4x4 advice

[Hiliary]

I am interested in a used 4x4 (budget suggests 3-6 years old).
Something to carry a couple of kayaks on the roof, a dog in the back and up to 5 passengers.
To get down dirt tracks with around 12 – 18 inch ruts and potholes, water up 18 inches.
Maybe a daily driver between Subang and PJ.

Too big – Pajero, Range Rover and Discovery.
I prefer a diesel but that seems to limit my options, so petrol is ok.

Considering Freelander, X-Trail and Grand Vitara, does anyone have any experience with these three?

[CS Chua]

Not sure why you feel the Pajero (the other 2 are expensive) is too big. From your description, you need a big vehicle and a heavy one too. Otherwise, can get stuck in the mud easily. To carry 5 people, 2 kayaks and plus other stuff will require space and a roof rack. Moreover the Pajero is a true and tested vehicle for off road drive. I am not sure of the 3 you mentioned but the Pajero was one of the top selling 4 WDs in Malaysia sometime back.

[cskok8]

X-trail and Vitara (Grand or otherwise) are "soft" 4x4s. If you want real muscle, go for what the loggers in East Malaysia use: Toyota Land Cruiser or Mitsubishi Pajero.

[SiangMalam]

5-6 year old Freelander TD4 (Turbo Diesel) is really good. I used to run a Freelander both in Brunei and also here in Bloehland. It is AWD though but really trouble-free and economical yet powerful when you really need to get out of trouble like being stuck in the beach when unloading detaching the jetski trailer....

[Hiliary]

Not sure why you feel the Pajero (the other 2 are expensive) is too big. From your description, you need a big vehicle and a heavy one too. Otherwise, can get stuck in the mud easily. To carry 5 people, 2 kayaks and plus other stuff will require space and a roof rack. Moreover the Pajero is a true and tested vehicle for off road drive. I am not sure of the 3 you mentioned but the Pajero was one of the top selling 4 WDs in Malaysia sometime back.

Too big because i am having a hard time getting my head around driving something like a Pajero, coming from 2 door Mini and Lotus is a huge leap for me

But i am looking for something that allows me to get a bit more fun out of the weekend, and a kayak on top of a Mini is something even i am not dumb enough to try

[Hiliary]

X-trail and Vitara (Grand or otherwise) are "soft" 4x4s. If you want real muscle, go for what the loggers in East Malaysia use: Toyota Land Cruiser or Mitsubishi Pajero.

The X-Trail is on my list thanks to a Fifth Gear test of 9 soft 4x4's and the Honda CRV. The X-Trail got up the muddy hill......

[Hiliary]

5-6 year old Freelander TD4 (Turbo Diesel) is really good. I used to run a Freelander both in Brunei and also here in Bloehland. It is AWD though but really trouble-free and economical yet powerful when you really need to get out of trouble like being stuck in the beach when unloading detaching the jetski trailer....

Interesting, the Freelander seems to have a bad reputation for reliability but scores very high in overall owner satisfaction. A leaking steering box is mentioned a lot, for the life of me i dont undertand how that could be hard to fix.
Not many diesels around though (not on mudah anyway).

The Freelander wins on its looks, and i am a fan of BMW engines.

OK, shortlist of 2, Freelander and X-Trail

[SiangMalam]

Hello brudder.... itu Freelander TD4 bikin oleh BMW lah!

[Hiliary]

Hello brudder.... itu Freelander TD4 bikin oleh BMW lah!

Yes, a BMW M47 diesel should outlast me!

Sat in the X-Trail, felt the plastic, now a short list of one

[SiangMalam]

Go drive around those 2nd shop dealers along Malay-majority area like Gombak/B Caves, Ampang and Cheras... sure got Freelander in the yard for sale...