4x4xsporting my arse.

[Cavcraft]

Well, that's the Avensis gone then. Fair play it was very nice to drive and pulled like a train even with a light right foot and was well built. But dull. Very dull.

 

So, up fairly early on Sunday and off to the services on the M6 toll (£4.70 for about a 6 mile round trip on the toll ) and a meet up with my next chariot. Three sites of roadworks heading South on the M6 and a nightmare of a queue the other way which filled me with dread.

 

So the new wheels. Excuse wank picture, only one I have at the moment..

 

Supposed to look like this...

 

Drives well but WTF is the 'Sportage' bit about? Slow as you like through the lower gears but was happy to keep pulling at legal motorway speeds.

Full hit with all electric windows, leccy sunroof and shit and, rather optimistically, a towbar.

Seems well screwed together and the journey home via Telford/Market Drayton/Whitchurch was ok (except for when I tried to overtake someone then gave up quickly) and the first hundred and odd miles in it have been pretty good to be fair.

 

Shite report over for now.

[Mr Lobster]

Sounds remarkably similar to the new one then. Which is also slow but has loads of kit. Amusingly the new one also has a badge on the tailgate proclaiming 'XS' which very much looks like 'X5'.Presumably intended to allow those who have just shelled out £18k into thinking they have got a real genuine X5. But made in South Korea or wherever.

[Cavcraft]

Lolzers.This must be the all singing all dancing one as it's badged as a 'GLX SE'. Maybe they used real poodle fur to line the petrol tank or something?Strange things is that even though it's undeniably shite it's actually quite appealing in an odd way. Still can't believe it's a two litre petrol mind you.GR8 4 OAPZ BUNGLOW WIV STEAP DRV.

[Pillock]

A boss at my place had one of them.Quickly went out and bought a rattly old Ka to go with it, as the 23mpg average from the Kia was crippling him. It's a fairly straight easy drive too....

[Cavcraft]

Seems pretty good on fuel so far as it goes but my initial thoughts about off-roading it will be shelved I reckon as it's too low and doesn't have enough oomph.One other plus is it doesn't feel like it's going to tip over on coners or roundabouts.

[Rod/b]

I've got a 55 plate new'un, 2 litre petrol running on LPG. It isn't exactly quick but it just doesn't go wrong and has got plenty of kit. Drives very nicely too, and doesn't mind towing which is just as well as I need to go and drag a Rover 420 up from Dorset.I fancy one of these old style ones as a toy, too. Completely different proposition by all accounts but I really want one for some reason that I'm not entirely sure of meself... Still, having seen this one, I'll just be off to eBay.

[Ratdat]

It's a Mazda engine in those isn't it?

[woolleyiain]

I've got an 08 one of them. it cost us $9.5k (about 6000 quid) in January this year. We've done 20,000 miles in it since and it's never broken on us. It's a bit thirsty though. I was thinking about an old one as a daily, too.

[UglyAmerican]

These are supposed to be almost functional off road actually, as it's a body-on-frame "truck" rather than a jacked-up car like the CR-V or RAV4.Wouldn't put it against a Landie but I think it will get you round in a bit of mud.

[peter9000uk]

These are supposed to be almost functional off road actually, as it's a body-on-frame "truck" rather than a jacked-up car like the CR-V or RAV4.Wouldn't put it against a Landie but I think it will get you round in a bit of mud.

Well the brand new one I had to tow out of a muddy car park with my 2 wheel drive Audi weren't very good!

[scooters]

the great challenge of the 4x4 seems to be:- either legendary off road (defenders/Ladas) and a pig to drive on oneor- better on road but with limited 4x4 ability apparantly the new big Discos have both but at eye watering prices and quite frankly for me there are far too many bits of electrical wizardry to make them a long term prospect or a serious agricultural implement. I've driven my sister's one and yes - it is am impressive car but I will be interested to see the reliability figs after 8 years.Although I may well end up with a 4x4 for the winter I do not relish driving it vs the XM - I'm driving to Newcastle from Edinburgh today for Hogmanay and I will be taking the family in the 850 AWD which is a wonderful winter car but with permanent 4x4 is hardly inspiring to drive - the only smile you get is from the grip and the steaming through snow and icecongrats on the Korean purchase though - not an avensis on the road but it will get you out of a few puddles

[Milford Cubicle]

These are supposed to be almost functional off road actually, as it's a body-on-frame "truck" rather than a jacked-up car like the CR-V or RAV4.Wouldn't put it against a Landie but I think it will get you round in a bit of mud.

Well the brand new one I had to tow out of a muddy car park with my 2 wheel drive Audi weren't very good!

Some of the new ones are 2WD.

[Rod/b]

These are supposed to be almost functional off road actually, as it's a body-on-frame "truck" rather than a jacked-up car like the CR-V or RAV4.Wouldn't put it against a Landie but I think it will get you round in a bit of mud.

Well the brand new one I had to tow out of a muddy car park with my 2 wheel drive Audi weren't very good!

Some of the new ones are 2WD.

Ours is alright off-road. You wouldn't want to take it laning but if it gets slippery and boggy it hauls itself along ok with the 4wd locked in. That's on road tyres. Still it spends most of it's life on-road so a set of knobbly Grabbers aren't really called for.

[VWPowered]

beats walking

[Tayne]

.

[Cavcraft]

Hmm, potential for off-roading then? I go to a disused quarry, 'pay and play' for the day and usually avoid the more extreme parts anyhow.From previous (limited) experience of Shoguns and a couple of other 'big' 4x4s this is far nicer to drive as feels more stable on the road.

[Barry Cade]

I used to work in the dealership in Dingwall when those were new, changed loads of rear diff's under warranty,LSD standard if I remember.? PITA to change the plugs too, but otherwise were fairly good. Loved the Karmann edition with the colour coded bullbars...