The missus wants a Range Rover...

[TAFKARM]

Dr Beth managed to write her car off. We're moving house soon, just outside the peak district in the middle of nowhere. The roads are narrow and steep and when the snow comes we'll be stuck. 

 

For reference, last time I was in Chesterfield in the Golf and it snowed, I was stuck on her dads drive for 2 hours digging the thing out. 

 

Beths commute will be 40 miles each way, not going to work isn't really an option for her (No work = no pay)

 

We've got about 10k to spend, she has split 4x4s into two catagories

 

1) Range Rover

2) Not a Range Rover

 

and TBH she'll be disappointed if we don't get one. My concerns are the potential ruinous bills and the fuel economy (What could I expect out of the diesel "real world")

 

So what do you suggest, I'd be tempted by an X5 on winter tyres, or indeed a Skoda Yeti (She's veto'd them).

 

Needs to be luxurious, reliable, great in snow with appropriate tyres and not need to remortgage when we fill up. 

 

And less than £10k. 

 

Thoughts?

 

ETA - She actually wants a Classic RR which is a very stupid idea, so im talking about L322s. 

[Doug Dastardly]

Personally I wouldn't touch a 10 grand range rover with a bargepole. I might be wrong, maybe by that stage they've had all the problems ironed out.

 

It would be luxurious, and okay in the snow, and yes, the bills could be ruinous. (Based on my Dad's experiences)

[XTR2Turbo]

With £10k budget I would buy a cheap standby 4x4 (such as a Suzuki Jimmy) for bad weather and a normal car.

[Arm]

As you have noted winter tyres are the trick. Almost any car on winters will cope. 4wd better again.

Yeti is brilliant. Or how about an Audi quattro of some sort or a Passat Allroad or Subaru ?

[1959grantura]

Went down same route 6 months ago with the Mrs wanting a freelander 2 with a 12k budget we looked and done lots of homework on them and just decided in the end the risk factor of buying FL2 was too much there reputation is horrendous. Age and mileage was a big factor too is why we didn't for 12k budget

She decided on a last model top of the range Honda CRV which 6 months on she is still absolutely over the moon with , has all available extras with 40k miles.

[pistonbroke]

Wifes family were from peak district , all they ever used on there daily drivers were winter tyres and a 1cwt bag of sand in the boot . Farther in law always had a concrete paving stone in his , he worked in a stone quarry nr Buxton , never had any problems getting around  

 

I also have friends who live on conwy mountain & gt orme , both have very steep access roads and have had 4x4 s , both  said they are no better on ice than any other 2 wd , under worst conditions its a matter of park up at the bottom and walk 

[alexander72]

what XTR2 said.... or as a compromise a honda CRV or skoda Yeti

[TAFKARM]

I can't convince her into a Yeti, on the basis the looks are a little "challenging"

 

(No offence BCF)

[alexander72]

hehehehehe - Ive had a 10k Range rover and it cost me another £6k over 10,000 miles - flase economy.

[Lyonspride]

Have you seen the tyres they fit to Range Rovers?

 

You'll be lucky to make it through a shallow puddle on those foot wide sports tyres.....

 

And your Golf would have made RR drivers look like a bunch of idiots if you'd fitted winter tyres.

 

When I was up in the peak district a few years back, just after heavy snow, not only had the roads been cleared properly, but I noticed a distinct lack of 4x4s anywhere. Seems folk up there take the common sense approach. Folks down here seem to justify buying a Porsche Cayenne, because the kerb outside the kids school is a bit too steep.

[SootySport]

Not a Range Rover for your budget.   LR defender would be better as it doesn't matter about the odd prang or two, plenty of overhanging branches& rocks in the Peaks to hit. 

Yeti, Quaskai, Rav4, Golf 4x4, Audi A3 Quattro are more sensible and won't ruin you financially.

[TAFKARM]

She does actually like Defenders, but not exactly a nice place to be doing an 80 mile a day commute....

 

What about something like a Ford Kuga?

[Matta]

Honda CRV - Love mine and dead reliable - top of the range one has leather, twin sunroofs etc. if that makes a difference (doesn't to me!).  Will get a decent one for 10k and they'll do big mileages no problem.

 

Matt

[dhutch]

With £10k budget I would buy a cheap standby 4x4 (such as a Suzuki Jimmy) for bad weather and a normal car.

I must say I would take this tack.

We have all seen the videos of range rovers on sports tyres stuggling to get of a drive, while a much less car well driven gets just about everywhere.

- Similarly my dad A4 (fwd, wide low profiles) is far worse in the snow than my E36 (rwd, on 195x60R15)

Daniel

[benedwards64]

Living in narrow country lanes, the last thing you want is a big, wide car. It quickly becomes tiresome when you're unable to squeeze past oncoming traffic. I drive an Impreza wagon as a daily - was absolutely brilliant in the winter, and surprisingly narrower than most cars on the road. It's also pretty bl**** quick, which I like

 

I think the size and bork factor of the RR would quickly wear thin, personally. If she's not keen on the Yeti, maybe a VW Tiguan? New Subaru Forester/Outbacks are also nice?