Which large 4x4 would you recommend?

[DomDom]

No sign of a plummeting PX value on my D3 despite it having been off road. No damage underneath and clean enough to eat off. Poor resale values are more a sign of cars which aren't cared for. Each to their own; I like green lanes and the solitude of the hills and valleys which the RR is extremely well suited to getting me to. That doesn't mean damaging it or leaving it filthy afterwards though in the same way that the van is never put away dirty after we've used it. Always washed, hoovered and everything put back in the right place and it doesn't stop me using it for what it was intended.

 

[Mikey1]

Read the thread its says" Any signs of off roading"

Resale values are related to the demand for the car and if discounts were applied at the beginning of its life,a well cared for car is only worth a couple of hundred pounds more,but dealers are more likely to take a cared for car as its easier for them to prepare.

Saying that a good valeting and you would never know.

 

[hgv dave]

hi all
ive owned 2 toyota landcruisers a coloarado and an amazon.....i would recomend both as excellent tow car,but as with any car they do have there faults
the colorado was a 3ltr turbo and depending on how it was driven it would do 25-30 mpg.the 4 pot engine if it got too hot would cause damage to the cylinder head.....that was the only fault that i knew of on that car
the amazon has a 4.2ltr 6 pot turbo and the engines are pretty good if thirsty...average was about 21mpg.the problems with the amazon were the toys that were fitted,eg...the steering collum was worked by electric motors and would last about 2yrs and cost £150 to replace....thats each there are 2 motors on it.the second problem was the suspension which is what they call active suspension and worked similar to the citron suspension using fluid and a gas filled sphere....it is really good when it is working but costs up to £1000 to sort out and would only last 80,000 miles if you were unlucky(by the way i sold mine when it had done 86,000 miles)
landcruisers are fantastic tow cars and reliable if looked after,but with any car they do have there faults

hgv dave

 

[cooky1]

No problems in the snow with my X5 earlier this year - went through some deep snow that had most other vehicles stuck. With it being permenant 4 wheel drive it just found grip wherever it could, and with it weighing over 2 tonnes it never got stuck. Have not been off road with it and probably never will so can't comment on that.
They can be picked up now for the same price as a family car - bargain!!!

 

[colinw1]

We are having the same conundrum. What to replace out Trooper with.

We think we'll get another couple of years out of it yet - but if we start the replacement search now, and save for it.
What we've been looking at is the Navara, Hi-Lux, Rodeo and a Range Rover (or disco) - having had a rangy before it's where my heart lies but I just cant bring myself to thinking of owning the modern ones - they look too watered down -not proper 4x4s for real men Grrrrr (only joking on last bit.)
Although we'd love the extra space of the pick-ups, the full outfit length could be an issue with ferry bookings. so it's a bit of a toss up for now.

Is there anyone out there now who tows with the Nissan, Toyota and Isuzu and goes abroad. Tell me your thoughts on these please, we'd love to get a number of opinions.

 

[Surfer]

Most people have no idea what a true 4 x 4 is and buy one just because the dealer said it is a 4 x 4. To me I would want to be able to select between 2 and 4 wheel drive as I don't see any point in having a huge all wheel drive vehicle when I can get a sedan with the same capabilities. I would also want a high and low ratio transfer box which most 4 x 4 do not seem to have these days.
Lastly a number of people who own 4 x 4s have no idea how to drive them properly because they have not had training on using it in difficult conditions, not that it matters as most of these so called 4 x 4s never see a muddy field in their entire lifetime and are more of a status symbol than anything else.
We drive a 13 year old 4 x 4 with selectable 2 and 4 wheel drive and it is more than adequate for the job and where we live, it is needed in the winter and often 4 wheel drive is needed plus occasionally the transfer box. The vehicle is a lot more capable off road than many brand new 4 x 4s on the market today.

 

[Derb]

Hi Folks. Uvongo93 - Just because a 4 x 4 has permanent 4wd doesn't make it a poofta! Our Toyota Prado KZJ95R (year 2000) is a serious 4wd and towing vehicle. The 90 series Prado's can leg it with the best of them in the rough and unlike a lot of the flash euro and english trade, the Prado's and Cruisers are not forever in the garage! They tow well and are economical to operate (particularly the diesels anyway) and they put a grin on your chin every time you drive them. You will also find that unlike the flash euro stuff, when you drive them, people don't flick you the bird or spit at you. People don't buy a Prado to look wealthy in - they buy a Prado because they do the job well and are a very good vehicle! Try towing a caravan with one and you will be impressed. Cheers, Derb.

 

[DarrylFlynn]

Hi, until recently i was towing with a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0CRD Overland which was absolutely loaded.
In the 18months i owned it, it was completely trouble free, returned 22mpg towing, 26 around the doors solo and solo on a long run 29-30mpg. I sold it privately and lost £900 in that period. RESULT!
It was seriously quick for a vehicle weighing 2.2 tons. 215bhp and 500nm of torque from a Mercedes diesel engine and gearbox proved perfect.
Oh and by the way, the UK spec ones are built in Austria not the US. Nothing fell off or broke. If you buy an early 2006 or older the car tax is not excessive either.

You would not be disappointed if you bought a GOOD one.

Good luck Darryl

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

hi you two, if i had your car and you really wanted to change it would be the disco 4.

jo-anne

 

[Delt1c]

Agree with Daryl, had the Grand cherokee V6 now for 4 years and cant fault it, towing if faultless and relaxed, plenty of power so even with 1800kg of t/a behind it is effortless, Merc sngine and Quadro II auto box is an excellent combination. Solo have managed to get it to 34mpg with very gentle driving.

 

[DarrylFlynn]

In response to Jo-Anne's recommendation, read the below link. The Disco 4 has even managed to better the Disco 3 in the latest poll! Why oh why do people buy them.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1296607/Land-Rovers-voted-nations-unreliable-cars-consumer-watchdog.html

 

[colinw1]

I agree with Uvongo93his (or her) comment " a number of people who own 4 x 4s have no idea how to drive them properly because they have not had training on using it in difficult conditions"

Last winter I had a disco fly past me on a very icy and snow covered main road - and at the time I thought the owner needs a slap and it taking off them. (did note there was no tow pack on it otherwise I might have) But anyway the traffic lights up ahead changed to red and the brake lights came on - hairy, scary, undie colour changing ride ensued..

I drove past him - in my troop - in 2wd - at low speed, and just shook my head at the driver - who was whiter than the snow -praying to which ever football club he supported.
Now I'm not saying I'm better - because a few days later - while driving down a slight hill, through a zig-zag traffic calming thing - I had 4wd on, low range, first or second gear - dabbed the brake through a corner (which I know is wrong - but cant to this day say why i did it), and suddenly went a lot faster towards a stone wall. fortunatly the footpath i slid onto wasnt icy and had quite a bit of snow on so the tyres bit - and the wall still stands.