Supra going in 2011. Now shopping for a 4x4.

[Digsy]

As the title says, last week proved that my Supra no longer fits my new horsey lifestyle. I got to the stables last Tuesday morning and then spent nearly an hour "dancing on ice" trying to get out again and in the end gave up and left her there until the weekend, when coupled with 20kg of grit and a Nissan X-Trail I managed to get as far as a treated road and then home. Coupled with my girlfriend's Volvo estate choosing that same week to fail its ABS and traction control, I decided we need two sensible cars through the winter. So that's that. In 2011 the Supra is going to be retired and I'm currently shopping for a 4x4.

I don't exactly have to fight my way through snowdrifts and burst riverbanks to get where I need to be, but I do have to drive down completely untreated country roads which get very little traffic and become absolutely lethal with ice and compacted snow. They are also single track so I need to not get stuck if I have to climb the verge to pass another car coming the other way. I could probably get away with simply a more sensible car or "crossover 4x4" but since the Volvo has a pretty woeful towing capacity I want something that can lug around a horsebox complete with two horses which means about 2500kg towing weight, so I've found myself looking at redneck-tastic pickups.

I'd got myself pretty much set on a Mitsubishi L200 as there are a good few around that meet my requirements, but (as I just posted in another thread) I've read some bad things about the engines, servicing costs on pre 2006 models and general quality. Hopefully people on here who have one can tell me if any of this is true. I also looked at the Nissan Navara but recently learned they are appalling in a crash (one an NCAP star for frontal impact, which was later revised to no stars!). Toyota Hiluxes all seem to be out of my price range. I've heard from a Ford Ranger owner that they are OK but the engines are difficult to service and tend to require helicoiling every time you replace a glowplug.

Here's the requirements:

Budget: £6000 ideal may stretch to £7000 max

Reg: No older than 2003 (probably no newer than 2005 depending on make and model).

Miles: 60,000 or below

Engine: Diesel.

Towing weight: 2500kg or above.

Seats: 4 (proper 4-door cab)

Load area: Crew cab style back would be ideal

Any more pointers from the rural mob (or Chelsea tractor brigade) on here?

[tbourner]

What about a Shogun?

 

I would say a Hilux or Ranger, but they're both quite expensive from what I've seen.

Obviously I'd say get a Delica as they're awesome, but also very old. If you can get a Mitsi with the 2.8TD engine though it'll do you proud.

[TubbyTwo]

Cant help with the 4x4 but im looking to get a Supra in 2011, any details on yours, assuming that you are selling?

[Paul]

I've got a '55 L200 Warrior, owned it for around three years.

Servicing was done by a main dealer for the first year, over £500 for the basic I only did this as I wanted to get some new alloys and the heated rear screen swapped under warranty.

You'll only pay half that for a resonable service at a local garage so not a massive problem. The 'problem engines' were 2003/2004 from what I know, BHG I think?

Mine has been spot on and the mechanicals and the build quality of the running gear/chassis etc is superb.

The rest of the truck is reasonable build quality but the paint is not the best, soft and fairly thin, no rust though. The interior has held together, no rattles but is still fairly basic as it's a truck.

TBH it looks good, runs well and copes with everything I've thrown at it, a proper 4x4 with the correct tyres fitted.

I have this as a daily driver and it's so practical with the load space at the back, I really couldn't see me bothering with anything else at the moment, I don't like the look of the new shape ones and much prefer the classic shape.

I've never had any problems other than the rear heated window and corrosion on the turned finish alloys, fairly minor I think.

 

One other point is that the rear load area is fairly short due to the twin cab, worth while getting some stainless roll bars not only because they look good but also because you can rest longer loads on them and they stop you damaging the roof.

 

HTH.

[ozz]

We've had several 4x4s, fronteras, discos, our current one is the Kia Sorento. Its a million times better to drive than the disco, drives more like a car. We've not done aggressive off-roading but done a little muck spreading and chain harrowing in the field and it performs okay even on road tyres (changing soon).

 

We did a lot of research before buying this one and couldn't be happier. A couple of our friends have dumped their 4x4s in favour of one after seeing ours, including an L200 owner who had issue after issue.

 

They hold their value well, we had a bargain and were lucky but I'd have thought your budget would get a 55 plate with reasonable mileage.

 

We got it for the winter and for moving stuff around and incase we want another trailer (superb towing machines). We've got a horsevan as well which is much easier than 4x4 and trailer.

[Dnk]

Have a look on http://www.reviewcenter.com, most 4x4's are on there with quite a lot of useful owner info

[Digsy]

What about a Shogun?

 

I would say a Hilux or Ranger, but they're both quite expensive from what I've seen.

Obviously I'd say get a Delica as they're awesome, but also very old. If you can get a Mitsi with the 2.8TD engine though it'll do you proud.

 

I'll start looking at Shoguns (and Jeeps and X-Trails etc) and the like if and when I give up on the pick up route.

 

Cant help with the 4x4 but im looking to get a Supra in 2011, any details on yours, assuming that you are selling?

 

I won't be selling the Supra right away, plus I doubt you would be interested in mine as it is a very high mileage NA.

 

I've got a '55 L200 Warrior, owned it for around three years...

HTH.

 

Thanks for all that. Sounds like the years I've been targeting are the "problem years" I may register on the L200 forum and ask about there.

 

We've had several 4x4s, fronteras, discos, our current one is the Kia Sorento... We've got a horsevan as well which is much easier than 4x4 and trailer.

 

As above I'll start looking at those when I exhaust the pick up option. I wish we could afford a horse van / lorry!

 

Have a look on http://www.reviewcenter.com, most 4x4's are on there with quite a lot of useful owner info

 

Cheers, will do.

[mistertwo]

A friend of mine had a Ford Ranger a while back (I *think* it was an 03 plate) - and it really was awful. I seem to remember him driving courtesy cars more often than his Ranger. They really aren't the most reliable things around from what I've heard.

 

He now has an L200 Warrior, however, and it's been a vast improvement and not many reliability issues. I think Mitsi is quite synonymous with high servicing costs, but failing being able to afford a Hilux, it's my choice.

[jagman]

Ive had both Shogun and l200 , the shogun was a far better build, the L200 s are assembled in Tailand and dont seem to be upto the Shogun build quality , that said it was good ,and had the 2.8 (import ) engine which I think is better than the 2.5 , If I had to choose... then the shogun every time ... I covered 300000 miles without problems (3.5 v6)

[Guigsy]

Legnum! Essentialy a 4x4 galant estate with a 2.5l twin turbo engine and active yaw control.

Makes it a good fun drive and usefull too.

[mr lover]

Reply from the other thread

 

Just resurrecting this quickly.

 

I'm currently looking for a 4x4 and I thought I had settled on an L200 about model year 2003-2005 but last night I ready a few reviews which said the pre 2006 models are very "agricultural" and have a pretty old-skool engine which needs servicing every 4500 miles. There does seem to be a few adverts on Autotrader saying "engine fine" or "engine replaced at..." so I'm stating to get the impression that if they are not looked after they tend to give up pretty fast.

 

To you guys and girls that have actually owned one: Are they actually that bad?

 

I have had a 53 plate diesel before this one and those engines are prone to problems, the one I have now is the petrol version, an import, and they are much more reliable and it runs on LPG which is a bonus.

[Awisto]

A friend of mine had a Ford Ranger a while back (I *think* it was an 03 plate) - and it really was awful. I seem to remember him driving courtesy cars more often than his Ranger. They really aren't the most reliable things around from what I've heard.

 

 

 

That year the were just Ford badged Mazdas, although the later Ford ones, are still not much better lol

[ozz]

I initially wanted a pickup, but went for the sorento because the rear window pops up which means its easy to carry railings, posts etc which you can't do with many pickups, worth considering!