What do you use a 4x4 for?

[Mr K]

Just reading through some posts got me thinking what members like most and would idealy want to do with their Nissan 4x4's.

I used to be into track cars and circuit racing, still am of course, but went off road once when I got my first Terrano and never realised I could have so much fun at such a slow speed.

For me, I would like no more than to do a massive expedition across Europe, the alps, Italy, Poland. Morroco seems to be a good one and of course just hard core off-roading, not just mud plugging but technical driving, rock crawling. Thats what I really love about 4x4's

Are there other members that are interested in using their trucks for this or do you use yours as a family car or pulling a caravan staying on tarmac.

Why do you have a 4x4?

 

[jims-terrano]

We originally bought it for towing the caravan and also as the kids were small used the 3rd row of seats.
It's been a great family car, carried alsorts in it and on it as well as towed alsorts including most recently a car transporter.
I only tow a small trailer for camping and tip runs now, I rarely have time to go green laning tho we did love green laning but not often as it does take it's toll on the truck.
Wifes truck gets used for transporting the dogs and Flyball equipment.

Mine just gets driven when I feel like it which is quite often. Just love driving them.

 

[solarman216]

We have our T2's cos we live in the sticks and need them, good heavy frost and 2 wheel will not get out of here, love snow goes anywhere, Rick

 

[don simon]

I used to work as a cycling photographer and often needed to get to some out of the way places for mountain bike races, so I had a Lada Niva.
When I came back to the UK I bought the Terrano, forgetting that I no longer needed a 4x4 for photography. It's now an occasional usage and camping trips with the idea of making a more expedition oriented vehicle.
It's the only car I've ever had that puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.

I understand what you say about track days and offroading. I went around the old Range Rover off road track in Solihull (or wherever the factory was) and it knocked spots off any track driving I had done previously.

 

[Blocky10]

I bought mine to tow our caravan. The chap I bought the van off towed with an almost new disco and as I'd given him almost all my hard earned pennies I was looking at earlier discos! Realizing they were money pits a pal of mine suggested mavericks and terranos. I researched for a couple of days and decided on the 3ltr and after driving manual discos and experiencing the huge amount of slack (?)when releasing the clutch and then waiting half hour for the drive train to catch up, I wanted auto. Obviously there were none anywhere near where I live and ended up driving from Norwich to Dorset and home with it.
Haven't green laned in 4x4s since I was a nipper with my dad in series 1 landies so this weekend could be the start of something?

Ian.

 

[Mr K]

Just out of interest, whereabouts in Norfolk are you? I used to live in a village called Roydon right by Diss and miss it dearly, really loved living there but moved for work.

 

[Mr K]

I'll see what more people write but it's looking like what I was expecting, people have a need and a purpose for their vehicles in a day to day manner

We have a couple of meets being organized but would people be interested in a Nissan 4x4 pay and play meet if such a thing could be organized?

 

[Blocky10]

Just out of interest, whereabouts in Norfolk are you? I used to live in a village called Roydon right by Diss and miss it dearly, really loved living there but moved for work.

We live just outside norwich near the showground.
Spend a fair amount of time in Newton Flotman though, not too far from Diss.

Ian

 

[Banshee]

Reason I got one I suppose is from a young age all my dad ever got after his stint of love affairs with naff peugeots and fords was 4x4's he had some cool Range Rovers one of which is still on the road and I'd love to find :thumb2

Silly as it sounds I just liked the high driving position and was toying of the idea of a proper van before I thought about a 4x4.

It's strange though as before I didn't really have much use for one but when you buy a 4x4 it's as if you're buying into a lifestyle if that makes sense. I'm forever being asked to come and tow this, come and move that, and find myself partaking in more hobbies that require me to have a vehicle that is good off road too

 

[elty001]

Mine gets used for everything from family holidays to laning weekends.
Not a big fan of pay and play sites,prefer the ever changing scenery and terrain of green laning:thumb2

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

multi purpose vehicle

used regularly as 7 seater - Mrs is a child minder

tows twin axle caravan anywhere.

used as a van, been full of agregates and slabs.

been off roading and laning.

elevated driving position.

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

I got my first one, which was a Vitara, as I was doing about 80K miles a year, and wanted the better driving position of a 4x4, coupled with I had various trailers and caravans to tow. It came with a Suzuki sponsored free dirty weekend in Wales, learning to off road. I loved it so much, that after 3 years and 260K miles, including lots of Pay and Play days, I traded it in for a Diesel Vitara, which nearly put me off diesels for life..

I then went back to cars for a few years before my V70 was written off by insurance scammers, and until the insurance company were sure I was not involved, they refused to pay out. Being at a time in life when funds were already tight, but needing a car that could tow our caravan, and was affordable, I was very lucky when I stumbled upon my T2. Since then I have enjoyed mod'ing and off roading it, and now use it for both towing and as a volunteer with our local 4x4 Response group.

 

[Banshee]

I got my first one, which was a Vitara, as I was doing about 80K miles a year, and wanted the better driving position of a 4x4, coupled with I had various trailers and caravans to tow. It came with a Suzuki sponsored free dirty weekend in Wales, learning to off road. I loved it so much, that after 3 years and 260K miles, including lots of Pay and Play days, I traded it in for a Diesel Vitara, which nearly put me off diesels for life..

I then went back to cars for a few years before my V70 was written off by insurance scammers, and until the insurance company were sure I was not involved, they refused to pay out. Being at a time in life when funds were already tight, but needing a car that could tow our caravan, and was affordable, I was very lucky when I stumbled upon my T2. Since then I have enjoyed mod'ing and off roading it, and now use it for both towing and as a volunteer with our local 4x4 Response group.

Blessing in disguise those scamming gits were mate, you see it as a negative but if you see it as a positive you could have ended up with something way worse than a Terrano or still be having problems with the Volvo now :lol

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Blessing in disguise those scamming gits were mate, you see it as a negative but if you see it as a positive you could have ended up with something way worse than a Terrano or still be having problems with the Volvo now :lol

I have never seen it as a negative. I was a bit narked at first, the V70 was a luxury beast and I loved driving it, but it missed in a few places, which is why I did not look to replace it. Some divine intervention steered me in a good direction, and I was extremely lucky to get a good Terrano. I only needed it to last the year, and 4 years on I still love it to bits.

 

[Banshee]

I have never seen it as a negative. I was a bit narked at first, the V70 was a luxury beast and I loved driving it, but it missed in a few places, which is why I did not look to replace it. Some divine intervention steered me in a good direction, and I was extremely lucky to get a good Terrano. I only needed it to last the year, and 4 years on I still love it to bits.

Don't believe in it mate, you make your own good and bad luck

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

My terrano was primarily for towing the caravan, I use it on weekends or a day off instead of the van and I have done a couple of mild pay and plays and some green laning. Get asked sometimes to tow things for mates etc.. I never considered a 4x4 before but I would not be without one now!!

I would like to do australia in a patrol, I sometimes watch vids of it on youtube, looks awesome :thumb2

 

[Madmark]

I bought mine buy pure Accedent. I was after a ml320 as we moved to a farm cottage and my slammed Passat just couldn't make it down the 2mile track. After looking at a couple of ml's I soon realised they too are a rusty money pit.. Then this 2002 Terrano popped up very local. Went and looked and bought it.. I've never looked back soon started modding. And as I live on oxdrove I was up there every day. Then I discovered pay and play day sites and I'm hooked!! Mud plugging. Hill climbing. And arse chomping at the seat decents its just so addictive. Its also an amazing tool for family recovery. Trailer and caravan hauler. And really does hold its own off road with a few good mods.. I love it as such a versatile vehicle and worry free motoring with our ever declining road serfaces

 

[perelaar]

Got mine because I needed a small cheap 4x4 to get around our shoot, and to ferry my dogs about.

2-wheel drive might work in a pinch, but having decent ground clearance and 4x4 makes doing the round of the pheasant feeders or recovering a roe deer a lot easier...

 

[Mr K]

I know what you're saying about the road surfaces, the amount of times I say to myself thank god I've got big 4x4 tyres on is unreal. Pretty much off road all the time in this country nowadays lol

 

[Thomas61]

Hi,
I got mine because with the seats in the boot I can have the stroppy kids as far away from me as possible as the missus said I could not follow behind a normal car on a motorbike.

Seriously though, we had a £800 Nissan Almera when the L/R Discovery got all excited and blew it's engine.
The almera was a stop gap car but was so good we kept it for 5 years and then sold it for £350

With a growing family needing more space though and limited funds along with not wanting to go back to L/Rover a Nissan Terrano turned up at the right price and we took the plunge.
We have always camped and enjoyed any weather weekend adventuring and want to give the kids that lifestyle. So not having to worry about ground clearance, wet grass, mud etc along with the higher driving position and inside space all help make life that little bit easier.