4x4 choice?

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   My wife is a GP and has to do a number of house calls. Winter is now approaching and given the terrain of her area, when combined with the inevitable snow that this area gets, we are unfortunatley looking at getting a 4x4.

I'm looking to you lot to provide some suggestions for a 4x4 vehicle.

Now the criteria.  Some of this has been dictated by the wife, some of it is mine.

#1 It must not be a 'truck' type 4x4.
#2 It must not be too big.  
#3 It must not be a 4x4 that can be mistaken for the local drug dealer.
#4 It must not be a Chelsea Tractor or type driven by Mrs Rooney/Mrs Beckham.
#5 Preferably petrol powered, fuel economy not really an issue, I will accept that we may have to slum for an oil burner to get rest of spec etc.
#6 Needs to be reliable, as a GP she needs to be able to get out to see patients etc in all weathers.  That might mean getting a fairly new model.
#7 It's for a GP so a 'Boy Racer' type wouldn't be terribly suitable.
#8 Must have parking sensors. 
#9 Budget probably max £20k.

So that rules out all BMW 4x4s, Merc ML, Mitsubishi L200s etc.  

She is a fan of Fords and we have considered a Kuga but most of them aren't actually 4x4, can't then see the point of 2 wheel drive versions myself....When reading reviews of the Kuga that closing comment is "You will be still thinking about the Kuga when you are in the Landrover dealer handing over your hard earned for a Freelander." But a Landrover Freelander will probably be too expensive.

Years ago you could get Escort's, Mondeo's and Cavilers all in 4x4, but not now.  There are no equivalent versions of those models today.

We/she would prefer a car, so that narrows it down to either an Audi (oh god no) or a Subaru of some form.

Is there another one I've missed?

Thanks

Andrew

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Andrew Rolland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579	Post Options Post Reply Quote Andrew Rolland Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: 4x4 choice? Posted: 19-September-2011 at 14:11
	My wife is a GP and has to do a number of house calls. Winter is now approaching and given the terrain of her area, when combined with the inevitable snow that this area gets, we are unfortunatley looking at getting a 4x4. I'm looking to you lot to provide some suggestions for a 4x4 vehicle. Now the criteria. Some of this has been dictated by the wife, some of it is mine. #1 It must not be a 'truck' type 4x4. #2 It must not be too big. #3 It must not be a 4x4 that can be mistaken for the local drug dealer. #4 It must not be a Chelsea Tractor or type driven by Mrs Rooney/Mrs Beckham. #5 Preferably petrol powered, fuel economy not really an issue, I will accept that we may have to slum for an oil burner to get rest of spec etc. #6 Needs to be reliable, as a GP she needs to be able to get out to see patients etc in all weathers. That might mean getting a fairly new model. #7 It's for a GP so a 'Boy Racer' type wouldn't be terribly suitable. #8 Must have parking sensors. #9 Budget probably max £20k. So that rules out all BMW 4x4s, Merc ML, Mitsubishi L200s etc. She is a fan of Fords and we have considered a Kuga but most of them aren't actually 4x4, can't then see the point of 2 wheel drive versions myself....When reading reviews of the Kuga that closing comment is "You will be still thinking about the Kuga when you are in the Landrover dealer handing over your hard earned for a Freelander." But a Landrover Freelander will probably be too expensive. Years ago you could get Escort's, Mondeo's and Cavilers all in 4x4, but not now. There are no equivalent versions of those models today. We/she would prefer a car, so that narrows it down to either an Audi (oh god no) or a Subaru of some form. Is there another one I've missed? Thanks Andrew
	Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto

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DMarks Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Banned User Joined: 08-September-2011 Location: Kent Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote DMarks Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04-October-2011 at 09:37
	Here is some advice for winter driving, as it says there a 4x4 can give advantages, but can also be a liability when driving on ice. I think the most important thing to go for is a car with a good ABS and good winter tyres and chains.

Nigel Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 09-November-2002 Status: Offline Points: 6941	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nigel Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06-October-2011 at 21:43
	Kia sportage ( I actually prefer the one before the current model). Very reliable (I know several owners), very economical if you choose the diesel, very long warranty, and from my wifes and several of our friends experiences, dealers that are very grateful for your custom.
	Best Wishes Nigel

Andrew Rolland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579	Post Options Post Reply Quote Andrew Rolland Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07-October-2011 at 08:28
	^The wife would deem that to be of a 'truck' type...long sigh... Skoda Yeti appears to get the nod from the wife and JC himself, plus it's not a pretentious car driven by estate agent types or footballers wifes.
	Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto

Nigel Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 09-November-2002 Status: Offline Points: 6941	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nigel Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08-October-2011 at 22:11
	Wifey may like the new sportage then, that isn't truck type, which is why I don't like it, but I understand women are odd !
	Best Wishes Nigel

Peter Fenwick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Bavarian-Board Contributor Joined: 27-August-2003 Location: Lost somewhere in time... Status: Offline Points: 6484	Post Options Post Reply Quote Peter Fenwick Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02-November-2011 at 17:02
	How about just getting a decent set of winter tyres? Other than that a Subaru legacy.
	Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel.

Andrew Rolland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579	Post Options Post Reply Quote Andrew Rolland Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04-November-2011 at 08:56
	Have contemplated both Peter. Cheers
	Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto

Webdunk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Moderator Group M3 GT Register Joined: 16-October-2002 Location: Central Scotland Status: Offline Points: 5245	Post Options Post Reply Quote Webdunk Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04-November-2011 at 12:12
	My cousin runs a Hyundai ix35 diesel 4WD on winters in Speyside and is proper chuffed with it. Previously ran an LWB Trooper and the Hyundai is coping just as well with the white stuff.