4x4's

Originally Posted by dirtydog

It depends whether you want a 4x4 to do some proper off roading or just incased you get stuck on a muddy path again and of course what your budget is?

If it's the just the occasional muddy path then i'd be tempted to go for a Volvo xc70 cross country as it has awd and more ground clearance than a standard car

I quite fancy doing some proper off roading, budget wise it would depend on the car I don't fancy anything newish though, insurance is something with me as well though as being 18 its not exactly cheap

[CheGuevara]

I'm very happy with my Hilux Surf 3.0 TD. Paid £1800 for it last January with 125,000Kms (Japanese import). Clean, quiet and comfortable (road-oriented tires) on the motorway, plenty capable in the snow and mud. Bullet-proof reliable, as would be expected from a Toyota.

[CheGuevara]

Originally Posted by BanditPat

I quite fancy doing some proper off roading, budget wise it would depend on the car I don't fancy anything newish though, insurance is something with me as well though as being 18 its not exactly cheap

My wife is 24 with a clean driving record, and we couldn't find anyone that would insure her on the Surf until she was 25.

Originally Posted by CheGuevara

My wife is 24 with a clean driving record, and we couldn't find anyone that would insure her on the Surf until she was 25.

I think that I would probably go for the 2.4L rather than the bigger one, insurance should be a bit kinder. There wasnt many companys that would insure me on the car I have now and there was only one that would do it for less than three grand.

[CheGuevara]

Originally Posted by BanditPat

I think that I would probably go for the 2.4L rather than the bigger one, insurance should be a bit kinder. There wasnt many companys that would insure me on the car I have now and there was only one that would do it for less than three grand.

Mind the 2.4s - I think they have a rep for heads warping or cracking due to poor cooling. I think you can get an upgraded head as a permanent fix. There will be plenty on the subject at hiluxsurf.co.uk.

[Gazza77]

Originally Posted by BanditPat

I quite fancy doing some proper off roading, budget wise it would depend on the car I don't fancy anything newish though, insurance is something with me as well though as being 18 its not exactly cheap

Suzuki Jimny or Vitara? Might seem a bit girlie, but cheap to buy & run, fairly capable off road plenty of bits available to mod them should so you desire.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by CheGuevara

I'm very happy with my Hilux Surf 3.0 TD. Paid £1800 for it last January with 125,000Kms (Japanese import). Clean, quiet and comfortable (road-oriented tires) on the motorway, plenty capable in the snow and mud. Bullet-proof reliable, as would be expected from a Toyota.

My Dad has had a Jap import 1994 3.0 TD manual for the last 6 years - its now done 220,000 kms and everywhere it goes it tows his huge box trailer - its been faultlessly reliable too - and its an SSR-V which means it has all round electrics and A/C too I cant wait for him to finish with it so I can buy it off him!

Originally Posted by CheGuevara

Mind the 2.4s - I think they have a rep for heads warping or cracking due to poor cooling. I think you can get an upgraded head as a permanent fix. There will be plenty on the subject at hiluxsurf.co.uk.

Yup and 99.9% will be automatic too - not heard anyone say a good thing about the 2.4 engine. My friends Estima people carrier went through two heads in the 18 months he owned it!

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Skip

My friends Estima people carrier went through two heads in the 18 months he owned it!

They are very well known for doing that.

ohh your 18 well you wont get insured on a 4x4 under 25 when you actuly phone them up they will tell you ,you are to young :/ my cusin tried to get in sured on a 2litre rav4 (why i sugested it) and he is 19 nearly 20 you can try but i dont think your going to get any one that will

Absolutely cheapest and suprisingly good "proper off road" - a Lada Niva - don't laugh, far more capable off road than most school run chelsea tractors and costs no more than a few tanks of fuel. But don't try to use it as day to day road transport - any attempt at speeds higher than 40 will result in loosing all your fillings, much of the body work, and the appearance of a tubby scotsman appearing in the back yelling "she cannae take any more cap'n".

If you're looking for a regular car that has 4wd for the occasional muddy lane then an old quattro can be had for less than a grand. Use it till it breaks, but when it does break it'll be monstrously expensive to fix so it's scrap the moment that happens. Insurance may be on the high side at 18 tho.