Buying a cheap 4x4 for winter driving

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Sun 4 Dec 2011 16:02
Buying a cheap 4x4 for winter driving - notahope

After the last two winters I'm looking to buy a cheap 4x4 for the winter period after last years' heavy snow.

Ideally not more than 2L any make but with a reputation for reliability. Seem to be quite a few Land Rover Freelanders around but have heard they aren't too reliable.

Any sugestion based on experience would be gratefully received.

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Sun 4 Dec 2011 16:15
Buying a cheap 4x4 for winter driving - 475TBJ

Subaru Legacy unless you need more ground clearance.

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Sun 4 Dec 2011 17:07
Buying a cheap 4x4 for winter driving - RT

Subaru Legacy unless you need more ground clearance.

Or Subaru Outback if you do need more ground clearance - at 200mm it's as high as a Freelander but with a flatter belly with undershields so it slides over mud/snow better.

And it's fun to drive in the dry !!

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Sun 4 Dec 2011 17:12
Buying a cheap 4x4 for winter driving - dervdave

Not the cheapest time to buy a 4x4

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Sun 4 Dec 2011 19:14
Buying a cheap 4x4 for winter driving - notahope

Thanks guys for suggesting the Subaru not a vehicle I'd even considered!

And I'm sure it isn't a good time to buy a 4x4 but that's typical. Unfortunately when I do get a good idea it's nearly always at the wrong time.

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Sun 4 Dec 2011 20:40
Buying a cheap 4x4 for winter driving - Ethan Edwards

Nissan x trail but whichever one you buy make sure it has the proper tyres on it. Summer Road tyres won't cut it.

I see plenty of idiot Xtrail owners putting road tyres on saving a whopping twenty quid or so a corner and losing the whole point of having a 4wd !

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Sun 4 Dec 2011 20:56
Buying a cheap 4x4 for winter driving - RT

But the XTrail is a softroader, most of which don't go off-road - so why would they need anything other than road tyres.

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Sun 4 Dec 2011 21:41
Buying a cheap 4x4 for winter driving - 475TBJ

I think you'll find plenty of 4wd for sale. Depending on your definition of cheap:- http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201144425988311/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/3000/model/legacy/make/subaru/radius/1500/postcode/pl210we/page/4?logcode=p

Subarus tend to good value because they are often overlooked when folks go for a 4wd.

Good luck.

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Sun 4 Dec 2011 21:55
Buying a cheap 4x4 for winter driving - Ethan Edwards

The OEM fit is M+S tyres. So to answer your question why? It's because I prefer getting where I'm going whatever the conditions rather than ending up in a ditch in the middle of nowhere.

They have a central lock diff and are a very capable 4wd. The OP asked for a car for snow on road driving. I drove mine 75 miles a day all through the worst of the snow. I do know what I'm talking about here.

But if th OP wants to go on a offroad course then yeah. Buy an ex MOD landy. But thats not what was asked. Cheap reliable comfy and capable. The superior of the original Freelander, Rav4 etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR7kHC6yiQI

Edited by Ethan Edwards on 04/12/2011 at 22:09

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Sun 4 Dec 2011 22:14
Buying a cheap 4x4 for winter driving - SteveLee

£1K will buy you a perfectly serviceable KIA Sportage.

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Mon 5 Dec 2011 08:21
Buying a cheap 4x4 for winter driving - madf

4 good winter tyres are cheaper and as effective.

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Mon 5 Dec 2011 09:03
Buying a cheap 4x4 for winter driving - dieseldogg

Winter tyres on a FWD should suffice for 90/99% of UK drivers.

Unless one lives somewhere with particulrly steep hills/poor access.

From a 52 year old Farmers son who leaves the already 5 year owned & superb 4*4 parked up & drives a FWD, complete with winter tyres, purely on grounds of fuel economy.

And is oft repeated a 4*4 will not steer or stop any better than a FWD.

So repeat after me.............

Cheers

M

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Tue 6 Dec 2011 10:14
Buying a cheap 4x4 for winter driving - Trilogy

Loved my Legacy 2.2 GX estate. Brilliantly secure around corners, especially when fully loaded.

" When you slam the door, it makes exactly the same sound as a recently shot pheasant hitting the ground, and that, as everyone knows, is one of the most satisfying noises in the world."

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Tue 6 Dec 2011 10:55
Buying a cheap 4x4 for winter driving - TeeCee

> And is oft repeated a 4*4 will not steer or stop any better than a FWD.

It may be oft repeated, but I have to disagree. The lad in the Octavia VRS on winter tyres who attempted to follow my winter tyre shod Octavia 4x4 through an icy right-hander at the same speed a few years ago in CZ might also like a word.

Mine didn't even twitch, his was last seen exiting stage left backwards into a field. I've driven both in the serious stuff and I reckon 4x4 is better by a country mile. I suspect that the additional weight of the diffs and drive over the rear wheels accounts for most of the difference here though.

4x4 will get you up an icy hill that 2wd won't too.

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Tue 6 Dec 2011 11:47
Buying a cheap 4x4 for winter driving - corax

> And is oft repeated a 4*4 will not steer or stop any better than a FWD.

It may be oft repeated, but I have to disagree. The lad in the Octavia VRS on winter tyres who attempted to follow my winter tyre shod Octavia 4x4 through an icy right-hander at the same speed a few years ago in CZ might also like a word.

Maybe that line above should be modified slightly

And is oft repeated a 4*4 will not steer any better than a FWD on a trailing throttle.

A 4*4 will be better steering if under power as all 4 driven wheels are pulling the vehicle around. But weight distribution does come into it. 4*4 pick ups can be a bit skittish in the snow unladen where a small FWD hatchback can feel a lot safer.

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Tue 6 Dec 2011 13:12
Buying a cheap 4x4 for winter driving - madf

"4x4 will get you up an icy hill that 2wd won't too."

On the assumption that the road is not blocked by 2wd vehicles.

Waste of time here... If conditions are bad, roads are blcoked by BMWs, Mercedes and Lexus.. all rwd with big fat tyres totally unsuited to snow and with drivers whose drving vocabulary does not recognise the phrase "gentle use of acclerator and brakes"

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