Markio Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Toying with the idea of selling up my wife's Punto and getting a cheap 4x4 as a replacement. At the moment she won't put our daughter in the Punto and if we can get something a little more substantial in 4x4 form then the midget can travel in it and i also have an off road option. Budget is less than £1000, £800 is more realistic (i know, i don't want much! ) So far i've looked at: Suzuki Jimny (too expensive) Suzuki SJ/Samuari (good price but too old and flimsy according to my wife). Suzuki Vitara Daihatsu Sportrack I was hoping to go the 1.4L or less route for road tax purposes but overall the car tends to be too small, so if it's a bigger engine then MPG needs to be a consideration. Any other suggestions that i can look into? Oh and i have no patience whatsoever so 'something that needs work' is just not an option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honda chris Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 i would say jimny. you will pick up a jimny for that kind of money if you look around. probably an s-reg. good cars, my girlfriend had one great mpg, cheep to run and fantastic off road, better than my old 90. suzuki sj's are good but you wont find a good one unless you are a dab hand at welding. great mini trucks have killed a few over the years off roading. had a fourtrack but never a sport track, so cant comment on them. watch the vitaras as they blow there engines to bits at around 60-80k miles. atb chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted January 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Cheers Chris, noted about the Jimny. My wife (who used to work at a garage firm) said they used to get lots of Vitara's in with engines blown 1995/96 ish year models. Any other thoughts? Mungler, what MPG did you get out of your Sportrack? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 sportraks are getting on now and the head gaskets are famous for going, factor in 28mpg or so as they are fairly thirsty. IMHO you'd be better off going more substantial and getting dare I say it a discovery or trooper etc with the TD engine which will give similar economy but generally be more robust. But look at plenty before you buy and if you don't have good mechanical knowledge take someone who does Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr W Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Find something already converted to LPG and save money on fuel, although not sure LPG in the middle of nowhere so you might have problems finding some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 There are loads of TDi discos around for that sort of money. You'll get better MPG from one as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 I liked the sportrak but I wouldn't put my kids in one - they are not that substantial. Also, the MPG is really bad for such a small car 28 mpg would not be far off the mark and they take some thrashing to keep up with the traffic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 how about a Vauxhall Frontera SWB - ok it's 2 litre so a bit bigger engine than you want, but reliable and very cheap to maintain. great for shooting with the bikini roof. - i picked mine up for £700. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CEREALTHRILLER Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Daihatsu Terios maybe it is VERY small though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 how about a fiat panda 4x4 Fiat Panda cross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 disco! 30MPG and mine has just passed its MOT with no advisories - "excellent mechanical condition" according to the tester! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 was the backhander much or was it certain favours at the back of the garage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 cheeky..................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ME Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 (edited) Hi Markio, I bought a Frontera recently for mucking around in. It wasnt necessarily my car of choice but a mate was selling it and I got it for £800 !. Mine is the 3 door Sport, (1998) it has electric windows, air con and loads of other stuff. I will only use it as a third spare car and for getting muddy so it doesnt have to be that economical or reliable. Your £1000.00 budget is a tricky one, why not a Shogun Pinin like this one here >HERE<. OK, they dont look macho but it is Jap and reliable. Edited January 30, 2009 by LV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wy111 Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 ****** it, Turned down a Disco 200tdi auto a week ago, £800. Never saw it, but bodywork apparently "immaculate"?, don't know about structural. Owner has spent a lot of dosh on it, so don't know what to expect. Nearly bought it as a spare parts doner for mine, when I need, but didn't have the space. Will ask if still on market tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Jew boy You want a new motor at 15th hand prices Suggest you chore one and it will meet all requirements Markio and no need for road rent LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted February 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 Jew boy LB Hark, the PigeonWatch diplomat has spoken! Anyway, after all that we decided on a Jimny. Just got to look about for the right one! Thank for all the input!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 Hark, the PigeonWatch diplomat has spoken! Anyway, after all that we decided on a Jimny. Just got to look about for the right one! Thank for all the input!! And go back to college to retrain as a HAIRDRESSER Mind you, you won't look out of place driving it in your wifes wellie boots. Get yourself a landy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ME Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 Hark, the PigeonWatch diplomat has spoken! Anyway, after all that we decided on a Jimny. Just got to look about for the right one! Thank for all the input!! Did you buy it yet Markio ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buchangun Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 4x4s are great for bouncing round fields and shooting out of - for this cheaply I would go for a serries landrover every time - but if your reason is for keeping your kids 'safe' out on the roadsthen an older 4x4 is not the thing . Big heavy cars don't protect you in a crash the kinetic energy from the crash tends to be absorbed by the people inside - strangly ones that swash tend to be better for the people inside the car. Old 4 x4s don't fare well in the ECAP crash tests - if you major concern is protecting your kids look at the encap rating of cars - truth is your probably as safe in a punto as you would be in an old fortrak/ jimny/ landrover - it just don't seem like it as you are lower down. I can allready hear the died in the wool offroad drivers moaning - please do a bit of research about vehicle construction and its affects in even a low speed impacts and you'll find I'm right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted February 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 Ah Martin, i missed that insult, sorry i wasn't ignoring you, well not intentionally. No i haven't got it yet. Been keeping an eye out but the real bargains are miles away in Scotland and N.Ireland. Too far for a hairdresser to go. Local ones just seem too high mileage for too much money when compared to the rest of the country. I'm in no rush to pay over the odds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ME Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 Ah Martin, i missed that insult, sorry i wasn't ignoring you, well not intentionally. No i haven't got it yet. Been keeping an eye out but the real bargains are miles away in Scotland and N.Ireland. Too far for a hairdresser to go. Local ones just seem too high mileage for too much money when compared to the rest of the country. I'm in no rush to pay over the odds. this one - http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/c...icleRegLetter=T is a bargain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 that your postcode then LV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 That one will suit you fine, nice colour to go with your eyes. Not sure if you will be able to handle the raw power of that 1.3 engine though. Get yourself a proper 4 x 4 man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyfarmerboy Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 go on mark, you know you want to go for a defender or disco, will be more fun, good luck with the search, you can borrow my defender or come out in it to see how good they are as i got MOT on friday, good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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