Known Member
just bought a 53 plate diesel rav4 long wheel base last year, so far it has been excellent, goes anywhere with the mud tyres, back seats come out altogether to practically turn it into a van. Touch wood but so far ive had no problems so far its been a great wee truck.
Haggis Hunter
Well-Known Member
I think mine had 235/60 R16 tyres fitted. No hassle finding road or M+S tyres.
hh
hh
bobjs
Well-Known Member
I have had most of the Vit's mentioned and I would stick to them, but now I have the use of 4 company vehicles I don't need to worry,
should I ever need one I would be heading back to the older vitara, the new one is a shinny thing that doe's not even look good, the older one is ok but permanent 4 wheel drive, the older one than that again is the best vitara by far, 45 plus on a run (diesel) cheap parts, good transfer box and selectable hi/low, put some good boots on it and your off. again the boot is not mahoosive but whip out the back seats and you will have more than enough room
bob.
bobjs
Well-Known Member
Coddy
Well-Known Member
Got a Jimny.
Ideal for what i need. Good offroad with mud tyres on. ***** on road with them though.
Perfect for pootling to forests and round any tracks. Rear seats removed and a genuine load liner fitted.
Holds all my gear for a day out no probs.
Gutsy on fuel for what it is though. 2wd, 4wd, 4wd Low gearbox.
Ideal for what i need. Good offroad with mud tyres on. ***** on road with them though
.Perfect for pootling to forests and round any tracks. Rear seats removed and a genuine load liner fitted.
Holds all my gear for a day out no probs.
Gutsy on fuel for what it is though. 2wd, 4wd, 4wd Low gearbox.
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Thanks for the input chaps. Maybe veering away from a micro 4X4. Looks like it'll either be a Rav4 or a Vitara. Like the idea of Toyota build quality and you do see them selling with very high mileages whereas there don't seem to be many Vitaras with more than 150000 miles on the sales sites. I always think it encouraging when high mileage cars are still fetching good money..
I'm guessing also the Jimny is a bit cramped for shooting out of? I do a fair bit of rabbit shooting, mopping up really, as none of my ground is now heavily infested and that often involves just driving round and cleaning up ones and twos out of the window. Some vehicles are a lot better for this than others. A Landrover Defender is one of my least favourites: small windows and no room at your shoulder to move and turn. The Jimny has that look about it.
I'm guessing also the Jimny is a bit cramped for shooting out of? I do a fair bit of rabbit shooting, mopping up really, as none of my ground is now heavily infested and that often involves just driving round and cleaning up ones and twos out of the window. Some vehicles are a lot better for this than others. A Landrover Defender is one of my least favourites: small windows and no room at your shoulder to move and turn. The Jimny has that look about it.
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