Moon on a stick - Suzuki Jimny

[doublequicklove]

We need a new vehicle, want to be eco, live in a rural area with mostly single track roads and farm tracks (have ruined a few standard cars) and have a fairly tight budget. We also need to fit two kids (9 and 11) and are looking at a Jimny with a roof box, but don't want to bother going to see one if we can't fit the kids in the back. We will make occasional long journeys in it, but mostly for battering around locally. Grateful for any reccommendations.

Maybe a Berlingo?

One of our parents had one of the original (three door) Berlingos. Every time it left the house it had to go over 500m of dirt road, same on return. It regularly visited people up far worse access, including one friend's place where you had to ford a river. In 19 years the only abuse-related damage was when a massive rock took a chunk out of the sump.

When looking to replace it we found that they were no longer the bargain they were back in 1998(!), and the new model has no more ground clearance than a regular hatchback. The Dacia Logan MCV which was purchased instead is coping fine - it has very good ground clearance for a family car, and plenty of room for passengers and luggage. It's designed for rough-as-hell roads in Romania. The Stepway version has an even higher ground clearance. The diesel versions start at 90g/km for CO2 and are Euro6 compliant.

If you need four wheel drive you might find the Dacia Duster makes a better family car for growing kids than a Jimny.

Suzuki Vitara.

Life craft thanks. Do you know if the Vitara sits high off the road?

Jimmy's are absolute belters. They hop over even the most challenging terrains that even a Discovery would struggle with.

I can't speak to room in the back for kids stuff etc but honestly, if you live in the country, they're a yes every time. Little warriors they are. Very impressive.

*jimny's

Life craft thanks. Do you know if the Vitara sits high off the road? The new Jimny looks very cool. We could get a trailer for the kids...

Life craft thanks. Do you know if the Vitara sits high off the road?

Yes, it does.

Have you looked at the Daihatsu Terios? My neighbour has one and it's perfect for rural living with dogs and kids.

If you want a small car that has excellent ground clearance have a look at a Suzuki Ignis. Jimnys are superb off road, horrible on it.

Second everything Snork has said.

I drive a Jimny for several days on holiday. There would have to be no other car on the planet before I bought one! Dreadful car! As for the comparison with the Discovery - I’ll test that assertion out any day! Rubbish!

So, you want a cheap car with clearance but some off road capability? Another Poster is looking at a Dacia Duster. An updated one of these would be far, far better. Or a Skoda Yeti.

ConFusion 300, does the Ignus have leg room in the back?

How about a fiat panda cross - fantastic little (4x4) car goes anywhere, can tow with it and does everything a Jimny does but more comfortable as family car (IMO)