spider

iTrader: (1)

Right, the time has come to get my other half a new tow car. It'll be pulling a two-horse horsebox so needs a decent towing weight and reasonable off-road ability (so, not the BMW X5 then!).

It'll also be her everyday car for commuting to work, so a Land Rover Defender isn't really the right thing.

Thoughts at the moment revolve around the following:

TD5 Discovery (handy as we have an independant LR garage less than a mile away and she currently has a TD4 Freelander that they look after).

Merc ML 270

5 door Shogun (not the Shogun Sport - she tried one & hated it)

Jeep Cherokee 2.7 (isn't this the Merc ML engine?)

Land Cruiser Colorado (ie, not the new LC4, LC5 models)

Bit left field - Isuzu Trooper 3.1?

Any others we should consider?

Any thoughts, experience, pointers appreciated.

Cheers,
Steve

Devildog

Personally, I would be looking at a Shogun DiD Warrior 3dr. (or 5 door if you really need the extra doors/seats)

Leather/Auto as standard. Much better than the "sport"

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Whats the weight?

XC70 D5 pulls 1800kg

spider

iTrader: (1)

Devildog - we just missed looking at a 5 door Warrior on Saturday - it was sold on Friday. Would be the 5 door - getting saddles etc. onto the back seat of a 3 door is a PITA.

Puff, trailer unladen is 1000kg, horse is around 600/650 (Shire cross - not tiny!) so with other kit on board I'd like a decent safety margin. I think 1800 might be too close to the limit when she's got everything on board for a show etc.

Steve

Devildog

Steve - back seats fold up leaving huge load bay (or come out completely in about ten minutes (6 bolts) . I just mention it 'cos 3 doors are cheaper.

Generally, shoguns or landcruisers should be more reliable that Disco's and ML's in that price range.

Logiclee who posts on here likes his Jeeps and is a good source of advice

sti-04!!

Suzuki SJ410

Devildog

Watchit dude - you'll get infracted for trolling

TopBanana

If you put all the extra stuff in the car instead of the trailer, it's equivalent to increasing the towing capacity.

Mark A

iTrader: (1)

Shogun would be my choice:

Lots about to choose from
Reliable
Look good espcially in the 3dr version
Good spec

My leftfield would be a Touareg but might be just outside your budget or Kia Sorento (Tow car of year recently)

cpk

Landcruiser all the way...

I think they're brilliant - this is uneducated advice btw.

spider

iTrader: (1)

LOL @ sti - I think the horse has better towing ability than the SJ!

TopB - not sure a car would cope with some of the fields & slopes where we go - I've certainly seen cars like the Legacy & Forester being towed out by tractor whilst we've just trundled out in the Freelander.

The Shogun does seem to be a nice vehicle - albeit the reports of the auto box failing around 60,000 miles, and the suspension & brakes needing rebuilds with that sort of mileage doesn't fill me with confidence.

MarkA - I'm not going to have you talk to my other half - she'd love a VW ToeRag - luckily they're a bit above budget (like the newer LandCruisers)

Cheers,
Steve

sti-04!!

Devildog

Steve,

Ask on here:

The Mitsubishi Pajero Owners Club® :: Index

Mostly imports (hence Pajero Owners Club) but you'll get good advice on the high mileage issues with the Mitsubishis

spider

iTrader: (1)

Nice one - thanks.

spider

iTrader: (1)

Bit of an update.

Found a gargae today that had a Merc ML 270, Shogun 3.2, and a TD5 Discovery so were able to test back-to-back. Then went to the Jeep dealers down the road and tested a 2.8 Cherokee.

Other half's opinion so far is that she didn't know why but didn't like the Shogun - it was a noisy old bus too for a modern diesel 04 plate. She was surprised how much she liked the Discovery as before we went, on looks alone, she preferred the Shogun to the Disco.

Didn't like the Merc at all.

Was surprised how well the Jeep pulled, and how cheap they are. Cabin quality's as poor as the Shogun, but it certainly went better than the Disco.

So it looks like a fight between the Jeep & Disco - need to find a couple examples of each to try to see if the ones today were good/average/poor for their type.

What fun!

ScooByer Trade

Hi, i agree with CPK to go with the Landcruiser. The 80 series 4.2TD version made between 1990 - 97 is known as the most reliable, unless you look at the 60 series from the 80's and can pick them up for not alot of money now. Also don't lose their value as quick as you would think. I also know the engine i mentioned originally came from a japanese forklift truck ( not an average sized forklift ). Or have a look at the 100 series L/C. The differences between the previous shape and this is the electrically adjustable suspension, more bhp ( 200 ) and increased torque and also fitted with rear and centre locking diff but no locking front diff ( probably an extra but not sure ). The 4 speed auto box is jerky if you have a heavy right foot. Don't know anything about the 5 speed manual gearbox, although it's probably similar to the one in the 80.The last of the Colorado's, can be had with the newer 3.0ltr D4D engine so no need to spend more money trying to get the later shape.

Mark A

iTrader: (1)

If you have a sense of humour buy the Disco, you'll need it

You must have choosen the two most unreliable 4x4 to compare.

Toyota's do seem pretty bullet proof

Compared to my mates isuzu (07) pickup my Pajero purrs

Mark A

nooobyscooby

Don't go short wheelbase whatever you do. When you are towing something getting on for two tonnes, the tow car needs to be a reasonable length so you don't get the trialer wagging the car which is what happens with SWB

An old Nissan Patrol 4.2D would fit the bill!

spider

iTrader: (1)

Looks like a lot of love for Toyotas out there. Of course, as we're driving home yesterday a Land Cruiser Amazon passes us on the M4. Cue my other half (who is 5 ft 2) saying "that would be nice!"

I doubt she'd be able to see over the steering wheel!

Mark, I had a look at the whatcar.com website and nearly any car you put in they come up as negative about - even the Japanese 4x4s. I know the Disco gets slated by some, but I know two guys who have late model TD5s and they've not had any problems - it's difficult to know what to believe sometimes. For example, the Freelander has a terrible reputation, but ours is on nearly 90,000 miles and has been perfect except for a leak from the intercooler hose which is an easy fix.

Might have to try another Shogun to see if the one we drove was typical - it was unbelievably loud in the cabin.

Cheers,
Steve

Devildog

Steve,

The shoguns are quite truck like in the engine department, but they get much quieter and smoother when warm.

It is a 3.2L four pot at the end of the day, thats some big pistons.

The other side of that coin though is fantastic torque from tickover. And considering our SWB weighs in at 2150kg (on a local weighbridge), pretty good fuel economy.

Make sure you get a decent drive in one, and a chance to get everything up to temperature.

Brendan Hughes

I'd go for Toyota, for popular reasons.

Shogun supposed to be very capable but a bit agricultural. 3.2 4-pot; wow!

Nothing from Nissan? Patrol a bit too chunky?

spider

iTrader: (1)

D.Dog - thanks for the tip re the warm up - sounds sensible

Brendan - for some reason we never thought of Nissan, will have a look on AutoTrader to see what's available.

Cheers,
Steve

Brendan Hughes

I think Nissan are a bit weird in that sector, there is the upended shoebox that is the Terrano, or the tank-without-a-gun Patrol, which I think finally won the steroids war with the LandCruiser.

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

My mate did this last year, needing something for his GF's horse and shows etc. Well known amounst our crowd to do his research and eer on the tight side of VFM.

Bought the Jeep. However it did let him down and it was a PITA for this particular part, took ages for the dealer to get a replacement.

Mark A

iTrader: (1)

New shape Range Rover for only a little more

spider

iTrader: (1)

Mark - I'm glad you're not near enough to give my g/f advice!

We were at the local Land Rover dealership today (looking at a Land Cruiser!) and she saw that some of the 02 plate Range Rovers were "only a few thousand pounds more than our current budget"

I told her if she wants to cash in some shares to buy one, go ahead!

Steve

PS - didn't tell her I'd be quite happy with a RR too - I'd probably get too much pestering!

Brendan Hughes

For a horsebox... Did that budget include the green wellies and labradors?

rosswalker

Id avoid TD5 Discos. Slow and drink fuel. I have a TD6 disco which is great but obviously more £££.

On your budget I'd look at the Defender XS range (I know you said you don't like/want one) But you'd be surprised how comfortable the XS's are and they hold there value like no other vehicle I know! Or a really nice 300tdi disco would do the job well and be a lot cheaper than your budget.

sti-04!!

Nowt wrong with the TD5 Disco's apart from the diff oil leaks they are bullet proof mechanically.

rosswalker

My experience of TD5 was lots of noise, very little power, and drinks like a fish.

WTF kind of ballance & geometry is a 5 cylinder? Why?