notsosureshot Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Im looking to change my car soon and I'd prefer a 4x4 which I can take offroad occassionally for shoots, I'll also use the vehicle for the occassional long road run so it needs to be a cruiser. The main problem is that I dont want to lose any performance over my current weekender. I've looked at the usual suspects and also some more "unusual" offerings but I just cant find anything I'd buy. Running costs arent an issue as I will do very little mileage. So far I've considered: BMW X5 4.8is - Looks useless offroad. Range Rover Sport - Build quality looks **** compared to the german rivals. Porsche Cayenne S - Some people claim its decent off road, anyone got experience of it? Not sure on the looks, its ugly. Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT - Amazingly quick but looks like it belongs in a rap video and again, useless offroad. VW Touareg V10 - Perhaps the most sensible choice so far. It appears capable offroad and can tow a 747 but some people think the turbo is a problem. MB ML55 - Not shelling out for the 63 and again there are questions over its offroad capability. So all in all, I feel stuffed. Can you really get "extreme" performance and retain offroad capability or is it an impossible task? Any suggestions? PS. I am not a footballers wife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ST3V3 Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 This 1 is easy buy one of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notsosureshot Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 (edited) Wow! One downside, I think her indoors might complain over the line "interior - there isnt one". lol Also, Im looking for used, might have a problem finding one of those on the used market. Edit: Apparently they are available used, but no change out of £80k which is way too expensive! Edited July 20, 2009 by notsosureshot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 I looked at this and you are stuffed, going fast on the road and round corners is not condusive to off roading (tyres, suspension, ground clearance, gearing... the whole nine yards). Also, if you slide a swanky fast road 4x4 into a fence post or into a small ditch, then it all gets very expensive. Your assessments (as above) are 100% correct. It's a tricky one, I would be interested to see what the consensus is. P.S. What about that Subaru 4x4 (the Forester?) with the scooby engine - any good? In fact there are a whole load of very ugly Subaru vehicles on import that have plenty of BHP and that slip under the radar, the names of which escape me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 I know a man that has a Toureg (the smaller engined variety) and he uses it for daily commuting, caravan towing etc. I _think_ he's taken it off road, and it is supposed to be half decent there with the right tyres. It's also got decent economy on a run (call it about 35mpg if memory serves) You don't need to go mental on the engine capacity, and remember that eco-worriers will tar and feather you if you get seen in most of the cars you listed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notsosureshot Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 I had an impreza before and it was a very capable car. It was the wagon WRX and reasonably practical as well as quick. I think the same engine is used in the forester XT. Its a very good suggestion. In the end I got rid of the Subaru because even unmodified it was a bit chavvy and the interior was horrible cheap plastic. I think its the same on the forester. It was durable however. On the whole, I'd recommend the brand as mine was reliable. I think this time though, Im looking for something with a bigger engine as the WRX engines lack grunt until the turbo kicks in. I am perplexed and I cant be the only person who's encountered this dilemma. Your thoughts are spot on. Clearly knobbly tyres are useless for fast vehicles on the road, they will wear out so quickly. This is why I thought a Touareg V10 might be the answer. Sure, it'll eat tyres but this vehicle will do about 3,000 miles a year so its not a problem. Its just not as quick as I'd hoped it might be and general opinion seems to be that it has a bit of a record for unreliability. Im tempted by the SRT, simply because a 4x4 that does 0-60 in 5 seconds is insane and has to be worth a look. It does 9mpg combined. I wonder if you'd get down to 5mpg with an LPG conversion. Could that be a record of some sort? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notsosureshot Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Wookie, I think I've got that solved. I'll just slap an LPG sticker on the rear screen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SXPhil Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 I looked at this and you are stuffed, going fast on the road and round corners is not condusive to off roading (tyres, suspension, ground clearance, gearing... the whole nine yards). Also, if you slide a swanky fast road 4x4 into a fence post or into a small ditch, then it all gets very expensive. Your assessments (as above) are 100% correct. It's a tricky one, I would be interested to see what the consensus is. P.S. What about that Subaru 4x4 (the Forester?) with the scooby engine - any good? In fact there are a whole load of very ugly Subaru vehicles on import that have plenty of BHP and that slip under the radar, the names of which escape me. Puts Chairman's hat on here www.sidc.co.uk Subaru Impreza Drivers Club Litchfield Imports bring in the Forrester STi Has all the fast bits from the Rally Winning Impreza but with plenty of space http://www.litchfieldimports.co.uk/stocklist.asp?inc=280 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SXPhil Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 I would be worried about the build quality and cornering capability of any American 4x4. They are probably cheap second hand though, but by the same token I bet they depreciate like nothing else especially with that MPG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Ah man, they make an ugly car. All you need to do is paint that the colour of hearing aid brown and swap out the steering wheel with a set of handle bars for the full effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notsosureshot Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 (edited) Hmm. I'll ponder over that Phil. Mungler they arent great for build quality agreed. However, surely the 0-60 time alone, when the vehicle works, would be awesome. Also maybe an owner would get to star in some music videos wearing an Argos sovereign ring and smoking a cigar? Oh and the SRT's are about 20k used with a few miles on. Edited July 20, 2009 by notsosureshot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barn_Owl Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 How extreme is "extreme" ?? Ever see the Top Gear prog with Hammond racing a 4.8S Cayenne against a sky diver across country / off-road ?? The Cayenne was superb it did all that was required .. except win !! Ugly .. ?? from certain angles but awesome from the back .. Shooting buddy of mine has the 3.6lt, purchased second hand (6 month old) well before the credit crunch, never said the price but his business is very poor at the moment and he's been offered 8k (3 year old with 25k miles and full service history) Brilliant vehicle but not much knee room in the back for me .. My choice Mercedes-Benz GL 4x4 GL500. (can be extreme ) 5.5lt V8, 0-60 in 6.5secs. top speed 140mph and 21mpg. Been in one off-road and it handled our shooting requirements with no problem. Very good performance on road, superb cruiser .... But .. the Range Rover has a better cabin ............. In short I agree fully with Mungler 'Quote' "I looked at this and your stuffed" 'Unquote' There is no perfect extreme 4x4 but the nearest is most definately the Porsche. (4.8S or 4.8 turbo) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notsosureshot Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 I will look again at the porsche, I just didnt want to look like a city trader lol I'd say extreme for a 4x4 would be anything with a sub 6 second 0-60 time. I do realise however that 0-60 times is a crappy measure of performance for a 4x4. I should be rambling on about torque instead. Thanks for all the input. I might try for an older cayenne so I dont need to fuss about it getting scratched as much since I have an uncanny ability to attract bushes onto the side of my cars. 8k seems stupidly low for any Cayenne at 3 years old. That wasnt from "webuyanycar" was it? Thats Carcraft in disguise and they are rip off merchants. I'd value his vehicle, based on my research thus far and assuming its good condition, at around £17k as a trade in. They retail at 20-23k. Someone is taking the mickey offering 8k. I havent seen the video, I'll take a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notsosureshot Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 I've just read the whatcar reader reviews on the Cayenne. I said running costs were'nt an issue. I take that back. £3,500 for a service (brake discs/pads plus other bits) is taking the mick completely. Also, it seems to want a new set of tyres at £1000 every 6,000 miles. Something tells me I'd be in deep trouble with the wife if I did that. Im sure she'd prefer a week at a nice hotel somewhere for that extra £3k saved on servicing! Back to Touareg we go.... lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 I like value for money; a fully depreciated Cayenne with 1 owner and FSH seems like a good idea, if you can get an extended Porsche warranty. But, the Scooby is representative of value for money - Japanese, reliable and light on the wallet. Putting a Cayenne into a ditch though would be a bathtime with electric fire moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 personally what you're looking for doesn't exist, to be good off road means its less good on road and vice versa. Having been in the porsche I'd not take one on anything other than a well made up farm track, and with relatively spirited driving meaning sub 10mpg they are thirsty. The best option would be the range Rover possibly with 2 sets of wheels but changing them over would be a ball ache. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scout Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 There are only 2 options really availbale to you : If you want the dogs danglies in a 4x4 offroad then a Bowler Wildcat is the only option, can't be beaten almost indestrcutible but expensive. The top gear choice is the Cayenne, good ono road and off, although often driven to the school run brigade.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notsosureshot Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 (edited) The more Im reading the more put off I am on the Cayenne. If you buy a car like any of those on my list, you expect high running costs but I draw the line on £3.5k for a service with no major parts being changed, just consumbales. The only comparative running costs I can think of involve light aircraft, no joke. I think even some ferraris would be cheaper to run, certainly close. Doing a bit of research at some independent specialists at the moment to find out if its remotely practical. The price i gave was for a main dealer admittedly. Your comment about a ditch made me squirm. So does nobody rate the Touareg? Its supposed to be decent offroad. Has the same underpinnings as the cayenne too. Also, perhaps a bit less of a snobbish image which is a good thing. Edited July 20, 2009 by notsosureshot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 personally what you're looking for doesn't exist, to be good off road means its less good on road and vice versa. Having been in the porsche I'd not take one on anything other than a well made up farm track, and with relatively spirited driving meaning sub 10mpg they are thirsty. The best option would be the range Rover possibly with 2 sets of wheels but changing them over would be a ball ache. ^^ what he said what about running two cheaper slightly older cars. For a £25K range rover sport you could easily have a £15K Discovery TDv6/ Range Rover L322 and then spend £10K on something for the road - whatever takes your fancy really. Depends if you want to double up on insurance/tax/mot/tyres etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notsosureshot Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 (edited) Cant do that really, already running a van and a small wifey hatchback. I dont think I can justify having 4 cars. If I could get away with the van in a muddy field I'd do that and just buy a saloon. I will perhaps have to revise my speed figures as I am in agreement that such a vehicle doesnt exist. This thread has helped clarify that Still, going to look at the V10 touareg which seem to be a bargain. Edited July 20, 2009 by notsosureshot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 ditch the van and buy a pickup depending what you carry you could get either a lift up flat top for the load area or a full canopy on the back. Then it'll go where you want and you can have a performance car rather than trying to have a monster 4x4 which lets face it go shooting in and you're going to get it muddy inside and out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J@mes Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 ditch the van and buy a pickup depending what you carry you could get either a lift up flat top for the load area or a full canopy on the back. Then it'll go where you want and you can have a performance car rather than trying to have a monster 4x4 which lets face it go shooting in and you're going to get it muddy inside and out you're obsessed with people getting nice cars dirty! My D3 gonna get absolutely ditched when I get round to buying it - it can't be worse than taking the evo shooting when the discovery was out on loan to a mate - that really did get dirty, but nothing a bottle jack at the jet wash couldn't sort out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notsosureshot Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 I am currently experiencing brain overload. Yeah I could do that but my van is only worth about 3k. Cant see me getting much of a pickup for that? Would need to be hard top. Thanks for all the input guys! I'll go away now and ponder further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notsosureshot Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Alex, I'd like to thank you for something else too. The first thing I saw this morning, at 6am, was your avatar. Livens up your day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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