Looking to buy my first RV/SUV (first 4 wheeled vehicle)

[huff3r]

Hmm... perhaps a SUV isn't the way to go then. But I'm still interested in getting a 4WD vehicle.
Dumb question; but are there any 4WD cars on the market that would be ok for what I would be looking to use it for?

Lots. Like those listed above... almost any subaru (but be careful they can be costly to fix sometimes), some mitsi's and nissans, toyota caribs/caldinas etc

The Subaru Outback or Forester or Impreza Gravel Express all have reasonable ground clearance if it's really required, but otherwise there are lots of options.

[FJRider]

Lots. Like those listed above... almost any subaru (but be careful they can be costly to fix sometimes), some mitsi's and nissans, toyota caribs/caldinas etc

The Subaru Outback or Forester or Impreza Gravel Express all have reasonable ground clearance if it's really required, but otherwise there are lots of options.

All-time 4WD/turbos/automatics will chew through petrol quickly.

A 2WD, 10 year old, Manual, low mileage, 1600 sedan/hatch will (should) manage all but strictly (and signposted as such) 4WD tracks. And do it with comfort and economy.

[Edbear]

Subaru Forester.

[neels]

Subaru Forester.

If it's a manual make sure the sucker before you has forked out the cash for a new clutch, they tend to last until around 150k before they need attention, and make sure it was done by someone who knows what they're doing or the gearbox bearings will go shortly afterwards. Next we move on to cam belts.....

Not overly cheap to run either, even the non-turbo ones are thirsty.

[Edbear]

If it's a manual make sure the sucker before you has forked out the cash for a new clutch, they tend to last until around 150k before they need attention, and make sure it was done by someone who knows what they're doing or the gearbox bearings will go shortly afterwards. Next we move on to cam belts.....

Not overly cheap to run either, even the non-turbo ones are thirsty.

She is looking for a compromise vehicle that does pretty much everything. While you can get better for each role, what covers all she wants?

[Drew]

I'm not a Subaru fan at all. The B4 is a lovely car, but they are all thirsty as all fuck.

Tyres are a big one on Subaru too, too big a tread difference between front and rear tyres can bugger the centre diff. According to Subaru anyway.

There are better cars for your needs. Shit, cost of running a Jeep Cherokee would be equal or less to that of a pre 2005 Subaru anything.

[Banditbandit]

I've been seriously looking at replacing the Terrano with a Mitsubishi ASX (4-wheel driver version)...



http://mmnz.co.nz/asx/

[FROSTY:Me]

OP I do this stuff (car sales) for a living. In your budget with your requirements there are only three choices that will work.
The first as others have mentioned is the 1600cc escudo. They are a rugged vehicle that puts bigger four wheel drives to shame in the seriously rough stuff-Well beyond what you are thinking of doing. I'd be happy with a short wheel base version for your daily commute IF its fitted with 100% road use tyres.If not they can be a bit tail happy.
Incidently they also use "badge technology" and were released as the Mazda Proceed
That one is a 2.0l which I don't recomend but you get the idea http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used...-587882481.htm
The second choice is the Toyota Rav4. Now these are definitely whats called a softroader.For your purposes they will do everything you say you want to do are a bit wider and longer than the Suzuki.There is a fair bit of tyre drone in the RAV which is quietened down by using road tyres They are a permanent all wheel drive. .http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used...-586478614.htm

Word of warning -the 97/98 Rav MAY be a two wheel drive so it pays to ask
Daihatsu Rocky.-These get overlooked but were actually desighned by Toyota.They are a propper small offroader.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used...-590259329.htm

If you decide on one make/model Im happy to run you through the stuff to watch for and costs of ownership.

[Edbear]

OP I do this stuff (car sales) for a living. In your budget with your requirements there are only three choices that will work.
The first as others have mentioned is the 1600cc escudo. They are a rugged vehicle that puts bigger four wheel drives to shame in the seriously rough stuff-Well beyond what you are thinking of doing. I'd be happy with a short wheel base version for your daily commute IF its fitted with 100% road use tyres.If not they can be a bit tail happy.
Incidently they also use "badge technology" and were released as the Mazda Proceed
That one is a 2.0l which I don't recomend but you get the idea http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used...-587882481.htm
The second choice is the Toyota Rav4. Now these are definitely whats called a softroader.For your purposes they will do everything you say you want to do are a bit wider and longer than the Suzuki.There is a fair bit of tyre drone in the RAV which is quietened down by using road tyres They are a permanent all wheel drive. .http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used...-586478614.htm

Word of warning -the 97/98 Rav MAY be a two wheel drive so it pays to ask
Daihatsu Rocky.-These get overlooked but were actually desighned by Toyota.They are a propper small offroader.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used...-590259329.htm

If you decide on one make/model Im happy to run you through the stuff to watch for and costs of ownership.

Road tyres wouldn't be a problem with her suggested usage, being a proper 4WD, either.

[ducatilover]

If it's a manual make sure the sucker before you has forked out the cash for a new clutch, they tend to last until around 150k before they need attention, and make sure it was done by someone who knows what they're doing or the gearbox bearings will go shortly afterwards.

Couldn't agree more, they're a real easy clutch to replace though.

Next we move on to cam belts.....

Piece of piss in a Subaru, they're an absolute walk in the park

Not overly cheap to run either, even the non-turbo ones are thirsty.[/QUOTE]
They're generally pretty troublesome (I don't like generalising either). Head gasket failure from typically poor maintained NZ cars, MAF failures left right and center, big end bearings, rear main seals from poorly maintained cars (at least it's easy to drop the gearbox in them) and they sure do like a drink

Subaru Forester.

A very good car in theory, and in theory they're excellent value now. But you'd have to be very, very careful picking one.




You can get quite a few small 4wd sedans without going to a hungry one fortunately.
There were a few N14 onwards Pulsar/Sentra 1.6/1.8/2.0 4wds, good little cars
Every now and then you can find a 4WD AE92 onwards Corolla wagons, good little cars.
There were 4wd Mazda 323/Familia and Capella/626s, also good cars
There's a huge range out there.
Personally a 4wd Toyota Carib with the 4AFE motor would be the top pick, followed by an EG Civic 4wd with the D16 motor, both are cheap as chips and reliable, and much cheaper to run than an Imprezza or Forester

A RAV4 is a hungry pile of poo, and they love to eat diff mounts. I'd much rather drive the Suzuki over one (it's a better 4wd too)
But, if you're short on dosh, I'd suggest something a bit more car like.

[Matariki]

Then I guess the two questions to ask is; Which out of the Suzuki Vitara and Subaru Forester are more fuel efficient and the cheaper of the two to maintain, based on what I'm looking to get out of a 4wd vehicle?

[Banditbandit]

Of those I'd choose the Subaru .. for no other reason than I find the seats in Suzukis very hard and uncomfortable ... the longest I've every been able to sit in a Suzuki was one and a half hours .. then my arse was so sore ... (Which is strange because I sit on my Suzuki bike for 6 or 7 hours at a stretch and my arse is fine)

So go for the Subaru (which I've owned and found comfortable ...)

[ducatilover]

If you pick a good Forester I suspect it'll be a little cheaper to run.
Driving over the 'takas I expect you'll see around 9L/100km in one.

Banditbandit is right about the Subaru being more comfortable, and they definitely drive a million times better on the road (because they're essentially a big Imprezza)
But I cannot stress how careful you need to be picking one, it has to be uber tidy and have good service records. Otherwise you're in for trouble.

I would still recommend one of these http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used...-582750407.htm
It has the GA15DE motor, which is rock solid and runs a cam chain

Or one of these (I think the Nissan is a bit better value) http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used...-589765756.htm
They run the uber reliable 7AFE motor, some had the even more reliable 4AFE. (we have a 'rolla with the 4AFE and it has done 502,000km )

The Forester is the nicest driver's car of the bunch though.
If you do buy one, get it serviced by Scott Miller in Masterton, he's a Subaru genius.

[Matariki]

What's a good example of a good forester?

[FJRider]

What's a good example of a good forester?

Not THIS guy ...