Major upheavel............advice needed

[Rocket88]

There is a strong possibility that I may be moving to the UK in the new year. The new "Mrs colc", is UK resident, and I will probably have to relocate. Anyhooo..........we are going to need something..........automatic, high driving position, capable of towing 17 ft single axle caravan, pref 4 x 4, though not imperative, and half decent [25 plus] mpg.It's going to be doing a lot of miles, so reliability is paramount. I know nothing about 4 x 4  stuff, so all advise welcome. Got about two bags to spend.

[Cavcraft]

Corsa Corseless

[Lacquer Peel]

White Transit crewcab.

[castros_bro]

We used Totota HILUX LWB 3.0 or 2.4  Turbo Diesel  though not the auto box ones, for lugging kit and towing 4 wheeled diesel bowsers on road and off road all over Europe and bits of Southern Africa. Not a luxury wafting barge but small enough to get in a supermarket car park, and seem to last forever, easy to get bits and the 4x4 is a real 4x4 not just a badge.

[Honey Badger]

Lexus RX £1600 with tow bar, in theory as unburstable as a Hilux, not a real 4x4 more of a soft roader. 3.0 V6 you need to check when the cam belt was done though 100k/10 years intervals

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201404243546373/sort/default/postcode/nn84sa/quicksearch/true/price-to/2000/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/model/rx/radius/1500/make/lexus/page/1/usedcars?logcode=p

 

[Cavcraft]

Triumph Herald

[Junkman]

You pretty perfectly described a Chevy Blazer.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-CHEVROLET-BLAZER-4-3-V6-TAX-AND-LONG-MOT-LOW-MILEAGE-PRIVATE-PLATE-USA-/111451181348

[Timewaster]

From your exact brief and requirements and with an added dose of autoshite...

 

You need a beige maxi.

[Geep]

Apart from the usual Disco, Rangie stuff  Japanese stuff seems to have more options for autos,. Surf, as below, or Landcruiser, maybe Shogun LWB, frequently auto or for left of field how about a Delica?Multi seat/camping opportunities and mostly auto. Not very frugal from what people say but advantages might outweigh that?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-TOYOTA-HILUX-4X4-2-5-DIESEL-ESTATE-AUTO-LOW-MILES-IN-GREAT-CONDITION-/271592146528?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3f3c274660 £1695

 

 

or

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Hilux-SURF-3-0-TD-SSRX-1995-M-/321469002957?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4ad90bb4cd £2000

 

[Geep]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MITSUBISHI-DELICA-2-8-TD-SPACEGEAR-L400-MPV-8-SEATER-1994-M-/321516882500?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4adbe64a44  £2000

[Asimo]

Humvee or more realistically, Landcruiser.

 

But only the proper one with the straight six Diesel. I know a chap with a couple of these, one of which has 300,000 plus on it, much of that towing cars in box trailers around Europe and he swears by the things. Apparently the V8 diesel is less succesfull.

[Geep]

Bit over price at £2600 but this sort of shape Landcruiser is 2 grand territory?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-LANDCRUISER-COLOR-GX-TD-A-ESTATE-6-SEATER-TAXED-AND-MOTD-AUTOMATIC-/221545059772?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item33951d55bc

 

[Geep]

2001 Vauxhall Frontera 3.2 V6 Limited in Red 93000k fitted with Gas conversion £1995

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-Vauxhall-Frontera-3-2-V6-Limited-in-Red-93000k-fitted-with-Gas-conversion-/170996663969?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27d03206a1

 

 

[NorfolkNWeigh]

The Japanese stuff is all well and good, but it has no AS credentials whatsoever. What you need is something sharing parts with the Morris Marina, Sherpa,Maestro,Metro,Montego ,SD1 and Range Rover.

Ok. They rot but they're mechanically strong and cost a millionty per cent less to repair than a Landcruiser,Patrol,Trooper,Surf,Pajero etc. Every town or village has someone to fix it with a yard of spares and there is a massive network of enthusiastic owners who will supply cheap parts and help/advice.

A 200/300tdi will do 30mpg whether towing or not and V8's are actually more economical with a couple of tons on the back than without 23mpg vs 15, in my experience.

In fact,why the fuck haven't I got a Disco at the moment? Heads off muttering to Landyzone and Northants 4x4 sites.

[brickwall]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MITSUBISHI-DELICA-2-8-TD-SPACEGEAR-L400-MPV-8-SEATER-1994-M-/321516882500?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4adbe64a44  £2000

 

Good call.

[derskine]

I think you need this...

 

It is an auto, and does have a tow bar, believe it or not.

[J-T]

I think you need to buy this off me and stop me faffing with it

 

[dollywobbler]

25mpg is a bit of a pipe dream for a Delica. With the autobox and hopeless aerodynamics, they like a drink. Shame as they're pretty unburstable, nice to drive and pretty ace. Shogun lwb is what I'd consider, or Maverick/Terrano dizzler also lwb.

[londonm]

Have you considered a G-Wiz?

[Junkman]

However, as always, there is an English solution to every problem.
 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-LAND-ROVER-RANGEROVER-2-5-DSE-AUTO-BLUE-L-K-P-EX-SWAP-/141403663345

 
You may have to get accustomed to paying taxes, though.
Taxes are in fact protection racket, and serve no other purpose,

but by moving to the UK (or any other country outside your current digs),

you will learn that people see it as their duty to pay them and never object.

The result of sophisticated brainwash.

 

Oh, and the usual buy British etc etc applies, to bring this thread back in line.

[Junkman]

Alternatively, buy a Granada MKII 2.8 estate.

[inconsistant]

Any Lotus

[Junkman]

Well, to be quite honest, if I ever plan to tow a 17ft caravan around, I'll buy a rope and learn how to make a noose.

But - as usual - that's just me, I guess.

[Junkman]

However, devising a plan how to blow up a 17ft caravan, would activate every single engineer DNA string in my body.

And I have a hereditary family heritage of engineers. Austrian ones at that.

[Doctormop]

Isuzu trooper big horny beast or whatever it's commonly known as, 3100CC will pull away in 4th gear towing a cathedral without single figure mpg l'm told by a one death croak it acquaintance who loves his particular example

[Junkman]

Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon.

 

I rest my case.

[explosive-cabbage]

+1 Hilux Surf

[the judge]

Bond Bug

[Pete-M]

My old Grand Cherokee on LPG was a pretty good tow vehicle. Even though it was never fully fit it pulled the 604 from Norfolk without a problem, the Bolleuxrati from Durham to Wigan and a dead Volvo 480 from Yorkshire somewhere to Cheshire.

 

Can't knock them for dragging stuff.

[dave21478]

If it's that particular car, please go in with your eyes open.

It needs money spent on the suspension right away.

 

 

Just curious....how can you tell it needs work?