Truck suggestions

[lacroupade]

Right.....her indoors has sold MY Honda HRV to her lad and thinks knocking about temporarily in a Nissan Micra is beneath her

So before she executes her threat to nick my truck as shes always liked the Terrano, I need suggestions, preferably based on personal experience, for something to replace it. My view is a SWB T2 but I can't believe the stupid money people are asking at the moment. Saw one bloke in Autotrader (private seller) trying to get £6750 for a car that booked at £4500 tops!!!!!

I'd get her a Landy but can't get my head around spending twice as much as a T2 for the same vintage on a truck thats about as reliable as a Virgin train....

Requirements are as follows:

1. Must be 4WD (we live in the arse end of Wales).

2. Must accommodate 2 x Labs, 2 x Jack Russells and 2 x errr... other small dogs

3. Must be reliable.

4. MPG not that important as its local use only. Ditto higher mileage on the right vehicle.

5. Budget approx £4k.

Answers on a postcard please.....

[lacroupade]

Muhahahaha! The £500 Micra just sailed through its MoT wanting a sidelight bulb!! Killer!

[briggie]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1999-NISSAN-TE...item255aea0b89


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2003-NISSAN-TE...item4aa1937e22


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2000-NISSAN-TE...item3f00026a38


any good mate ?

[lacroupade]

Not really....I was looking for car type suggestions as opposed to actual cars at this stage.

The first one is too old and a but rusty, the second I've looked at in detail and rejected....seems ex-police vehicles are not all they are cracked up to be so my sources tell me!, and the third one is overpriced - I paid less than that a year ago for my 02 plate with half the mileage....thats what I mean about people having silly expectations - that truck books privately at around £2300 in excellent nick....whats the bloke on??

Thanks for looking though.....kind of settling around an 02 plate Freelander if I can find a decent one. 3500 should get a 60k mile 1.8 petrol with all the bells and whistles which would do her....

[Deleted account DD]

Originally Posted by lacroupade

Right.....her indoors has sold MY Honda HRV to her lad and thinks knocking about temporarily in a Nissan Micra is beneath her

So before she executes her threat to nick my truck as shes always liked the Terrano, I need suggestions, preferably based on personal experience, for something to replace it. My view is a SWB T2 but I can't believe the stupid money people are asking at the moment. Saw one bloke in Autotrader (private seller) trying to get £6750 for a car that booked at £4500 tops!!!!!

I'd get her a Landy but can't get my head around spending twice as much as a T2 for the same vintage on a truck thats about as reliable as a Virgin train....

Requirements are as follows:

1. Must be 4WD (we live in the arse end of Wales).

2. Must accommodate 2 x Labs, 2 x Jack Russells and 2 x errr... other small dogs

3. Must be reliable.

4. MPG not that important as its local use only. Ditto higher mileage on the right vehicle.

5. Budget approx £4k.

Answers on a postcard please.....

jeep grand cherokee 2.7crdi limited. (make sure its got the chrome grill whihc as well as looking good indicates the trim level) go pre 2004 (if I remember correctly) for cheaper road tax.

You'll get all youve asked for there plus leather upholstery, dual climate, premium stereo.......no SUPERB stereo leccy everything, a merc turbo diesel that realistically can manage decent economy and drives through the awesome quadratrac system .............. and much much more.

Very comfy saloon car ride on road, highly competent off and towing.

At this age you'll be buying post mega depreciation.

As for reliability, like any cars it has its potential problems but apart from changing one injector (looks like I may soon be changing one more soon so what ), a new exhaust clamp , two tyres and putting in diesel Ive done nothing to it since I got it last August. It saw us through last winter (we too have to negotiate the wooley backs) when the mother in law was very ill and we had to travel when all the sensible people were staying indoors.

Top load area with seats up or down in sensible usable proportions. The weight it can carry is quite amazing. We've been doing a lot of building and gardening working lately and a plastic sheet lined cherokee is as good as any builders truck for shifting stuff

I use it on a daily basis no problems I have to say I have great memories of the T2 and no great criticisms at all but the jeep does everything it did at least as well.

One slight aside is its presence, when it heads towards you it has presence and there's many a time someone thinking about "coming through" hasn't bothered and that's with me defensive driving too
Also on the road safety side I was back ended recently by a touraeg. My bumper and back hatch are damaged (hatch dented , bumper cracked but sprang back into shape) the front end of the touraeg was demolished to the undriveable stage and the impact was bad enough to put me off work for 5 weeks ...but its still well roadworthy

You should be able to find a good one at £4000



ps when I looked under it when I bought it , couldnt find any corrosion , leaks or drips. Most suprisingly as well on a car of this age, no driving along rattles either, quite amazing once you realise the trim is mostly push fit.

[lacroupade]

Well now you got me back into that "Hmmmm, how about buying myself something nicer and giving her the T2?".....I'm gonna tell her it was you!

[Deleted account DD]

I do like this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1999-NISSAN-TE...item255aea0b89
same colour as mine was, Id forgotten how beige the interior was

Definitely wouldnt go for this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2003-NISSAN-TE...item4aa1937e22
If you want ex police vehicles theres a few specialist sellers around which is where this bloke may well have aquired this one from. A couple of points in his description arent quite on the button.

[lacroupade]

Originally Posted by daved

I do like this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1999-NISSAN-TE...item255aea0b89
same colour as mine was, Id forgotten how beige the interior was

Definitely wouldnt go for this one http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2003-NISSAN-TE...item4aa1937e22
If you want ex police vehicles theres a few specialist sellers around which is where this bloke may well have aquired this one from. A couple of points in his description arent quite on the button.

Sills going though....anyway, I'm into Jeeps now LMAO!

[Deleted account DD]

Originally Posted by lacroupade

Well now you got me back into that "Hmmmm, how about buying myself something nicer and giving her the T2?".....I'm gonna tell her it was you!

No problems, broad shoulders

Honestly I test drove mine and after getting my head around the differences in layout it was so easy to use.

Wouldn't go back, standing joke in our house is if we won the lottery Id be off down to the local jeep dealers next day for a newer one...........but the deal would have to be right because im that happy with this one and I'm Mr Picky

[patbhoy]

How's about one of these.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2004-Subaru-Fo...item3eff91f8c6

[Deleted account DD]

Originally Posted by patbhoy

How's about one of these.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2004-Subaru-Fo...item3eff91f8c6

Theyre nice

In all seriousness as Paul commented earlier the price of 4x4s seems to be holding or even going up slightly. I cant believe theres lesser examples of grand cherokees on offer for a lot more money than they were going for when I got mine last year I knew I was taking a chance during a recession but for once seem to have got away with it

Just seen two in different areas of the country for well over £1000 more than mine was

What the hell is going on

[Deleted account DD]

Originally Posted by lacroupade

Sills going though....anyway, I'm into Jeeps now LMAO!

Were starting on mine too caught them in time with a sander and tin of hammerite

Interesting one here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BARGAIN-2000-L...item1c12f4d5f7
wouldnt go for it, docs missing... but look at the mileage and who says these dont last

[clivvy]

I think the Jeep is a great suggestion, i've always fancied a Cherokee, but could never afford. My mates mum had a 4ltr sport one, late 90's, the square one, and it was awesome in every way except fuel consumption, but what do you expect from a 4ltr driving round town! She used it for towing, dogs, the lot.

as for other suggestions, for me, you cant get much better than a T2 fo rthe money. When I was looking I considered so many different types of 4x4, and although my needs differ, I couldnt find better, hence why I stuck it out with the repairs I have needed.

I know you will grimmace, but what about a Fourtrak ? the LWB is ok for the dogs etc, they are certainly reliable (christ, mine kept going with only one bolt holding the power steering box on to south Wales and all the way home), and you dont mind battering thema bit. If you look though, liek all other 4x4's the prices have soared. as an example, two year ago, I bought my fourtrak for £535. yes, £535, drove it home from Derby, no trouble. fixed soem basic electrical problems on the centre clock/compass etc and kept an eye on the power steering pump, other than that, man, it was reliable! I seriously made a mistake selling it, but live and learn.

[clivvy]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...34yu?logcode=p

[danielj]

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Hummer/...t?channel=CARS

Paul, I know this may not be what you had in mind but I would be only too happy to take this thing for a test drive for you and if you forward me on the cash I would be only to happy to collect it from the dealer for you and hang onto it for a month or two until you had the time to come over here and pick it up. Always happy to assist other members

On a more serious note, I thought the Freelanders were known for having problems especially the older models. Would consider offering you my 2003 B2500 but I think it is probably a bit rougher cosmetically than what you would be used to. But as you know I would recommend the B2500 although it is more basic than the T2.