Cheap 4x4

Peter Eaton

Well-Known Member
I am looking at buying a cheap 4x4 as I use my normal car for stalking at present and it stops me going shooting as I refuse to take it down the farm lanes this time of years as covered in mud. So I have been looking at a 4x4 but no more than £2000, even thats stratching it really. It doesnt need to be a big vehicle, just for 2 people to use and to get a couple of Roe or Sika in the back. Any recommendations on what to get and what to look for as in faults with the make you reccomend. It wont be driven huge distances nor will it get alot of miles on the clock as such. So far have been told Jimny or Sportrak.

Many thanks

Pete
 
Both of them will be fine, bit tight on space perhaps by the time deer, dogs rifles, people are loaded........also could consider an old pick up, if its not going to get high mileage, looks aren't imperative there are plenty of old hilux's out there that'd be fine, just make sure it's a four wheel drive one!
 
I had a sportrak for 8 years on a h reg,it was horrible to drive,a real bone shaker,terrible on fuel but most reliable vehicle I ever had and brilliant off road,the roof comes off in 2 mins undoing several bolts,benchrest lamping off the top,the injection model should be better on fuel
 
I'd be surprised if you get a Jimney for under 2K.

Look at the older Disco's 300Tdi's.....

Before everyone say's 300Tdi's are S**t, stay away from Land Rover etc.... a 2K motor, is a 2K motor, you ain't going to get a cracker in any 4x4 at that price, but look around, there are some good bargains to be had.

It took me 4 months to eventually get what I have got an L200, I got it for a very good price and those who have seen or been in it, can't believe I got as much car for the money.

TJ
 
I've had most 4x4's - the current one is a Rav 4 - which is OK. Its very comfortable and easy to drive, wife likes it (at least it gets to the top of the road in a foot of snow) and takes all my gear. The downsides - heavy on the juice and difficult and expensive to fix. But for eight hundred quid? You can find them very cheap for the same reasons.

I will say (notwithstanding TJ's imploring above!) - stay away from Landrover - unless you really like dirty fingernails. I've had four - a slow learner...........

Suzuki's (at least the two I've had) are good - economical, easy to fix an dwill go anywhere. But yes expensive to buy and a bit "basic" to drive.
 
I have had a Suzuki jimny for 5 years and am happy with it, you will find an older MK1 version for that money. They are fast enough to loose your licence :) and fuel is not too bad
 
As far as off roading is concerned there is only one at the top - Defender. I got fed up with the lack of heat in the winter, not too comfortable ride and traded my TD5 in for a Hilux. Third time out with this "go anywhere vehicle" and it got well and truely stuck in ground that the defender would have walked through. You will not get much of a defender for 2K so for muddy farm tracks without the odd pot hole that may just bottom out a good few supposed off roaders I'd go for a sportrax, pajero or even a Vitara. A mate just bought a very good Vitara for 1K. All capable on the muddy farm track with the RIGHT tyres and have far more room than a jimny. If ground clearance is not a problem and you are not doing a high mileage (the old ones are petrol and drink it) the Subaru Forester is well worth a look.
 
try gumtree, just refine your searh to £2k and 4x4. At that price , you really have to see whats available and take your chances? If it's just farm tracks, farm fields, most 4x4s will do. Get decent tyres, if low mileage, then some cheaper remould off roads might do the trick to keep down the budget.

Subaru Forresters are always a good buy as are Honda CRVs and off course Suzuki, although everyone wants them!

Maybe consider a van with a sump gaurd or bigger wheels, Kangoo [4x4]?
 
I'd be surprised if you get a Jimney for under 2K.

Look at the older Disco's 300Tdi's.....

Before everyone say's 300Tdi's are S**t, stay away from Land Rover etc.... a 2K motor, is a 2K motor, you ain't going to get a cracker in any 4x4 at that price, but look around, there are some good bargains to be had.

It took me 4 months to eventually get what I have got an L200, I got it for a very good price and those who have seen or been in it, can't believe I got as much car for the money.

TJ

=1 on that.
 
If its just for farm tracks why not get a small van? You can pick them up cheap!

I've often thought that for most of us something like a Renault Kangoo or Peugeot Partner or such with steel wheels and remould M&S tyres would be all we need - cheap, light, good on fuel and very cheap to run. Don't really see it being at a significant disadvantage in sticky stuff?
 
I've often thought that for most of us something like a Renault Kangoo or Peugeot Partner or such with steel wheels and remould M&S tyres would be all we need - cheap, light, good on fuel and very cheap to run. Don't really see it being at a significant disadvantage in sticky stuff?

+1 for the Kangoo - with a decent set of Snow and mud tyres the 2 wheel drive will go most places, and you are not into silly big 4x4 Road tax / insurance etc. I have a Petrol / Automatic that we inherited and no probs at all up farm tracks / across grass / stubble fields etc. It doesn't have the ground clearance of a Land Rover, nor will it go up and down river banks etc that a Land Rover will do, but I don't need that. If its wet enough that I risk bogging down, then its too wet to take any sort of 4x4 vehicle onto the fields, so its down to foot, or quad bike / argo cat or other low pressure vehicle.
 
I've often thought that for most of us something like a Renault Kangoo or Peugeot Partner or such with steel wheels and remould M&S tyres would be all we need - cheap, light, good on fuel and very cheap to run. Don't really see it being at a significant disadvantage in sticky stuff?

When working for FC, we used vans for years. Maestro!!! Amazing some of the places they will go!

If you can lift them with bigger wheels, all the better.

When I was contracting, I used an Escort van as well as a 4x4, as most forestry roads are in pretty good nick and it's a hell a lot cheaper than running a 4x4.
If you are shooting smaller deer then an Estate car [plenty 4x4 and AWD versions out there] and a decent carcass tray or trailer.
 
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