Decent 4x4s for sub 2k

[John LE]

I've decided now that the missus can handle the Vec and I can now buy my self another 4x4 (having previously owned 2)

Does anyone have any good ideas on which 4x4s are a bargain just now. A few criteria it must meet are

Must be a diesel or 1.8/2.0 petrol if a pre 2001 car (cheaper road tax)
Mus have some 4wd trickery (HDC, Low range or 4wd lock)
Must have decent ground clearance (please no Rav4s)
And lastly but by no means leastly must be reliable

The Vec is usless in the snow and I found myself having to use the punto which just isn't cool

Also I need it to pull the caravan out of the storage compound as it gets muddy very easily.

Come on then guys, your thoughts please

[chewy71]

Hmmm.. I found my Vec brialliant in the snow,.. getting places others couldnt get,.. pulling other cars out of ditches and drifts.

Freelander I would suggest.

[John LE]

Don't get me wrong the car was good on shallow snow but it started to ground on the deeper stuff

I do like the freelanders but they seem to be a tad over priced (probably because of the snow this year)

[si_hoss]

Shogun. Think the Pajero in particular has diff-locks all the way round and good ground clearence. I believe the Freelander only has hill-descent mode, so no low gearing, but then if you're only pulling a caravan out of a field then it may be good enough.

[Ziggy]

Dont laugh but im really tempted by a Niva, and it would probably tick most of your boxes. Otherwies if you want larger look at old Patrols Troopers and cruisers. At that price avoid anything from solihull

[John LE]

If it was for off roading then i'd buy a Niva but as a day to day car it's not for me. I was something that I can use to work and is cheap to run (or more importantly fix). Something jap does seem to be the best option by the looks of things.

I don't even mind buying something that needs minimal work to sort it out

As for land cruisers, don't think there are many of them for sub 2k

[si_hoss]

I was something that I can use to work and is cheap to run (or more importantly fix).

20mpg don't sound "cheap" to run to me!!!! You might laugh even more but I had a Frontera and it was solid as anything, kept up with my mate's Land Rover's at Devils Pit. Only had the 2litre Sport, but always fancied the 2.8TDS LWB. The Frontera B (98-2003) was a complete redesign from the wheels up, but stupidly made to look like the A series so no one realised. The 2.2DTi Frontera B does 32mpg and should be cheap to get hold of now.

[John LE]

Mmmm there are a few fronty 2.2dti's on autotrader. At least it's an engine I know, they can be boxed too can't they?

[hoochydady]

i have owned a 2.2d Frontera good for the money if and thats if you find a good 1, have also owned a shogun there not that great mpg wise same as the pajero and hard to find a good 1, also owned a freelander but it was a 1.8 petrol still had a good bit of pulling power mind, i like the toyota surf if you can find a half decent 1

[si_hoss]

Then you can give it a simple +2" suspension lift for about £60 and throw on some 31" mud terrain tyres and go ANYWHERE..... (meanwhile living my failed dreams that my missus put a damper on LOL)