[alfettaparts2]

Firstly, hope I put this is the right part of the forum.

I'm thinking about buying a second hand 4wd. Looking for a medium sized vehicle. Think Rav, Pajero, Jeep size.
Something that can easily sit at highway speed covering long distance, then double up as a beach buggy capable of crossing dunes and beaches without much more than deflating tires. A standard vehicle that can do these two tasks if one exists. Not keen on going down the route of fwd modification.

Note: I recently sold my disco 2. I would not consider this vehicle for long distance comfort.

 

[vintagemilano]

3rd gen 4runners are common around here for off road tasks. 96-02.

 

[quattrotto]

Look into a 1st Gen VW Touareg, I've got a 2006 V8 and has been great bang for the buck, although gas mileage isn't great. They come with a V6 and TDI as well for better mileage. Very comfortable and quite capable off-road, especially with the air suspension. There are plenty of YouTube videos out there showing the off road capabilities, and they have a 7000 lb. towing capacity. I tow a 25 ft. Airstream and a 19 ft ski boat with mine (not at the same time of course) and have no issues going up mountain passes at highway speed.

 

[Castrique]

Any Toyota product. I only had 390,000 on my 2001Highlander when I gave it away, still running well.

 

[PSk]

Any Toyota product. I only had 390,000 on my 2001Highlander when I gave it away, still running well.

Yep. While I hate with a passion these sorts of vehicles, if you have to have one you would need your head read if you did not purchase a Toyota in this segment
Pete

 

[integrale]

Have a look at the Subaru Forrester. At least they used to be very reliable; I had one for more then 10 years, never failed me (except for ’user errors’).

 

[Vivace]

I'm going to swim upstream......

The Volvo XC70 - AWD Haldex, fantastic freeway car, comfortable, quiet, tons of room, tons of torque, 8" of ground clearance....

I can't tell you anything about beach performance, we have snow.

 

[alfettaparts2]

Thank you guys. I am compiling a list. Your suggestions are very welcome. I will come back with a better response when I have time .

 

[vintagemilano]

I'm going to swim upstream......

The Volvo XC70 - AWD Haldex, fantastic freeway car, comfortable, quiet, tons of room, tons of torque, 8" of ground clearance....

I can't tell you anything about beach performance, we have snow.

I had an 04 V70R for ten years. After that experience I would never recommend a Volvo to anyone. Nice car, drove great but man, live close to the dealer......

 

[alfettaparts2]

Not the most comfortable car to travel long distance in the 4 runner, or what we call a hilux would be ideal. I agree with the sentiment about buying a Toyota. Problem is on the second hand market they are expensive and have hi mileage.
In another life I had one for a work vehicle. Wasn't unusual to cover 500 miles or so in a day for work. Actually this is triggering some memories because work paid me to deliver a couple of vehicles between Brisbane and Melbourne. One time on the way to Melbourne I stopped outside of Brisbane and loaded up a late model 2lt engine and transaxle. With the stupidity of youth I drove home only stopping for fuel, some 16-18 hours. I had done the same thing in my hot rod alfetta several times. Not from Brisbane but a little place on the QLD border called Texas.

The VW is interesting and I shall look further into them. Its probably not logical but I really dislike German vehicles. The thought of even servicing a VW gives me the shivers. I think I have pressed one to many German bushes out of lower control arms.

I like the size of the forester and I know they drive well over long distance. Need to see how capable they are as a medium use beach 4wd.

What about a Jeep?

 

[Vivace]

I had an 04 V70R for ten years. After that experience I would never recommend a Volvo to anyone. Nice car, drove great but man, live close to the dealer......

Yes, the R was an entirely different beast, with a list of issues.
My '04 XC wagon just drove across sub-zero (F) Wyoming and Montana without a hitch. I drove 14 1/2 hours and my back felt great. I've driven both 850turbo and 240turbo wagons to high mileage. That's how I hauled my new old 105 axle assembly home 500 miles!

 

[PSk]

What about a Jeep?

Well I wouldn't
Pete

 

[nickypp]

What about a Jeep?

I have 2014 Jeep Wrangler 4door, 6sp manual. Great around town, in mud, snow etc. Awful on long trips. Uncomfortable seats, noisy and crappy gas mileage. It has been a very reliable vehicle for that last 90k miles though.

 

[Gordon Raymond]

If you can stand a rough riding I-talian car...
I'm with nickypp. Just bought a used 2014 stripper 2 door Wrangler with less than 50,000 miles used. Also a six speed. Agree with all he says above, BUT the 4WD is seamless as compared to my prior Land Rover winter drive. It's cold and snowy where I live. Great if you like to BBQ at 12 degrees....

I needed small and good to go in the snow and cold.

 

[PSk]

I worked with a guy that owned a Jeep once. He liked it, but he came in to work one day and somebody had stolen his doors . They had just unbolted them and yep gone, never to be found again. Maybe that is not possible with post 2020 ones?

Becareful alfettaparts2, aren't modern Jeeps built on an Alfa platform ... ?
Pete

 

[Gordon Raymond]

If you lock your doors AND have the bottom hinge nut in place, a special Allen wrench is needed to get those doors off. Tops can disappear, as can spare rear tires and the rear seat! With enough time the whole thing comes apart! The frame under mine is like no Alpha Rustomieo I've ever seen. This is a body on frame car, not unibody, but want a plastic fender? Only held on by a couple of fasteners. It's weird, but then I haven't owned a 'merikan car since '71!

 

[PSk]

I've always assumed somebody in the know needed doors so had the tools ...

The Jeep Renegade is the one that uses a FCA platform, not the Wrangler
Pete

 

[alfettaparts2]

Not a lot of love for Jeep.
I recently sold my disco 2. I would never want to cover thousands of miles in one of those .
What about a Freelander?

 

[PSk]

Another reason why I'm not a fishing fan, i.e. need to suffer driving 4WD rubbish
PEte

 

[alfettaparts2]

Another reason why I'm not a fishing fan, i.e. need to suffer driving 4WD rubbish
PEte

🤣 🤣 🤣
While fishing is on my mind its more about access to WA's remote coast. About 95% of the coast is accessible only by 4wd. The beach is my happy place so if I need to make a utilitarian decision in order to find myself on a pristine remote beach where nobody will find offence with my nudity, C'est la Vie