Thread: 20yr old daughter wants a 4wd - Recommendations?

Originally Posted by SG1 Bones

G'day,
May I suggest something even though everyone has shared their two bob. I would recommend that what ever you and your daughter choose I would suggest you go with the basic old school 4wd. In other words make her learn how to change gear ratios and high/low range. That way she knows how to drive it and not how to push buttons.

I would definitely go for a 90" Defender or older (County or Series, if you get the older ones she can learn how to fix problems easier because of less bells and whistles added). I would also go for a Sierra they are quite capable off road. Pajero's tend to be underestimated and therefore overlooked. A 40 series Cruiser would top the Pajero though with a 3B or 2H they're bullet proof and all panels can be bought as fibre glass now too. Only problem is the Land Cruisers tend to get the dreaded cancer.

Good luck in finding something appropriate.
Nathan.

I haven't really considered the electronics issue but given the way she was taught and her preference for a manual I think she'd prefer old-school. Its certainly something I'll raise with her. Thanks

Originally Posted by SG1 Bones

G'day,

May I suggest something even though everyone has shared their two bob. I would recommend that what ever you and your daughter choose I would suggest you go with the basic old school 4wd. In other words make her learn how to change gear ratios and high/low range. That way she knows how to drive it and not how to push buttons.



I would definitely go for a 90" Defender or older (County or Series, if you get the older ones she can learn how to fix problems easier because of less bells and whistles added). I would also go for a Sierra they are quite capable off road. Pajero's tend to be underestimated and therefore overlooked. A 40 series Cruiser would top the Pajero though with a 3B or 2H they're bullet proof and all panels can be bought as fibre glass now too. Only problem is the Land Cruisers tend to get the dreaded cancer.



Good luck in finding something appropriate.

Nathan.

That is the equivalent of:

Teaching typewriter repair in the days of Microsoft Word

Originally Posted by Tombie

That is the equivalent of:

Teaching typewriter repair in the days of Microsoft Word

8 track stereo and an anorak to keep warm

Starting to sound like Perentire time
Enough in the budget for the turbo, power steering, bucket seats and a humongous sub woofer

The edge of reason is rapidly being reached.

Now lets see a 5ft girl take the tyre off the back door of a Defender , jack up the car and change it. Interesting to see.

Lets see her check the oil.

She needs something Japanese or Korean for reliability.

She could have a new Jimny ( which to me would be probably number 1) , or almost new Challenger, and lots of pretty new Jap soft roaders like X Trails, Honda CRVs, Rav 4, Kia or Hyundai.

OK dad forget the wistful stuff about Defenders, get her to change a tyre and see how she goes, but be careful.
Regards Philip A

Freelander 2, new Discovery Sport sorry, but don't discount the Freelander, great mid sized 4WD

Anything in the Suzuki range would be ideal I think, MU-X/Colarado 7.

Baz.

Originally Posted by PhilipA

The edge of reason is rapidly being reached.

Now lets see a 5ft girl take the tyre off the back door of a Defender , jack up the car and change it. Interesting to see.

Lets see her check the oil.

She needs something Japanese or Korean for reliability.

She could have a new Jimny ( which to me would be probably number 1) , or almost new Challenger, and lots of pretty new Jap soft roaders like X Trails, Honda CRVs, Rav 4, Kia or Hyundai.

OK dad forget the wistful stuff about Defenders, get her to change a tyre and see how she goes, but be careful.
Regards Philip A

My wife is only 5'4" and can easily lift a tyre off the back of a Defender and fit it... Then replace the spare.

Lifting techniques count for a lot

Challenger - Good vehicle, average performance

Jimny - cute, capable but a death trap - no amount of airbags can make up for being in a vehicle the size of a stick of gum.

X Trail when used on sand overheat the torsion unit
Rav 4 is a useless bloody vehicle - Mum has had the old and has the current unit... Nothing but a tall Camry with a tailgate
Honda CRV has essentially NO AWD function - a proven failure in their unit
Kia are ok, nothing special and again limited

A Vitara may fit the bill, but they are very low to sit in (surprisingly). Otherwise a reliable and solid unit.


What everyone is seemingly forgetting is what the young lady wants as a vehicle and what she wants to do with it.....

Originally Posted by PhilipA

The edge of reason is rapidly being reached.

Now lets see a 5ft girl take the tyre off the back door of a Defender , jack up the car and change it. Interesting to see.

Lets see her check the oil.

She needs something Japanese or Korean for reliability.

She could have a new Jimny ( which to me would be probably number 1) , or almost new Challenger, and lots of pretty new Jap soft roaders like X Trails, Honda CRVs, Rav 4, Kia or Hyundai.

OK dad forget the wistful stuff about Defenders, get her to change a tyre and see how she goes, but be careful.
Regards Philip A

Dunno if its a fair call to say a 5ft girl cant take care of a defender. The fact she's interested is to be celebrated and encouraged!

I dont know her or her parents personally but I'd say if any 5ft girl had a chance of learning to take care of a defender she would be up there.

True, a 4wd wheel is pretty heavy, but not many girls (or guys) are willing to change the tyre on their typical sedan or hatch. I wouldn't say that's a good reason to steer her away, though it is a consideration.

I haven't owned a small 4wd, though with that budget a D90 or a Jimny (plus some mods) would be on the cards if I was looking for one. They look like fun!

Cheers

Dan