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We are now in the market for some sort of compact 4x4 and thinking of the Panda. What other recommendations can you come up with? Won't be high mileage and not looking for home maintenance or a "project". Not more than 5 years old, probably newer. Likely to keep it for a few years too.
Dacia thingy? Suzuki wotsit?
Allthough personally I'd get a Panda as the 2wd one I've got is ace...
Garage near us has a 57 Panda 4x4 in for £8k.
tbh I'd spend a lot less than that, if low mileage and occasional use is all you need - go for a bigger petrol one.
You're easily gay enough for a Jimny, druid
Honda HRV - surprised at just how good the thing is
Disclaimer: For driving around the lanes of Devon & Somerset, not doing 'proper' off roading
Get forky to build you one, he has plenty of bits.
If it's for driving in bad weather snow floods etc, you might want a bit more ground clearance than a Panda would offer,
I have a 4x4 Duster in Austria. It's plasticy, noisy (due to offroad tyres) but it was bloody cheap. It's perfect for the winter and have had no problems getting anywhere. I'ts done 90k kilometers and hasn't missed a beat.
When I change it I'll get another.
Dusters on my radar.
Enjoying my frontera for now though.
You bought a house in the country or the town
If its the town a panda will get you where you need to be. If it cant - walk itll be safer.
Tiguan?
Jimny. Excellent little off-roader, very popular in South Devon where the roads and lanes are very narrow and steep. Stick a set of quality winter tyres on and it'll go anywhere. There are some serious mods around, too, I've read of Jimny mods with VAG 1.9 TDi engines in!
Suzuki are releasing a 4x4 Swift...local garage reckons November for them...
Also. Yur entering prime 4x4 buying time...... As i. Prices have just started to creap up for winter.
Id seriously advise sticking winter tires on all 4 corners of the van - evaluating wether you really need it ( winter tires onthe van will go most places a panda will) and buying in spring if you find you do need one
DickBarton - MemberSuzuki are releasing a 4x4 Swift...local garage reckons November for them...
I want one but I cannot afford one. 😥
I will have a 4X4 Swift over 4X4 Panda any day ... 😀
They should also produce a 1.6 auto 4X4 Swift to make it a pocket rocket. 
I've read a review of the Swift 4x4, it doesn't have the ground clearance of the Panda, and nothing like the Jimny, plus it's a brand-new car, and will be fairly pricey. The Panda is also pretty new, too.
I've found a bunch of five year old Jimny's for around 6k:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/suzuki/jimny/postcode/sn140ap/radius/1500/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/maximum-age/up_to_5_years_old/sort/default
I doubt you'll find a Panda for that.
If you buy a jimny - even less than 5 year old look daaan south
They rot almost as quick as land rover discovery 2 chassis. And slightly quicker than disco 1 body shells up in the north east.
Also test drive - horrible places to be on an A road at speed and although it wont be an issue for you colin - like being 3 up in a land rover - with just 2 in - very narrow cars
Absolutely stotting off road though. Guy in the club beats many thousands of pounds of kitted out land rovers ( with good qualified drivers i might add) in rtvs with a jimny that is stock bar a 2 inch lift and bfg ats
Some good ideas/comments (esp. trail_rat). No regular long distance stuff but Mrs will need it fir negotiating back-roads in all weathers. A cheap Jimny might be a good starter for this winter and mibbe see how we get on. I must check out that Dacia though 🙂
Subaru Impreza?
[quote=scotroutes ]We are now in the market for some sort of compact 4x4 and thinking of the Panda. What other recommendations can you come up with? Won't be high mileage and not looking for home maintenance or a "project". Not more than 5 years old, probably newer. Likely to keep it for a few years too.
What do you actually want it for?? If it's not off roading etc. then a decent set of tyres will do you most of the time on a 2wd.
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These are going for about £3 on ebay.
Is she proficient at driving in shit weather ? Highly recomend some training before letting her loose in the bad weather if she isnt otherwise its wasted money.
4x4 in beginners hands can easily be more dangerous than 2wd - you have a longer walk once you get stuck. They are not infailible and brake/ slow down exactly as quickly as 2 wd if you use the foot brake.
Mrs will need it fir negotiating back-roads in all weathers.
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[/img]One of these got me through living in rural northumberland through some serious winters - to serious for that and either take the tractor or stay in.
Is she proficient at driving in shit weather ? Highly recomend some training before letting her loose in the bad weather if she isnt otherwise its wasted money.
This was the biggest problem on the roads in all weathers, other people's bad driving.
More recently my LWB transit managed floods, snow and ice up to the point that I didn't need/want to be on the road.
Possibly because you were in an lwb transit tbh.
My mates lwb transits scary in the snow.
A 4x4 is a sound investment if you live off the beaten track - we had 4 ft drifts to get out on to the road last year.... Lotta digging to find the road. .
Hence my in town comments - i dont suggest venturing out into the hills in one if you really dont need to but for us its a fair walk to the vilage for the messages if we cant get out, that and 4x4 ing is a hobby 😉
Fwiw its worth having a play with a friend with a similar or bigger 4x4 and a tow rope - see what the limitations actually are.
For some abuse - a budget 4x4 that ive found quite impressive over the year ive had it- so mpressive i just fitted new tires , new disks and pads all round and new non sagged rear springs. Cost me 1k with a years test. Wanted to hate it but it has been a grand old truck.
I grew up in the sticks. My mates parents did not drive 4x4s on the roads but they had one for farmer duties.
I'd say one of the biggest faffs in the sticks now are fellow residents that have bought themselves big wide 4x4s and are unable to keep them on their side of the road on tighter 2 laners.
Haha agreed convert - and they still need a pull up the hill in the depths of wnter thanks to totally unsuitable tires.
BMW X1 with XDrive. Small and sure footed, flexible interior, and because it's a bmw with low depreciation you can probably get it on a pcp with low monthly payments. Reasonably priced for an SUV.
It's slightly elevated as well, so might be easier for you to get into and out of.
Octavia 4x4 is very capable and cheap.
Less ground clearance than Land Rover and similar (but more than standard Octavia), but for normal driving it would be a nicer place to be and will easily get you up muddy drives, through deep snow and the stuff most people think they need a 4x4 for.
Possibly because you were in an lwb transit tbh.My mates lwb transits scary in the snow.
I had the FWD much better, only a couple of full sideways slides 🙂 but by then there were plenty of roads closed and I just wanted to get home.
Did you also pull the abs fuse to stop it spinning up ?
Matt , ground clearance and rubber are more important in snow than number of wheels driven.
Car based 4x4s will always suffer in that department , the very thing that makes them good on the road makes them comparitively poor to a jeep - knowing where scotroutes is moving to a jeep would be a good move.although your right for most people they are more than adaquate.
A kangoo trekka would be a good shout , the 2wd is belting in snow and has ground clearance , the trekka is lifted even more, snow grills , belly pan and 4wd system
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Scotroutes new car 😉
As an alternative to the Panda how about the Suzuki Ignis 4X4
Dihatsu terios
Same caveats as the jimny though.
One of the guys has his running on special tracks and its a manuvarable little bugger in the twisties
Again prone to falling over 🙂
We had an Ignis 4x4 previously and it was definitely better then a FWD car with winters. FWIW we are talking about Aviemore and district so we expecting some serious snow.
Whats with the Landy ^^^, searchlight and chair and scary spikes ? Anti Polar bear kit or something ?
It's for hunting trolls.
Rickm, as per Mogrips, though it may help to explain a bit more that its from the film 'Troll hunter'
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Thanks Z1ppy,
Molgrips lol...
Variable Auto Gearbox Easily Confused, Understood.
Matt , ground clearance and rubber are more important in snow than number of wheels driven.
Agreed, especially regarding rubber. Without winter tyres it was as useless as every other car.
Most people who get a 4x4 don't really need one - or at least could get away without, so a car with 4wd is often a better idea.
BMW X1=Ugliest car ever FACT!
The Freelander 2 is a lot more capable than a lot give it credit for - not too big and again, a lot more reliable than rumours suggest. It's worth a look and a test drive.
No - I don't have one - I've got a Range Rover which with decent tyres and snow chains for the real bad stuff will go just about anywhere with comfort - but is probably a bit big/expensive for Druids mrs.
[i]The Freelander 2 is a lot more capable than a lot give it credit for - not too big and again, a lot more reliable than rumours suggest. It's worth a look and a test drive.[/i]
We've just swapped my wife's Freelander 1 for a new one. Seriously impressed with it, and it's now a very nice place to be with loads of performance - compared to the old one, and feels very safe in 5hit weather.
[url= http://www.legacypowerwagon.com/Legacy-Power-Wagon-2-Door_p_8.html ]Power Wagon[/url]
On a more serious note, Jimnys are a good buy. They are reliable and capable, and re the earlier post about them rotting, this is only in one are of bodywork below the rear seats. My 2003 Jimny is only stating to show this now.
A good pair of high profile winter tyres would suit it well, especially since you're in Aberdeenshire iirc. No need for serious mud-terrain tyres unless you're doing serious off-roading. Snow tyres are fine up here all year round, as the road surfaces are usually damp and not too hot, which reduces wear.
Hmm, 💡 skoda yeti 8)
How about a Suzuki SX4 or the Fiat Sedici, I see a hell of a lot of these when I'm working in rural Scotland.
An 07 plate 4x4 Sedici will cost about £3.5k compared to the daft £8k mentioned earlier for a similar age Panda!
The Freelander 2 is a lot more capable than a lot give it credit for
Oh, go on then, any excuse... 😉
Crossing a 300 km Desert track, and only bogged the once. Most others who were at the camp site seemed confused as to how we'd got there until they followed us the next morning and put some real 4x4s to shame
[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3783/9048254020_0db9de183d.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_farrell/9048254020/ ]Goog's Track[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/mark_farrell/ ]Mark-Farrell[/url], on Flickr
It was quite muddy by the end:
[url= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2887/9045421291_2253589f18.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_farrell/9045421291/ ]Larry[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/mark_farrell/ ]Mark-Farrell[/url], on Flickr
It wanders up hills happily enough
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8383/8634733598_786c24352d.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_farrell/8634733598/ ]Larry Climbing[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/mark_farrell/ ]Mark-Farrell[/url], on Flickr
And plays on the beach:
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8121/8634752384_bdf05ed1d2.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_farrell/8634752384/ ]Seven Mile Beach[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/mark_farrell/ ]Mark-Farrell[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8520/8634862738_45dcd8f969.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_farrell/8634862738/ ]Larry on the beach[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/mark_farrell/ ]Mark-Farrell[/url], on Flickr
And everyone at this camp site high in the Victorian alps (apart from the platypus, who didn't seem to care) was convinced the only way we'd got the Freelander there was by helicopter!
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It even rescues 'real' 4wds
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So, long story short, it'll be fine for muddy or snowy roads! 😀