Mid-range 4x4 options

[Zenbaas]

Yeah, taking a look around today and considering some of my plans, low range would be nice. Unfortunately few of these mid-range 4x4s have that option.

Don't know if it's a bit low spec for you but you could also consider a Suzuki Grand Vitara which has low range if you want to go that route.

 

[Fazda]

Make your mind up. You write the Subaru off for being underpowered, and then recommend 20% less power per ton, by your own calculations. It's starting to looks as though you're just being difficult for the sake of arguing.

Thanks for that - I should actually just bow out of this discussion right now, as once one comes up against a Subaru hater, they will blur whatever lines possible, to win their argument.

As for my "ordinary car" statement - it is the ONLY one of the group that feels and handles "normally" rather than feel like a clunky 4x4, and fuel consumption is in the 8 to 9 l/100 range..AND has brilliant road holding thanks to the lowest centre of gravity of any SUV. Anyone who wants to live with Jeep's poor quality and damned awful consumption ( Don't forget, we have one in our fleet, and the guy driving it is crying in his pretzels because of the fuel consumption...despite the "fabulous" 9 speed box), or Landy's ability to expensively break down at the most inopportune moment, is welcome to.

A 3.2 V6 Cherokee will obviously have more power in GP

 

[Naks]

Hi all

I'm considering purchasing a 4x4, whilst at the same time reducing car repayments. I'm looking at the following:

Jeep Cherokee
Land Rover Freelander 2
Toyota Fortuner
Ford Everest
Nissan X-trail

What I need is something that I can drive easily and comfortably in town, but is more than capable as a 4x4 when the time comes. What I don't want is something that pulls off like a tank and needs to be refueled twice on the way to the office. Diesel is probably the way forward.

Obviously their big brothers would be a better option, but I'm trying to cut back on expenses whilst still having a nice holiday vehicle.

Comments on these vehicles and your experiences, as well as other suggestions are welcome!

Cheers

FL2 is the best 'softroader' money can buy. It can even run rings around 'real' 4x4s in experienced hands.

 

[TehStranger]

Make your mind up. You write the Subaru off for being underpowered, and then recommend 20% less power per ton, by your own calculations. It's starting to looks as though you're just being difficult for the sake of arguing.

Comprehension fail much? Where at all did I write the Subaru off? At what point did I in any way say don't buy the Subaru?

What I said was:

I can confirm, the 2.5 N/As up on the reef are Ox wagon slow. Not terrible if you're not in a rush, but this is JHB, being in a rush is in our blood. :twisted:

All I said was it's slow, nothing more, nothing less. It's starting to look like you didn't bother reading my posts properly.

I'm adding balance to the discussion, countering Fazda's unapologetic Subaru fanboyism. The "not an ordinary car" might as well have been straight from the mouth of the motivational speaker that visited Subaru dealerships to try and inspire sales staff. I do the same when Roux starts talking about Opels.

Now that I've spelt it out, do you understand?

Thanks for that - I should actually just bow out of this discussion right now, as once one comes up against a Subaru hater, they will blur whatever lines possible, to win their argument.

As for my "ordinary car" statement - it is the ONLY one of the group that feels and handles "normally" rather than feel like a clunky 4x4, and fuel consumption is in the 8 to 9 l/100 range..AND has brilliant road holding thanks to the lowest centre of gravity of any SUV. Anyone who wants to live with Jeep's poor quality and damned awful consumption ( Don't forget, we have one in our fleet, and the guy driving it is crying in his pretzels because of the fuel consumption...despite the "fabulous" 9 speed box), or Landy's ability to expensively break down at the most inopportune moment, is welcome to.

Nice one, I don't bow to your Subaru fanboyism and now I'm a Subaru hater? Just because I offer alternatives to your holy grail of motoring? I like the brand, I like the cars, and I think Subaru's are good choices in any category where they have competing offerings. However that won't stop me from recommending other vehicles at times because I'm not brand blind. But ok, dismiss the "haters", seems to be the fashionable term for people who disagree with you.

A 3.2 V6 Cherokee will obviously have more power in GP

It wasn't about power, it was about power to weight after YOU brought up the lightweight bit about the Forester. But nice try, attempting to miss the point on purpose to distract from the fact that both the Freelander 2 and Cherokee are quicker up here.

 

[SmartKit]

Okay, so still in contention are the FL2, Forester and Cherokee. A Fortuner will probably make me blissfully unhappy, the Everest is a terrible car and the X-Trail is a bit boring, though maybe I'll give it a test drive.

 

[SmartKit]

In a simliar situation OP, but with a smaller budget I think. Having a look at the Freelander, fantastic vehicle, great ride, but smallish boot for our needs, and I wasn't too keen on the interior. Nothing wrong with it but at that price range you're competing with Audi's and BM's and they have it beat IMO.
Forester looks good, or we might just decide we actually don't need an off road vehicle to begin with so might go with a station wagon - V60, Avant etc.

Would you consider a double cab? Ranger, Amarok or the like?

I'm not really a bakkie person, though my wife would love it. I have to put my foot down somewhere

 

[dj_jyno]

Tiguan, or is that more for on-road purposes?

 

[Bodega]

Chev trailblazer is a good option. I love mine.

 

[Sepeng]

Just to blur the lines further, not sure how hardcore your offroading will be, but hows about the Audi Allroad? Would be no more difficult to drive around in town than an A4, econimical, and probably cater for 95% of your offroading requirements? Expensive but pretty classy, just doesn't have the same status of a pukka SUV I guess.

 

[SmartKit]

Tiguan, or is that more for on-road purposes?

The*Volkswagen Tiguan*is a compact crossover SUV that rivals cars like the*Ford Kuga,*Hyundai ix35*and*Skoda Yeti. It may have the pumped up looks of a 4x4 but it hasn’t been designed for serious off-roading. The Tiguan is more at home in towns and on motorways – as the raised ride height, high driving position and spacious dimensions are mainly for show and to allow for plenty of interior space.

Read more:*Volkswagen Tiguan SUV review | Carbuyer*http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/volkswagen/tiguan/sports-utility-vehicle/review#ixzz36NnkPRRM*
Follow us:*@CarbuyerUK on Twitter*|*CarbuyerUK on Facebook

 

[Fazda]

It wasn't about power, it was about power to weight after YOU brought up the lightweight bit about the Forester. But nice try, attempting to miss the point on purpose to distract from the fact that both the Freelander 2 and Cherokee are quicker up here.

Well perhaps you are deliberately missing the point - "power" as such means sweet blow all until the weight of whatever it is trying to move, is factored into the equation.

100 kw will feel pretty weak if you are trying to move a large truck, but it is as powerful as all hell if it is pushing a motorbike - surely I don't have to explain THAT to you?

You have also conveniently left out torque figures as kw/ton means absolutely nothing unless torque is also factored in.

Again, I will use the figures of cars that I know:

Forester Diesel 110 k/w and 350 nm torque, feels (is) vastly more powerful than our XV which is also 110 k/w but has 198 nm of torque.

You are only using half the power factor to "prove" your point!

I am a Subaru "fanboy" for bloody good reason, as I have said countless times before - I owned three and did massive mileage in all of them, throughout rural SA before moving here as a sales person. The cars are way better than anyone who hasn't driven them actually realizes, and you have to drive one to understand.

I honestly believe that the OP should seriously consider looking at one as the Forester falls squarely into the band of cars that interest him.

Whatever he finally decides is entirely up to him

 

[Nangi]

Not sure if it has been mentioned, but there is a new X Trail on the way.... maybe wait abit for that? Looks alot better than the current one...

 

[SmartKit]

Well perhaps you are deliberately missing the point - "power" as such means sweet blow all until the weight of whatever it is trying to move, is factored into the equation.

100 kw will feel pretty weak if you are trying to move a large truck, but it is as powerful as all hell if it is pushing a motorbike - surely I don't have to explain THAT to you?

You have also conveniently left out torque figures as kw/ton means absolutely nothing unless torque is also factored in.

Again, I will use the figures of cars that I know:

Forester Diesel 110 k/w and 350 nm torque, feels (is) vastly more powerful than our XV which is also 110 k/w but has 198 nm of torque.

You are only using half the power factor to "prove" your point!

I am a Subaru "fanboy" for bloody good reason, as I have said countless times before - I owned three and did massive mileage in all of them, throughout rural SA before moving here as a sales person. The cars are way better than anyone who hasn't driven them actually realizes, and you have to drive one to understand.

I honestly believe that the OP should seriously consider looking at one as the Forester falls squarely into the band of cars that interest him.

Whatever he finally decides is entirely up to him

My wife gave me a wtf face when I mentioned the Subaru. I'm still keen for a test drive, though.

 

[Dolby]

I'm not really a bakkie person, though my wife would love it. I have to put my foot down somewhere

So if the wife is making you get the car - perhaps it's time for a trade in? Her car, that is

 

[SmartKit]

So if the wife is making you get the car - perhaps it's time for a trade in? Her car, that is

Just tired of borrowing the in-laws vehicles. That and I can't even take the recycling bin to the depot.

 

[Dolby]

Didn't you like that FJ ?

 

[Fazda]

My wife gave me a wtf face when I mentioned the Subaru. I'm still keen for a test drive, though.

Has your wife seen the new one or is she thinking of the old "station wagon" model?

 

[TehStranger]

I honestly believe that the OP should seriously consider looking at one as the Forester falls squarely into the band of cars that interest him.

Whatever he finally decides is entirely up to him

This is the bit where we're in total agreement. I'm all for the OP to consider and even buy a Forester, because they are good, capable vehicles. Not the holy grail as you like to think, but a true contender that would probably make him very happy. Now that we've got that out the way...

Well perhaps you are deliberately missing the point - "power" as such means sweet blow all until the weight of whatever it is trying to move, is factored into the equation.

100 kw will feel pretty weak if you are trying to move a large truck, but it is as powerful as all hell if it is pushing a motorbike - surely I don't have to explain THAT to you?

You have also conveniently left out torque figures as kw/ton means absolutely nothing unless torque is also factored in.

Again, I will use the figures of cars that I know:

Forester Diesel 110 k/w and 350 nm torque, feels (is) vastly more powerful than our XV which is also 110 k/w but has 198 nm of torque.

You are only using half the power factor to "prove" your point!

I am a Subaru "fanboy" for bloody good reason, as I have said countless times before - I owned three and did massive mileage in all of them, throughout rural SA before moving here as a sales person. The cars are way better than anyone who hasn't driven them actually realizes, and you have to drive one to understand.

I know about the other factors, I was simple using power as a single example. You do know how torque is related to power right? I don't have to get into that with you do I? Actually screw it, if you want some lessons in physics that go beyond the sales training you're welcome to PM me, I don't want to derail the OPs thread with more off topic posts.

@ OP - Please for the love of off-roading go test drive a Forester to keep Fazda happy.

 

[ToxicBunny]

^^^

And if you buy it from any other Dealership than the one I showed you, we will all hunt you down...

We need Fazda to retire already damnit!

 

[Fazda]

^^^

And if you buy it from any other Dealership than the one I showed you, we will all hunt you down...

We need Fazda to retire already damnit!

30 August, so not long to wait!

BTW, I don't need physics lessons, all that I do know is that looking at k/w figures whilst ignoring torque will get you absolutely nowhere.