Cheap 4x4?

[Formula Autos]

How about a 4x4 Citroen BX? Normal ride height in normal driving conditions, with the ability to raise it (OK, not to off-roader levels, but raised) when needed. Get an estate and it's pretty much as practical as a soft roader.

 

A true do-it-all car?

 

[scooters]

Get a proper one with a LR box if you can - cheaper to fix if things go wrong -

 

Niva - probably the toughest 4x4 out there - built for Siberia and goes anywhere BUT it is a serious tool not really a car and driving it on the road for a few minutes is a tedious, slow, uncomfortable and scary experience

 

SJ - ok but a bit rusty and again on the road can be scary

 

Shitetrak - bloody cheap and tough to boot - Daihatsu running gear is agriculturan but so is the ride - dont expect over 60mph on the road and you can take the roof off in the summer for Zoolander style petrol pump fights

 

Fourtrak - fantastic machine - in 2.5 Tdi form it is about the toughest and most powerful 4x4 out there and will make a great tow car too boot - these babys can tow vast amounts of weight

 

Mk1/Mk2 Shogun - DON NOT get a Tdi get a V6 instead the Mitsu diesel engines are head gasket prone - only look how many Pajeros are for sale on ebay with Heagasket probs - try and get a Shogun rather than an imported Pajero - the V6 especially in the Mk1 is a very tough engine and there is little difference in fuel consumption between the two

 

other than that I would consdier a 4x4 car - scooby/panda/850 AWD

 

We have an 850 AWD but in the snow I've been using the Torslanda (late 240 estate) with snow chains and it goes anywhere in the snow

 

you might consider saving your money and getting a set of chains for your normal car -

 

or if you want to do the 4x4 route I would personally recommend the fourtrack or an early shogun

[scooters]

BTW

 

I did around 20000 last winter in a Mk1 V6 Shogun and a Sportrak.

 

Most of the time they were in RWD mode - but it was the ground clearance that made the difference and the ability to switch to 4wd which made a difference -

 

I recall one afternoon on Holywell hill in St Albans - dozens of vehicles stuck - I switched on the manually locing hubs on the Shitetrack and the light weight of the vehcile together with the 4x4 it steamed up the hill past new Discos which were well stuck with their fat tyres

 

Personally if you have to drive a lot of miles I wouldn't get a truck - I'd buy a 4x4 car - unless you are buying a very modern 4x4 the driving experience on all is truck like

[fotorabia]

Some excellent points.

But - aren't all Defenders full-time 4x4?

I've found part-time 4x4s (Mitsubishis L200 and Challenger) controllable and surprisingly capable in 2/RWD at regular speeds on snowy roads. They turn into under-steering messes in 4WD.

Almost any conventional car fitted with winter tyres on the driven wheels is just as capable as an off roader in the snow, and normally more stable and forgiving due to lighter weight and lower centre of gravity. The only real restriction, like you mentioned, is ground clearance in very deep snow.

 

we took my 1972 Holden HQ ute..3.3l +5spd up Mt Ruapehu ski field.We parked on deep snow..went snow boarding and when everyone was set to leave the brand new Range Rover beside us got stuck..but because we had a diff lock..we cruised off..and free wheeled 25kms down the mountain..

[Tayne]

.

[scooters]

Most likely down to innappropriate tyres.

And/or the moron behind the wheel.

 

lol - just watched another plonker - he had a "rad" version of a disco - extra plastic snorkel and tread plates, floodlights etc - and high gloss shiney alloys with thin low profile tyres - stuck on the hill by our house - getting a lot of abuse from the workies on the builidng site across the road....

 

tozzer

[Tayne]

.

[Cavcraft]

How about a 4x4 Citroen BX? Normal ride height in normal driving conditions, with the ability to raise it (OK, not to off-roader levels, but raised) when needed. Get an estate and it's pretty much as practical as a soft roader.

 

A true do-it-all car?

 

 

Trouble is they're hard to find, the transfer boxes are made out of chocolate, exhausts are constructed from the very finest unobtanium and some spares are like impossible to get. Shame because the BX is a bloody good car.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Lamborghini LM002, it would be cheap to run if converted to LPG, and if you cracked any of the panels over-estimating its ability in the snow it's a simple resin repair. Further damage could be repaired with Reliant panels.

[pompei]

 

Fronterror purchased today!

[pompei]

Cheapo Frontera bought today. It's the agricultural pre-facelift rear leaf spring model but I'm hoping that confers extra shite points! Steering more wooly than a Val Doonican sweater and the heater should be called the tepider. Long-ish journey tomorrow so we'll see.

 

It's got a shift to engage 4 wheel drive on high or low ratios. I'm not used to this technology. Do you engage/disengage on the move or whilst stationery? The old fella I bought it off was a bit vague on this.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Looks vile. Is it a 2.0 petrol?

4WD can be selected on the fly if you're driving in a straight line, low box must be engaged at standstill.

I don't mind Fronteras as much as some people, but I'd have to select a tidy, later Isuzu diesel powered one.

[Cavcraft]

Stationary I seem to recall from memory.

Looks like a 2.0 8V Sport you have there? Mechanicals should be pretty bullet proof.

[red5]

Swap heater hoses and run it like that for a week (under bonnet n/s) - fairly notorious for clogging up if anti-freeze changes neglected.

 

Select when stationary. Do not use 4wd on anything other than slippery surfaces. ice/snow/mud etc. Much detonation/drivetrain seizure will occur.

 

Steering can be improved massively by adjusted the steering box (which prob hasn't been touched since PDI).

 

19mm ring spanner for locknut, medium flat blade screwdriver for adjusting pin in centre of locknut. Turning the pin 'in' takes the play out.

Should be about an inch and a half of steering wheel free-play with the engine off. Do not over adjust this.

 

The leafers are a bit, well, bouncy. And squealy round corners/islands/drain covers in the dry. This is normal.

 

 

2.8Td's go for anything up to 2k. Esp in PanicBuyA4x4MediaInducedDisasterMode. Although they are the best of the bunch engine wise.

[pompei]

Yep, pretty vile! 2 litre Cav petrol engine. If it goes half as well as my previous Cavs, then I'll be well pleased

[red5]

In terms of performance? Well, a 2.0 Sport weighs about 1700kg.....

[Cavcraft]

Sorry to be slightly pedantic but I think the early ones are actually Carlton (as opposed to Cavalier) engines. Seem to recall they're pretty easy to lift should you wish.

[red5]

Engine was in both, the fwd ones have a different sump/oil pick up - silver rockerbox C20NE. The one with the breather in the top thats always clogged. Always. ^^

[garethj]

Lamborghini LM002

Or the similarly stupid, but much cheaper Rayton Fissore

 

Fiat Uno looks, with the benefit of 4x4 complexity and more dodgy electrics

[face]

I can remember a mate of mine getting a brand new Frontera Sport when they were first released, the dealer offered him £1000 over the asking price for it when he went to pick it up as people were desperate for them and were paying miles over book just to get one.

He kept hold of it...