Replace-a-long-a-max (with 4WD)

Ive had a lot of Cits and the Canbus ones are a ballache. I expect the C8 to grenade terminally at any point. Plus Cits 20,000 mile service interval - do I really want a car thats been left that long between oil changes by a previous owner?

I wasnt looking at Amazons - but there have been a couple that have caught my eye...

1,184 · December 28, 2016

My daily driver is a Mercedes GL420 (X164). I've had it for three years and 80k and would have another. The car's now on 125k.

However, I'd only do so if I had a really good specialist - I use Auto Class in Milton Keynes - because Mercedes themselves are hugely pricey and really not great. Mostly the costs are OK, though a failed tailgate lock was Â£400 to sort and there aren't secondhand parts as it's such a rare beast.

The V8 engine is the star of the show - smooth, stupidly fast, and not bad on fuel - think 25mpg as a real- world average.

I bought this after owning an XC90 and two Disco 3 models - the Volvo was OK but the engine was pants and it was just too slow. The Disco 3s each had foibles but weren't as unreliable as you'd think. The GL is light-years better than either.

Edited to add:

It's really more of a 5+2 than a full 7-seater. My 6'1" son can fit in the third row of seats but not for a really long drive; the Disco 3 has more space in the third row. Both are much better than the XC90, whose third row of seats is very much for occasional use.

On the other hand, the Volvo front/middle seats (and the Mercedes ones come to that) are immeasurably better than the Land Rover ones.

To summarise:

Mercedes fast, thirsty, really good off-road, expensive when things break (but servicing costs OK)

Land Rover slow, thirsty, really good off-road, cheap parts but you need them more often, uncomfortable seats

Volve slow, thirsty, shit off-road, expensive parts, comfortable seats, 4WD breaks as a matter of course. Massive turning circle.

20,171 · December 28, 2016

UMM Alter

20,171 · December 28, 2016

IATO Fuoristrada MPV

22,631 · December 28, 2016

Oh

My

Word

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Explorer-4-6-V8-Eddie-Bauer-Edition-Low-Mileage-7-Seater-4WD-Immaculate-/162318108544?hash=item25cae9c780:g:Aq8AAOSwmtJXU-u3

Â£6K

50K miles

Needs a metric shitload of shultz and waxoil Think its the U8 rather than the U7 so not selectable 4wd, and i have no idea if they have a lockable diff in case of slippery stuff. Ally head which tends to have stripped plug thread issues according to liepedia.

3,570 · December 28, 2016

I bloody like that, ex Japan so RH drive and no bloody salt ever, buy it and LPG it.

noooooooo waxoyl, Bilt Hambers finest for the win...tell yer why, i did the Mrs 52 plate Outback underneath in the stuff 2.5 years ago first summer after we bought it, i swapped to the winter set of wheels/tyres it came with a few days go and its still all in place and rock solid underneath, and rear subframe is a rotter showing no signs of rust leaking through the coatings.

3,237 · December 28, 2016

If you are looking at imports have a look at a dealer called MPV choice in Bradford.

1,184 · December 28, 2016

12k will get an early D3,with 6k left in the bank for if/when the autobox shits itself
And with LandRover recommending that the body and chassis get split just to replace brake lines or the Turbo it all can get very expensive very quickly.....
Early D4's can be bought for within your budget,but they aren't without their own issues.....

Except specialists don't bother lifting the body off to do the turbo these days - brings the cost way down.

20,171 · December 28, 2016

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-2-5-DIESEL-AUTO-4X4-8-SEATER-MPV-WOW-WHAT-A-MACHINE-/172444874872

I posted this in the eBay tat thread recently. I like it and it ticks some boxes. Not a daft suggestion.

1,184 · December 29, 2016

Oh
My
Word
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Explorer-4-6-V8-Eddie-Bauer-Edition-Low-Mileage-7-Seater-4WD-Immaculate-/162318108544?hash=item25cae9c780:g:Aq8AAOSwmtJXU-u3

Â£6K
50K miles
Needs a metric shitload of shultz and waxoil Think its the U8 rather than the U7 so not selectable 4wd, and i have no idea if they have a lockable diff in case of slippery stuff. Ally head which tends to have stripped plug thread issues according to liepedia.

Just imagine how insanely difficult it would be to get spare parts for anything RHD-specific for that. Pretty cool nevertheless.

3,570 · December 29, 2016

UltraWomble.

Have a poke nose on Landcruiserclub.net, scoll down to the bottom of the various forums page to the ELCO Archives section, about 4th thread down is titled ''Rust rust rust off '' or summat like that.

Bloke there has gone seriously to town, must be even more OCD about rust than i am though he does this for a living apparently, on a 120 (which frighteningly can only be 2003 at the oldest), he's took the body off and its a very pic heavy set of postings, well worth a look to give you an idea where to poke nose if you go look at any.

edit, Jesus wept its a 2007 model, it might as well have spent its life in the bloody shallows at Morecombe Bay.

I think the bloke is in Latvia and the place probably sees more salt than we do but sod me.

22,345 · December 29, 2016

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-2-5-DIESEL-AUTO-4X4-8-SEATER-MPV-WOW-WHAT-A-MACHINE-/172444874872

I posted this in the eBay tat thread recently. I like it and it ticks some boxes. Not a daft suggestion.

Although when I clicked the link just now, it seems to have turned into a Ford Fusion

3,237 · December 30, 2016

Another thing to consider with imports is you can be a bit stuck with them when you want to change. I looked at a petrol galaxy last week at a ford main dealer and he wouldn't give me a price for my toyota. Said he couldn't value it. Niche market etc.

22,631 · December 30, 2016

Duster with 4WD? Just about get brand new for your budget and it's as close to new shite as you'll get

And from 2018 available in 7 seat flavour - though Indian built I think rather than Romanian built.

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