Buying an SUV

So after cracking yet another sump on my Golf 4 this weekend in the Drakensberg I've decided i need something higher and more capable on dirt.

Im looking at a second hand 6-7 year old SUV, nothing too fancy, just a softroader in the region of 120k.

I need something practical for town, but capable for weekends away in game reserves etc. Needs to be able to handle a dirt trail in a reserve, and fit all our gear, including my 2 year old daughter.

The options so far in this segment are the:

Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4 GLS Auto 4x4 (2005, petrol)
Honda CRV 2.0 4x2 (2004, petrol)
Landrover Freelander 1.8
Nissan Xtrail 2.0 4x2 or 2.5 4x4

Yesterday i went and looked at the Mitsu and Honda and have some pro's and cons.

The Mitsu I have loved for years, just love the look of it. Its the best looking of the bunch, and the interior is great too, with front and rear sunroofs. Interior is pacious but the boot is disappointingly small, no bigger than the Golf. It has a sequential tiptronic box, which im not sure about, always enjoyed manuals. full 4x4 and the 2.4 motor has plenty power

The Honda is second in the looks, but has a waaaay bigger boot, and an external spare... so the wheel well can either hold more luggage or a second spare. Interior is very nice too, with a single sunroof upfront. The 2.0 Vtec engine is supposed to be a little sluggish in it?

Both have similar ride heights and entry/exit angles. also similar size wheels and tyres.
Not sure if 4x4 is a pro or con for me... Do i really need it? Maintenance costs?

The other 2 options i havent looked closely at, but the xtrail has a rather bland, boxy, plastic interior and the freelander that my dad-in-law had was a real lemon, he only had it for a few weeks.

Other possibility i havent really considered is a jeep cherokee, i just dont like the looks.

Also another option is to just go for a Nissan Hardbody D/cab... Less practical in town but better offroad. The bin is great for loads of stuff, but not nice for groceries.

Any comments or opinions? Anyone got some real world experience with any of these cars?

I dont have experience but I like my cars.
Why do you not have the Hyundai Tucson listed? Good feedback on them. Quite possibly your best buy, best value for money.
I think 4x4 just ends up using more fuel, you are carrying around an extra diff and driving more wheels. So you need to really use it.
The turbo diesel X trail also got good feedback. Strong pull.

Just not a big fan of the Tucson, dont really like the looks of it. Yeah, im not too sure about the 4x4 thing

Hi bro,

Forget the Landrover, that model is just going to cost money in repairs.

Nissan is a solid brand and the 2.5 is not too bad.

The Outlander is also worth looking at and since you like it already that is a plus. Never buy anything unless it is something you really want.

I will go for 4x4, but since you are going to do city diving mostly it becomes tricky.

Admin what are your opinions on maintenance costs on 4x4 vs 4x2 and manual vs automatic? That is another concern.

I do love the outlander, the only thing that disappointed me about it was the boot space.. Tho it does come with roof racks

land rover prejudice i love my defender hahaha, but yes land rovers in general tend to fall apart. My family has had one disco 3 defender 110s and i have a defender 90 now.. Each one has given loads of problems i wont lie.. But still love them off road.

The Freelander is a bottomless money pit, suspension issues mostly as far as i know. The Outlander is very nice. CRV has issues that it goes through tyres at an alarming rate, and i wouldn't touch the X-Trail if you paid me, way too many issues wit paintwork and drivetrain.
I had a hardbody double cab until 3 years ago, loved it, just get a canopy and your shopping is fine. I wouldn't go 4x4, its expensive to sort out if it goes wrong, and if you're not using it often its a waste. With a diff lock and intelligent driving you can go most places.

Now the thing is the Outlander only comes in the GLS spec with 4x4 and automatic?
Hmm, the tyre thing with the CRV, that a common problem?

only get the 4x4 if u really gonna use it. else it wil kill u on running costs(fuel and tyres).
i find the diesel a better than petrol. these things are gonna double ur fuel cost compared to the golf. something to really think about long term.
landrover is a no no. alot of issues there. nissan and honda are proven brands. japs know wat they doing. mitsu might have some issues (even thou it is jap)
drive and and get the feel for them.
also thse are big vehicles. they gonna need more powerful motors on the freeway. 1.8 and 2.0l gonna struggle abit.
wat sort of price range u looking at. wil keep a look out.

also look at the rav. toyota has a proven track record. nice vehicle in 5 door. autotrder has a lot. www.autotrader.co.za

The Honda CRV is a great car, however not the best for towing, you need a diesel for that... Very comfortable and I am actually thinking of getting a new shape one for my misses, it's either than or the 4x4 Kia Sportage

Maintenance on the 4x2 and 4x4 is no different, I have had a Toyota Double Cab 4x4 and and Singer cab Raider 2x4, both cars go for ever, just your regular services was all I needed. On the coast, you just need to keep an eye on for little funnies, like the radiator bottle i've found gets brittle and cracks, etc.

DIESEL wrote: also look at the rav. toyota has a proven track record. nice vehicle in 5 door. autotrder has a lot. www.autotrader.co.za

Erm, not to be funny, I love TOYOTA! but the Rav is a girls car... I don't like it.

well this morning i went to both dealerships and spoke to the mechies there to get an idea of service costs and intervals, and what to look out for. Both much the same, with mitsu more expensive but longer service intervals so worked out the same. The mitsu mech said he's never had an outlander come in with problems, and the auto gear box is bulletproof. My golf is not doin great fuel wise so the SUVs work out much the same. I think its gonna come down to what i can get the best deal on, but im leaning toward the outlander. The AWD i'll prob use, as i like to push my cars into getting the most out of them... Hence the 2 cracked oil sumps in my golf (i like the 4x4 trails). My budget is 120k and the rav is just too over priced

spike wrote: Admin what are your opinions on maintenance costs on 4x4 vs 4x2 and manual vs automatic? That is another concern.

I do love the outlander, the only thing that disappointed me about it was the boot space.. Tho it does come with roof racks

Service costs for 4x2 and 4x4 is the same. I will always go for automatic over manual.

Fuel usage is more for 4x4 and automatic, but you can do so much more with a 4x4 and you will enjoy long trips allot more with an automatic.

Sooooo, u come out of the gym, in which car you wanna climb?

Buy the one you like I would say, one or three thousand more or less per year is not that much. Its actually insane sometimes to see how much time we can spend in a car per year, get the one that you want to call your own.