Advice on 7 seat 4WD

[mr901]

I'm tired of renting cars when I come to Australia & want to buy an inexpensive 7 seat 4WD. I can think of no better place to get advice....the only criteria is that it must be 7 seat to fit my gazillion kids, be super reliable, around 10k & able to tow a race car from time to time (SC is about 1000kg & BMW is 1300kg).

Options considered to date include Volvo XC90 T5, Landcover Discovery 2, 100 series Toyota Landcruiser & Ford Explorer. I am very open to suggestions, advice or opinions....

Kind Regards

[mrar]

If your not concerned about fuel you should be able to pickup a early 100 series petrol for that sort of money.Reliable,gx,gxl has the seats and plenty of power to tow.

[Fishcop]

For $10k you'd be buying high mile eurotrash and the associated repair costs... Skip the Volvo/Rangie/X5 scene.

For those dollars, it's hard to go past a Mitsubishi Pajero. You'll get 7 seats, some whistles and bells, and a solid diesel that will comfortably tow to 3000kg.

[mr901]

Thanks for the advice, I know zero about 4WD's so very helpful....ha ha....the Pajero seems like good value but I had a hard time convincing the lady love about it when she saw the third row seats. Of course she loves the volvo which is great inside for kids but with only 1800 towing capacity suspect I'll fry it & cost a fortune.....which leave me with the 100 series. My only observation with these is at this price they all have 300,000km+ How long do they go for.....I saw one with 650,000 !!

[Polorot]

I had many reliable years from My Land Rover DiscoveryII 7 seater TD5.
Really good on towing also. 3500kg rated. For 10k you could more than likely find a series 3.

[Merv]

Nissan Patrol 3.0L TD?

[mrar]

Thanks for the advice, I know zero about 4WD's so very helpful....ha ha....the Pajero seems like good value but I had a hard time convincing the lady love about it when she saw the third row seats. Of course she loves the volvo which is great inside for kids but with only 1800 towing capacity suspect I'll fry it & cost a fortune.....which leave me with the 100 series. My only observation with these is at this price they all have 300,000km+ How long do they go for.....I saw one with 650,000 !!

http://www.carpoint.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=SSE-AD-3397673&Cr=6

Here's one with reasonable kms. one model below sahara,should have the center consol fridge!

[Fishcop]

http://www.carpoint.com.au/all-cars/...D-3397673&Cr=6

Here's one with reasonable kms. one model below sahara,should have the center consol fridge!

That would be a great buy in diesel... I've had several of the 100 series as work cars in both V8 and oil burner. The V8 is very thirsty rig when towing, but they are a great unit.

[mrar]

Diesel's are slugs (100 series) unless you change them from stock. As I said above "if your not concerned about fuel" I.e. towing an oil rig around behind you to keep it going.:p
You have to pay for power in one way or another...

[reedminor]

Kia Sorento, or Hyundai Santa Fe?

They'll tow 1500 - 1800 kgs.

Long warranty.... because the manufacturers feels they can comfortably back it.

They don't have the dinner party cache, but are reliable.... and effective. I ran several Sorentos when I worked at Kia.

[mikedsilva]

go the cruiser... simply cannot go wrong.
We never get angry buyers... our service manager still has all his hair.

Our service managers at LR, Volvo, etc are all going mental...

[mr901]

Thanks for all the great advice !! A friend has offered me his 2004 Landrover Discovery 2 at a reasonable price. One owner, full service history, just serviced etc.....my wife prefers the size of the landrover over the bigger 4WD's however I am worried about reliability. Years ago I owned a Range Rover which was excellent although thirsty....I'm OK with thirsty but unreliable will drive me nuts. My mate says it's been good but would be interested in experience or opinions from forum members.

Thanks again for the help....

Cheers

[mr901]

Quick update on my search....in the end I decided that buying a 4WD was like buying a sledge hammer to crack a walnut & after a discussion with my mechanic purchased a low km 08' Ford Territory. Not fancy, not refined, not really good at anything BUT cheap to buy, cheap to repair, 7 seats, 4 airbags & 2300kg towing capacity all for well under my 10k budget !!

Thanks again for the help & advice....

Cheers

[Lyndon]

Did you go with the diesel or petrol version? People are going to miss these cheap local cars once they are gone.