Cosd Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 I'm looking to buy my first 4x4 as soon as possible (like yesterday) and narrowed the list down to two, I think Looking at 2003 to 2005 on either car, diesel and auto. The Shogun would be the 3.2 Di-D and the Allroad is a 2.5 diesel. I do around 200 motorway miles a week commuting to work, and another 50 or 60 for social/pleasure. Regards off road, I'm pretty sure both will cope with driving around fields to a hide. I wouldn't want to drive on ground which is so soft that I would churn it up. I like both cars but keep switching from one to another. Can you offer any tips on anything to look out for when buying cars that age. Any mileage that I should be cautious or keep away from? Or should I steer clear of any of the two? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 With the motorway element i would pick the audi,better fuel economy too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Due to the motorway miles, I think the Audi will be a far better choice, comfortable and more luxurious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Depends on what you are ultimately going to use it for ... if you occasionally tow a caravan the Audi is far the better choice, if you intend on recovering a boat from the beach the Shogun is far better ... work out just what you intend on it's purpose will be and then consider ... to drive, the Audi is better and the retail value will hold up better, for out and out off road ability the Shogun takes it .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chr15j Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Be careful with the Audi! The auto boxes aren't good for more than 60k (as per Audi). The oil must be changed at specific intervals by audi at correct temp etc, so rarely done! Check for slow changes, fluttering, flaring etc! FSH IS ESSENTIAL AND CHECK AUTOBOX OUL DONE AT CORRECT INTERVALS CORRECTLY I would strongly recommend a manual! Also on the subject of the Audi, the self levelling suspension on all road is prone to expensive failure. Can't comment so much on shogun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweedledee Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 shogun all day long. the audi will have better mpg but i enjoy my 3.2 on the motorway.love the driving position. hardly get in my gti now lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted March 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 shogun all day long. the audi will have better mpg but i enjoy my 3.2 on the motorway.love the driving position. hardly get in my gti now lol Realistically what sort of miles per gallon are you getting, on the motorway and in town? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted March 23, 2012 Report Share Posted March 23, 2012 Have you considered a Subaru forester or legacy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted March 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Have you considered a Subaru forester or legacy? To be honest I don't like the way they look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n11tht Posted March 24, 2012 Report Share Posted March 24, 2012 Have you considered a Subaru forester or legacy? don't get one Subaru rave about their boxer engine but its the most gutless thing in the world. The forester is very good off road though. I used to sell for Subaru and got to take the new forester diesel on an off road course and it never faltered. Have you considered an x-trail? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 I would go for the shogun, big comfy motor. If you go for the higher spec ones the have lots of gadgets and nicer inside than the audis or BMWs of similar age. For their size they go pretty well with plenty of power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollydip Posted March 26, 2012 Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 Had a shogun a 1999 one loved it reasonable on juice comfy get plenty of gear in the back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted March 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2012 I know it's a little different to the other two, but I started looking at the Rav4 as well today. I'm struggling a little with the other two as it seems my budget only goes to high mileage cars. What sort of mileage is acceptible for a 2003/4/ car on any of these that I'm looking at? Sorry, just don't like the interior on the X-Trail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chr15j Posted March 27, 2012 Report Share Posted March 27, 2012 What about a freelander td4, just picked up a nice one! Good in m way and suits my shooting needs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted March 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 What about a freelander td4, just picked up a nice one! Good in m way and suits my shooting needs I Had a look at these, and the face lift model looks really good. I've found an auto on a 2005 plate in diesel, it has 116k miles on the clock with history; Should I worry about the mileage? I know earlier models of the Freelander had issues, but the reviews on the TD4 seem pretty good, does anyone have any experience in these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 What sort of budget? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted March 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 What sort of budget? £5k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 simply the freelander does give better economy but there are all sorts of gearbox and drive issues with them, I'd steer well clear if its an everyday motor. The X trail is probably your best bet in that size of 4x4, ask beardo if you can try his would be my best advice. The shogun you're looking at is fine but I'm guessing heavy on road tax and not too great on fuel, the audi I know nothing about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 Might struggle on a LWB Rav D4D on that my old mans is SWB 03 and was 7k with 80k on it wasn't the cheapest but full history good nick and was being sold by the garage he uses for servicing and they got when previous owner died (had maintained it since 12 months old) Really nice motors watch out for shopping trolley syndrome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chr15j Posted March 29, 2012 Report Share Posted March 29, 2012 (edited) Def go for td4 model on freelander! Auto box seems ok spoke to 4x4 LR specialist who said so long as smooth changes with no hesitation it should be ok. Service history helpful but NO guarantee against diff issues as they do eventually fail. Mine had the front and rear diffs done by last owner so I don't need to worry about that (2k job by dealer) To see if diffs shot look for excessive wear on outer edges of tyres and do a full lock turn, if makes horrible scrabbling sound think twice! Also look out for examples with 4 new tyres as they're just masking the tell tale signs the diffs are shot! Be patient when looking but move fast in one with new diffs, presuming nothing else wrong! If you have choice between new diffs and service history, take the one with new diffs (so long as rest if it seems ok) Happy hippo hunting! Edited March 29, 2012 by Chr15j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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