Am I looking for a unicorn

[KierDurrant16]

Apologies for yet another what car thread.

However… I need telling that what I’m looking for doesn’t exist, so I stop looking for it.



The unicorn I desire would consist of:

• Able to do 5-10 mile journeys regularly, preferably no EGR or DPF to avoid issues. So pre 2005
• 4 wheel drive or atleast decent ground clearance
• Big load area, able to take a 8x4 sheet would be ideal but not a deal breaker.
• 2.8-3.5 ton towing capacity
• Have enough power while loaded to move the skin off a rice pudding!

Does this exist? Currently have a 2002 shogun sport and a 2008 Vito van. Both cover all my needs but neither are ideal or able to do everything, am i looking for a unicorn?

 

[Kayos]

2007/8 Freelander 2

No dpf, not sure on towing capacity

 

[qwakers]

the freelander meets.... 1 of those requirements....


do you have a maximum range?

 

[Kayos]

the freelander meets.... 1 of those requirements....


do you have a maximum range?

No dpf, 4x4 and ground clearance

1,2,3 by my count. Also not a slouch, I've had mine full of gear fitting a boiler and it didn't notice

 

[qwakers]

not pre 05 (picking hairs) cant carry a 8x4 sheet, cant tow 2.8-3.5t, and gutless towing at max weight ime.

 

[qwakers]

honestly, taking price and age out of the equation, and assuming range issue isnt a problem, also assuming somewhere offroad/driveway to park it, a electric van meets all the requirements.

 

[bigegg]

Landcruiser Amazon?

8x4 sheet will just about go in on an angle with the seats forward, otherwise roof rack.

 

[BrokenBiker]

my 59 freelander 2.2 will shift when it needs to for what it is...ive towed 2t behind it, you know its there but you dont feel unsafe with it on the back when pulling out of slip roads etc.

doubt very much an 8x4 would fit though, ive had the back seats down with 1600mm lengths of ash in there and could just close the tailgate.

 

[julianf]

i can carry an 8x4 on my defender 110's roof rack

it meets all the other requirements too.

the issue with them is that they now have some sort of price premium, however, there are worthy examples still about at less than 4k, providing you dont care about "optimill" door handles....

 

[bigegg]

TLDR:

pretty much any 20-25 y/o 4x4 would probably work for you - you just need a roof rack. Or a bigger trailer.

 

[Barking Mat]

Peugeot Boxer around '96, if you can find one which isn't rotten.

2.5td 's fly.

Ok, not 4x4 admittedly.

 

[KierDurrant16]

Don’t do mega mileage, 100 mile round trip would be considered a long drive, to give it some perspective our nearest motorway is hour and half away. Won’t go electric for any particular reason, I just won’t!
110’s are something I keep on coming back to…

 

[Agrismith]

L200's didn't have a DPD until quite late possibly 2012. They have egr but not known for causing problems. Mine went to Bulgaria on 250000 miles to start it's second life. The animal version goes like sh*t off a hot shovel. And they aren't as big as other pickups essentially the short bed ones. And the rear window drops for carrying long items. Which is way more useful than you would think.

 

[Beanwood]

Don’t do mega mileage, 100 mile round trip would be considered a long drive, to give it some perspective our nearest motorway is hour and half away. Won’t go electric for any particular reason, I just won’t!
110’s are something I keep on coming back to…

How about an MOD release 110 ? I came across the auctions again the other day and they aren’t too bad compared to the civilian versions that have been messed about with..

 

[Ubique]

Forget diesel, just because it won't have a DPF doesn't mean you won't kill it with short journeys. Stop/start journeys will give you very similar mpg with a petrol - and they're generally cheaper, get up to temperature quicker and suffer less mechanical stress.

 

[julianf]

Don’t do mega mileage, 100 mile round trip would be considered a long drive, to give it some perspective our nearest motorway is hour and half away. Won’t go electric for any particular reason, I just won’t!
110’s are something I keep on coming back to…

People say landrovers are unreliable. I mean, the head gasket has just gone on mine, and its only lasted 30 years.

It actually started going a bit before a recent trip to essex. So a 500 mile round trip up the m5/m4/m25 without any engine management lights or limp mode.

You're probably in the right part of the country for buying an older defender. The real bargains get snapped up quickly by the breakers or polish and export people in the area, but, as i say, i do see examples at less than £4k that are not basket cases. Probably not less than 3k in recent memory, but certainly they turn up at less than 4.

I only really pay attention to 2/300s though. Td5s are more plentiful, and sometimes cheaper, and the td5 is a nice build, but im, personally, just not interested in them.


What part of Devon are you in?

 

[octo0072000]

Mitsubishi Delica covers all you need egr blocked off with a plate no DPF 4x4 room for more than a 8x4 sheet
ask Bob he has one

 

[Rrobson]

Simply put, no there is not one vehicle that exists which meets all those requirements. The 8x4 sheet is the main problem. As others have suggested, any post millennium 4x4 would do the trick. I stick knock about in a 2002 Nissan terrano which does everything bar the 8x4 sheet but I wouldn’t recommend one. Rust is the killer.

 

[qwakers]

yes there is. a 4x4 e-transit gets close (max tow weight only 2.1), haven't looked at any of the others but probably there are options from iveco and mercedes too. the renault e master probably can be specced in 4x4 too, and that can definitely tow 3.5ton.

 

[skotl]

L200's didn't have a DPD until quite late possibly 2012. They have egr but not known for causing problems. Mine went to Bulgaria on 250000 miles to start it's second life. The animal version goes like sh*t off a hot shovel. And they aren't as big as other pickups essentially the short bed ones. And the rear window drops for carrying long items. Which is way more useful than you would think.

Came here to say this. Definite +1 for an L200.