mjheathcote
Centenary Club
- Messages
- 9,038
I'm after a small, cheap, 4x4.
Something to knock around locally, bit of green laneing, use instead of the BMW in poor weather etc.
Wanting something with true off road capability, and also petrol.
There actually isn't much choice, for you immediately scrub off all the soft off roaders like the Rav4, CRV's, Freelander etc.
Suzuki Jimny, just a bit too small, then I came across the Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin...
The 3 door a nice size, from very late 90's to 2006, the sweet spot 2001/2 when it had the a proper transmission with 2wd/4wd/4wd diff locked and 4wd low ratio gearbox. From 2003 they cost cut the 3 door range and it was just permanent 4wd but no low ratio gearbox, just like the rest of them.
I've seen 3 in the last few days, from the NW down to the Midlands all around £2K.
First one was a skip, second one an auto and high miles, evidence of lots of welding underneath.
I thought I had cracked it today with the third.
49K miles, fully stamped service history, very clean, even the a/c worked.
MOTed only 4 weeks ago, no advisories in fact basically no serious advisories at all on the MOT checker for the last 12 years.
Thought I would get my torch and have a quick look underneath.
Immediately put my hand through one of the jacking points, and tapping one of the rear suspension locating brackets with my knuckles, a hole the size of a 50p suddenly appeared.
Gutted.
It would have been impossible for any MOT checker to miss such corrosion, especially on a lift.
Dealer just shrugged his shoulders. 'guess we will have to get it repaired IF we still have it in 12 months time'....
Something to knock around locally, bit of green laneing, use instead of the BMW in poor weather etc.
Wanting something with true off road capability, and also petrol.
There actually isn't much choice, for you immediately scrub off all the soft off roaders like the Rav4, CRV's, Freelander etc.
Suzuki Jimny, just a bit too small, then I came across the Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin...
The 3 door a nice size, from very late 90's to 2006, the sweet spot 2001/2 when it had the a proper transmission with 2wd/4wd/4wd diff locked and 4wd low ratio gearbox. From 2003 they cost cut the 3 door range and it was just permanent 4wd but no low ratio gearbox, just like the rest of them.
I've seen 3 in the last few days, from the NW down to the Midlands all around £2K.
First one was a skip, second one an auto and high miles, evidence of lots of welding underneath.
I thought I had cracked it today with the third.
49K miles, fully stamped service history, very clean, even the a/c worked.
MOTed only 4 weeks ago, no advisories in fact basically no serious advisories at all on the MOT checker for the last 12 years.
Thought I would get my torch and have a quick look underneath.
Immediately put my hand through one of the jacking points, and tapping one of the rear suspension locating brackets with my knuckles, a hole the size of a 50p suddenly appeared.
Gutted.
It would have been impossible for any MOT checker to miss such corrosion, especially on a lift.
Dealer just shrugged his shoulders. 'guess we will have to get it repaired IF we still have it in 12 months time'....
