Ok a bit of investigation for my mum and dad here. They are looking to probably buy a 4wd offroader style vehicle in the autumn, (need it to pull a caravan etc), probably along the lines of a Trooper or Shogun, and will have a budget of around 11000-12000, (so probably around a P reg). Has anyone any experience of owning theses vehicles (good / bad), or can anyone suggest any other makes / models to look at. They're not interested in the toy 4wds (honda crv, vitara etc), they want something that's decent off road, reasonably comfy (so not a landrover defender), and pretty heavy (to make the caravan towing safe).

Any ideas?
Iain

So a Pajero (Shogun) Evolution would be out then? :)

For big and heavy, you're looking at a Discovery, Shogun, X5, that Merc one, maybe a LandCruiser. Maybe a long wheelbase Land Rover, they're pretty huge too.

Personally I'd go for a Legacy B4 or Galant VR4 for towing, but if they want huge then they may as well get huge, I suppose.

As far as personal experience goes, never owned any of 'em, so I cant help there I'm afraid.

Derek

Jeep Cherokee. great for towing

Hows about a Subaru Forester? They weigh 1420 Kg so may be a bit light for your needs.
When the snail is unhitched you can have some fun scaring hot hatches. :))
Nick

Get a Forrester, with the right tyres they are as good off road as most people will ever need, and a damned sight better on road than any 'proper' 4x4, they are literally a high rise Impreza.
We've had a 2 litre Forrester at work for the past 3 1/2 years, and out of all the company cars it is the one we all go for first, and the fleet includes A6 1.8T, Golf GTi, 2.0L Focus and a 225bhp TT. Oh yeah, and a 1.8 Leganza:D. The Chairman's V8 XJR is out of bounds. Bu66er:D

Anyone who thinks that an "off roader" is still an off roader once you have stuck a towbar on the back of it is misleading themselves.

You will massively reduce the angle available for going up and down steep inclines, that could end up with you being grounded on the towbar, with the back wheels in the air.

I this situation I would go for a Forester.

I hired a Disco TDi last weekend to tow a spares car on a trailer from Hastings to Pembrokeshire. I was shocked at how much fun they are!! and the MPG it did! 22 mpg towing 1800 kilos! Empty it was doing over 30 MPG. I would have one, but it would have to be "as well" as opposed to "instead" :D