Cheap 4x4 Needed....sugestions ?

No wonder, the Panda is lighter and has a shorter wheelbase. A Lada Niva would be ideal, if you could deal with not having the comforts of a Range Rover or something, as it has far more space than any of the other suggestions (Panda, Sierra, Audi 80/90 Quattro)

A Land Rover would be easy to find, and very capable in it's own right, plus you can get a Rover V8 in a Land Rover if you get bored!

If you could find one, then a UAZ 469 would be the best off roader you could find. Apparently they're like the automotive equivelant of a mountain goat. Ok, they're not comfortable, and are very rare outside the former USSR, (although they're said to have a small following in Italy) and it would be an interesting alternative to a Defender, and would never let you down. Now if I could only find one for sale, you'd have to fight me for it! ;D ;D

UAZ 469



Later ones were called 3151s, and they still make them, although now they're more refined, and called the UAZ Hunter.


(All pics courtesy of

It depends on what you want it for really, some of those in the list are sports cars and others rugged off roaders!

I had an XR4x4 for two years and have to say the traction they have is amazing, the transfer box and rear diff are both mechanical limited slip affairs so you always have at least three wheels turning. I went on what I called a 'raindeer safari' in my local forrest in mine when it snowed and it handled everything very well. Plus of course it is enormous fun in the snow as it drives like a rwd with an LSD. Great road car too, a lot of people call them the cheap mans quattro.

A friend of mine had a Panda 4x4 and I never got to sample it offroad capabilities. I have read about them being a great off road car. The only thing that would put me off owning one would be parts, I don't know what they are like for obtaining spares but I suspect it can't be easy with their relative rarity.

How about a RangeRover? The Vouge V8s are going for £1000 these days and if petrol is a problem how about a LPG converted one?

The Niva sounds like the one to go for to me. You shouldn't have too much trouble with parts, they're not nearly as unreliable as people claim, and there are owners' clubs for Soviet cars you could contact for spares.

Thought about a Suzuki SJ or even better a Daihatsu Fourtrack? If its going to be used strictly off road then you need not worry about comfort or cornering abilities.

I think the Lada would be first choice though, not sure how many Panda's 4 x 4 survived.

hmmm...maybe a Dacia Duster or ARO? Or SWB Nissan Patrol......or even a Subaru brat/pick up. The really look cool, very reliable and do surface occasionally.




These ARO's are from Romania and a few were sold here during the eighties. Spares might be a problem though.



Also from Romania is the slightly more common Dacia Duster. They are Renault owned so there's a chance mechanics are shared from previous renault models (they manufactured and sold their version of the Renault 12 here for about 6 minutes....)



The Daihatsu is a good bet, probabily better than the SJ too. Certainly safer round corners.

I rather like the Subaru brat. Scope for lots of retroism too. I've still got my Tamiya RC one somewhere too!








Have fun whatever you choose! It seems that the only way to enjoy anything with four wheels these days is off road.....

To be honest if you were going for Eastern 4x4s then an earlier Niva or UAZ 469 would be a better option than a Dacia. The ARO was well built too but the UAZ was the one that was thought to be hard enough to be the official 4x4 of the Red Army. It's kind of the Russian Hummer.

Pracitically though, an old Suzuki might be easier to get bits for.

What about a Merc 300E 4Matic or a BMW 325iX?

Thanks guys for all the replies

Its more a 4x4 for snow use on road rather than an off roader.
Its for using in the Alps this winter and will be fitted with snow tyres when we get out there
The Golf coped admirably last year and will be coming out again, but I need something for myself as well this season.......

I am leaning more towards a 4wd car rather than an offroader, the Lada was included as they seem pretty bulletproof and are cheap, anything much bigger starts getting expensive to run and harder to find parking space for
Golf size or slightly bigger would be Ideal

Cheers
Dom

You listed 4x4 saloons/hatches as well as the Niva jeep styles. I guess you will be driving over dirt roads and broken roads in the hills rather than total serious offroading, how about a Subaru legacy Estate.

not a full on offroader, but a good serious road/field car.

available in turbo and non turbo form. Seen them advertised from £750 for a non turbo estate and John Shelley (Skofast on here) had one that he used to use for yomping back and forward to CZ

Something like this:

cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=18277&item=2490474283&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Poorly autobox could be expensive though...


Not as much space, but might be better value.


Minor bodywork issues but lowish miles.
These two to be found here: atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW/cars_search.asp?modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&make=SUBARU&model=LEGACY&min_pr=75&max_pr=2000&postcode=sg18+8qf&miles=1500&max_records=50&source=0&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH