Newbie - best car for me

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A

aaj

Guest
Hi all

Sorry about the length of the post, and I guess you see this type a lot, but
here's mine anyway. (I'll google back through the old ones as well)

My missess has just decided that I need a 4x4 any after various discussions
I now agree with her.

We have had a first look around and ruled a few out, here are my criterea,
any thoughts or advice would be really welcome so I don't go making a fool
out of my self.

here goes then .....

Its not going to be used daily so economy isn't a problem.

It needs to be pretty tough, we need to be able to throw the dog in the boot
(so it needs to be able to fit a mesh between back seats and boot), and the
camping gear on the floor-well in the back, there are 2 large holdalls of
gear plus sleeping bags, wifes makeup etc.

It will occasionally be used for shopping and errands etc so doesn't want to
be huge, there are only 2 of us and no kids.

It needs to be Ok inside, but nothing too posh as I don't want to be
worrying about getting it covered in mud dinted etc, electric windows (maybe
aircon) owuld be nice but not essential

Lastly we are both going to have a go at off roading, so it needs to be a
'proper' 4x4. We have never done anything off road, so I suppose it doesn't
need to be brilliant, just good enough for us to have a play.

We are looking at about £4000 on the window, about £3000 with part ex.
hopefully on say a 'P' reg.

Although cast not cast in concrete, we had pretty much ruled out a RAV 4 as
the boot space didn't look too big, although someone has told me since the
backseats can be moved, but i'm not sure if that would leave enough space
for the camping gear in the back.

We looked at the Shoguns and Jeep Cherokee's but they were huge, my
girlfiend is 5' tall and I had to give her a leg up. The Freelander looked
likely, but they are still expensive, and I have seen the JD results in
which they didn't do too well. We have seen a couple of Fronteerers which
looked OK and possibly a Maverick, but so far the favorite looks to be a LWB
Vitara (I think it was a JLX?), although I am a bit concerned about the 1.6
L engine , is this enough or do I need the V6.

so any thoughts for this potenial newbie off roader would be great

thanks

Andy


 

"aaj" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> We looked at the Shoguns and Jeep Cherokee's but they were huge, my
> girlfiend is 5' tall and I had to give her a leg up.



> thanks
>
> Andy
>
>


Andy,

buy the biggest one you can find and you'll both enjoy the girlfriend
getting in and out.........

Cheers,

JohnB

(I have a Toyota 4runner 3.0 diesel which would be an ideal sort of vehicle
for you - on all points...)


 
I did think about Discoveries, but they seem a bit big, that said, that
might not be a problem

I assume being Landrovers, they are very good off road?


"Colonel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "aaj" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Hi all
> > so any thoughts for this potenial newbie off roader would be great
> >
> > thanks
> >
> > Andy
> >
> >

>
> You need a nice Discovery you do.
>
> C C
>
>



 
On Wed, 12 May 2004 10:25:15 +0100, "aaj" <[email protected]> wrote:

->I did think about Discoveries, but they seem a bit big, that said, that
->might not be a problem
->
->I assume being Landrovers, they are very good off road?

I guess it depends on how serious you want to get about going offroad and how
much you want to adapt your vehicle.

If you want to get serious and you are not worried about fuel then get a V8 90
or 110.

If you want to be okay off road then there are Disco's, Shoguns, Land Cruiser,
Fronteras for large vehicles or for smaller vehicles Jimneys are cracking
offroad as are SWB Land Cruiser TJ Jeeps (once lifted) and the Vittara.

If all you want is simple offroad performance then HRV, Freelander, RAV ect.

As a simple guide something good off road will not be so good on road so you
will have to make your own judgement on compromise.

For offroad use you want live axles front and back and a low range gearbox.


--
Geoff
www.anoraks.uk.net
 
"aaj" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I did think about Discoveries, but they seem a bit big, that said, that
> might not be a problem
>
> I assume being Landrovers, they are very good off road?


They are, but I wouldn't go too far from a garage that can repair them.

Budgie


 
Budgie wrote:

> "aaj" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> I did think about Discoveries, but they seem a bit big, that said, that
>> might not be a problem
>>
>> I assume being Landrovers, they are very good off road?

>
> They are, but I wouldn't go too far from a garage that can repair them.
>


You mean a decent toolkit and a decent jack?

The 200s are a piece of urine to maintain. The 300s become a little more
difficult. I wouldn't try and maintain a TD5.

P.
 

"aaj" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> We looked at the Shoguns and Jeep Cherokee's but they were huge, my
> girlfiend is 5' tall and I had to give her a leg up.



> thanks
>
> Andy
>
>


Andy,

buy the biggest one you can find and you'll both enjoy the girlfriend
getting in and out.........

Cheers,

JohnB

(I have a Toyota 4runner 3.0 diesel which would be an ideal sort of vehicle
for you - on all points...)


 
I did think about Discoveries, but they seem a bit big, that said, that
might not be a problem

I assume being Landrovers, they are very good off road?


"Colonel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "aaj" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Hi all
> > so any thoughts for this potenial newbie off roader would be great
> >
> > thanks
> >
> > Andy
> >
> >

>
> You need a nice Discovery you do.
>
> C C
>
>



 
On Wed, 12 May 2004 10:25:15 +0100, "aaj" <[email protected]> wrote:

->I did think about Discoveries, but they seem a bit big, that said, that
->might not be a problem
->
->I assume being Landrovers, they are very good off road?

I guess it depends on how serious you want to get about going offroad and how
much you want to adapt your vehicle.

If you want to get serious and you are not worried about fuel then get a V8 90
or 110.

If you want to be okay off road then there are Disco's, Shoguns, Land Cruiser,
Fronteras for large vehicles or for smaller vehicles Jimneys are cracking
offroad as are SWB Land Cruiser TJ Jeeps (once lifted) and the Vittara.

If all you want is simple offroad performance then HRV, Freelander, RAV ect.

As a simple guide something good off road will not be so good on road so you
will have to make your own judgement on compromise.

For offroad use you want live axles front and back and a low range gearbox.


--
Geoff
www.anoraks.uk.net
 
"aaj" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I did think about Discoveries, but they seem a bit big, that said, that
> might not be a problem
>
> I assume being Landrovers, they are very good off road?


They are, but I wouldn't go too far from a garage that can repair them.

Budgie


 
Budgie wrote:

> "aaj" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> I did think about Discoveries, but they seem a bit big, that said, that
>> might not be a problem
>>
>> I assume being Landrovers, they are very good off road?

>
> They are, but I wouldn't go too far from a garage that can repair them.
>


You mean a decent toolkit and a decent jack?

The 200s are a piece of urine to maintain. The 300s become a little more
difficult. I wouldn't try and maintain a TD5.

P.
 
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