Small off-roader?

[2YardOfLard]

Hi, Just on my way over to "introductions" but meantime, a bit of advice please-
Mrs Lard is looking for a small, easy to drive car or van that can get up our hill in all weathers carrying a few bags of hen feed etc. It's not off-road exactly but a gravel track with grass down the middle & some fairly serious pot holes!
She looked at vans but the only one with good ground clearance seems to be the Berlingo, & that's not got good enough traction (a friend has one & has to leave it 500yards away & walk the steep bit). We're wondering if a Fiat Panda 4x4 would fit the bill.
Anyone got experience of small 4x4s that are not just for the school run?
Thanks, Lardy.

 

[llamedos]

Suzuki Jimny.
Will go anywhere you point it with a reasonable pilot behind the wheel.

 

[llamedos]

Lane down to ours, Jimny is running on normal road tyres, and negotiates this without problem.

 

[Darren]

Or

panda.

 

[exmoor dave]

Suzuki Jimny.
Will go anywhere you point it with a reasonable pilot behind the wheel.

A friend is using a soft top (cab is hard top if you know what I mean) as a farm run around &road use.

Looks like a good little vehicle.
Petrol only thou

 

[JohnGalway]

Jimny has always got good reviews anytime I've read about 4x4's, except for having little space inside.

Wouldn't go near a Berlingo, mate of mine has one and he's damaged the sump at least 3-4 times driving on tracks, bad small roads.

 

[Paddington]

+1 Jimny
OH traded her 15 years old one for a newer one, wasn't a speck of rust on it. (Unlike Disco )

 

[RWG Contracts]

Suzuki Jimny.
Will go anywhere you point it with a reasonable pilot behind the wheel.

I was going to get Sian one but for someone with a stutter it went from a jimny to a jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjimny and she bullies me enough without giving her ammunition

 

[multi power]

Fourtrak

 

[2YardOfLard]

+1 Jimny
OH traded her 15 years old one for a newer one, wasn't a speck of rust on it. (Unlike Disco )

That's interesting. Id presumed that anything by Suzuki would be badly built & unreliable. Looks like I need a rethink.
Diesel is easier here but petrol isn't impossible as long as it's not too thirsty. (Long trip to nearest fill-up.)
Thanks for the replies everyone. Off to look at Jimny.

 

[GTB]

Jimny, RAV4, Vitara, Panda, Fourtrac all good cars. Avoid Land Rover brand if you want reliability unless you have 40k to splash out on a new one.

 

[TripleSix]

Suzuki SX4 also sold by Fiat.

Superb, especially the 2L turbo diesel

 

[Danllan]

Yes, without doubt the best value and most capable for the money will be the Suzuki, have seen them all over Africa coping with all sorts of problems, and one even made it up an old unmade road near here... in the wet! But don't expect it to tow...

 

[llamedos]

Fourtrak

If you are wanting to tow yes, but the Jimny knocks spots off the Fourtrack on our lane, coming back up you would have had to get out and grit it, Just a bit heavy, and insurance, fuel costs + what you would now have to spend to get a half decent Fourtrak you could buy 2 very good Jimnys.
Fourtrack = Rot

I have come full circle, starting with a Rhino, then SJ413 lwb - various land Rovers & Fourtracks and back to a Jimny.
A real shame you cant still Buy the LWB 413 should never have sold that.

 

[2YardOfLard]

If you are wanting to tow yes, but the Jimny knocks spots off the Fourtrack on our lane, coming back up you would have had to get out and grit it, Just a bit heavy, and insurance, fuel costs + what you would now have to spend to get a half decent Fourtrak you could buy 2 very good Jimnys.
Fourtrack = Rot

I have come full circle, starting with a Rhino, then SJ413 lwb - various land Rovers & Fourtracks and back to a Jimny.
A real shame you cant still Buy the LWB 413 should never have sold that.

The boot looks very small. Do the back seats fold down or can you just take them out?

 

[Cab-over Pete]

I know folks who have had a Jimny, they love them.

I've got a Grand Vitara, 2009, the curvy one. It's done 76000 miles and until last week it's cost £17 in repairs. I get it serviced regularly, bang on time. Last week I had to have a brake disc and calliper. No worries.

I had a Panda from the garage while they did my car. It was ace. I did 130 miles on £20. Neighbours have a 4x4 Panda and love it, although it never really goes off road.

 

[llamedos]

Mine are just folded flat all the time, but have seen quite a few with rear seats removed completely and boarded out.
To give some idea of space, I regularly have it loaded with 1/2 doz bags of feed, and then room on top for a bale of hay.
Or, 2 terriers, a collie & a German Shep'

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Shouldn't the German Shepherd be wearing a seat belt?

You'll get fined.

 

[llamedos]

I know folks who have had a Jimny, they love them.

I've got a Grand Vitara, 2009, the curvy one. It's done 76000 miles and until last week it's cost £17 in repairs. I get it serviced regularly, bang on time. Last week I had to have a brake disc and calliper. No worries.

I had a Panda from the garage while they did my car. It was ace. I did 130 miles on £20. Neighbours have a 4x4 Panda and love it, although it never really goes off road.

A neighbour at the last place had one of the Big Vitaras, a diesel one, his wife and daughter had Jimnys - his got left at home when the snow came. Lane to there was simlar to where we are now.

Cant say I was over keen on my Vitara.

 

[llamedos]

Shouldn't the German Shepherd be wearing a seat belt?

You'll get fined.

Only if they catch her