4x4 Cars?

[joshwa]

Hello,

Looking for a 4x4 or an Estate or both?

IE. Skoda Octavia Estate 4x4 1.8 Turbo (150bhp) is around £6k in good nick with average mileage (50k)

What else should I be looking at? Had a quick look on autotrader but couldn't see anything?

Could probably do with the space, would like something quicker than my Fabia 1.4 8v (68bhp), would like something reliable, and something with good grip (hence 4x4 - although I suppose traction control is almost as good??), would like good mpg (diesel would be nice)...

Any suggestions? Ideally 2000 or newer

Josh

[davidstone28]

Does the Golf 4Motion come in an estate version?

I'm sure there are loads of diesel 4x4s knocking around though. Suzuki Vitari, RAV4, Discovery?

[mart_haj86]

If you keep your eyes out you could get an Volvo V70R (R - Reg), they should have more than enough room, a hell of a lot of performance and theyre AWD i reckon you could find one to fit your budget.

[Butuz]

Mitubishi Gallant / Legnum.

Subaru Legacy

Two feisty 4wd estates that spring to mind.

Butuz

[XA04]

Diesel Land Rover with an LPG conversion?

[Howard]

Diesel Land Rover with an LPG conversion?

Unpossible. Diesel engines don't work the same as petrol engines (they don't use sparking). Could run it on vegetable oil though

[5lab]

volvo v70 awd
volvo xc70
audi allroader
brand new panda 4x4

[joshwa]

Mitubishi Gallant / Legnum.

Subaru Legacy

Two feisty 4wd estates that spring to mind.

Butuz

Is the Outback the same as a Legacy?

[XA04]

Unpossible. Diesel engines don't work the same as petrol engines (they don't use sparking). Could run it on vegetable oil though

Oh. It's just I read that somebody had an LPG conversion somewhere, so I thought it would be...

Edit:
http://www.ilovesponge.com/spongecars/diesel/diesel.htm
http://www.futurefueltechnology.co.u...hat_is_lpg.php
http://www.radisol.com/dieseldynamics/

[Howard]

I stand corrected

[Konan555]

Diesel LPG conversions work on running a mix of derv and LPG. The Diesel ignites under compression as normal and the flame propagates to the LPG. You can get a lot of extra power out of the engine doing it as well.

Going the other way, I used to run an old Favorit on 50% petrol 50% red derv.

And a four wheel drive 150bhp estate? I guess 1989 is a little old

[AJ84]

We've just got a honda cr-v in the family... although not a true off-roader, its still a great sturdy suv

I'm driving a xc70 at the moment and although seen as not the prettiest of cars... its very strong, powerful, and comfortable.
has a sport and comfort setting (suspension amongst other things im sure) and obviously theres always the volvo safety that cant be disputed

if you want to go all out, grab the xc90

[dkmech]

Would a 4x4 (offroader) have more grip than an estate? I assume you don't go off road and just want "grip" for driving on normal roads for safety reasons. Granted a heavier 4x4 will be harder to have wheelspin in, but cars where this is an issue now typically have traction control, and in others you just don't have the power to have crazy uncontrollable wheelspin which threatens your safety. As for grip through corners I would have thought a typical estate car should be better than a typical offroader due to lower center of gravity. Or am I totally mistaken?

[Butuz]

If your driving on the road, proper 4x4's are all rubish. Main things that affect cornering stability are grip, and weight. 4x4's are heavy, and have a really high centre of gravity as DKmech said.

Just go for an estate with 4wd as you were originally planning.

I'll be totally honest though. Unless your running 200bhp or more, i really dont think 2wd grip is an issue as long as you run decent tyres. I've got over 200bhp and i don't have grip problems. If you put the cheapest of the cheap tyres on, that are made out of black cheese then your gonna be sliding all over the place. I cant believe the sheer number of people who think all tyres are the same though. THEY ARE NOT.

Butuz

[Konan555]

Would a 4x4 (offroader) have more grip than an estate?

There's a wealth of different 4x4 systems out there. Older offroaders don't run 4x4 on the road anyway. Do they have more grip? Maybe. But the need more grip because they weigh more and sit higher, so it negates the effect.

I assume you don't go off road and just want "grip" for driving on normal roads for safety reasons.

Or performance.

[BenW]

Estate + 4x4 = Audi A* Quattro

I'd go for the A4 2.5 V6 Diesel Quattro. Thats 180hp of grippy load lugger. Not sure what you could get in your budget but its worth a look