Help choosing next car

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Fri 17 Apr 2015 16:02
Help choosing next car - lavaJava
Hi all - I'm new here and looking for some advice.

My wife has asked me to find her a new car to replace an ageing Focus. Problem is, she has started a new job miles from tarmacked roads and has a specific requirements list:

* must be 4wd (despite my protestations to FWD and proper specced tires...)
* must be manual 'box
* under £7k

My initial trawls have met with mostly disdain -

• Hyundai Santa Fe (too big)
• Suberu Impreza (death on wheels)
• Audi (she hates the badge)
• Freelander (too slow, too small inside, dear to run)
• Skoda Octavia / Scout (I will look like a geography teacher in the minor counties)

If it were mine, I'd find a Mazda 6 MPS, or a Golf R32 - but there's the rub.

Any suggestions before we give up and get a Kuga/ Tiguan *dies slightly inside*

Many thanks in advance :)
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Fri 17 Apr 2015 23:56
Help choosing next car - confusedbuyer

Volvo S40/V50 T5 would be the one for me?

Although more people would probably choose a Qashcow...

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Sat 18 Apr 2015 00:47
Help choosing next car - nlpnlp

Dacia Duster looks like it would be a good choice - 4 x 4, but a bit of a 'softcore' one. Suzuki SX4 again a 'pretend' 4x4. Skoda YEti?

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Sat 18 Apr 2015 08:25
Help choosing next car - slkfanboy

Off road most car will shake you about atoo much and be total bone shakers and so slow.

I had an XC90 that was great off road drive across fields at 50 in total comfort which my current focus (have a merc also) would be 20mph max and bumpy

A Suberu forester would be ideal, they why farmer often buy them. You dont need 4x4 unless your go to be doing extreme stuff.


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Sat 18 Apr 2015 08:37
Help choosing next car - RobJP

Whether AWD or not seems to be the kicker here.

I was marshalling at a fell race the other week, and one of the other marshalls had taken her BMW Z4. 5 miles on dirt track Forestry Commision lanes that are usually closed to the public, absolutely fine.

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Sat 18 Apr 2015 10:34
Help choosing next car - Avant

Does she need high ground clearance? This is a much more important consideration than image.

If she does, a newish Ford Kuga or Skoda Yeti should suit: if this isn't critical she might prefer an Octavia Scout or 4x4 Nissan Qashqai (Skoda lost the downmarket image at least ten years ago).

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Sat 18 Apr 2015 18:35
Help choosing next car - daveyK_UK

Dacia duster

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Thu 23 Apr 2015 21:22
Help choosing next car - gramar

IMHO there's only one car for the job -- the Suzuki Jimny. Proven to be rugged, reliable and capable of going anywhere off road. Plenty around to chose from, simple to service and has a proper chassis.

Edited by gramar on 23/04/2015 at 21:23

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Thu 23 Apr 2015 21:32
Help choosing next car - DirtyDieselDogg

skoda Yeti simples even better, buy her a 2WD varient n swear blind its a 4WD!

Or a timeless classic, der "G" wagen, pronounced (by der Germans) as gay btw

Edited by DirtyDieselDogg on 23/04/2015 at 21:35

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