Which 4x4?

Ok thanks for the replies guys.

I've heard you can get the odd bad apple when it comes to freelanders

What is everyone's opinion on this, I suppose the most important thing is a full service history which is relatively 'fault free' as it were.

Any particular things to look out for, like rust prone areas?

Cheers

having had a gaylander and an X-trail... X-Trail (petrol) everytime. but the doozil freebie comes a close second.

The Mad Hat Man said:

having had a gaylander and an X-trail... X-Trail (petrol) everytime. but the doozil freebie comes a close second.

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The problem I'm seeing with the x-trail is that it's a petrol...higher on insurance.

Also it just, well it isn't a landrover (I know freelanders barely are too! )

very true - but it has a bigger boot and is more reliable.

Popcorn may be due to Freelander vs Tratter wars - or double posting of the thread.

Lots of crap in THIS thread about offroad capabilities as well.

GrumpyGel said:

Popcorn may be due to Freelander vs Tratter wars - or double posting of the thread.

Lots of crap in THIS thread about offroad capabilities as well.

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It's nice to have make your own thread and people reply to you, instead of reading a generic thread which may not contain all the information I am after, if you see where I'm coming from

What do you mean about crap being said about offroad capabilities?

GrumpyGel said:

Popcorn may be due to Freelander vs Tratter wars - or double posting of the thread.

Lots of crap in THIS thread about offroad capabilities as well.

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Just noticed your post on my duplicate thread, sorry about that, by double posting I thought you meant I was just repeating a post of what people have already asked.

Thanks for the reply on the other thread, it was very helpful, sounds like we have similar needs

HenryF said:

So I am looking at getting a 4x4 for my first car, primary uses include:

- Offroading on a shoot, which includes going over wet, boggy fields and woodland tracks
- Beach Launching a small boat over hard to medium sand
- towing a small boat (gross unbraked trailer weight= 350-400kg)
- Commuting 10 or so miles per day as well as motorway use relatively regularly.

Obviously insurance plays a big part in this as I am only 17.

I have looked at the following:

- Freelander TD4
- Suzuki Jimny
- Suzuki SJ410
- Nissan X-Trail
- Series 2 defender
- 300 tdi disco

(I am aware this is a landy forum, so excuse the suzukis and nissan )

At the moment the freelander is taking the lead.

Also any opinions on the best insurance company to go to would be great

Cheers, Henry

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at least he never mentioned that dreaded word JEEEEEEEEEEP.

The thread is fine, as I said on your double post...

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/4x4-261767.html

People are obviously after a good thread they can munch some popcorn with and they should get good value for money because most of what is said above about offroad capabilities is rubbish. Statements like "they are not brilliant for off roading" - well for your "real world" off roading, that's complete tosh. We're not talking crawling boulders.

Oh, and to add a comparison to those insurance quotes for young people, my 18 year old son, on his learners, got his 200HP 150MPH Tomcat rocket ship insured for 12 months in his name for 50 quid! All about the post code. But I wish he had a SE one!

GrumpyGel said:

The thread is fine, as I said on your double post...

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/4x4-261767.html

People are obviously after a good thread they can munch some popcorn with and they should get good value for money because most of what is said above about offroad capabilities is rubbish. Statements like "they are not brilliant for off roading" - well for your "real world" off roading, that's complete tosh. We're not talking crawling boulders.

Oh, and to add a comparison to those insurance quotes for young people, my 18 year old son, on his learners, got his 200HP 150MPH Tomcat rocket ship insured for 12 months in his name for 50 quid! All about the post code. But I wish he had a SE one!

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Ok that's good to know

I'm not after a hardcore 'go anywhere' car, just something that will keep up on a shoot

You mentioned that I should go automatic, why is this?

Autos are a lot better off-road. They don't stall, easier to go slow and keep power on.

The Freelander is quite amazing off-road as many people on here will tell you. Don't listen to those naysayers. Yes a standard one will drag its bottom on some tracks, but a lifted one, with big tyres has as much ground clearance as a standard defender, but without the low ratio box. The auto makes up a lot for not having a low ratio box.

HenryF said:

sounds like we have similar needs

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Yeh, in many ways. One thing I would add about the beach is that some times we get quite a bit of driftwood and the likes cluttering the beach and in those instances, the ground clearance of the Disco made it much easier to navigate. Below the high water mark though is basically always clear - if you can get to it! Having a boat on he back is probably your limiting factor though.

I'm sort of in the same position as you at the moment because our Freelander trashed its transmission and is currently 2WD - its like having an arm cut off! So I'm waying up whether to put it back to 4WD or get another 4WD. I have similar needs re sandy beaches, muddy fields, boat. I won't have the commute or long distances (cos I work from home and will use the current Freelander for that), but I do want good traction on ice, for the ski fields, and if possible I want to drive on gravel beaches. I think the Freelander is once again the choice for ice with its traction control and being lighter (more chance of stopping it!), but the gravel I'm unsure about. Once again light is good so that it doesn't sink, but clearance and tyre sizes will be important I think. 'Currently' my thinking is another Freelander that I can have as my fishing/skiing truck and not upset the misses by getting the 'family' car all dirty and scratched up!

Get a commercial freebie lseries it's cheaper to insure than standard unless u need the four seats, or dunno what's out there but classic insurance is way cheap might be worth a look n see what classic 4x4s there are..

What about a lada? They get a good rep and I bet their cheapish could build a nice 4x4 ratrod, or there's always the panda lol

Dies this qualify as a classic....

Daihatsu Other F20V 1978 | Trade Me

Younger than by SIII by 6 years - but quite a fun looking truck.

Not too sure on a classic, because I am going to be taking it down onto the beach salt water will get flicked up and an older car is more likely to rust, right?

Cheers guys, really appreciate the advise

new cars will rot out if they get salty, your better using a vehicle your not too worried about rotting

Might be a daft thing to say on here but what about a Subaru forester Non Turbo one for insurance though. They have hi and low box you never know when you might need it and wish you have it if you dont. Ground clearence is not bad. the one i had coped with forest tracks and across countless fields. and will be happy on a motorway did 1000 mile round trips in mine regularly.
and non turbo ones are meant to be cheap to insure.

heatseeker872591 said:

i find admiral are only good for first time customers insuring a new policy with them keeping it at a low price then when the renewals start coming through then boom they start rocketing up the prices. think best policy is go with a new insurer every year tho tbh haha

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Try Privilige. They were the cheapest last year when my 17 year old lad past his test. £1400 then for a Ford KA and £686 this year with 1 year no claims.

My penny worth would be: as it's your first car to own your want it to be a positive and enjoyable experience. A Freelander [FL1] is a pretty nice machine. The 1.8 petrol can have issues - HGF, is common but not necessarily inevitable, the VCU on the drive train is a replaceable item but it does need to be looked at carefully. If it's tired and past it it will wreck your IRD [transfer box] diff' and possibly the gearbox too as well as assorted mounting bushes. That said however, you are fortunate being in the UK that there places that can OH or supply VCUs IRDs...

Your insurers may have a fit if you go for a 2.5 V6 FL1. The 2l diesels are likely the pick of the bunch. L series are what the mechanics see the least of re motor problems. They are a less technical beast for the DIY [ie you] to maintain. Then the BMW unit is very good too but perhaps expensive to by.

I bought my first Land Rover ever this year, a FL1 1.8 5 speed. It is a non runner but is very nearly back on the road

If you want to get to know how to look after a car and aren't afraid of having a go then a FL1 could be for you - it will provide hours of tinkering 'fun' and may drive you bonkers.

Suzuki SJ 410 Grand Vitara are what I was considering pre FL1. Over here they are pricey.
They are very good off road, are towable, have a low ratio g'box, good for towing within reason, about the same on fuel [i'm talking about the FL1.8 and the 'zuki 1.6 -1.8 - 2.0] and they are pretty reliable too. Less issues that a FL1.

Status symbol and chick puller FL1 - roomier too [will definitely depend on the chick! make sure she doesn't have a horse float for you to tow everywhere!].

There is a vast amount of info' within this site. Use key word / phrase to search.
Most are happy to offer their experience/s and advice others will enjoy pulling your leg.

If a FL1 is what you decide on we'd all like to see some pic's and hear of your successes and failures too!

Good luck!