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Post by Hoovie on Jun 23, 2019 16:14:30 GMT
I do think it close to 'wrong' that JEEP and LR make 2WD versions of their classic 4WD as their whole reason for existance came about due to 4WD. But I tend to be a traditionalist (and might well need to get a 4WD again if the house I looked at today is bought as the 'settlement' as the agent calls it is in the middle of nowhere.)
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Post by firemac on Jun 23, 2019 16:24:46 GMT
I do think it close to 'wrong' that JEEP and LR make 2WD versions of their classic 4WD as their whole reason for existance came about due to 4WD. But I tend to be a traditionalist (and might well need to get a 4WD again if the house I looked at today is bought as the 'settlement' as the agent calls it is in the middle of nowhere.) Of course you can always have the best of both worlds with something like a 3-series X-drive, an Audi All-Road or Volvo Cross Country. My 9.3X was 4WD and was brilliant, better than the RAV but that's a different story..... |
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Post by Hoovie on Jun 23, 2019 17:24:18 GMT
I do think it close to 'wrong' that JEEP and LR make 2WD versions of their classic 4WD as their whole reason for existance came about due to 4WD. But I tend to be a traditionalist (and might well need to get a 4WD again if the house I looked at today is bought as the 'settlement' as the agent calls it is in the middle of nowhere.) Of course you can always have the best of both worlds with something like a 3-series X-drive, an Audi All-Road or Volvo Cross Country. My 9.3X was 4WD and was brilliant, better than the RAV but that's a different story..... One car that is actually meant to be very good and the other end of the cost spectrum .... The Fiat Panda 4x4  Good honest no-nonsense basic hatch :TU: |
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Post by charliefarlie on Jun 23, 2019 17:57:20 GMT
Has anyone seen the Volvo V90 estate ? Hell its one huge car and is really nice. 4WD also ..
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Post by firemac on Jun 23, 2019 20:32:56 GMT
Of course you can always have the best of both worlds with something like a 3-series X-drive, an Audi All-Road or Volvo Cross Country. My 9.3X was 4WD and was brilliant, better than the RAV but that's a different story..... One car that is actually meant to be very good and the other end of the cost spectrum .... The Fiat Panda 4x4 Good honest no-nonsense basic hatch :TU: Ah, yes. The Panda is a brilliant little car and the 4x4 version is fantastic!! |
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Post by bigkev on Jun 23, 2019 22:28:18 GMT
I think there is a definite section of car buying public who will always want the elevated driving position of that which is usually a 4WD car, but would rather have the economics of a two wheel drive car. Thereafter and within reason, they can, if retired for example, choose to GO OUT in the conditions that suit their purchase. I do repeat, however, where Wullie lives is RENOWNED for woeful winters, only a short drive from a much more temperate Glesga.
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Post by firemac on Jun 24, 2019 10:41:09 GMT
Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to be preachy. I have always been a fan of estates, especially quick ones, and having owned 9 SUVs over the past nearly 20 years I think I qualify as a big 4x4 enthusiast. I know some folk like the high seating position of an SUV but don't need the AWD facility; I can also see how someone would want to stick with the RAV4 - I know that our Toyotas and especially the RAVs, have been the most reliable and overall economical cars I have ever owned. I just think that if you are in the market for space and pace but don't need 4WD, you really should look at the estates that are available. As well as being better suited probably, they are often cheaper than an equivalent spec SUV. |
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Post by clarki on Jun 27, 2019 9:23:25 GMT
One car that is actually meant to be very good and the other end of the cost spectrum .... The Fiat Panda 4x4 Good honest no-nonsense basic hatch  Ah, yes. The Panda is a brilliant little car and the 4x4 version is fantastic!! Unless you drive it on something called...a road. Then it's one of the most god-awful, hateful pieces of crap you'll ever encounter. It's between this and a smart car for the worst vehicle i've ever driven tbh. My Rav is 4wd, my misses' mazda 2wd. In the real world, the Mazda goes everywhere the toyota goes. I like the higher driving position and extra space you take for granted in an SUV. Also much easier to get in and out of. Especially after legs day!! |
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Post by firemac on Jun 27, 2019 14:22:52 GMT
Ah, yes. The Panda is a brilliant little car and the 4x4 version is fantastic!! Unless you drive it on something called...a road. Then it's one of the most god-awful, hateful pieces of crap you'll ever encounter. It's between this and a smart car for the worst vehicle i've ever driven tbh. My Rav is 4wd, my misses' mazda 2wd. In the real world, the Mazda goes everywhere the toyota goes. I like the higher driving position and extra space you take for granted in an SUV. Also much easier to get in and out of. Especially after legs day!! For the money, you can't beat the Panda. It is anything but sophisticated but you wouldn't buy one if you want the last word in driving dynamics. I rate Mazdas and my 323 GT Fastback was one of my favourite cars but they (and Hondas and Toyotas and Subarus et al) don't have the "feel" that you get with Italian cars, even the humble Panda. |
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Post by davrav on Jun 27, 2019 16:31:11 GMT
Had a MK1 Panda back in the early eighties. Fantastically practical design, nippy and cheap. Got a new washing machine in ours one Saturday morning. Reversed it between two market stalls and into the shop entrance. Owner of shop and both stall holders totally amazed that the machine fitted in with the tailgate shut.
Would I buy another Fiat? No, that little Panda put me off for life. Arrived new with trim missing, Ali head corroded at 13 months and took six weeks to get sorted. In addition it took many trips to the dealer and, eventually in desperation, me taking the carb to bits on the side of the A414 to find the cause of intermittent dying of the engine - one grain of sand in the float chamber that would get into the jet and block it on a regular basis.
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Post by firemac on Jun 27, 2019 17:48:28 GMT
You are of course right, Dave, Fiats have never been known for their build quality
Having said that, we had an Uno for a few years back in the 80's and it never put a foot wrong. In fact we passed it on to a family member who ran it until it died of old age. It had the 1.0L FIRE engine which was a peach. My sister-in-law ran a Panda for 2 or 3 years a while back and never had any trouble with it.
Funnily enough I read a reliability survey a few days ago (What Car?) that had the Alfa Giulietta in the top ten for reliability!!
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Post by Hoovie on Jun 27, 2019 18:51:31 GMT
You are of course right, Dave, Fiats have never been known for their build quality Having said that, we had an Uno for a few years back in the 80's and it never put a foot wrong. In fact we passed it on to a family member who ran it until it died of old age. It had the 1.0L FIRE engine which was a peach. My sister-in-law ran a Panda for 2 or 3 years a while back and never had any trouble with it. Funnily enough I read a reliability survey a few days ago (What Car?) that had the Alfa Giulietta in the top ten for reliability!! We (me and ex-wifey) bought P-reg (1996) Punto brand new and ran that until 2002, when she got a Brand new Punto Sporting, and that was run until 2009 when she changed it for a Panda. no real problems until the 2002 Punto had some kind of injector fault (I think) but that was ignored when Part-Exed for the Panda. I would have no hesitation in buying a Fiat in anyway. The most expensive vehicles I have run in terms of repairs have been Honda, Toyota and VW - supposedly the best you can get? My Citroens, Peugeots and Vauxhalls have not cost me a penny in repairs. |
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Post by firemac on Jun 27, 2019 18:59:33 GMT
Fiats and Alfas are fun to drive and they do have some character that you don't normally get in other makes.
Mind you, a totally reliable Italian car wouldn't really be any fun! 😅
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Good honest no-nonsense basic hatch :TU:
