4-wheel drive recommendations?

[GlennB]

We're looking for a smallish second-hand 4wd for the narrow, very steep and often slippery lanes in these parts.

 

We do very few long journies and little driving in general. Any recommendations for something smallish, 5-door, 1500cc kind of range if such a thing exists. A friend has a Suzuki Jimny but it's a bit of a rock+roller, and the 2-doors are a real nuisance with occasional passengers with luggage.

 

Any help appreciated.

Edited October 13, 2008 by GlennB

[corydoras]

We're looking for a smallish second-hand 4wd for the narrow, very steep and often slippery lanes in these parts.

 

We do very few long journies and little driving in general. Any recommendations for something smallish, 5-door, 1500cc kind of range if such a thing exists. A friend has a Suzuki Jimny but it's a bit of a rock+roller, and the 2-doors are a real nuisance with occasional passengers with luggage.

 

Any help appreciated.

Do you plan to go off road in it at all?

[Elton]

Do you plan to go off road in it at all?

 

I would ask the same question. My old Subaru Legacy Estate is 4wd, has high and low gear ratios for if it really gets slippy and cost me £500

 

It's a 2-litre, mind you.

[Chris Goddard]

Was just going to say a SUBARU!! Ask Elton how he gets along with his!! UNLESS you want a poser vehicle then avoid like the plague any sort of Land Rover ......(the small ones!) sorry old age and years are catching up!! Can't remember name as I don't see them here!!

[GlennB]

No plans at all to go off road, at least not deliberately

It's purely to deal with wickedly bad local roads.

[Elton]

Glenn - you should look at the Subaru Legacy Estate, then. I got mine off Ebay, with only 77k on the clock, for £521

 

It's a great car for the money, although this is a basic model, takes all the fishing gear you can throw at it and tows, too. Permanent 4wd with high/low selector for tricky situations means that the only thing it hasn't got that say, a conventional 4wd would have, is masses of ground clearance.

 

If you're not planning to offroad, that shouldn't be a problem for you

[GlennB]

Glenn - you should look at the Subaru Legacy Estate, then. I got mine off Ebay, with only 77k on the clock, for £521 ...

 

Hmmm ... we've ploughed through the Greek "Exchange & Mart" equivalent, through all the dealers and private sales, but can't find one for love or money. Also, our builder guy says a sizeable estate would be tricky in the very narrow & winding village lanes ( my old Nissan Almera has about 6" clearance on both wing mirrors when negotiating the very narrowest bit).

 

As we do so little driving and rarely take passengers or large loads, we're considering the Fiat Panda 4x4. Let me stress that road holding and modest vehicle size are our main objectives, not space or performance or off-road capabilities.

 

Might be worth pointing out that Greek 2nd hand prices are outrageously high to Brit eyes. You might as well buy new rather than a 2 or 3-yr old car. And something that would be flogged off for £300 in the UK will fetch 2k here. No real idea why, just not the same 2nd hand value mentality as far as I can see.

 

Any thoughts?

Edited October 17, 2008 by GlennB

[Elton]

Panda 4x4 would be great fun on those roads

[Ken Davison South Wales]

I have a Vitara two door manual and a Vitara four door automatic, cheap to run and my two are coming on twelve years old and still remain magic little runners. The two door known as my fishing wagon has been badly abused in the past having spent many hours splashing around on the beach Can't fault them.

[corydoras]

Might be worth pointing out that Greek 2nd hand prices are outrageously high to Brit eyes. You might as well buy new rather than a 2 or 3-yr old car. And something that would be flogged off for £300 in the UK will fetch 2k here. No real idea why, just not the same 2nd hand value mentality as far as I can see.

 

Any thoughts?

My first thought is go for the panda if poss, my second thought is what side of the road do thet drive on?