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Small 4x4. 3 door probably. Petrol or diesel?


RockySpears
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I looked in motoring and it was mostly problems, not wanted, and the Wanted section of Trading Post looks to be for guns/accessories.  If I am wrong please move the post.

After much deliberation (and waiting for a house sale) I have decide to get a little 4x4  for my days along farm tracks and trails, not a motorbike.  The wife is happy to sit beside me on shoot trips, but not behind me.

So what is a reasonable, small, 4x4?  I am not looking to spend a fortune, and for me that is not more than £3,000.  Never paid much more than that for family cars, so not about to start now.

  This means I am looking at early 2000's or late 1990s in all honesty, I know that.  But should I look at a Shogun Pinin, 3 door or a Jimmy?  X-trail or Trooper?  Not going to stretch to an L200, but they are probably too big anyway.  Maybe at this price I should just look for best condition/lowest mileage and something that can take e10 petrol or else diesel.  I do want the bells and whistles as I like air-con and gadgets, but really need it to do 100 mile on road and then 2-3 miles along tracks and back, not off-road stuff, just tracks around fields.

 Any particular favourites, let me know, anything constructive to think about, drop a line.

Thank you,

RS

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Dacia Duster.....  I have two friends who have them and they seem to be able to go most places I do with my Landy. Tidy looking little motor and I think they have sorted most problems since the very first models which I actually did an article on for a magazine.  Heh! it worked whilst I had it but was very basic.  the new up to date models look tidy.

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Wow, 7 suggestions already.

19 hours ago, Gordon R said:

(only downside was 8k oil changes)

Is that recommended or just your own experience?  That is probably my yearly mileage so no beef with that

Honda CRV had never even crossed my mind (see a load of RAV 4's), not seen any in my searches, reliable like most Hondas I guess.

Yeti - all the ones on AutoTrader are 150,000 miles plus in my price bracket, but I will keep in in mind whilst looking.

There are a couple of Dusters kicking around my PSG club, should ask their opinion too.

Thanks,

RS

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That is Suzuki's recommended oil change figure. We stuck to it, even though the oil would have been good for 20k. The most reliable motor we ever had - we are on 114 at the moment. Got it when it had 5k on it and part ex'd when it had 65k. Got a very respectable trade in. After the deal was done - Evans Halshaw lad said it was the cleanest car he had ever valued. £15 mini valet at local car wash. Used them for last 4 pre trade in clean ups.

We were going down to one car and got rid of my gas guzzler and wife's SX4. We both regret getting rid of her's - should have run it into the ground. Nippy, economical and very comfortable. Not up there with our Discovery, but better than most.

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I had years ago the (old style) Fiat Panda 4x4. It looked like it was made from surplus red shortbread tin metal. That said it never let me down even, once, enabling me to avoid a horrendous queue of traffic on the A5 in Warwickshire by taking a short cut through an open gate on a farmer's field of stubble and exiting some six acres length past the queue. And of it ever did get stuck (which it never did) I'd say two strong blokes cpuld have likely lifted it up and carried it out. So if you see a sound and working one cheap with no issues I'd consider it.

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15 hours ago, enfieldspares said:

So if you see a sound and working one cheap with no issues I'd consider it.

It's 2021! The Gen 1 Fiat Panda 4x4  is now quite a rare beast in the UK and something of a collector's vehicle, it will not be cheap!  According to Wiki the Panda was discontinued in the UK in 1995, so the youngest one will now be 26 years old.  Even by 90s standards, it was basic.  Forget the OP's desired aircon, the heater working will be a win.

But yes its lightness and short wheelbase made it a great little thing, though you'd struggle to find decent tyres for it.  Was standard issue for the Swiss Post Office for a long time, as it could get up mountain tracks in all but the most awful weather.

Back on Topic, I'd politely suggest your budget needs to increase.  Second hand vehicles are going up in price, supply/demand and all that.

Keep in mind that on a vehicle that age, if you want aircon, budget at the very least for a regassing.  Try and find an aircon specialist who will check for leaks with nitrogen rather than just pulling a vacuum.  You  will likely find somewhere on the system leaks.

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27 minutes ago, udderlyoffroad said:

Back on Topic, I'd politely suggest your budget needs to increase.  Second hand vehicles are going up in price, supply/demand and all that.

The prices at the 'cheaper' end of the 4 x 4 market have gone up shockingly in the past couple of years.
2003 Jimnys at £5 K 

2005 Xtrails at £2.5 - 3 K 

High mileage 16 year old Rav 4 s for £3 K

Even the old shape Freelanders that used to make £500 have now tripled in price (with optional propshaft !)

Consider also the high road tax cost on some of them , my diesel X trail is £350 a year, a petrol one is £585
I also have a nice low mileage 03 HRV 1.6 petrol (for sale 😏) , but thats still £350 a year !

 

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I have had a 3 door Grand Vitara and it was excellent and I regret selling it. Was reasonably good on road and really good off road. This was a fairly new model used both as a best car and for shooting.

The car I currently use primarily for shooting is a 22 year 3 door RAV4 that has served me well for 5 years, passing the MOT every time with no advisories. It`s brilliant off road and I can fully recommend them as a shoot vehicle. The back seats are permanently folded forwards (not bothered to remove them permanently) giving sufficient room for all my shooting gear.

It currently has 121K on the clock which means it will need the timing belt replaced according to the book at 126K. Knowing that this would be an expensive job, I started looking around for a cheap replacement car. I was looking around the same budget at the OP. There are RAV4 available at that price but I then came to the conclusion that it`s worth me spending say £400-£500 on my car even though the car is only worth that amount and knowing that it`ll do me for a few more years than spending £3000 on a car that could be trouble in the future. My maxim being `more the devil you know` etc. However, for someone that knows more about cars than me and knows what to look for, a 3 door RAV4 would certainly fit the bill as would a 3 door Suzuki Grand Vitara. 

OB

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On 19/09/2021 at 20:17, London Best said:

Why do you say not the diesel, apart from the fact hat you have two petrols? Interested.

Sorry I've just seen this. I bought my 2.4 five door from the local garage, when I asked about a diesel model they said they have never sold one and never would-its a french engine (can't remember the manufacturer) and not too reliable. My son is mechanic and mot tester at the garage and I have dealt with them for many years, the owner is a dead straight bloke. I have had zero issues or problems with my cars. I bought the 3 door privately as it was cheap and I thought i could make a bit of money on it. Problem is I like it too much to sell it right now.

I paid £2100 for the 3 door 1.6, 2007 with 82k miles. very nice condition.

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On 20/09/2021 at 15:01, Rewulf said:

The prices at the 'cheaper' end of the 4 x 4 market have gone up shockingly in the past couple of years.
2003 Jimnys at £5 K 

2005 Xtrails at £2.5 - 3 K 

High mileage 16 year old Rav 4 s for £3 K

Even the old shape Freelanders that used to make £500 have now tripled in price (with optional propshaft !)

Consider also the high road tax cost on some of them , my diesel X trail is £350 a year, a petrol one is £585
I also have a nice low mileage 03 HRV 1.6 petrol (for sale 😏) , but thats still £350 a year !

 

Hello, what's the deal on the HRV ?

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