4WD

[Pow-Lo]

well, you could accidentally sprag for a round of vintage Nismes-Delclou Armagnacs after a meal, expecting it to be a hundred quid, only to find it's 600 a pop.

Mitsi Pinin is a UK car, there are imports, the little ZR thing (link to follow) is the import and are awesome, but vety expensive. What I do know is the Pinin is made on the same Shogun production line. Mitsi officionados tell me they are built like tanks. As for off road, let's be honest, we are talking about 3" of snow 5 days a year. I live in the ruralk and hilly part if Lincolnshire, aside from the odd off road sojourn, the Rav does 99% of it's rolling on the road. Kent? come on, just pick anything at randon and it will be adequate.


Lastly, if you are serious about having a small, economical, incredibly well build 4WD, then you need one of these, a Mitsubishi Pajero ZR II, they are the dogs, import only, attract top money, and if you spend some time researching them, you can see why > http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-...zr-ii-11-manual-petrol-3-door-1995-n/87987878

Absolutely bang on.

For those five days a year, I can work from home on my iMac or MacBook Pro. That is, assuming I'm not overseas on survey when the snow hits. In the three years since I emigrated to Kent from South Wales, I've had to leave the office early three times cos of snow. On one of those occasions, I had to abandon my car three miles form home and then walk the rest of the way. I can hardly claim to need a 4x4 on that basis.

I think I'll save the money and buy Mrs Pow-Lo a MacBook instead. Or an Aston

 

[Pow-Lo]

'Kin' hell!

Check this out:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...tsubishi/page/1/quicksearch/true/radius/1500/

 

[andyBeaker]

Check this out:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...tsubishi/page/1/quicksearch/true/radius/1500/

Did you spot the 'No MOT' in the title.....:-0)

And, to be clear, no interest in going off road, just for getting in and out in snow and maybe leaving at the station car park.

 

[Pow-Lo]

Did you spot the 'No MOT' in the title.....:-0)

Duh me, missed that one.

That said, there's plenty on autotrader, similar age, mileage etc and for similar money. I was almost tempted...............:-0)

 

[fivetide]

The above isn't that daft actually. You can probably get a non-turbo Forester for buttons. Again, very very reliable and a go anywhere car.

A proper farmer's car.

5t.

 

[Smix]

Probably not really a pertinent comment as you live in the flatlands, but in the bit of the Alps I was in, you very very rarely see a Rav 4. And when you do, they aren't on a local plate.

Lots of Mitsi's, Suzuki's and Fiats. One of the favoured was a the Suzuki SX4 - well, it was one of the police cars :-0) Personally I would prefer teh Fiat Sedici (same car but seems to generally be a bit better on things like selectable 4wd)

A friend who did lots of research before buying a car to take to the Alps bought a Vitara with selectable 4wd - she loved it and didn't get stuck (she had to drive between resorts for work)

I've been told to avoid automatics but I think that is more due to the 21 hairpins to and from the resort than to do with the snow! Or maybe they just didn't know how to drive an auto??

 

[bmwdumptruck]

I read somewhere (can't remember where now though) that these modern 4x4s with their road style tyres are not much better than a 2wd is in the snow, and that you get better results having spare wheels fitted with proper winter tyres to your normal car, like a lot of europe fit every winter.

Lot less expense involved in 4 wheels from a breaker plus 4 tyres, stick them on in Jan till Mar and you'll be sorted regardless of it all. At the end of the day, if too many other cars get stuck, it don't matter what you drive if you can't get past them.

 

[mickeystitch]

well here is my two pennies worth

Used to sell 'honda cars' when CRV was launched and went on a few of them off road days with them at the time.

CRV manual was bloody brill, so much so I brought one brand neew in 1999 and kept it 7 years then sold it at 88k miles ( still regret selling it) was great in all weathers and in wet muddy feilds was great too and it locked in and out of 4wd all by its self perfectly.
Been it snow drifts and all sorts while down in france as well, would buy another tomorrow if i had the cash.

Suzuki 4x4 vitara manual had one of these which i sold to my dad and he run it for a good five years again was great in all situations.

Am now thinking of a Mitsibushi Shogun Sport 2.4d manual for the record, seems good value and write ups look good.

Range rovers are crap in soft slippy stuff and landys too exspensive.

Would not touch any auto with a barge pole let alone powlows cock uke:

 

[Smix]

My Dad REALLY rates the Nissan XTrail. He lives in hills above Buxton and uses it to get to work in Stalybridge in the winter.

 

[Wolfie]

sorry but my ?500 galaxy got me out of scotland when they had the REAL snow, and we was fully loaded, 3 adults, 3 kids plus clothes etc for a 4 day wedding trip.

35mpg on a run, 28 mpg around town, got hit up the arse in killed the bmw that hit us and suffered a broken bumper and towbar bracket. built like a feckin tank.

 

[Smix]

sorry but my ?500 galaxy got me out of scotland when they had the REAL snow, and we was fully loaded, 3 adults, 3 kids plus clothes etc for a 4 day wedding trip.

35mpg on a run, 28 mpg around town, got hit up the arse in killed the bmw that hit us and suffered a broken bumper and towbar bracket. built like a feckin tank.

I was looking for one of those for a bit - but apparently I won't get the TLs in the back -(-(-(-(

 

[Wolfie]

I was looking for one of those for a bit - but apparently I won't get the TLs in the back -(-(-(-(

Height wont, willtake a sofa though

 

[andyBeaker]

I read somewhere (can't remember where now though) that these modern 4x4s with their road style tyres are not much better than a 2wd is in the snow, and that you get better results having spare wheels fitted with proper winter tyres to your normal car, like a lot of europe fit every winter.

Lot less expense involved in 4 wheels from a breaker plus 4 tyres, stick them on in Jan till Mar and you'll be sorted regardless of it all. At the end of the day, if too many other cars get stuck, it don't matter what you drive if you can't get past them.

I totally agree - my S80 came with a spare set of brand new alloys and winter tyres - must have been ?2k worth - for winter use (car was used by the MD of Volvo UK and has every bit of kit imaginable:-0)) and I haven''t fitted them in 6 years of ownership. simply can't be arsed, particularly as the time you want the winter tyres on is exactly when you don't want to be arsing about. Hence the desire for a cheap 4WD.

All being well I am going to view a Rav 4 on Sunday - 96k miles, 16 years old, new MOT, looks nice in photos and owner says 'no faults, just a few minor marks on the bodywork'.

?795 Seems a tad on the 'too good to be true' side, but he is way out in the sticks so maybe ... you never know.

Funny thing at this end of the market - I am almost tempted to buy one of the many terrible colours these things come in:-0). If I were tempted by an L200, there is an awesome one on EBaY that has been painted in red primer - looks the absolute swingers@tu*

 

[Smix]

I totally agree - my S80 came with a spare set of brand new alloys and winter tyres - must have been ?2k worth - for winter use (car was used by the MD of Volvo UK and has every bit of kit imaginable:-0)) and I haven''t fitted them in 6 years of ownership. simply can't be arsed, particularly as the time you want the winter tyres on is exactly when you don't want to be arsing about. Hence the desire for a cheap 4WD.

How many miles do you do??

Why don't you just get the winter wheels fitted by a garage for a few quid in November and change them back in the spring?? Gotta be cheaper than buying another car??


Or do you just want another car?? :-0):-0):-0)

 

[stretchie_]

The Disco has always been awesome, pulls trucks, vans and cars out of sticky spots easily.

Only problem is you'll have to get used to repairing it

I was looking for one of those for a bit - but apparently I won't get the TLs in the back -(-(-(-(

You can get 1.5 SV650's in the back of a Discovery... Fair enough the front end was removed from the yokes forward and the bike on it's side but you didn't stipulate it had to be upright and in one piece

; )

 

[Smix]

The Disco has always been awesome, pulls trucks, vans and cars out of sticky spots easily.

Only problem is you'll have to get used to repairing it

I'd love a disco, but I know already that I can't afford the fuel - especially for the 800 odd miles back to the ski resort! :violin:

You can get 1.5 SV650's in the back of a Discovery... Fair enough the front end was removed from the yokes forward and the bike on it's side but you didn't stipulate it had to be upright and in one piece

; )

oh FFS :bang::bang::bang: LOL :k

 

[andyBeaker]

How many miles do you do??

Why don't you just get the winter wheels fitted by a garage for a few quid in November and change them back in the spring??

Fair question - but in reality the amount of really bad weather we get in this country is minimal - I don't use the Bird on more than 10 maybe 15 days a year and then only for heavy frost, ice or snow. The 4 WD is a real standby and will sit under a tarpaulin most of the time, although if I can find one with a towbar that would be pretty handy.

Also son has sold his car as he is now living in Central London, so it will be in his name with him insuring it to build up his no claims for peanuts in premium. He reckons he will get a 911 when he qualifies in a couple of years, so no claims is pretty important.8rfl@

 

[Squag1]

And then there sis the Subaru Forrester.
My brother has gone back to one - this is the third.

 

[ScottyUK]

I read somewhere (can't remember where now though) that these modern 4x4s with their road style tyres are not much better than a 2wd is in the snow, and that you get better results having spare wheels fitted with proper winter tyres to your normal car, like a lot of europe fit every winter.

Agreed. I've got a A4 quattro but it's got wide 19" wheels with summer tyres which means it's not that hot in the snow. It's great for playing but I was surprised who little traction I was getting at times.

Winters tyres take some beating but given we only drive the car about 5k a year it's not really worth the outlay.

 

[Smix]

Fair question - but in reality the amount of really bad weather we get in this country is minimal - I don't use the Bird on more than 10 maybe 15 days a year and then only for heavy frost, ice or snow. The 4 WD is a real standby and will sit under a tarpaulin most of the time, although if I can find one with a towbar that would be pretty handy.

Also son has sold his car as he is now living in Central London, so it will be in his name with him insuring it to build up his no claims for peanuts in premium. He reckons he will get a 911 when he qualifies in a couple of years, so no claims is pretty important.8rfl@

911?? Lucky chap :-0)