Cheap Large rugged 4x4

[JBell]

If you are doing a house up then a pick up like the Mitsubishi L200 or Hi-Lux would be my choice, stay away from a Navara as they blow engines and the chassis are prone to snapping

 

[daveenty]

I loved my 2002 WJ Jeep Grand Cherokee 2.7CRD. great off road, plenty of aftermarket off road enhancements and decent mpg. I replaced it with a 2006 WK Grand Cherokee but didn't like it nearly as much.

I did similar, though replaced a WJ4.0 straight 6 with a WK SRT8 with the silly 6.1 hemi in it.

I'd have no hesitation in recommending a WJ Jeep, especially with the 4.0 petrol engine for reliability but don't expect mega mpg...

 

[LostKiwi]

You could always consider an ML....

 

[Craiglxviii]

If you are doing a house up then a pick up like the Mitsubishi L200 or Hi-Lux would be my choice, stay away from a Navara as they blow engines and the chassis are prone to snapping

The new series have solved that snapping issue, but they’re definitely NOT cheap.

 

[d215yq]

Some interesting machinery mentioned, but unfortunately back to budget, out of these which is most likely to be relatively comfortable, cheap to own/run, super reliable and practical?

https://www.milanuncios.com/todoterreno-de-ocasion/jeep-cherokee-sport-2-5-td-180-000-295294191.htm

https://www.milanuncios.com/todoterreno-de-ocasion/toyota-4runner-300312608.htm

https://www.milanuncios.com/todoterreno-de-ocasion/mazda-b2500-300127562.htm

https://www.milanuncios.com/todoterreno-de-ocasion/nissan-patrol-291118002.htm

https://www.milanuncios.com/todoterreno-de-ocasion/ssangyong-musso-288868277.htm

 

[LostKiwi]

Of that motley bunch I'd go for Jeep or Ssangyong.
Of the two the Ssangyong would likely be the more comfortable.
Much as I like Mazda's in general they aren't well known for 4x4s.
The Toyota is a 3.0 V6 petrol so could be very thirsty. My Colorado was a 3.4 V6 and struggled to better 18mpg. That said the V6 is pretty much indestructible.
The Patrol looks to have had a very hard life.

 

[d215yq]

Of that motley bunch I'd go for Jeep or Ssangyong.
Of the two the Ssangyong would likely be the more comfortable.
Much as I like Mazda's in general they aren't well known for 4x4s.
The Toyota is a 3.0 V6 petrol so could be very thirsty. My Colorado was a 3.4 V6 and struggled to better 18mpg. That said the V6 is pretty much indestructible.
The Patrol looks to have had a very hard life.

Thanks, they're just an idea and not the actual cars I'd go for but there's not much variety and they're pretty similar to the other examples that are avilable within budget. Most other stuff is 6-7k. Would the 4 runner be good too if it was diesel which could be had for about 4k?

it seems the Jeep is a bit small/potentially unreliable, any pick up is not a hilux/navara/L200/well known one, the patrols look ancient and are all aesthetically completely destroyed (I picked the best example out of 20! - so maybe they're the toughest mechanically?). So maybe ssangyong or pay more for a diesel 4runner if it's much better.

Am I right that if the W124 packed up or I didn't wnt a second car the Ssangyong/Jeep are the only ones you'd want to live with for town/motorway stuff too. Or is a 4 runner a good cruiser too?

 

[John Laidlaw]

The Jeep is the only one that looks like it hasn’t been used as a builders truck!

 

[rorywquin]

FTFY

However 'Doug the Tug' often gets left connected to the undercarriage of hairyplanes, with the cost down employing monkeys for peanuts that is prevalent. In which case a Tow-Blok® is a solution you might like to try out:

http://dhslgse.com/tow-blok/

Based at Lasham just down the road from Odiham if you want to try one and get some brownie points Shameless promotion there

I used to fly jets at RAF Odiham -- RC Models

 

[rorywquin]

I'd second a Toyota product LC, 4 runner, Hi-lux, Prado. In the Middle East, they are about the only cars the locals take to the dunes. Ubiquitous in OZ and Africa and anywhere else a reliable off roader is needed. I had a 200 series LC in OZ when they first came out and all the 100 series owners were telling me it was too complex. It took me tens of 1000's of miles in the OZ outback, pulling a heavy off road caravan without a single problem (except when I got the alternator full of mud).

However I have seen a lot of the Suzuki 4wd cars around all sorts of places (saw a Jimny going without problems in the Simpson desert) and that might also be an option.

 

[d215yq]

The Jeep is the only one that looks like it hasn’t been used as a builders truck!

True, but your average posh estate car looks like it's been used as a builders truck here after 5 years as a car is a tool. Outside the country smaller is better (for parking) so generally rugged 4x4 ownership is the preserve of farmers and country dwellers only. The fact the Nissan patrol ad states "excellent condition" says it all, it's easy to laugh until you see all the equivalent patrols for sale and then you can see where he's coming from!

I'm not too bothered as long as it's mechanically sound.... after it's had a year of my ownership no matter what the original condition it's going to look like a builders truck anyway, because that is exactly what I'm going to use it for

 

[LostKiwi]

However I have seen a lot of the Suzuki 4wd cars around all sorts of places (saw a Jimny going without problems in the Simpson desert) and that might also be an option.

Good call on the Suzuki - forgotten about them. The Grand Vitara is excellent value for money.

Kia Sorrento is also worth a look as is Hyundai Tucson. None are Simpson crossers but for what you need perfectly adequate.

 

[ajlsl600]

careful on f/runner i had one in kenya crippled my back as i dont like the legs straight out thing, arse on floor... i found the swb pajero a good compromise,as one or at least me, found the sitting position half decent...after g wagon and f/runner.

 

[Blobcat]

Only petrol but the Subaru Forester is always a bargain over in the UK and they go on forever

 

[Ricardo_e220]

You’d get something a lot cheaper buying RHD - unless that bothers you from the UK than in the rest of Euro land as for some reason prices are always higher for LHD vehicles.. and if old enough reregistration shouldn’t be a ball ache. This is why lots f my French neighbours still have RHD cars

 

[Flyinspanner]

Have you searched LHD (American) 4x4 here in the uk? You may find some Cherokee/Blazer/Suburban/F1500 twin Cab pick up/up to F3500 if you want huge torque/etc cheaper here, usually pretty tough, simple to work on, and parts supply to the UK etc is very good - probably ok in Europe too as many were available over there.
Quite often available around US airbases

 

[Flyinspanner]

Go full bling with a Cadillac Escalade

 

[LostKiwi]

Go full bling with a Cadillac Escalade

Or proper badass with an HMMV...

 

[flowrider]

Not a large 4x4 but I once had a Daihatsu Terios that would run rings around LR Discoveries offroad.

 

[Flyinspanner]

You could look at dealers who specialise in LHD cars?

http://lhdcarshowroom.co.uk/site/li...e-2-0-left-hand-drive-lhd-spanish-registered/