Cheap shite 4x4

[Milford Cubicle]

It was a Sierra-shape P100 4x4.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Bloody hell, Dacia Duster, Unimog, Lada Niva, Mahindra Chief - some serious shiteheaps being suggested, which only an escaped mental patient would consider for international tat recovery missions.

 

Interesting to hear your views on the Frontera engine situation Cavette! If its a vauxhall and you say its shit, it must have some serious issues.

 

Jeep Cherokee is a GR8 idea! On the list.

[trigger]

I can only find Cortina P100 4x4's on da web.

 

 

If you haven't seen it already then this Australian site seems well worth a look. http://fordcortina.net/

[Tayne]

.

[pogweasel]

Yeah, I can just see you mincing about in a Cherokee like you're Marcus Tandy. I have been pondering this a bit this afternoon, and reckon that all things considered you could do worse than drop some quids on a Disco. Yes I know all the experts here will tell you that the japanese things are better or more efficient or nicer to drive or whatever and they are probbly right, but in terms of potential recoup of revenue when you get bored then it's a better "investment" - at the shite end of the market there is little gap between a right shitter (£500) and something that fulfils all necessary criteria of a car (£1200), so you'd never go far out of pocket even selling it off as a total loss. But then a chap of your crafty calibre would be able to strip one down in a jiffy, and the interchangibility with "series" LR's and range rovers means that you'd possibly end up in a profit situation buying at £1200, running it until it breaks or the boot floor falls out then breaking it into bits.

[Mike D]

Unimogs are plated as a tractor so no tax or test either! No ope of one anywhere near budget though!!!How much does the Argenta weigh and what's the towing weight of the P100? What about a van? Or a big saloon? My Merc is good for 1900kg....

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Not sure how much the Argenta weighs, I reckon its about 1100kg. The P100 can tow more than that according to the handbook, but because its all unbraked its a bit dicey. I'd feel more comfortable if the towing car is a big heavy tank, then the additional weight on the back is less significant, and less conspicuous to the eurocops!

[warren t claim]

How about a Merc G Wagon? Shite ones are well within budget I would of thought.

[Milford Cubicle]

Even the worst, most rotten G-wagens are expensive for what they are.

[Richard]

Are Ssangyong Mussos any good?

[Pete-M]

I'm pretty sure you could easily find a half decent Rangie Classic with LPGness for under a grand, and there is fuck all that tows better.(Discos aren't anywhere near as good)Otherwise, the Cherokee isn't a terrible drive, manual ones are agricultural, diesels are disgustingly bad, but a 4.0 on gas should go rather well.Just beware the LPG / Eurotunnel issues.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Are the diesels as bad as all that? Thats the one which I would feel inclined to go for. I like those old VM engines.

[Pete-M]

Supposed to be monumentally unreliable, although I did a couple of thousand miles in one and it didn't 'fail to proceed' or lose its life fluids.The diesel "Sport" (like the thing I drove) is the autoshite edition. Manual, noisy, unrefined, not that well equipped (although it had a cd changer and 'lecky windows) and generally agricultural.Driven 'with verve' it did about 22 mpg, but driven gently on a run it would probably do 35ish mpg.They're not something you'd ever want to drive hard anyway, they don't thank you for it. The loud pedal is exactly that - it doesn't sum up any more pace, just more noise. The gearbox on the one I used was properly noisy in 1st, 2nd and 3rd which didn't encourage me to put too much poke through it.Seats are comfy enough, but compared to a Rangie - they're shite.

[scooters]

gotta be the Lada cossak/Niva - about as tough as a very tough thing - serious offroader as well - anything designed for the Red Army had to be as effective as a T34 - easy to fix and reliable as you like...mind you 'agricultural' doesn't even begin to describe the experience!

[Milford Cubicle]

Lada Niva isn't going to be capable of towing a 1200kg over a long distance is it?Might as well suggest a Subaru Justy.

[Tonka]

If we're going to give really daft suggestions, why not ring that Bubblecar Museum and see if they've still got that Jago thing?

[wuvvum]

The heaviest thing I've ever had on a trailer was the Saviem tipper. I dragged that back from deepest Gloucestershire behind a 3.1 diesel Isuzu Trooper - probably the best heavy duty tow car I've ever had.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

If we're going to give really daft suggestions, why not ring that Bubblecar Museum and see if they've still got that Jago thing?

Dont worry Tonk, this thing is an Eagle RV built to a comically low standard.

[wuvvum]

Or alternatively ring up the bubble car museum and see if they'll sell you that beavertail Citroen lorry they've got stood in the corner. Then not only can you forget A-framing but you will be the owner of the coolest recovery truck of evAr.

[dollywobbler]

Range Rover has to be the winnah really, though a shabby one may break you. Later Tdi engined ones are nowhere near rapid, but swift enough when towing. Permo 4x4 is a boon too. Don't get tempted by a later P38 one with the Beemer six pot. I drove one and was amazed at how slow it was! Continental drift overtook me on the Frank Perkins Highway that day I'm sure!

[trigger]

After just watching Top Gear I'd opt for the Range Rover, The 3.5 Carb seems like a WINNER to me.

[Tonka]

Dont worry Tonk, this thing is an Eagle RV built to a comically low standard

I once had a random bloke walk up to me whilst I was stood next to our Jagos at a Show and his first words were "don't laugh I've got an Eagle RV" apparently most people laughed at him when he told them, must admit they are a joke even within kit car circles.............apart from the very last ones built on a RR chassis.My advice buy a 200tdi Disco, almost a Range Rover in terms of long distance ride comfort, cheap/easy to fix and best of all afterwards you can sell the remains to a Defender owner for an engine conversion.Price wise you should be able to get one for about £5-600 T&T and it will more than likely already have a towbar.

[Cavcraft]

*Ooh, nearly forgot. If you consider an old Jeep Cherokee 4.0 (or probably any engined variant) then try one out first.Had the misfortune to drive one back from Stoke to Chester one day and it was absolutely fucking horrible. Terrible interiors, nasty driving position and the very gentlest of touches on the throttle saw the back end swing out on a roundabout.All being well I'd be trundling about in a Kia 4x4 of some (nasty) description tomorrow so will see what that's like.

[Mr Lobster]

All being well I'd be trundling about in a Kia 4x4 of some (nasty) description tomorrow so will see what that's like.

I've spent the last few days in a 59 plate Sportage 2.0 petrol. Incredibly slow - I mean dropping to 4th uphills just to maintain momentum, didn't think you had to do that in new stuff - although it has actually been pretty handy in the snow and ice of the last few days as its surprisingly good at that sort of stuff. Features a surprising number of mystery rattles, a not particularly great ride and super light steering as well. And it's bloody thirsty.

[Cavcraft]

Sounds promising then? If all goes to plan I'll be driving one back about 100 miles or so. Nothing as 'fancy' as the one you mentioned me old teapot, it's some 1998-ish thing I think and is petrol engined.I just want something to hoon about in and do a spot of off-roading in but I fear the clearance isn't going to be exactly wonderful.Ah well, Alasation butties for tea now then off to bed to dream the dream of shite 4x4 ownership.

[whitevanman]

Not sure how much the Argenta weighs, I reckon its about 1100kg. The P100 can tow more than that according to the handbook, but because its all unbraked its a bit dicey. I'd feel more comfortable if the towing car is a big heavy tank, then the additional weight on the back is less significant, and less conspicuous to the eurocops!

then buy a braked A frame......legal and better

[Justin Case]

How about a Subaru Forester, not too brilliant off-road but should make a passable load-lugger:

 

 

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Subaru-Forester-a ... 2ea9ee67bc

[dollywobbler]

then buy a braked A frame......legal and better

Um, how does that work then?!

[whitevanman]

then buy a braked A frame......legal and better

Um, how does that work then?!

I'll photograph it tomorrow for you, but basically its like a caravan hitch but works the brake pedal, you need it to be legal towing anything over 0.75 of a tonne, if you get stopped the car remains where it is, had this happen to me with a Cortina I was A Framing, very scarey abondoning your car......

[warren t claim]

I recently read on the Prickheads website that any car being towed with any wheels on the ground has to be taxed and insured.