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Post by Tim on Dec 22, 2017 10:36:46 GMT
I've been casually looking at a 'proper' 4x4 SUV recently, something like the 2004 Landcruiser I linked to elsewhere. The primary reason has been for winter use as I reckon a 320 on low profiles is going to be utter crap in the snow, even with xDrive. Another reason is that we're going to look to move somewhere a bit more rural. Nothing isolated but probably down a few backroads and possibly a track and we anticipate that whatever we buy will need work so something that could pull a decent trailer would be handy.
This has led to a discussion with Mrs Tim that is making us consider getting rid of the 370 AND the 320 in favour of something like a Ford Ranger (I know, forum ban territory).
We really love the 370 but Mrs Tim is only 5 feet tall and has a few issues with visibility out of the car - it has massive door mirrors that block quite a lot of her view (her eyeline is about the middle of the mirror so its not easily sorted) and she's said that while she can cope with that she feels the car is a bit of a waste as she spends too much time scanning for potholes and has become increasingly aware of the number of cyclists now on the roads and the likelihood that at some point she'll round a corner to discover one at the same time as a car is coming the other way. This is all significantly limiting her enjoyment of the car. I have the same feelings although much more muted.
Maybe I'm just unlucky that a lot of the roads around me are quite poor but, for instance, on the way home from St Andrews last night, on a proper main road, we hit a hole where the top layer of road surface has disappeared and you have a hole that's maybe an inch deep, 2 feet wide and 5 feet long. In a 320D with 19 inch wheels and low profile tyres catching that at 40 or 50 is quite severe. I've already had to replace damaged tyres on that car which is a first in 30 years of motoring for me and to be honest it feels like things are only getting worse. This despite Fife Council having recently closed a few roads while they resurface them and actually do a decent job.
If I do make this terrible decision I'll still keep the Fiat and M5 for pleasure but I feel quite sad that I'm even contemplating it. |
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The roads
Dec 23, 2017 0:17:01 GMT
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Post by cbeaks1 on Dec 23, 2017 0:17:01 GMT
I’m up to 8000 miles in the Ranger. The only real drawback has been fuel consumption at 26 ish. I wouldn’t want one without front and rear sensors and a camera, or anything too basic. This has radar cruise, auto high beam, lane keeping assist, etc. Dead easy to drive, lots of grunt.
I’m going to miss it.
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Post by johnc on Dec 23, 2017 7:30:36 GMT
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Post by Martin on Dec 23, 2017 7:49:11 GMT
I don't know what to recommend, other than don’t get a pickup.... but (for what its worth), I do think you’d be doing the right thing. It’s important to have the right vehicle for the type of driving you do and what you need from it.
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Post by PG on Dec 23, 2017 9:54:06 GMT
I think you're doing the right thing. I love my Jag, but our lane is becoming increasingly potholed and covered in shit and a lot of local roads are the same. So for local stuff, I find myself taking the Shogun out more and more. Those Shogun's look like a good choice.
I've thought a few times if a Range Rover V8 Supercharged makes more sense for me than the Jag. Sacrilege, I know!
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Post by johnc on Dec 23, 2017 12:30:26 GMT
I've thought a few times if a Range Rover V8 Supercharged makes more sense for me than the Jag. Sacrilege, I know! There is one of them accelerates past the office most days (having been in the petrol station next door). Sounds lovely but thirsty! |
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The roads
Dec 23, 2017 14:20:20 GMT
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Post by racingteatray on Dec 23, 2017 14:20:20 GMT
What is a Ranger? A pick-up?
In which case depends whether you want to look like an off-duty gamekeeper or like you might tarmac driveways for cash.
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The roads
Dec 23, 2017 17:04:02 GMT
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Post by michael on Dec 23, 2017 17:04:02 GMT
It sounds like you’ll be using similar kinds of roads to me and for that reason if take a look at the jacked up estate options. The XC70 isn’t the best car in the world but it is very well optimised for our crappy rural roads. Mine spends more time off road than a lot of fully fledged SUVs but it’s fitness for purpose generally is quite satisfying.
I don’t know how you’d feel about an Audi but the allroads have got to be worth a look.
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Post by PG on Dec 23, 2017 19:37:37 GMT
I've thought a few times if a Range Rover V8 Supercharged makes more sense for me than the Jag. Sacrilege, I know! There is one of them accelerates past the office most days (having been in the petrol station next door). Sounds lovely but thirsty! Indeed, very thirsty. In reality, a full fat RR V8 diesel makes far more sense, but has much less appeal. |
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Post by Alex on Dec 24, 2017 8:29:44 GMT
There is one of them accelerates past the office most days (having been in the petrol station next door). Sounds lovely but thirsty! Indeed, very thirsty. In reality, a full fat RR V8 diesel makes far more sense, but has much less appeal. And is still very thirsty! Could the problem be partially solved by dropping down to 17in wheels with winter tyres for the 320? Chopping it in for a pickup seems a daft idea if your wife is struggling to see out of a 370Z. It’ll be bloody uncomfortable after a 3 series. You’d be better off sticking with BMW and moving from a 3 to an X3 keeping tyre size sensible and fitting winters. |
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The roads
Dec 24, 2017 10:16:32 GMT
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Post by Roadrunner on Dec 24, 2017 10:16:32 GMT
Indeed, very thirsty. In reality, a full fat RR V8 diesel makes far more sense, but has much less appeal. And is still very thirsty! Could the problem be partially solved by dropping down to 17in wheels with winter tyres for the 320? Chopping it in for a pickup seems a daft idea if your wife is struggling to see out of a 370Z. It’ll be bloody uncomfortable after a 3 series. You’d be better off sticking with BMW and moving from a 3 to an X3 keeping tyre size sensible and fitting winters. I totally agree with this. I would need a gun to my head to put me in a pickup as my daily driver. |
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Post by LandieMark on Dec 24, 2017 11:15:38 GMT
I don’t understand the hatred for pickups. The new Ranger is an absolute beast, but the big engine is thirsty.
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The roads
Dec 24, 2017 14:57:30 GMT
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Post by cbeaks1 on Dec 24, 2017 14:57:30 GMT
I don’t understand the hatred for pickups. The new Ranger is an absolute beast, but the big engine is thirsty. 200 miles up to and around Northumberland at the moment and averaging 32mpg. It seems to be improving slowly with age. All the Defenders up here seem to be kitted out like yours. |
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Post by Boxer6 on Dec 24, 2017 15:33:09 GMT
I don’t understand the hatred for pickups. The new Ranger is an absolute beast, but the big engine is thirsty. The Ranger is the only alternative to Discoverys that Herself considered when her Td5 seemed to be on its' last legs. She was somewhat daunted by the sheer physical size of it to be honest, but the mere fact it was considered by her speaks volumes (to me, at least). |
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Post by LandieMark on Dec 24, 2017 15:58:36 GMT
I don’t understand the hatred for pickups. The new Ranger is an absolute beast, but the big engine is thirsty. 200 miles up to and around Northumberland at the moment and averaging 32mpg. It seems to be improving slowly with age. All the Defenders up here seem to be kitted out like yours. Interesting. A friend went from a Hilux to a Ranger and is whinging about the economy - so much so that he is thinking of returning to Toyota. Where abouts in Northumberland? There are quite a lot of modified Defenders in these parts. I don’t understand the hatred for pickups. The new Ranger is an absolute beast, but the big engine is thirsty. The Ranger is the only alternative to Discoverys that Herself considered when her Td5 seemed to be on its' last legs. She was somewhat daunted by the sheer physical size of it to be honest, but the mere fact it was considered by her speaks volumes (to me, at least). They are supposed to be very refined to drive - nothing renotely like the pickups of just a few years ago. If she is ever thinking of getting rid of the D2, I would be interested. |
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The roads
Dec 24, 2017 16:07:35 GMT
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Post by cbeaks1 on Dec 24, 2017 16:07:35 GMT
Up near Bamburgh for Christmas. Windy!
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Post by LandieMark on Dec 24, 2017 16:48:13 GMT
Bamburgh is lovely, and yes, it has been breezy the last couple of days.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2017 21:58:21 GMT
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Post by Boxer6 on Dec 24, 2017 23:29:40 GMT
They are supposed to be very refined to drive - nothing renotely like the pickups of just a few years ago. If she is ever thinking of getting rid of the D2, I would be interested. I shall certainly bear that in mind. |
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Post by Roadsterstu on Dec 30, 2017 10:08:15 GMT
I know of a very cheap Hyundai Terracan currently available. Travel sickness is included in the deal.
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Post by LandieMark on Dec 30, 2017 10:38:45 GMT
If I bought something else to play with, it would have to have a green oval.
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Post by Tim on Jan 3, 2018 10:12:43 GMT
After a lot of consideration over the holiday period a Ranger has been dismissed from the plans. I take the point about Mrs Tim struggling to see out of it but actually the problem she has with the Nissan is that you sit low. there's a lot of bonnet and it appears to have 4x4 sized mirrors that cover at least half the height of the side windows. She had a test sit in a Ranger a while back and was happy that she could see all the corners....... At present the revised thinking is to keep the 320, get rid of the 370 and spend the money from that on the Fiat, M5 and the house in anticipation of moving a bit sooner. I can console myself with the thought that 370s are relatively plentiful (and still available new, apparently) so that in 18 months or so I could get another one if I fancied. Of course, all this could change before anything happens  |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Jan 3, 2018 10:45:04 GMT
If I bought something else to have fun rebuilding completely, it would have to have a green oval. FYP  |
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Post by Tim on Jan 4, 2018 13:43:13 GMT
So, there we were last night, heading home and as we left Leuchars heading towards St Andrews - on a propoer A road - in the 40 limit there was a loud bang and thump as we went through a massive pothole. I've had a look and can't see any obvious tyre damage.
One worry that has occurred to me is that it was on the passenger side again - the same side that suffered 2 damaged tyres from a pothole last year.
How often can this happen before the wheel gives in, probably when I'm doing more than 30?
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Post by johnc on Jan 4, 2018 15:07:27 GMT
We came home from St Andrews last night and there were plenty of nasty big holes just waiting to catch people out on almost all the roads we drove - it's a bloody disgrace!
Fingers crossed you don't get the same cracked wheels I had previously - they appeared to be a slow puncture but were obviously much more serious. |
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Post by Tim on Jan 4, 2018 15:17:14 GMT
The last bit between St Andrews and Guardbridge is pretty bad for big bits of the top layer of the road surface missing, it's much better after Guardbridge if you're heading towards Cupar.
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