Oh What 4x4 to buy so many...........

[Brian the Sn@il]

Ok heres my delema.

im 35 with wife and 2 young kids
I own my own business and would like to get back into 4x4s

As a daily works vehicle - the one i use to look at jobs, collect things and deliver things, i have a 1.9 TDi VW Caddy van which has modded turbo / engine/ brakes etc etc a real fast a-b vehicle.

Ive owned 4x4s when i was in my early 20s
a Toyota Hi Lux jacket up and then after that i bought a Isuzu Citation SWB which i drove to Italy and back.
THen i was into Bimmers and Imprezas, and currenty own a Audi A3 3.2 V6 Quattro, which the wife uses.


Now im after to change the Caddy van as its only a 2 seater.
I would like a 4x4 again but has to have the following:

Luxurious
Plenty of Power and Torque
Look Big but not threatning (to Customers)
Carry the family and luggage ( twin cab pick up ok)


Ive looked at teh Isuzu Denver and the Nissan Navara.

Ive fallen in love with the Navar as it has Leather, etc etc... But cost £ 26K

I have not a probelm spending that kind of money - BUT i do intend to do lots of offroading in it, as this is why im buying one.

I would be using it on a daily basis and clocking up lots of miles ( Locall)


Or shall i buy a cheaper Inport like a Toyota Surf SSGR (i think thats the model)
Then if i like the scene, i can sell it ( are the imports easy to sell ?) and buy a new Narvara


Sorry for the long post :(  dont know what to do for the best.

PS is there a offroad scen / club local to Norwich/ Norfolk ?

Cheers Guys

Brian

[UDTrev]

There's nought wrong with the Surf's, have a 2nd gen 1993 3.0 litre SSR-X here - it will happily be the daily driver or the mud crawler no problem.

http://www.yotasurf.co.uk/forums/index.php will give you more info on Surfs :)


Trev

[Bishops Finger]

I've sat in one of the £26k top of the ranga Navarra's and it was the dogs watsits :D
Very impressed

Also like the look of the Mits L200 Warrior

[laser_jock99]

Can't really advise you on pick-up's -though I do like the new Toyota Vigo (I think it's available in the UK now) the UK seems to be infested with those Mitsubishi Warrior things!!.

Some pictures of the Toyota Vigo on this Spanish website:

http://miarroba.com/foros/ver.php?foroid=247632&temaid=2921412

It should be quite a good motor as it has a 3.0L intercooled turbo diesel as used in the newer Land Cruisers.

You can find all you'll ever need to know about about Toyota Hilux Surfs (aka Toyota 4Runner) here on the UK owners web site:

http://www.yotasurf-online.co.uk/public/forums/index.php

[Brian the Sn@il]

Ive read that theres a new L200 on the Way to be released in Feb 2006

whick looks pretty good,  but im just a bit concerned about taking a New Vehicle off roading. as i know it might get dinged.

I do like the look of those Toyota Surfs, specially the 3.0 V6, does anyone know the BHP and Torque of one of those ?

[thermidorthelobster]

How about getting the luxury 4x4 you want, and spending a fifteen hundred quid on something like a 1991 Discovery, which you can off-road to your heart's content?

[Thrasher]

Or buy what you want, use it for what you want. You only get one life ... so erm .... live it ;-)

At least that's what I keep telling myself when I look out of the window and see Owl....

[drum]

As someone who came at this in a similar way 12 months ago, I may be able to help. I will however state first off that I'm a fan of the green oval and I am biased  :D

I was told by my main customer to get a more "presentable" vehicle. After discussions this was decided to be a vehicle that was less than 3 years old and I get contributions towards it.

I narrowed it down to a Discovery, a Defender or Warrier\Navara. I did give the last 2 serious thought but when it came down to it I wanted on of the first 2.

I spent quite a while looking at secondhand discoveries and defenders, and IMO they were either overpriced or trashed. so I took the money I would have spent on a Second Hand vehicle and used it for a deposit.

As to the discovery\defender choice. A discovery for me was really by far the most practical and sensible option. So I bought the defender. Spent 30k on a 110 XS and 24 hours later had it upto the door handles in mud  :D Do I regret it? No. Would I do the same again with a new vehicle? Yes.

The key thing is a ding, or scratch on a 2 year old defender is not really a big issue. Not like it is on a Audi or a Beemer.


I don't think the customer concerned got what he expected, and I think when it comes to renewal time he may be a bit more specific about what vehicles I'm expected to supply  :lol:

[V8MoneyPit]

Hi Brian

Can't really commext on the vehicle question, but can answer the clubs in Norfolk question.

Breckland Land Rover Club - Obviously mainly Land Rovers!
http://www.brecklandlrc.co.uk/

Hicking 4x4 - General 4x4 club
Used to be http://www.hickling4x4.co.uk/ but looks like a dodgy URL now.

[Mace]

Drum's got a point regarding Defenders. The other thing to consider is a Disco with a ding is a car salesmans nightmare, a Defender with a ding has *street cred * and always looks the part. Say's he who drives a Disco ;-)

[Mace]

At least that's what I keep telling myself when I look out of the window and see Owl....

And what I keep asking myself is when does that long signature of yours turn into a *parts for sale* advert Neil ? Poor Piglet must be feeling very rejected ;-)

[EvilEd]

But neither of them are "Luxurious" And the new Disco 3... *Expletive deleted*

Have a look at the Shogun / Pajero or the Surf as you have said...

If you want a double cab then a Toyota or Mitsu are up there with the top. There is a reason why there are so many Warriors !

Not driven a Navara but bein Jap, it should be good too....

Finally, if you want space... then the Toyota LC Amazon.... Well kitted as standard and capable... Luxurious and plenty of space... but not something you would want to "Dink"

With that much money about I'd be tempted to run a seperate "Toy" for playing and keep another beast for "Best". There are loads of "Pre Kitted" beasts out there for not that much money in the whole scheme of things...

[Brian the Sn@il]

things are taking shape now,  My Best is my Audi A3 and will not sell that in the near future as its a pocket rocket :)

I see loads of Discos about here and i just cant imagine myself and family in one, theres just something about them :(

Been spotting loads of Mitsi SPorts today ( the ones that look like a L200 but are a estate version ? THink they are Shogun Sports, Love the look of them and love the look of the Toyota Surf series 3

Are these good at offroading as well ?

Does a offroader have to have a Diff Lock to be any good - as the Nissan Navara has got a diff lock.

Oh and i cant afford or have the room for just a toy :(  I run 4 vans and a car and havent the room for another vehicle. Otherwise that would be a very good choice ;)


Cheres

[Bulli]

I'll be honest i dont know the spec on the navara but dont get a centre locking diff confused with locking diffs...the 2 are worlds apart. What kind of offroading were you planning? If you want to do even gentle lanes you will scratch the paint very quickly. More extreme stuff will result in more damage very quickly. A navara might start to look secondhand rapidly. If you need space etc for work then a double cab makes perfect sense but i would agree with the general concensus that a second offroader might be your best bet. Not for any performance reason but its amazing where you can get a £2000 car that doesnt owe you much compared to a 26k car with every possible offroad toy!
Shame you arent more local as you would be welcome on a run to get a taster.

[Brian the Sn@il]

Thanks for the reply Bulli,

I was planning on Green Lanes, but this may lead to other things....... I just dont know.

From what i am reading it makes sence to buy another vehicle, but its not what i need,

The Audi A3 is great for a blast to the shops etc, but i need a Large Family 4x4 so that teh whole family can take a day out and loads of room and be in luxury.
Plus the family would love to go off roading in this same vehicle

I also need to use this same vehicle everyday to look at jobs ( i own a Air COnditioning Company) and for it not to look too expensive and not to look like a Off road Junky

[Xtremeteam]

dont buy a shogun sport as they are about the most expensive vehicle ive come across to fix,repaired 1 recently that is used off road regularly in a coal mine & it required wheel bearings,hub bearings,drive shaft & drive flange

For example the drive flange for the sport was bout £80 + Vat,one for a defender/disco etc are around £14 +vat

[drum]

I also need to use this same vehicle everyday to look at jobs ( i own a Air COnditioning Company) and for it not to look too expensive and not to look like a Off road Junky

Defender!!!

They don't look out of place out-side Harrods or in a farm yard. And they only look as "off-road junky" as you make them.

Mine has Air-Con, heated seats, leccy windows, heated screens etc. It may not have as many toys as a discovery or range rover, but it keeps me happy.

Can I recommend going and having a look at one, don't let the sales droid fob you off with a "farmer's special" insist on seeing atleast a county and preferably an XS as they are more the end of the market you describe.

BTW did I mention that I'm biased.

[Bulli]

Brian i know where you are coming from but believe me you will wither do a little laning and decide its not for you or get hooked and no matter what you own it will end up looking like you ARE an offroad junkie!! :lol:

[fire boy si]

i recon that yoy should have a look at the disco 2's there are alot that have very high specs going cheep due to the d3 comming out

hope you have luck finding what you want

[Thrasher]

Hmmm..Mace...

How much, if I was to sell him, would you suspect I'd raise?

[Pike]

Dont buy a Navara if you want to offroad,my boss has a new one,he tried to tow a 3/4 ton trailer onto a school field and GOT IT STUCK (ha-ha) so guess who had to tow them BOTH off the field with a 1989 disco.....yep you got it....me..........I think his next company car will be a disco!!!!!!.On the good side the nissan engine pulls like a train,but my bosses is dropping to bits with 45k on it and on a 04 plate,get a second hand disco!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[laser_jock99]

i need a Large Family 4x4 so that teh whole family can take a day out and loads of room and be in luxury.
Plus the family would love to go off roading in this same vehicle

I also need to use this same vehicle everyday to look at jobs ( i own a Air COnditioning Company) and for it not to look too expensive and not to look like a Off road Junky

An early-to-mid 1990's Toyota Landcruiser is what you need then (as an earlier poster indicated). Huge car, bags of power & luxury plus all the difflocks you'll ever need. Take you anywhere and will tow anything. Get the 4.2 diesel if your're thinking of towing.

[Brian the Sn@il]

Dont buy a Navara if you want to offroad,my boss has a new one,he tried to tow a 3/4 ton trailer onto a school field and GOT IT STUCK (ha-ha) so guess who had to tow them BOTH off the field with a 1989 disco.....yep you got it....me..........I think his next company car will be a disco!!!!!!.On the good side the nissan engine pulls like a train,but my bosses is dropping to bits with 45k on it and on a 04 plate,get a second hand disco!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mmm thats put me off a pick up now :(  as i would be towing and thats the kind of thing i would do !
Look at me in my nice new pick up it can tow a trailer across this field........... Oh dear it cant - Help someone !  LOL !!

Getting towards a shortlist now :)  I really cant thank you guys enough for all your advice over this matter.

When i do purchase you will all know that it has been with the help of you lot :)
mmmmmmmm Toyota Lancruiser....... mmmmm

[laser_jock99]

mmmmmmmm Toyota Lancruiser....... mmmmm

If you do look at Land Cruisers - do make sure it's the model with all the difflocks. Later models (whilst still good offroad) don't have them. If I had the cash I'd definatley be running one.

Also consider the Nissan Patrol LWB another large and capable 4x4.

[BRO]

Disco Series II - Top spec ES is brilliant inside & out.

I never rated 4x4s until I drove one in OZ to spend a weekend on Frazer island (all sand) Always into motorbikes before that ;)
Back to UK & family started appering so bikes were not so useful - went for Subarus- Legacy 2.2 then Turbo & now Impreza Turbo (we might be soul mates ;) )

The missus decided we needed a 7 seater to be able to travel with family & grandparents etc & started looking at Espace type vehicles... I suggessted a 4x4 with 7 seats.

After a lot of research (and also previous experience with exhaust system development when we had an ACE equiped Disco to work on  8) ) we went for Series II Disco. V8 was obviously the cheapest to purchase - and not doing very high mileage the price differential would take about 3 - 4 yrs driving to be offset. So we got the V8  :lol:  Awesome! - If you are into the 'techy' side of it there is a fantastic load of info at the Disco2 website http://www.disco2.com/tech/ Even the Auto gear box has impressed me and I would have prefered a manual initially... but am hooked on the auto now it's superb. I have uprated my brakes to EBC grooved & dimpled with SUV pads that's worthwhile - got some braided lines and centre diff lock waiting to be fitted...
I took a Disco3 V8 for a test drive... Awesome! I would LOVE one of those - The DiscoII V8 gives some kids in Novas a shock at the lights but the disco3 290 bhp would trounce most of them  :lol: - It's so funny!

Anyway - that's my 24 pennorth...  :lol:

Mick :D

[Brian the Sn@il]

Reading up on the Disco it seems a good bet as well :)

The fuel consuption on a V8 is too much as i do about 300 miles a week localy.

So looks like a Toyota Landcruser or a Disco2
Both range in prices, so would suit what ever budget i have when i sell the Van :)

Many thanks, you have opened my eyes to the 4x4 market :)

Gone off the idea of a pick up now as they all look to farmer for me ;)

[Skywalker]

Gone off the idea of a pick up now as they all look to farmer for me ;)

Just spent a bit of time reading this thread, about a year ago we were in a similar position to you and decided on a Disco 2, I went to test drive the one I liked, privacy glass, side steps, dogs bolloc*s and came home with ............  well something different, it's now 2 years old, replaced a very nice family saloon car and has been modified a little...

ask Drum and Bulli, they both know it


Would I change it ..................NO, just bought an old Disco to use as a daily runabout instead  :shock:

[drum]

ask Drum and Bulli, they both know it

Nah the one I've seen you drive isn't black, more a sort of muddy brown sort of colour  :lol:

I think when we were up at langdale we were saying we both had similar requirements and both bought vehicles that are all but the same. (i.e. body style only real difference), but look at them now, they are both totally different cos we made them our own, how many cars are like that?