4 x 4s

[Splatterer]

Now this is probably a bit of a tame question for here, but what's the cheapest most reliable 4 x 4 for pocket money prices.
I am thinking of getting one due to aged infirm parents who won't move somewhere more sensible.
But will sit outside rather than bother the neighbours when they lock themselves out, or stay on the floor all night so as not to be a nuisance.
Therefore not getting there in the middle of a blizzard is not an option. No one gets out of their road in the ice...
And I think we'll be having a blizzard or two this winter.
I kind of need one that will just work, and not be in constant need of care/ welding.

I'm kind of thinking of a Nissan Terrano 2.7 LWB pre 2001 for cheaper road tax and laying it up through the summer. Does diesel go off like petrol does?
I'm also 6'5" and find some 4x4s like defenders impossible to drive.
But I do like the idea of a simple 2 lever system with 4 x 2 or 4 x 4 high/low as on my old Vitaras.
Just after your thoughts at the moment.
Thanks.

 

[madkayaker]

Jap pickups are fairly good. Diesel does go off kind of but would take so long in a 4x4 the vehicle would have returned to base elements long before it was an issue. Landrovers are good if you get the right one but more expensive. Forestry commission use 4x4 kango vans and swear by them

 

[PhillipM]

If you haven't already, just buy some winter tyres for your existing car.

 

[snowcat]

I run a terrano 2 panel van for work, They are great workhorses and bomb proof reliability wise , however like all 4x4s there costly to run, hard on tyres and quite harsh to drive, In the snow a 4x4 car on snow tyres is just as good if not better, Iv lived in much colder climbs than the UK where we could get inches of snow in an hour and my old Subaru would travel far more places than most of the 4x4 trucks.

I live in the sticks and TBH Iv yet to be able to travel in the car, 4x4s in thick snow are equally as useless and would become a complete PITA when we would snow clear for the council as many think they could drive anywhere and find themselves stuck obstructing us actually getting the roads clear.

Decent tyres and driving technique are for more effective.

Diesel does go off, with the advent of biofuel being added, Overwintered harvesting equipment is so-posed to be drained, and storage tanks observed for any sludge, The reasons are quite complex and not just due to a "diesel bug".

 

[MCKDAVID]

down with us, they have a lot of Lada Riva 4x4s powered by LPG. ok so it's a lada, but in terms of reliability, they seem pretty basic to fix, so keep going.... plus being gas cheap to run... haven't looked deep into the cold requirements, but on rapid review seems to be on a par with diesel, you might want to look further into it though.

Robust, simple, doubt in terms of bang per buck you'd get much cheaper... although corrosion could be a problem in theUK. The ones down here don't seem to bad, but the climates a lot kinder in general, so may not be comparable..

don't know on the head room though, the one I had a go in was fine for me, but I'm only 6ft....

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I like Land Rovers (had Disco, Defender, 3 x Range Rovers, 3 x SIIA & 2 x SIII) but wouldn't ever recommend them to anybody ! Despite people thinking they are bullet proof they rot terribly, alloy corrodes and they need constant attention. A Suzuki Vitara I had for a while impressed me so might be worth considering. To be honest you need to ask yourself if really need vehicle that will get you to and from your parents in snow or is it an excuse to own a 4x4
Something like a Panda 4x4 (current model - not the original. Had one that I scrapped at 7 years old due to rot) or Daihatsu Terios will do everything you want without any hassle plus still give reasonable economy. Even decent tyres and a set of chains for emergencies will get you most places in an ordinary car that a 4x4 with the wrong tyres might get stuck !
BTW I've got a Mahindra MM540

Paul H

 

[MoreWellie]

My parents have just bought a freelander 2 for the same reason but like most vehicles you need to find a good one. Toyota landcruiser Colorado's tend to go on and on and on and... with just an annual service but I believe the petrol engines may have fewer failings than the diesel engine. I know someone that has been very impressed with the Toyota Rav4

Whatever you buy

1. you need to stress that getting going is one thing, stopping is completely different and they need to be aware of this
2. vehicle height, as they get older climbing in and out of a taller vehicle can be more difficult

 

[octo0072000]

as you said ice you will still have problems with 4x4 lack of grip on ice, you need studded tyres on ice or chains 2 ton of 4x4 on ice slides like the best of them
it all depends on how bad the road is and how steep hills are a old tracer comes to mind 4x4 or course
but on ice still no grip snow 3 ft deep should be OK
i agree with the winter tyres on a car

 

[BrokenBiker]

I picked my navara up cheap because it 'needed engine work'. it needed a new set of glow plugs and that was it. its good off road, brilliant in deep water (even without a snorkel). haven't had chance to try in snow or on ice.

its fairly good on fuel, good on wet slippery hills and comfy to drive

 

[BrokenBiker]

I am assuming tey don't, but do the kangoo's have a low range box? or is it the usuall 2wd on the road and 4hi when it needs it? or permanent 4hi?

ive seena few vids of them doing very well off road in places I would be scared to take my navara

 

[Robotstar5]

I picked my navara up cheap because it 'needed engine work'. it needed a new set of glow plugs and that was it. its good off road, brilliant in deep water (even without a snorkel). haven't had chance to try in snow or on ice.

its fairly good on fuel, good on wet slippery hills and comfy to drive

But can be "exciting" on wet roads due to having an LSD in the back axle!

I've been doing a bit of research lately for a replacement for Mrs Robo's Freelander and the Daihatsu Terios seems very good with very few issues.

After all that she's decided on a Peugeot 308 - women!

 

[edd]

What about a subaru forester, they can be got at reasonable prices.
I have 200k miles on my 2005 legacy estate and it never misses a beat.
Good fun in the snow too!

 

[BrokenBiker]

But can be "exciting" on wet roads due to having an LSD in the back axle!

I've been doing a bit of research lately for a replacement for Mrs Robo's Freelander and the Daihatsu Terios seems very good with very few issues.

After all that she's decided on a Peugeot 308 - women!

haven't come across the tail happy side of it yet, but I am expecting it at some point.

 

[garethp]

We live down a fairly well used track and any snow quickly turns into ice as it get compressed, 2 or 4 wheel drive doesn't make any difference once it's icy - although bigger 4 wheels drives slide down quicker due to the extra weight! Studded footwear or shoes chains are then the only guaranteed way to get up and down.

I would try winter tyres first, much cheaper than buying a vehicle.

I've never had 4wd and (touch wood) never been stuck in snow but I have been stuck behind other vehicles who needed help to get going again or sometimes just moved to the side so I could get past.

 

[mfletch]

Don't mess about

 

[MattF]

2 or 4 wheel drive doesn't make any difference once it's icy - although bigger 4 wheels drives slide down quicker due to the extra weight!

That about sums it up in a nutshell. How one drives is the only thing which has any real bearing, not the vehicle. Once you hit ice, there's naff you one can do about it until you find some grip somewhere. Even on snow where there's decent grip, driving like a plonk can spin or tail slide any vehicle. I'm sure there are plenty of 4x4'ers on here who've had a play in the snow and can attest to that.

 

[madkayaker]

That would be rubbish on ice and snow! One saving grace is would flatten the tree you drove it into

 

[BrokenBiker]

in the marauder you wouldn't need a road to follow, just point it and charge on. not a lot stops it lol

 

[normspanners]

One of the best vehicles I have had on the snow and ice was a toyota lucida 4x4 it was brilliant on standard road tyres. you can pick them up for buttons they are a people carrier, fold the seats and are a van, I carried two settees in mine at the same time.
When it snowed here the kids wanted to go to moel famau a local beauty spot at the top of a mountain and go sledging I loaded them in all six of them two dogs sledges etc got to the start of the hill and there was a sign, road impassable. but there where a few tracks so I though I would give it a go, well up it went through at least a foot of snow not including the drifts passing stuck discos landrovers etc and didnt spin a wheel it climbed all the way to the top car park we had a great time, then the kids said go on do some doughnuts well I tried and tried and it would not skid. the only thing i could do to amuse were a couple of reverse j turns. And on the wayback we pulled out a few 'proper 4X4 s '.
I have sold it to a mate who lives up a hill in a forest in a caravan and he regularly drives the road that nobody has driven on thick mud slush and snow and has never had to walk. the only thing is they have a little low ground clearance because they are the same as the two wheel drive but if you put some taller 4x4
tyres on it it would go anywhere I think. my mate uses it to live in when he goes to festivals etc
PS I have a disco as well, but was well impressed with that old toyota in the snow I had been diving it round and was thinking why is everbody driving so slow then I got back in the disco and found out, I went straight on at the first junction that I had driven round 5times earlier!!

 

[Splatterer]

What I really like about this forum is that real people with real experience are generous enough to share it. Take a pat on the back and have a virtual beer on me chaps.
I have to admit never even considering snow tires. I think a couple of new steel rims for the driving wheels would be the most economical way forward. That also keeps the current vehicle being run through the winter months.
I currently drive a Renault Traffic and need the services of my mates with Discos when on wet grass...