Which 4x4?

[pie eater pete]

1 hour ago, difflock said:

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/isuzu/d-max/352141/new-isuzu-d-max-tipper-conversion-announced-2020

Im just surprised these haven't come around sooner...similar available in Oz for years..

[swinny]

16 minutes ago, pie eater pete said:

Im just surprised these haven't come around sooner...similar available in Oz for years..

Limited market I would say. Be a fortune

 

Would deffo not have one with a scissor ram setup. 

[Commando]

You’ll pick up a 3.2L SWB shogun for £5k. I have the 4work version on a 56 plate, nice truck.

[Guest Gimlet]

Merc M class. ML270 or ML320

 

Nice to drive on road. Stacks of grunt for towing and pretty bullet proof. You'd get a nice one within budget. 

A mate in the building trade has an old 2002 ML270 which he uses for towing a 12' Ifor Williams tipper trailer for moving rubble, collecting loose gear etc. I've used it loaded to the gunnels with heavy brick rubble and it pulled like a train. The 320 is noticeably quicker but low 20's mpg is all you'll see. 

 

Pretty good off road but not the best for ground clearance or tyre options. Still a proper 4x4 though and not some poncy X5.

Popular cars with city yummy mummies for ferrying spoilt brats. Buy a pampered town car from some sharp elbowed Annabel who's never done a days work in her life and it'll last forever.

Edited May 4, 2020 by Gimlet

[IronMike]

“Sharp elbowed Annabel” ???

[monkeybusiness]

On 04/05/2020 at 11:26, Big J said:

I have a one owner, 55 plate V10 Touareg, which I bought in November for £5k. I then spent £1300 on it going over everything with a fine tooth comb, and touch wood, it's going well. 

 

Compared to towing with the 4x4 Sprinter (160ps), the Touareg (370ps) floats up the hills like they aren't even there. There is a hill I fairly regularly traverse called Hembury Hill. It's 110m of climbing, rearing up to about 1 in 8. Not hugely steep, but very long. The Sprinter (when towing the forwarder, at 3.2t) would be reduced to 20-23mph with my foot stapled to the floor in 2nd. It'd only just manage it in second. Same load, same hill, but in the Touareg and I'm cruising all the way to the top at 40mph (maximum safe speed with a trailer) on half throttle. So much less stressful, and only giving away a 2mpg penalty. 

 

So whilst I'd never pretend it'll be a cheap vehicle to run, the Touareg has to be more reliable than a Landrover and having owned a Disco 4, it also tows more adeptly too. 

 

That said, it depends where you are in the country. You don't need the horsepower if you're somewhere flat. It's just that Devon is the automotive equivalent of a rollercoaster ride with the inclines.

How’s the Touareg going @Big J? Any issues? I really fancy one.

[Big J]

1 hour ago, monkeybusiness said:

How’s the Touareg going @Big J? Any issues? I really fancy one.

Had it for a year now. Just had to do the starter motor at £1300, which was nasty, but otherwise fine. Even with the trailer fully loaded (3500kg) it's nowhere near challenging the motor on any hill. It does make towing a damn sight easier around here.

 

Generally 25mpg on normal driving, up to 30mpg on runs, down to 16-18mpg on heavy towing.

[monkeybusiness]

7 minutes ago, Big J said:

Had it for a year now. Just had to do the starter motor at £1300, which was nasty, but otherwise fine. Even with the trailer fully loaded (3500kg) it's nowhere near challenging the motor on any hill. It does make towing a damn sight easier around here.

 

Generally 25mpg on normal driving, up to 30mpg on runs, down to 16-18mpg on heavy towing.

How much is it to tax?

Was the starter motor an engine-out job? I’ve heard they are a nightmare to work on and labour bills end up being very expensive for some jobs.

I’m not really bothered about fuel consumption, more concerned about massive unexpected bills on a cheap old car tbh!

[Big J]

3 minutes ago, monkeybusiness said:

How much is it to tax?

Was the starter motor an engine-out job? I’ve heard they are a nightmare to work on and labour bills end up being very expensive for some jobs.

I’m not really bothered about fuel consumption, more concerned about massive unexpected bills on a cheap old car tbh!

Not quite engine out, though that's the way the VW dealer wanted to do it. The VW specialist was able to do it with subframe off and a few other bits. Still a two day job. 

 

They are very expensive to maintain, but you get what you pay for. They aren't much worse on fuel than pickups from 2010-2015, cost a bit less to buy and towing is a whole other kettle of fish. They are also far more comfortable and spacious. 

 

Tax for mine is £325, as it's a 2006.

 

All I'd say if you are looking out for one is try to find a good one. Mine was a one owner vehicle and it had never towed. Passed it's last MOT without any advisories and it was the VW dealer than did the MOT. 

 

Mine's running 370bhp, and it pulls very, very hard in gear. The gearbox is lazy, but it's almost 20 year old tech now I suppose.

[monkeybusiness]

Has it been chipped to 370bhp? Was it a bit underpowered before?!..