4x4s - Can anyone recommend a good make for family use in really rural area?

[BellaLasagne]

Title says it all. We live in the sticks - hills, mud, ice, rain, narrow country lanes so are convinced we need a 4x4. Can anyone recommend a good reliable, economical (ha!) make that starts every time?

I don't actually need to go off-road very often - the occasional venture into a field would be the most excpected of it.

OK- had a quick look, your not gonna find a 2.5 Subaru in that price range, only the 2.0. Still very very good, and you might get 23 mpg

email Honest John - give him your requirements and budget and he will give you your alternatives. He is brill.

I love my Subaru

Round here a touchless carwash costs 8 quid, but that's Norf London for ya. Maybe it's much cheaper in your neck of the woods ? If it was a pound a pop, I'd get mine cleaned every day !

hub2dee you can get a season ticket at most that works out pretty cheap (round here). Don't know about touchless, I guess they touch with their hands

Do I get an MN pound for saying X trail first?
W

Countess, that is the season ticket price. Hope you're wrapping up, BTW, 'tis bloomin cold.

If they touch with the hands it can (theoretically) act as a micro abrasion: the crap from pollution etc. etching micro scratches into the top coat etc. Bet Kanga never lets them touch her bonnet.

Anteater: Would tenpence do ya ? No engine size, price guide, years to avoid

Actually, an MN currency would be a neat idea.

In Shepherd's Bush you can get a year of carwashes for £400ish

(am in coffin, nice and warm )

We just bought a Suburu Forester for the same reason. Its been fantastic.

On an MX-5 forum I frequent they have a sort of bonus scheme. You can vote for a user, if they post something particularly useful and vote to take away if they post something offensive. Does'nt get your car washed though

Maybe we should start a Subaru appreciation thread

I join the suburu fan with you.

Countess, hate to tell you but 400 divided by 52 is £7.70, plus you might want to take a holiday, so call it £8.

Or can you get it washed everyday for that figure ?

Wouldn't your Subaru Appreciation Society be dwarfed by membership of the Volvo Strokers Anonymous Group ? Anyway, isn't it only the impy that's any good ?

They're all coming out of the woodwork now, eh, MaryPOp... Suby lovers everywhere take flight. Countess is gonna get ya...

Just checked Autotrader there are 5 Diesel 2001/2002 X-Trails under £10k. The cheapest being 77k miles at £8150 - offer of £7250-7500 would be worth a punt I'd say.

I'm glad its not just Volvo owners here now. Makes car discussion a little limited. Subarus are vastly under-rated - and dare I say it... a think-person's Volvo [runsforcover]

jazzybee

I thought you were one of my friends

Still friends... , and no offence meant. Volvos do make some very good cars, but 'oranges are not the only fruit'

ok you are forgiven

Winterson fan, Kanga ?

If you don't need a HUGE car you could get one of these . Very very cute

We may be small but we are perfectly formed (the Suburu fan club. But come to mention it me too.

Sorry jazzybee... presumed that was a literary reference from Kanga, but it's from you. I speedread and crashed.

Pls ignore.