Recommend me a 4x4

[Fisheruk]

On 02/01/2025 at 20:02, mellors said:

16/66 plate dmax 2.5 .

Plenty low milage for your budget. 👍

Pre 1900cc model. 

 

I second the D-max, I’ve had both the 2.5 and the 1.9, frankly as far as grunt is concerned I’ve found no difference between them. I’m off road in mud and ruts every week. In low ratio it will grind through most things and they drive pretty well on the road/motorway. I usually purchase a demonstrator and change at 90000, that said my current one is a Blade with factory raised suspension, I’m reluctant to part with it and it is now approaching 115000. The 1.9 is far more economical on fuel than the 2.5. Mine have all been autos.

[twelsh]

On 02/01/2025 at 19:16, Weihrauch17 said:

Subaru Forester, I have had mine for 4 years and it has been superb (150bhp petrol with CVT).  I have had 3 Discos, a Toyota 4Runner and a Yeti and this is my favourite.  

SUBARU FORESTERS ARE NOT THE BEST LOOKING CARS BUT POINT IT IN ANY DIRECTION AND IT WILL GO I'VE HAD FEW AND LOVE EM FOR THE MONEY £1500  

[oldypigeonpopper]

14 hours ago, Spr1985 said:

Mine has a 66litre tank and I get about 500 ish miles per tank. A round trip to my sister in laws is 444miles  I fill up before leaving and still have fuel left on my return.for mileage purposes that’s without taking the driving around whilst up there into account. 
 

my maths isn’t great but I’m sure someone could work out the litres to miles to get the mpg by maths rather than the computer should they wish to 👍🏻

Roughly 7.6 miles per ltr 🤔

[thebigH91]

66 litres, 500 miles 34.4 MPG

[Red carp]

I recommend you don’t buy a electric 4x4 🔥🔥🔥🤣

[Matt_]

So went out today to look at an L200, ranger, d max and Amarok today... The Amarok drove so well out the lot that I think my initial want has been solidified. Also being a long legged blighter it was the best for room etc for me.  

Also not so heavily commercial feel but rugged and purposeful too. Just not that one, so the hunt has narrowed down to one. 

 

Thanks to all the recommendations.

Edited Saturday at 16:39 by Matt_

[oldypigeonpopper]

Hello, After my Dihatsu Terios went in PX for a Ford Fusion, (It was getting rusty on the Chassis) I am now looking to get another small 4x4 1,500 cc max , Small Rav , any other recommendations ??

Edited Saturday at 18:05 by oldypigeonpopper

[Yellow Bear]

50 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Hello, After my Dihatsu Terios went in PX for a Ford Fusion, (It was getting rusty on the Chassis) I am now looking to get another small 4x4 1,500 cc max , Small Rav , any other recommendations ??

Vitara

 

[Matt_]

2 hours ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Hello, After my Dihatsu Terios went in PX for a Ford Fusion, (It was getting rusty on the Chassis) I am now looking to get another small 4x4 1,500 cc max , Small Rav , any other recommendations ??

I mean never bet against a jimny right?

[countryman]

I live out in the countryside , little narrow lanes are a pain and no one wants to reverse back to the next passing point, car wise I have a Defender for bad weather and used to have a 911 for everything else but I have since changed to a Golf clubsport, you need 2 cars, you will soon soon find that out.

[oldypigeonpopper]

1 hour ago, Matt_ said:

I mean never bet against a jimny right?

hello, i have that on the list

3 hours ago, Yellow Bear said:

Vitara

 

hello, what size engine ?

[JKD]

15 hours ago, Matt_ said:

So went out today to look at an L200, ranger, d max and Amarok today... The Amarok drove so well out the lot that I think my initial want has been solidified. Also being a long legged blighter it was the best for room etc for me.  

Also not so heavily commercial feel but rugged and purposeful too. Just not that one, so the hunt has narrowed down to one. 

 

Thanks to all the recommendations.

Always the way eh ?! 😆 Shame,,,, as there's a lonely yeti out there somewhere looking for a porsche partner 😃😂

[Yellow Bear]

16 hours ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

hello, what size engine ?

1400

[oldypigeonpopper]

2 hours ago, Yellow Bear said:

1400

Hello, Thanks, Will be looking around Spring Time, 

[Downforce]

On 02/01/2025 at 22:35, Spr1985 said:

Ford ranger 3.2 wildtrack

I know theres a lot of support for the Ranger but are they reliable ? Was just speaking to someone that sail the coil springs go on a regular basis 😀.

Interested to hear from anyone thats owned a Ranger for a while - my vote would go to the DMAX (never owned one but they seem to offer a good balance) the Scoobies are great but can be a bit rusty fall apart after a while - my Forester with 63K needed all sorts of stuff youd expect to replace at 150K you can get good and bad - look for FFSH

The Touareg is a good bit of kit in that price range and the 2016s onwards (R Line)  have got some real oomph with an updated interior LED lights, etc if its got less than 90K on it youve probably got a good 50-100k to go but there is an achilles with the water pump gaskets that are a biatch to replace. Buy a spare set of M&S wheels/tyres for winter you'll be good.

Edited Wednesday at 09:55 by Downforce

[serrac]

On 03/01/2025 at 21:33, Spr1985 said:

Mine has a 66litre tank and I get about 500 ish miles per tank. A round trip to my sister in laws is 444miles  I fill up before leaving and still have fuel left on my return.for mileage purposes that’s without taking the driving around whilst up there into account. 
 

my maths isn’t great but I’m sure someone could work out the litres to miles to get the mpg by maths rather than the computer should they wish to 👍🏻

(500/66)*4.55
~34.47mpg

[B686]

3 hours ago, Downforce said:

I know theres a lot of support for the Ranger but are they reliable ? Was just speaking to someone that sail the coil springs go on a regular basis 😀.

Interested to hear from anyone thats owned a Ranger for a while - my vote would go to the DMAX (never owned one but they seem to offer a good balance) the Scoobies are great but can be a bit rusty fall apart after a while - my Forester with 63K needed all sorts of stuff youd expect to replace at 150K you can get good and bad - look for FFSH

The Touareg is a good bit of kit in that price range and the 2016s onwards (R Line)  have got some real oomph with an updated interior LED lights, etc if its got less than 90K on it youve probably got a good 50-100k to go but there is an achilles with the water pump gaskets that are a biatch to replace. Buy a spare set of M&S wheels/tyres for winter you'll be good.

I have a 2008 ranger thunder had it 8 years . Passed every mot hasn’t cost me a penny and I’m not known for looking after motors . Used for work probably had it overloaded a few times, towed many things many times mini diggers trailers of sand , type1 , soil . Use it for shooting, fishing no problems at all. Was told by garage where I get it mot’d that the older ones have far less problems than the new ones though. 

[JohnfromUK]

9 minutes ago, B686 said:

I have a 2008 ranger thunder had it 8 years . Passed every mot hasn’t cost me a penny and I’m not known for looking after motors . Used for work probably had it overloaded a few times, towed many things many times mini diggers trailers of sand , type1 , soil . Use it for shooting, fishing no problems at all. Was told by garage where I get it mot’d that the older ones have far less problems than the new ones though. 

Yes, a friend of mine has an older Ranger and it just keeps going - despite looking like a scrapyard stock for several years (it's a typical farm vehicle!), it gets regular abuse, and can easily get around (despite cheap bargain basement tyres) when Discoveries and the like are in trouble.  Mind you - my friend is a skilled off road driver and rarely gets stuck in anything!

I've never been a Ford fan, but that old Ranger seems a real tough thing.

[Spr1985]

5 hours ago, Downforce said:

I know theres a lot of support for the Ranger but are they reliable ? Was just speaking to someone that sail the coil springs go on a regular basis 😀.

I’ve had mine ranger wildtrack 3.2l manual for 3 ish years and put about 40k miles on it and I’ve had no issues only cost me the regular stuff, tax / insurance/ fuel/ mot’s and servicing. Obviously only my experience though and I’ll concede they likely have their issues, but don’t all vehicles (especially if built on a Friday 🤣)

 

2 hours ago, serrac said:

(500/66)*4.55
~34.47mpg

Thanks 👍🏻

[Poor Shot]

Get yourself a Land Rover and do it properly. It may ruin your life and be the worst decision you've ever made but alternatively it may not be and be 10 years of trouble free, luxury, peak off roader motoring. 

You'd get a good Discovery 4 or Range Rover Sport of around 2012 to 2015 vintage with low miles for £13k. Silky smooth 3.0 V6 diesel, 35 MPG, 8 Speed auto, 7 seats or huge boot space on command and a sublime ride with the adjustable air suspension. 

For the same budget you'll even get a decent L322 Range Rover with the 4.4 V8 diesel a la Jeremy Clarkson or Harry Metcalf.  

Just keep on top of the servicing and don't let the small jobs build up and you'll be good for years of motoring to your rural barn conversion. 

The bonus being that a good Discovery 4 will fly under the radar of the nomadic Irish community unlike an Amarok, DMAX or Hilux of a similar age. 

[Houseplant]

I've had a Forester for the last 10 years and it's been great, punching well above it's weight. I even use it to tow and launch a metric 1 ton of boat, although admittedly it's not ideal for this. Now looking at a new diesel Kia Sorento for towing. But surely, if the OP drives a Porsche, a Range Rover is next step. 

[Matt_]

18 hours ago, Poor Shot said:

Get yourself a Land Rover and do it properly. It may ruin your life and be the worst decision you've ever made but alternatively it may not be and be 10 years of trouble free, luxury, peak off roader motoring. 

You'd get a good Discovery 4 or Range Rover Sport of around 2012 to 2015 vintage with low miles for £13k. Silky smooth 3.0 V6 diesel, 35 MPG, 8 Speed auto, 7 seats or huge boot space on command and a sublime ride with the adjustable air suspension. 

For the same budget you'll even get a decent L322 Range Rover with the 4.4 V8 diesel a la Jeremy Clarkson or Harry Metcalf.  

Just keep on top of the servicing and don't let the small jobs build up and you'll be good for years of motoring to your rural barn conversion. 

The bonus being that a good Discovery 4 will fly under the radar of the nomadic Irish community unlike an Amarok, DMAX or Hilux of a similar age. 

I do love a D4... However as much as I can be a glutton for punishment, I'm not that keen for a 4 wheeled anxiety inducing machine. 

 

RR's are just too flashy and shiny for thrashing round lanes, I'll end up caring for it too much.

[Dave-G]

Brother had a D4 from new, it spent more time in the main dealers workshops than he got to use it, he eventually dumped it at less than half it cost about 18 months later. Mostly electrical issues.