What Car/4x4

[Rob-E]

Land Rover Freelander 2.
I had one for 7 years and put 80k on the clock. Did 38mpg average and went anywhere, I took it on off roading courses through thick mud and even waded it. All with Perelli Scorpions on.

I’m now on a Discovery 4 had it a year and it’s the most comfortable car I’ve ever owned. It also apparently goes anywhere but aside from the odd track I’ve not had a chance to test it yet.

 

[Rural Management Services]

I have a Volvo XC60 D5 AWD Auto and with General Grabber AT3’s attached the thing is very decent off road. It replaced an L200 with the same rubber and I think it’s probably better off road randomly and has more ground clearance. If the mud is silly though you have to turn the traction control off as it kills the power of all 4 wheels spin. Spin stop turn the traction control off power and it just keeps going.

40 mpg and mine is a Polestar model so I think it’s 260 bhp or something like that. The thing moves that’s for sure.

Had 4 fallow does in the boot a few times this winter.

 

[PhilSN12]

For years I had an Audi A6 Allroad.
What a car, go almost anywhere and you could adjust the suspension height when off road.

 

[the scudd]

Skoda superb 4x4 estate

 

[highseat6.5]

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.

I traded my Toyota hilux for the Isuzu , it was a bit more agricultural engine wise than the hilux but slightly better on fuel which was a fair enough trade off ..However the five year all singing all dancing warranty wasn’t all singing , when it developed an air con issue on a trip down to Spain you find out the warranty is only road train and 27k three years old and your not covered abroad as Isuzu uk is different from Isuzu Spain ..£1100 later after a complete dash removal ..
Needless to say I’m back on Toyota ( Landcruiser) ..

 

[hcm1]

Another vote for the Freelander 2. Not sure who built them as they actually seem to be a fairly reliable product from land rover! We have 3 in the family and while they have had their niggles they've not let us down yet and I have been surprised where mine has gone even on standard Wrangler HP tyres. comfortable in the front, though not great in the back though, decent equipment even on the lower range models and economy is not awful at between 33 and 38 auto/manual.

 

[Cut+Squirt]

There's no getting away from how practical a pick-up is. I run a Hylux (company car) and rate it highly. Fantastic stalking and work vehicle. The only real downside is the fuel economy which is horrific, especially if running all terrain tyres. If you can suck up the economy, or lack of, a Hylux or indeed any of the pick-ups would do everything you ask with aplomb.

 

[njc110381]

Coming from someone who's owned several, don't buy a pickup unless you need to open rear bed. Fuel economy is terrible and the ride without weight in the back is generally pretty harsh. They're designed to carry a ton in the back, not a rifle and some sticks. It doesn't sound like you'll be pressing it much harder than some light ruts, so I'd go for something smaller/lighter and more car like with the long drives being the key need for more comfort. Whoever said Defender 110, Christ I nearly choked!

Under body protection is handy, and low profile tyres are bad. Besides that, see what's out there as far as reliability and fuel economy ratings and go from there. I don't know what I'd buy as I've always needed a pickup/van for work and haven't looked into it. We've had 4x4 performance Audi's as the wife's car for a good number of years (SQ5/SQ2)because they can get me to most places, but I wouldn't trust one on a well used forestry track. I always take the van if I need to do that.

 

[Free range rob]

Try and find a Skoda octavia scout, I bought one a few yr back from here, for the Mrs doing soft off reoading around the farm, light towing and general commuting to work.

With a decent set of tyres it’s an unbelievable car, it goes places I wouldn’t have believed, comfortable, massive boot, does god knows how many to the gallon on a run, it’s always in the 40-50mpg bracket regardless what she is doing and more on a run.
I quite often borrow it and give her my pickup if I’m off on a journey someplace, the ranger gets 18-25mpg depending what I’m doing, so at least double on the fuel.

I would look away from pickups unless they fit what you want perfectly, as in heavy towing and carrying on a daily basis.

I run a Ford ranger, it’s a great truck for me and what I do and I love it, but, if I wasn’t running a farm, in wet boggy fields every day, hauling livestock around, numerous shooting, towing diggers round the country and generally carrying heavy loads upto a ton at a time, I wouldn’t have one as a daily driver.

I like the Skoda so much I’m thinking about finding a newer replacement as the family car, until I got this one I wouldn’t have given them a second look.

 

[User00035]

Whatever the OP buys, if it's a 4x4 car, I'd try and buy one that's lived an urban life and hasn't been fitted with a towbar, and then fit your own if you need to tow. If you see a used car with a well worn towbar, there's no knowing what abuse it's been subjected to.

 

[slider]

I used an SUV successfully for many years but have now moved to a Mitsubishi L200, a direct "cousin" of the Fiat Fullback.
Now I am aware that Mitsubishi have withdrawn from the UK market but I don't anticipate spates and repairs being an issue as there are so many around that there will always be third party support. The same parts will fit the Fullback.

BUT I drove VW Tiguan's which were fault less befor moving to it's cousin the SEAT Ateca, which was a complete and utter crock of sh!t. I would probably use the same analogy for Mitsi Vs Fiat

 

[slider]

Ps did lots of research before plumping for the L200. Initially had my heart set on a Narvara but so many reports about NOX. Sensor issues

 

[Sniper308]

Ford ranger, every time I have looked at suvs I’m drawn to Land Rover, only to then walk away due to reliability issues

 

[User00035]

Ford ranger, every time I have looked at suvs I’m drawn to Land Rover, only to then walk away due to reliability issues

Mine's for sale:

 

[Bavarianbrit]

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.

Touareg being based on the Porsche Cayenne is wrong, they were both developed together to use common parts in Porsches Hemmingen office near Stuttgart in a jointly run project office. I spent 2000-2001 going there weekly to meetings for the instrument panel for Textron on the Cayenne that I helped to develop, then I went back in 2003 for Plastic Omnium (they make big dustbins too) on the facelifted Cayenne bumper systems when I changed projects. The Q7 and the Bentley are also related.