4x4 - looking for a new car!

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Tue 12 Mar 2013 22:06
4x4 - looking for a new car! - Kramandy

I need some help please.... we used to have a Pajero and I have to say I loved my big chunky girl but due to rising costs we had to get rid and we went for a laid back Prius! at only £10 a year road tax and nearly 500 miles to a tank of petrol it has been a dream.... but we have recently moved out of London to Kent and we are surrounded by b***** hills!! My poor Hybrid is having a fit on the school run every day and today with all the snow I really missed my Pajero.... so we are now thinking about getting a 4x4 but we really want an econimical car which is not going to kill us with the tax/insurance and petrol cost! we have about £5000 to spend but we do not know which car to start looking at... any help is much appreciated X Thanks X Mandy X

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Tue 12 Mar 2013 22:09
4x4 - looking for a new car! - RT

Fiat Panda 4x4 ?

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Wed 13 Mar 2013 07:58
4x4 - looking for a new car! - Dabooka
Suzuki SX4 worth a punt
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Wed 13 Mar 2013 08:45
4x4 - looking for a new car! - TeeCee

Fit a set of winter boots to the Prius.

Yesterday, as I shovelled 8" of snow off my drive, I watched a Ford Focus attempting to pass my house uphill[1] and sliding all over the place. My fleet Prius had no problems, but it has winter tyres fitted.

[1] Contrary to popular belief, there are some fairly significant hills in parts of The Netherlands.

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Wed 13 Mar 2013 11:57
4x4 - looking for a new car! - Ed V

4 x 4 won't help at all compared with all-weather or winter tyres. Further, unless everyone fits them your roads will be blocked anyway.

But, if it's 4 x 4 you want, with no nasty surprises, I'd go for a diesel Impreza.

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Wed 13 Mar 2013 13:44
4x4 - looking for a new car! - Ethan Edwards

What your saying is a 4x4 on summer tyres isn't that much better than a 2wd. I agree. But a 4x4 on winter rubber is superior to a 2wd on winter rubber.

Unless you have fitted a set of David Copperfield's finest magic pants to the car? ;)

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Wed 13 Mar 2013 21:35
4x4 - looking for a new car! - injection doc
I agree, I have a landrover on verdestein wintrac extreme 4's and the difference is unreal. No sliding about, no loss of traction and no reaction from the ABS in deep snow. It was totally awesome and didn't have any of the scary slides that are normally experienced in a 4x4 on thick ice or deep snow.
The best 4wd I ever used in deep snow was a Panda 4x4, simplicity at its Best and on Winter tyres would go anywhere
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Wed 13 Mar 2013 21:44
4x4 - looking for a new car! - Avant

The Prius is ideal in London but not at its best in hilly countryside as the petrol engine is being used nearly all the time. But it should be perfectly competent (on winter tyres in snow, which hopefully we've seen the last of for now).

If you;re taking children to school, a Panda may be a litle too small. Maybe stick with Toyota and look for a RAV-4 within your budget. You'll get a better price for the Prius at a Toyota dealer too.

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Thu 14 Mar 2013 11:04
4x4 - looking for a new car! - Ed V

Value might be found with the Kuga.

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