What 4*4
 

Having had one too many days of being unable to move my car (MX5) due to the snow, I have decided it is time to look for another car more suited to my requirements.

I'm looking for something with a decent boot (big enough to carry a few sacks of coal/horse feed/poultry feed/junk to the tip etc, with good ground clearance to get up and down the track and narrow roads round my house. I also want something that will tow a large trailer if required, and possibly a caravan, which is leading me to think of a 4*4.

I'm looking at around £7k to spend, and have seen a 55 plate Nissan X-trail 2.2dci for that. Anyone any thoughts on them? Or alternatives? Freelander? RAV4? Honda CRV? Anything else?

Re: What 4*4
 

I quite like the xtrail plenty of power and quite nice, I'd consider the crv too for honda reliability.

Re: What 4*4
 

What about a Disco or a Landrover, if you want proper 4 x 4 capability you need a proper 4 x 4, not a pretend one.. After talking to me brother I'd be inclined to stay away from a RAV4, he used to work for Toyota and said they're a pile o cack.

Re: What 4*4
 

Wouldn't they be crappy round town though? If he's made do with a hairdressermobile probably won't need a full on tank.

Re: What 4*4
 

is it worth spending 7k on a 4x4 ?, just for the sake of 1 weeks bad weather,

the extra road tax and fuel will cost more per month plus in 2 years it will probably be worth less than half what you paid?

why not just get somthing a bit more practical?

ford mondao?

Re: What 4*4
 

It's a balance between potential use and size, etc due to parking restrictions, etc. Most use will be on road. A decent estate would probably suffice, but they don't have extra ground clearance. 4*4 would be an advantage, but probably not essential as i'm unlikely to head off road any further than carts tracks etc. Both the X-trail and the Freelander are supposedly decent off road anyway, if not as good as something bigger and certainly better than the RAV4 or CRV.

Re: What 4*4
 

It's the weather that has just tipped it to be honest, it's not just that. The MX5, much as I love it, is no use for the two of us. On my own it was great, but I now find I can't get a weeks worth of food shopping in it, I ground it all the time as I drive up and down from the house and as for carrying anything else..... no hope. I'm becoming dependent on borrowing a car whenever I need one rather than using my own, and it's driving me up the wall! It will be kept for a good few years (the MX5 has been mine for 6.5 years and I hope to keep it as a toy) so depreciation isn't a huge factor.

Re: What 4*4
 

Landrover 110. If you are going to get a 4x4, then get a proper one, none of these tarted up over grown wannabies. Get the diesel one as well.

Just because it says 4x4 on it doesnt mean its any good in the snow/mud etc. If you must get a Soft roader the Xtrail is ok as well as the Rav4 or how about a Shogun. What you really want is a '74 lightweight Landrover 90 with a TVR or Overfinch conversion :)

Or if you just want a 4x4 car based htingy, then a Volvo V70 AWD or the Audi A6 Allroad? Both capable off road with a little more ground clearence than a std car?

Re: What 4*4
 

What about a Subaru Forrester or one of them volvo v70 (i think) cross country? Both are AWD and extra clearance than a standard estate

Re: What 4*4
 

have you concidered(?) just getting a bigger car?

you can get 05 ford mondeo for about ½ of what your willing to spend on a 4x4