small 4x4 and cheap

[rs48635]

Looking for small 4x4 and cheap after move to Yorkshire dales. Not strictly needed but will be useful in bad winters or field work (we have an horse).
I want a classic so original Panda 4x4 or Lada Niva
Anna wants modern, comfy and reliable so ideally Range Rover. Anything decent will surely swallow too much money to buy.
Compromise choices so far
Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin - anyone have experience? seems they are petrol only ( good for me, bad for torque if towing?)
Suzuki Ignis 4grip are quite popular round here. anyone have experience?

 

[Ebenezer]

I've said it before and I say it again. Skoda Yeti. You can land a helicopter on it.
Eb

 

[MarkMas]

I'm told Dacia Duster is the answer.

 

[Wanderer]

Alvis Stalwart, actually a 6x6, Rolls-Royce petrol engine.....

 

[Motorsport3]

Surely a suzuki jimny should be up there with the top choices.

 

[safrane]

Loads on AT, and not all are your traditional SUV types. Plenty of hatchback, saloon and estates available too.

 

[Felonious Crud]

The Lada Niva is extraordinarily capable off-road, but might not meet the needs of Mrs RS.

How off-road do you want; as good as a Landy, or good enough to get across a wet, muddy field?

 

[mjheathcote]

Looking for small 4x4 and cheap after move to Yorkshire dales. Not strictly needed but will be useful in bad winters or field work (we have an horse).
I want a classic so original Panda 4x4 or Lada Niva
Anna wants modern, comfy and reliable so ideally Range Rover. Anything decent will surely swallow too much money to buy.
Compromise choices so far
Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin - anyone have experience? seems they are petrol only ( good for me, bad for torque if towing?)
Suzuki Ignis 4grip are quite popular round here. anyone have experience?

I bought a 2000 year 3 door SWB 1.8 GDI pinin three years ago for less than £2k.
It been great, much better than the smaller Jimny for numerous reasons.
All the 5 doors are GDI with superselect 4wd, so 2wd or perm 4wd, locking centre diff and low range transfer box, so a proper 4x4.
Only the earlier 3 door that are GDI are the same, like mine.
There are a lot of later 3 door that are only perm 4wd only, with no locking centre diff or low range transfer box. They also have the less powerful MPI engine.
Big issue, as they are getting on in age, is rust.
Big one is the front crossmember that supports the radiator and part of the suspension. Also the front strut towers.
I bought the sixth one I saw, due to rot on all the others.
If you get a good one they are excellent.
Good drive, well equipped etc, worth much more than the purchase cost.

 

[Goodfella]

Surely a suzuki jimny should be up there with the top choices.

Correct.

 

[Scaf]

Toyota Hi Lux - bullet proof
You choose your age and budget

 

[Wanderer]

Surely a suzuki jimny should be up there with the top choices.

Didn't they used to roll over?

Back in the day I used to work for a Suzuki dealership and had to ferry these from the storage shed (Horwich Locomotive Works!) to the forecourt and I never felt safe driving one. Or is that another Suzuki 4x4 that did that?

 

[Gazcw]

Range Rover! Do you actually want it to work when you need it?

Shogun or a land cruiser would be my choice

 

[mjheathcote]

Yes you need reliability, me having to tow my mates Land Rover to the local garage.

 

[zagatoes30]

Depends on how much you want to spend, Shogun or Disco would be my choices - recently been tempted by a the a S2 Disco I have always like there quirky looks, they will never set the world on fire but the TD5 engine were much better than the earlier units I believe

 

[FIFTY]

Jimney or the 2dr Shogun gets my vote all day

Early to Mid 90s Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee - when they were still made in the USA - are phenomenal cars, engineered like tanks but big running costs fuel wise (smallest engine is 4.0 IL 6)

 

[Oneball]

Jimney, Grand Vitara or Shogun.

 

[zagatoes30]

Jimney or the 2dr Shogun gets my vote all day

Early to Mid 90s Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee - when they were still made in the USA - are phenomenal cars, engineered like tanks but big running costs fuel wise (smallest engine is 4.0 IL 6)

Forgot the Cherokee, tough as they come

 

[mjheathcote]

Jimney or the 2dr Shogun gets my vote all day

Early to Mid 90s Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee - when they were still made in the USA - are phenomenal cars, engineered like tanks but big running costs fuel wise (smallest engine is 4.0 IL 6)

Nah, the Cherokee could be had with a diesel or a 2.5lt 4 pot petrol as well as the 4lt petrol. Probably didn't make much difference which one you had though!

 

[outrun]

I've owned 3 Jeep Patriots for just this kind of thing. I love them. Retro looks, resonable petrol and common rail VW diesel choices so easy to look after and cheap to maintain. There are loads of modifications you can do, with USA kits for everything easy to get. For example, you can lift the suspension and put some tougher wheels/tyres on, or you can go full Startech and lower them, get nice wheels etc. Wipe down plastic boot, tough interior. And a decent one is 2k to 3k only.



My last one, or Tonka Truck, as she was named!

 

[schell70]

Subaru Legacy with winter tyres - dirt cheap and super reliable with stacks of room - I've still got mine because I don't see the point in selling it as it's worth peanuts

Or an Outback if you need extra clearance