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.

uh?

Jeanette Winterson. Good, odd books.

MaryPOp, you'll get your club a bad reputation if you carry on like that

(erm... presume you're a woman, but maybe I've got that wrong... we know all about the stud muffins who drive impies at crazy speed).

Anyway, no one will join your club cos the name's spelt wrong.

Now, if I was one of those horrid posters who are insensitive, I'd suggest it wasn't just your frame that was 'small, but perfectly formed,' MaryPOp. but I'm not so I won't...

(We haven't chatted before I don't think, it's just my sense of humour, am not a meanie, just a teaser.... not that kind of teaser)

Yes you can get it done twice a day if you want for that!

And AHEM I have an Impreza actually!

Countess, tell me it's not the WRX STi....

Are you a grrl racer ?

You must spend all your time bombing down the A40 to the carwash !

Well I don't live in Shepherd's Bush! I just remember seeing it there once.

No am not grrl racer. Bought it because it has a big boot and I have a big dog! Plus love being able to speed up for roundabouts and harepins (ok bit br maybe now)

Most farmers round our way drive a landrover defender orToyota landcruisers/Subaru foresters.I fancy a Toyota pickup truck myself.

Mirage: Take a look at these:
www.nationaldoublecabs.com/toyota.htm

Countess, your car's not really very vampy is it ?

Is your dog scary at least ?

We have a defender of the realm, Royal blue complete with snorkel.
For Salisbury plain offroading!

MM, do you ever drive in 4X4 club days / closed 4X4 circuits etc. ? Do you know people who mud plug for a hobby ?

It's something I've always fancied and never done. Wonder if there's anything close to North London. Couldn't be BYO as I don't have one, but where you could rent the club's car for a while / have driving lessons etc.... sounds like great fun.

It has fangs

Dog is Rhodesian Ridgeback, soft as they come. Looks fucking hard though!

Hi, My Oh was tempted by the mud plug!
We only recently got into this lark, but we did Eastnor and Billing shows last year and doing them again this year too!
We love doing the rotes they set up too.
We should join up with a landy club, really.
Great fun. If I can I will post a link to some photies of us offroading it.

MM - attending shows makes you a hardcore mud plugging oh.

CD - Does your dog wear a costume like you ? I thought you were supposed to have a pet bat or sommit... not a bloody big dog.

Off to bed. Good night.

Wow, thank-you everyone for your replies.

Lots of recommendations for Foresters, and funnily enough, that's what we're going to test drive next (when we have time).

We're in Herefordshire on the English /Welsh border, and I had just seen the advert for Eastnor in 4x4 mag so may go there....