What Car/4x4

Shooting Supplies : Ammo - Reloading - Firearms - Optics - Accessories
243varmint said:
I'm in the same situation.
I'm running a RAV4 58plate at the moment. It was the wife's car so I had it when we got rid of my golf.
I haven't touched the trip in the three years I've had it and does 52mpg.
Goes across fields and tracks no problem. Good load space. Fitted 7 fallow in it the other week.
Toyota kindly put a new engine in it at 96,000 miles due to known head gasket issue.
It's just clocked 200,000 miles

Not sure what to get next.
Maybe another one but possibly petrol as don't want the problem of the engine on the older ones when they are over 7 years old. Toyota won't pay then 😏

I'm also considering a VW Caddy 4 motion but like hens teeth. Bigger all terrain tyres and a 20mm lift kit. I think would be an ideal stalking/shooting and daily motor.
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I've got a rav 4 and it's a great motor. But mine is the 180ho version. And it's goes well when needed but the mpg is 30-35. But goes where I need it to and it's comfy too.
 
TokaS said:
Here goes, and I'm sure I'll get lots of different answers but I still want to ask to see if anything pops up I haven't thought about yet.
I'm thinking about changing my car. My use is predominantly social. I head up to Scotland 2/3 times a month to stalk for a day or two at a time. I've also just set up a small pest control/wildlife management business and am thinking whatever I get will be used for that too although it's only low usage level at the moment.
Predominantly I need a 4x4 that will manage the forestry/farm tracks and something that is reasonably economical on the motorway drive up for a couple of hundred miles.
I was toying with the idea of going hybrid, secondhand something like the mitsubishi outlander or volvo xc60 but not sure they'll cut it really on the tracks.
I'm hoping some others have gone through this dilemma and any answers might help in one way or another.
For 4x4 pick up I'm leaning towards the Fiat Fullback/izuzu 1.9/nissan navara?
Thanks in advance...
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I agree with what @Heym SR20 said about pickups: only get one if the pick-up configuration is specifically what you need. I am a general builder and a hedge layer. I have a Ranger pick-up. It's absolutely fine and very nice to drive, but from a practical point of view it's not that useful. There is very little load space compared with a van; you can't fit any serious load-carrying roof rack on it; extracting tools from deep inside the load bay is a pain; it's heavy, not that economical and the most useful ones, which have king or supercabs, are hard to find second hand. Most will be four door because it's a tax dodge. But unless you routinely carry more than one passenger, you're sacrificing a massive amount of load space for rear seats which you hardly ever use.
Basically, a pick-up works best with no rear canopy when you need the load space for lugging around big stuff like bales of hay, fence posts etc. Sticking on a canopy won't turn it into a 4x4 van, which is the vehicle that would actually be most useful for most people.
Plus, if you're not VAT registered it can be hard to find the VAT-free used pick-up that you want.

A ladder-framed chassis SUV with a proper 4x4 transfer box, or if you can find one, a 4x4 small van like a 4x4 Berlingo are far more useful.
On the other hand, pick-ups tend to have big torquey engine which are great for towing.

I would consider a Land Cruiser, a Free Lander 2, a Shogun, or if your budget will stretch, a late 110 Defender.

If you're carrying a lot of tools or gear, a pick-up may be the only option, but try to find a supercab version which give you the maximum load space while offering a bit of space within the cab for carrying rifles, power tools you don't want to leave in the back, and the occasional extra passenger.

If it's of any interest, I am selling a VAT-free four door 2019 2.2L Ranger in County Durham.
 
Rutland lad said:
S

Skoda Octavia Scout. Big boot, tough, economical.
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Yeah I had an Octavia estate and was great. Scouts are hard to find locally. I am wondering if a volvo v60 or v90 cross country might do the job as I think I've moved away from a pick up... 👍
 
TokaS said:
Yeah I had an Octavia estate and was great. Scouts are hard to find locally. I am wondering if a volvo v60 or v90 cross country might do the job as I think I've moved away from a pick up... 👍
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I hada Volvo V50 with the 5 cylinder diesel engine. Sold it at 163,000 was still a brilliant engine/gearbox combo. I’m not such a fan of the newer 4 cylinder diesels in the Volvo.
 
Island said:
This.

Best vehicle I ever owned.

I own pick-ups now through necessity, but they are not a patch on the LC.
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I picked up a 2004 3-door Land Cruiser last year and it is proving to be a good work horse. Comfortable for long drives, can fit loads in the back with the seats folded away, and really good in mud/snow/off road. It has a locking center and rear diff. I get around 30 MPG average driving around the midlands for work.
 
Rutland lad said:
I hada Volvo V50 with the 5 cylinder diesel engine. Sold it at 163,000 was still a brilliant engine/gearbox combo. I’m not such a fan of the newer 4 cylinder diesels in the Volvo.
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You can certainly get a lot of car for your money with a V50. I'm selling my Ranger pick-up and considering getting a 4x4 car at a later date. I've looked at V50s but they don't seem to have a lot of ground clearance and they all look to have pretty big rims with low profile tyres. Are there smaller rim options so you can fit fatter AT tyres?
 
Anyone use either a v60 or V90 cross country? Seems they only have 10mm less clearance than the Xc60? Should be more economical on long distance being lower in overall height?
 
All very interesting points of view, I currently use an izusu dmax pick up, not the most economical beast, but I can fit my dog box in the rear with a red. I have yet to find the one vehicle that could be used for all purposes.
 
Kia Sorrento has a proper diff lock in the middle I do believe unlike most modern SUVs.

Honda CRV the 1.6D has fantastic economy. 2.2D better to drive, both have great reliability.
 
Finch said:
You can certainly get a lot of car for your money with a V50. I'm selling my Ranger pick-up and considering getting a 4x4 car at a later date. I've looked at V50s but they don't seem to have a lot of ground clearance and they all look to have pretty big rims with low profile tyres. Are there smaller rim options so you can fit fatter AT tyres?
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I’m unaware if there is. I think the Cross Country versions are a better bet and they are 4 wheel drive
 
If you can find one- have a look at a Touareg escape ( 2011 onwards) they come with a slight lift compared to a normal touareg, metal under body protection. Have a decent boot. Locking middle and rear differential. 3l tdi. Goes very well and being bases on the Porsche cayenne handles very well.
Will get around 28-30mpg in the Welsh hills b roads and about 38-42 on the motorway. Wife’s rav4 does only 2-3mpg better.
Had mine for 5 year. Only needed serviceable items. I’ve surprised myself where it has been on road tyres when out on some of the local farms.
Had an Octavia scout before and highly rate them.
 
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