Car Conundrum???

[rab19]

Hi All,

In a bit of a bind here as it’s time for a new car.

SWMBO doesn’t really fancy a Landrover 110 and a compromise has been struck, so now looking for a 4 door, mid size SUV 4 wheel drive and also Petrol (Yes.... I know) Diesel is a no go.
But do they really work? Tried reading the reviews and now have too much info and too much choice.

Not looking to do any deep forest extraction or going up Ben Hooey to pick up Red Stags. Just something that is capable of track work, the occasional (gentle) hill and field work, so clearance would be important.

Have £5000 to spend and have looked at the Honda CRV’s, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Sorento and various others in this sort of range.
Top tips and recommendations would be greatly appreciated as I don’t fancy having to be recovered from the first soft verge or get dragged out of a stubble field.

Thanks.

 

[TomT3]

Suzuki Grand Vitara or jimny? Great little motors

 

[User00003]

Jeep cherokee

 

[Dunwaters]

I think you will seriously reduce your choices if you exclude diesel, particularly in your price range.

 

[Adam204]

Subaru Forester?

 

[Warren79]

If your going petrol don't forget the tanker to follow you!

 

[LuckyEddie]

Dacia Duster?

 

[Rob-E]

I’ve seen CRVs fail to get up hills in medium snow, where other AWD have been able to, could’ve been the driver. Do RAV4 come in Petrol? Vitaras are capable, or and old Range Rover but they’re thirsty.

 

[caorach]

In the end the only thing that gives you grip is the tyres, nothing else touches the ground unless you are very unlucky. So, first thing to consider is if the wheel size will allow for a reasonable AT type tyre - I really rated the Yoko Geolanders I had and they are great on road and don't really look much different to a road tyre so you don't need to go for something that leaves you looking like a complete plonker

After that the choices are pretty limited as I've been around the loop. I did have an older shape X-Trail which I loved and thought was perfect as a general purpose "do everything" vehicle but they haven't made them for quite a while now plus I don't know that there was a petrol. I've now gone to a pickup just because I was looking for the same vehicle as you (except I'd have a diesel) but couldn't find it. I would think that you are probably pretty much confining yourself to Subarus with your requirements and they get a good reputation but dealers are very scarce indeed in the places I spend time plus they seem expensive to run and hard of fuel.

 

[bobjs]

LWB Rav 4. Petrol,
Dont go suzuki thirsty and foookin expensive on parts, eg: 250 for a front break calliper and £2500 for a new dpf filter,

And i was a suzuki fan until the last one shafted me right up the bottom,

Bob.

 

[bogtrotter]

The CRV is very much underrated a decent set of all terrain tyres and a modest suspension lift and they will tackle
most situations ,reliable ,parts are not to expensive and mpg is not bad for a 4x4 even the petrol version will return
an average of 30mpg .

 

[Whitester]

Go Suzuki vitara, mine is bomb proof. It’s 15 years old and spent £500 in the last four years, that was mainly tyres and breaks. I hardly service it and just keep an eye on the fluids. I use it regularly for lamping and do about 18,000 miles a year getting to work and back. It’s a 2 litre petrol . You really can’t go wrong .

 

[liongeorge]

Subaru Forester. Handle better than the rest and are awesome off road class beating ground clearance. Your 5k will get a nice petrol one. Forget the Kia and Hyundai. Honda reliable but bland.

 

[riflerob]

Subaru Forester.

At your budget you'll probably find a 2011 / 2012 car with 80-100k miles and a good service history. They'll do 30mpg running around, more like 35 on a longer trip.

I use mine around the shoot a fair bit, manages across the fields with 250kg of feed in the back

 

[Tikka595]

Agree with the guys above Subaru Forester....

 

[Freeforester]

A well-shod Suzy Grand Vitara or a similarly well-shod Forester or Outback ( the latter being comfiest of the three, built on same floorpan as the Forester, but far better comfort on a longer ride, and can do the same tasks as Rob says above)

 

[rwade545]

Mrs had a 2008 2.0 vvti rav4 with BFG urban terrain ( more road based but still quite chunky). Got about 30mpg and went great in snow and around farm few times I took it. Only sold it as she is doing big miles so wanted a newer diesel rav 4.

 

[devon deer stalker]

I had a Jeep Cherokee but it was diesel, I would hate to think what a petrol model would be to run, but my Jeep never got stuck with BF Goodrich AT's, just watch out for the rear diff. It was a good family car.
But mu choice would be either the Suzuki or a Subaru.
My mate took his Suzuki to some crazy off road places I would never have ventured, and always made it out!
Cheers
Richard

 

[slider]

Dacia Duster - great little 4x4 (assuming they do a 4x4 petrol!)

 

[deerly departed]

I’ve seen CRVs fail to get up hills in medium snow, where other AWD have been able to, could’ve been the driver. Do RAV4 come in Petrol? Vitaras are capable, or and old Range Rover but they’re thirsty.

Most SUVs etc are recognised as chelsea tractors and the rubbers fitted are car tyres with a tarmac rating of 80% & 20% something not grassy or muddy.

If its going off road changing tyres to a group 4 will make a huge difference. Group 6 if its going to see more field than metalised....

I had an X-Trail petrol Auto and it was ****.....

Until I changed the crappy group 1 rated road tyres.

I switched to Yokohama Geolander hybrid and the offroad performance changed totally.

Tyres make a huge difference.