Thinking of getting a cheap (read under £3K) 4x4 as a second car.

Like the look of the Cherokee Jeep 4L, the Frontera LWB and I think the Isuzu Trooper 3L?

 

Anyone have any experience with these or recommend a different one?

Like most 4x4s it wont be going off road really - just fancy a bigish motor for the wet and icy country lanes. Fuel economy would be a factor too.

 

Ta

Frontera's suffered with front wheel alignment problems,

Cherokee's are "OK"

Isuzi troopers are ok, deisal ones

For 3k, you could but a cheap Range Rover, and have a LPG conversion!!

Me and Chunk took an Isuzu Bighorn (Import name for Trooper I think) from Northampton to Preston and back. Seemed ok, huge thing, felt really powerful - had no trouble pulling my zed on a 0.5T trailer. One thing I learn was dont activate the 4x4 button on the motorway while you're moving :x:

Firstly I'd like to point out that there is no such thing as a cheep 4x4. I've had quite a few as I used to have to use one for my job + I live in the sticks and used to have Great Dane Dogs + 3 kids. Still got the kids but the dogs have saddly past on.

 

Fontera are total crap. Its like driving Poridge, the build quality is crap, the interiors fall apart and the engines and Electrics are a nightmare.

 

Troopers are OK but slow, petrol thirty, Deisel really slow, ride is agricultural like a 1970's David Brown tractor and interior is rubbish.

 

The last box shape Nissan Patrol is bullet proof, Refined interior, not bad ride, does about 20mpg Derv only unless you get an import with the fabulous 4.5 V8 petrol and have gas convertion (17p a ltr)

 

The New shape Patrol is glorious exept for the crap UK spec engine options. Get Jap SE Touring LTD. Either the monster tree pulling 4.2 TDi or 4.5 V8 petrol

 

Toyota Land Cruiser is on par with Nissan Patrol, but earlier models not as well kitted inside as Nissan. The Amerson is the Big Daddy. Good at everything, well built and reliable.

 

Range Rover. The early models were sparse inside and bits of trim constantly fall off. Engine are indestructable and lots of petrol motors with Gas convertion already done at a good price. These things fly, are better of road than just about anything else, but need good anti roll system to prevent sea sickness. Later model really sound and was good at everything except passing petrol stations. Not abused the new on so carn't say.

 

Land Rover discovery read as early Range Rover. My veiw is you can keep em.

 

They all cost an arm and leg to maintain and repair. Almost as much as the beloved Z, but parts are How Much

I had a cherokee for 18mths, brilliant on and off the road-saw quite a few landies and range rovers off when off roading it( missus made me get rid when i got the z). like the z they need alot of servicing especially the transmission when been off road, In the time I had the jeep it cost me £60 for a second hand dizzy cause the original broke.THEY AIN'T CHEAP TO RUN- IE 20 OR LESS TO THE GALLON.

 

frontera's are crap, however they share some parts with isuzu

 

 

I should never have got rid of my jeep, just slapped the missus and told her to behave.

 

just my 2p worth

 

 

pete :D

Remember seeing something about Cherokee with tyre wear, people were replacing 1 tyre at a time and this was causing some transmission problemb (I could be wrong ) because they should have been replaced in pairs (common sense!)

 

As before, no sutch thing as a cheap 4X4...bloody good fun though..

 

I had a series 2a Landrover a few years back..paid under 1K for it...crossply tyres, max speed of 65mph, handled like sh1te, tax exempt, smelt of rust (because bits of it were really rusty)...never let me down though...no good in winter though as the heater was cr@p..

 

Anyone else had one of theese??....excellent fun.....Sold it for a profit after 2 yrs..haha.. Think I will get another one now...MMmmm..??? :bow:

you can probably pick up a cheap pajero

basically the same as the shogun but different badge

ive got a p reg for sale but not a cheap runaround

something like this would be quite nice

 

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW/CARS_popup.asp?nU=0&make=VAUXHALL&model=MONTEREY&min_pr=75&max_pr=4000&postcode=sn25%204fn&miles=40&max_records=50&modelexact=1&start=1&distance=38&adcategory=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200435158701465

 

tis the exact same as the Isuzu, (GM group)but in the lesser know guise of the Vauxhall and was trimmed a bit better. good price but mileage maybe too high?

 

edit just found this in middlesborough :o

 

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW/CARS_popup.asp?modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&make=VAUXHALL&model=MONTEREY&min_pr=75&max_pr=4000&postcode=sn25+4fn&miles=1500&max_records=50&source=0&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH&start=9&distance=202&adcategory=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200443168062889

toyota hilux surf everytime - pre 96 based on the hilux chasis and is indestructable :bow:

 

edit: even looks good :D

 

Regards,

 

alex

HiLux Surf mate 2.4 TD! Bloody brilliant.

 

Isuzu Trooper uses a black cab taxi engine but IMO they are w@nk!

Jeep is OK, test drove one ages ago and I did like it but too low down for my liking and 4 litre V6? WTF is that all about?

Have had 2 x Range Rovers and loved them both until SHE f\/cking wrecked them by hitting stuff! B!TCH! :( Nothing makes a noise like a 3.5 litre V8 attached to an autobox when you kick them mothers down! LOL :D

 

Have had a Lada Niva aswell! Errrrr w@nk basically. Also had a HiLux pickup and as the Clarkson so correctly pointed out in the last series of Top Gear they are truly indestructable! Shogun? W@nk my Dad has got one and they are worse than Z's...he's had to have new engine and work done on the gearbox and cambelt snapped and alternator packed up etc. etc. Nothing but trouble with it.

 

Oh summat else that is good value for money, Daihatsu Fourtrack...they're bl00dy brilliant aswell. My old man has had a few of them before making the BIG mistake of buying the Shogun and they were ace.

Weve had a Cherokee and a Toyota Surf. Used both on and off road. The Toyota's bomb proof we had it 2 years now, very cheep to run (2.4 TD). Found the cherokee a bit small inside and bad on petrol (2.5 petrol) but still a good 4x4. Id go for the Surf every time now.

you can probably pick up a cheap pajero

basically the same as the shogun but different badge

ive got a p reg for sale but not a cheap runaround

 

Trouble with that mate is that in Spanish Pajero means w****r! :eek:

 

Ivan

cheers people

My 2p worth now ;)

 

Only driven 4x4's for work, but used them both on and off road, so here goes;

 

Land Rover - Used three with my previous employer, and broke all three!!!! :D1) Snapped timing belt/chain(?), 2) Snapped front drive shaft!!, 3) Had a puncture, and it damaged the gear box (somehow!!) :confused:

Now my new employer has brought one, they are cramped, slow (on-road) and generally sh1te (IMHO)

Cherokee Jeep - Very out dated, but not a bad ride. Off-road, quite good and on-road reasonable. Access to the rear seats is crap though, especially if you've been off-road, as the wheel arch section within the rear door gets all mudded-up, so when your passengers get in, it is almost impossible to avoid getting your clothes mucked-up!!!

Mitsubishi Pajaro - Pile of shite!!!(IMHO) Comfortable, but crappy plastic dash, very noisey on-road, rear seat accomodation was very tight and general feel was that it 'wallowed' around on the road!

Toyota Hi-Lux - What can I say, totally brilliant!!! More like driving a car, nice driving position and good all round userness! I drove the double-cab version for about three months, at work and to and from work (very usefull at home ;))

If it's just for wet and icy lanes why not consider any old AWD... like a Bora or something. Or an ur-Quattro. :)

Go for a Shogun Pajero, they are good for the money...

Or what about a Volvo 850R or S70R. You can pick em up from around £3,500. Very comfy 4x4 250bhp srandard. Good hanling and if you install a RICA chip "Hey Presto" 315/320bhp.

Or what about a Volvo 850R or S70R. You can pick em up from around £3,500. Very comfy 4x4 250bhp srandard. Good hanling and if you install a RICA chip "Hey Presto" 315/320bhp.

 

Yeah love the 850R, mental motor! Can you get such a huge hike in HP with just a chip on them?

Yeah love the 850R, mental motor! Can you get such a huge hike in HP with just a chip on them?

 

Yep they recon 65 to 70 bhp from just a chip. Thats the stage 1 chip with no other mods. Once you start messing with induction kits, exhausts and boost controlers you can get reliable 400bhp no probs.

 

I'm told Volvo motorsports division "RICA" made a ltd Version of the C70 T5R. 500 made I beleive, but only 50 right hand drive. They are 460bhp straight out of the box. They were £52,000, but I'd love to get my hands on one in the future. Though rarity will proberbly keep em out of my price range.

 

If you look on the RICA UK web site they have kits to take your T5 and T6 upto 650bhp. Serious monster power from a balistic brick.

Don't laugh but I used to have a Suzuki Vitara 2.0 V6, had enough zip to get out of bother if needed and was useful off road. Lot of body roll on corners made for interesting trips :)) Got about 27mpg out of it most days, cheap as chips and never had one single problem.

Ah, the 850 R, very nice, rare as you like so trouble finding them but not a 4 x 4 So I understand. Powered to the front wheels via a viscous coupling to get the power down. The R had better suspension etc to improve the handling.

Volvo did do a 4WD 850 which was under 200 hp.

Would have been a shame to put all that power in the R and then kill it off with 4WD.

I was after 1 for ages but gave up as hard to find. 0-60 in just under 7 secs...

If anyone finds a good one buy it and store it, a good investment I reckon.

The best way to use a 4x4 is as a comparison to how 'cheap' your Zed is to own!!!

I had one and is was a booger to drive, own, insure, park, pose, put petrol in and just to have around. Unless you REALLY have a reason to own one, don't bother.

 

They are NOT safe as they will roll over much easier than a saloon, and take forever to stop in the wet.

Ah, the 850 R, very nice, rare as you like so trouble finding them but not a 4 x 4 So I understand. Powered to the front wheels via a viscous coupling to get the power down. The R had better suspension etc to improve the handling.

Volvo did do a 4WD 850 which was under 200 hp.

Would have been a shame to put all that power in the R and then kill it off with 4WD.

I was after 1 for ages but gave up as hard to find. 0-60 in just under 7 secs...

If anyone finds a good one buy it and store it, a good investment I reckon.

 

Na All the R's are FWD the normal T5's are front wheel drive and do a sub 7 second 0 to 60. The R just sub 5 second in standard 250 bhp form, but played with are pretty awesum. I'm on my third T5 last 2 were R's though this one is a C70 T5 with the R type brakes and suspension.( very posh)

They are NOT safe as they will roll over much easier than a saloon, and take forever to stop in the wet.

 

HiLux Surf has Normal and Hard button in the cabin for beefing up the suspension and they don't roll at all! ;) That's on the normal setting.

Liking the sound of these Volvo's as I had the opportunity to sit in the back of a traffic plod car a few weeks back.

 

So while gorilla boy was giving me a lecture about speeding I was taking a good shifty at the interior and thinking how nice it was...well would've been if it hadn't been cluttered up with bacon gadgets!

 

Like vascar unit which looks more dated than your average minicab drivers meter. Oh and how come when they need to do a PNC they always use their bl00dy mobile phone instead of Plod FM??? Useless c**ts!

 

Sorry to go off topic on a rant about TP but there you go! LOL :D

Na All the R's are FWD the normal T5's are front wheel drive and do a sub 7 second 0 to 60. The R just sub 5 second in standard 250 bhp form, but played with are pretty awesum. I'm on my third T5 last 2 were R's though this one is a C70 T5 with the R type brakes and suspension.( very posh)

 

Sorry mate, the 850R was not 4WD, would have been awesome if it was I guess.

http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/850rep1.htm

http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/tech/T5R-MiniBrochure.pdf

http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/press/pdf/850T5R-PressRelease1995.pdf

 

How sad am I....Volvo club..