cheap winter car options

[zappy-chops]

I have owned an XC90 and a Jeep Grand Cherokee (and currently have a Range Rover) and have never bothered to put winter tyres on any of them and I live in Scotland so get more snow! They were all fine in the snow. I was even towing people out of snow drifts last year during the Beast from the East in the RR (on normal tyres). You just have to be mindful that stopping distances will be longer so break gently and early and you will be fine.

[stevo55]

Just to bring the thread up to date...I've been learning a few things this past week!
1. When you're shopping in the lower price bracket (£4-5k) you quickly realise how many absolute dogs are for sale out there! have walked away from around 3 dealerships as the cars they were selling were just in a proper sh1t state. The one Audi I saw (A6 Allroad on an 09 plate) was just abused and tired and around 1 year overdue its service (good thing about having a C6 RS6 is you know here to look in the MMI) and generally run into the ground. Dealer couldn't GAF basically so I walked out. Looked at a few XC90's (most were sheds) and took an 07 FL one out for a test drive today. Quickly ruled out as it was like driving a bus! Talk about a wallowy pudding...I can see why people like them as a family car (its mahoosive inside) but thats not a USP to me and I knew within 10 seconds of driving it that it was going to be a 'no'. One ray of light has been the VW Touareg-drove an 06 2.5 TDI and that wasn't too bad so its a good contender.
The search goes on but its a 'Big Fat Freddie' for Volvo!

[zappy-chops]

Looked at a few XC90's (most were sheds) and took an 07 FL one out for a test drive today. Quickly ruled out as it was like driving a bus! Talk about a wallowy pudding..

with you there mate. The missus insisted on getting an XC90 as we needed a 7-seater to share the school run with a neighbour and what a pile of turd. Sounded like a tank. Drove like a tank. Pretty much is a tank. The new shape one is a million times better but that's in a different price bracket of course. But there are tanks and then there are tanks. Recently I convinced myself I wanted a Land Rover Defender 110. Then I drove one. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. I'm surprised it's road legal. Worst handling car I've ever driven - by at least 1000 times.

Still love them though - get the heritage and all that - but only useful if you plan to actually do off road stuff. Or carry pigs and sheep around.

[stevo55]

I learned to drive in a LWB Landy back in the day...absolute pig to drive! Defenders were much better but still not the last (or even the first) word in ride comfort. They are the epitome of cool though and look the absolute nuts (especially all blacked out with extras).
Speaking of Land Rover there’s a 2005 Disco 3 that’s come up on the radar at around 130k miles...looks pretty tidy but as with Rangeys there are doubts on the reliability of them. Last thing I need is a money pit that’s in the mechanic all the time...anyone got any experience?


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[Shoppinit]

My 1981 Range Rover is fairly pleasant to drive, as long as you don't ask too much of it in the braking or corning department.

I looked at the Disco 3's before getting my XC90 but rapidly discounted them because of perceived reliability issues. I might still have got one if the right V8 had come up.

[FaisalJ]

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[zappy-chops]

I had a 2008 Disco 3 and ran it for around 3 years. Can't remember the mileage but it would have been around 50k. Never missed a beat in 3 years. Zero problems.

[Ian_C]

Speaking of Land Rover there’s a 2005 Disco 3 that’s come up on the radar at around 130k miles...looks pretty tidy but as with Rangeys there are doubts on the reliability of them. Last thing I need is a money pit that’s in the mechanic all the time...anyone got any experience?

Falls into the category of 'wouldn't touch with someone elses barge pole' imo!

[kent_andy]

Mitsubishi pinin, i bought 1 for around 700 quid. SHort wheel base, summer tyres and worked a treat. My mate spent 7k on a defender and the little pinin was just as capable but much easier to drive. Never had any problems with mine in 3 years that i had it. then sold it on for aroud what i paid for it from memory. Little short wheelbase cars are your friend in snow.