Wasso Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 A zed should be used in the country during the summer months to enjoy the winding roads, the dry tarmac and gentle heat supplied by our generally mild summers. Although, during winter a Zed is not a happy place, puddles, streams and rivers across roads, branches, grit, stones, mud, dead animals strewn across the country roads. It makes my life hell in the Zed and so I need a vehicle to allow me to get to work without wrecking my Zed. For me, something that has some height, for puddles, streams, rivers and branches. Something a bit hardcore to cope with stones and rocks mud and dead animals. Power, need something with a bit of guts as I just can't see myself tootling along in something that does 0-60 in 5 days. I've shortened my list down to a BMW X5, say around the 13/14 year old mark. Mileage isn't a huge issue, say anything around the 100k plus mark. Don't mind diesel or petrol, I just want it to move, be pleasant to drive on the motorway and cope with my journeys during the winter, snowy, windy, river infested trips to work. My question is, what are these things like, am I likely to be buying a complete spanner and end up with more woes than just branches, rivers, rocks, mud and dead animals. I'm not too fussed on the cost of fuel or road tax, but if something like a diff goes, or brakes need replacing am I likely to be spending more on the Beemer than I would my Zed..... Any experience of X5's highly welcomed, also any other ideas that might suit my needs. Budget is around £3-4k. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Bradders- Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 i wouldn't class an x5 as a 4x4 lol its too fancy, you want a proper 4x4 suzuki sj or a toyota hilux! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Cripes, I wouldn't buy an X5 of that vintage unless I had deep pockets just in case. Put it this way, you could easy double that £4K in the first year if something goes pop. I'd be looking at either a much cheaper and smaller 4x4 if you must, or a FWD car of some kind. Like my old favourite, a mk1 Focus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevoD Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 bowler wildcat 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wasso Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 I drive 500 miles a week so need something a little fancy. Not a fan of Suzuki but just don't want something totally underpowered. I had a Mk1 focus for 9 years, brilliant cars, but really need something with height. Roads turn into rivers near me. I'd love a Bowler but my budget doesn't stretch that far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bems Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 (edited) +1 for a mk1 focus and some winter tyres if required. They are very good in snow even on summer tyres. Lot less to go wrong to and cheap for parts Edited February 19, 2014 by Bems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wasso Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 +1 for a mk1 focus and some winter tyres if required. They are very good in snow even on summer tyres. Lot less to go wrong to and cheap for parts Thing is though, as I found out the hard way, rivers breaching their banks and branches strewn across the road, dead badgers, small dear and the like a car is okay, but I want to be able to drive over these things without a worry. The Freelander is of course out the question despite their cheapness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bems Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Or how about a Nissan x-trail. Not good looking but supposedly pretty competent when it comes to off roading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ioneabee Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I'm currently considering a Mitsubishi Outlander Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bems Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Skoda Octavia scout? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I had an X5 before the Zed, no real problems with the V8 well proven lump. Tyres are expensive and it will do around town 12 MPG and on a run about 22 MPG max from a petrol, diesel are a bit better but not much as the 3 liter is a bit under powered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wasso Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 Or how about a Nissan x-trail. Not good looking but supposedly pretty competent when it comes to off roading The RAC man who pulled my Zed out of the river said don't bother with the X-trail, riddled with engine issues. I'm currently considering a Mitsubishi Outlander Sounds pricey? Skoda Octavia scout? Hmmmmm I'll have a browse see what it looks like. I had an X5 before the Zed, no real problems with the V8 well proven lump. Tyres are expensive and it will do around town 12 MPG and on a run about 22 MPG max from a petrol, diesel are a bit better but not much as the 3 liter is a bit under powered. Wow, those numbers don't match what Parkers/Autotrader believe the MPG should be, but then again it's all about how it's driven. To be fair though, my petrol is paid for by work, so I've not got a great hangup on things like MPG. I like the idea of schmoozing along in the X5 with a bit of luxury, sat back driving over dead animals. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevoD Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/subaru/forester/subaru-forester-sti-ii-type-m/1875054?isexperiment=true bit more money but fast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ioneabee Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I'm currently considering a Mitsubishi Outlander Sounds pricey? yep - not cheap because we're considering new/nearly new - but it would be the main family car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Or how about a Nissan x-trail. Not good looking but supposedly pretty competent when it comes to off roading The RAC man who pulled my Zed out of the river said don't bother with the X-trail, riddled with engine issues. I'm currently considering a Mitsubishi Outlander Sounds pricey? Skoda Octavia scout? Hmmmmm I'll have a browse see what it looks like. I had an X5 before the Zed, no real problems with the V8 well proven lump. Tyres are expensive and it will do around town 12 MPG and on a run about 22 MPG max from a petrol, diesel are a bit better but not much as the 3 liter is a bit under powered. Wow, those numbers don't match what Parkers/Autotrader believe the MPG should be, but then again it's all about how it's driven. To be fair though, my petrol is paid for by work, so I've not got a great hangup on things like MPG. I like the idea of schmoozing along in the X5 with a bit of luxury, sat back driving over dead animals. A lot of that was spent in London traffic, I actually got it down to 10 MPG a few times. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wasso Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 http://www.pistonhea...experiment=true bit more money but fast Rocks and Branches, small dear would be the issue here. I'd be driving cautiously with this due to being white and rocking a bodykit. I'm currently driving like miss daisy with the fear of scraping something, or damaging my bodykit. The future vehicle needs to be a little bit like a tank, drive it and don't care what you've driven over. I'm currently considering a Mitsubishi Outlander Sounds pricey? yep - not cheap because we're considering new/nearly new - but it would be the main family car Well that was helpful then wasn't it...... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevoD Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 a tank you say http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/53-PLATE-NOV-2003-XC90-4X4-ESTATE-VOLVO-IN-BLACK-LEATHER-NEW-MOT-INCLUDEDTAXED-/121275983678?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1c3c9ca73e mileage is high not sure what them lumps are like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wasso Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 a tank you say http://www.ebay.co.u...=item1c3c9ca73e mileage is high not sure what them lumps are like Never been a fan of Volvo's, but it's worth a search on Autotrader to see what else there is. A 2.4 lump would be perfect, not too juicy and not too under powered. Heck that mileage is a bit high though..... Good shout, will look further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ioneabee Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 well - I was going to post a new thread when yours came up - as said I'm on the hunt as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wasso Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 Interesting..... http://www2.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201402181881755/sort/default/usedcars/radius/1500/quicksearch/true/price-to/4000/postcode/ox155lg/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/make/volvo/model/xc90/page/1?logcode=p well - I was going to post a new thread when yours came up - as said I'm on the hunt as well But your budget sounds higher than mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R35LEE Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 BMW X5's are great 4X4's! As you will be looking at an E53 watch out for poorly gearboxes as they are not cheap to fix. If was you would be looking at say a rav4, Newer Navara/pathfinder, the little shogun, or a diesel subaru etc ? Just do not buy an old freelander as I will com and burn it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R35LEE Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 lots of problems with xc90's too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 BMW X5's are great 4X4's! As you will be looking at an E53 watch out for poorly gearboxes as they are not cheap to fix. If was you would be looking at say a rav4, Newer Navara/pathfinder, the little shogun, or a diesel subaru etc ? Just do not buy an old freelander as I will com and burn it! The gearbox on the E53 X5 are supposed to be sealed for life this is the problem. You can change the transmission fluid and filter if you go to a specialist, highly recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R35LEE Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 We fit gearboxes to old X5's fairly often but if it changes nice and smooth with no unusual noises then they are worth a punt. I would look for one without a tow ball so you know its not been abused dragging hoses around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Yeah, damn heavy those hoses 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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