I am hoping to buy a new vehicle in the next few months. I want a 4 wheel drive and it has to comfortably take 2 labs. My favourite at the moment is the Honda CRV. Anyone got any suggestions or if they have this model are they happy with it.
Lorna

Looking at our shoot last Saturday Lorna, I think the best for off road activities is a Quad Bike! It seemed to go where even the Land Rover had difficulties. (And it's cool in summer!)

John

i just bought a mitsubishi 4 life its a pick up with a cab on the back with windows and sunroof,4 wheel drive when you want it,five seats,disel which on a full tank get over 250 miles with air con on,the best think is the dogs which i have 4 flatcoats and a spainsh water dog from sunday all go in the cab which is separated from the car,so is dose not smell the all car out and you can jet wash the cab out,i love it,i looked had the honda but it was to small for all my dogs and jo with flatcoats has one and her husband said it not to good on fuel,

I used to have a Diahatsu 4Trak, which would hold all your dogs with ease. But it wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world.

How "off road" you really want to take it will go someway to deciding which is the right vehicle. And as Driven said last night, tyres make a big difference to off road ability too. Our LR Discovery had to have new off road tyres as it couldn't cope with getting down to the pheasant pens.

There's lots to choose from: Freelander, New nissan Patrol thingy, new Jeep.

Driven did a test of "softroaders" fairly recently. You could try their website:

http://www.4car.co.uk/

Lorna,

Good choice! I spoke to this bloke I know :D who tells me that in 17 years of working for the AA, he has only been called out to Honda's on three occassions, and in each case it was a User Error (flat battery!). The AA have the Honda contract too.

Hope that helps.

Leigh

No we don't have one! lol

Did he say how many times he's been called out to Land Rovers or has he lost count?????

He ..... ROTFLOL

We have a Toyota Hi Lux Surf - its an Import and is has same engine and parts as Land Cruiser but is the 'estate' version of the Hi Lux pick up - it looks exactly the same as Land Cruiser up to last back window where it changes shape - they are also slightly longer than Land Cruiser - loads of room - with seats down in back we have had approx 20 stuffed bin bags ( I do not joke !! ) full of horse rugs, plus all sorts of riding equipment - they are very dog friendly - our 2 rotts and one akita fitted in boot part without dropping seats easily. They are also alot cheaper than Land Cruiser - probably why they are not sold new over here !. The older version was called the 4Runner. I love mine too bits and even took my advanced driving instructor test in it much to the horror of the examiner. Good luck with your choice

regards Lorraine

you just cannot better a defender......I will never have any other vehicle.

Depends what you want to do with it though. We can't fit us, dogs and luggage in the VW Golf and I wouldn't want to go on holiday in a Defender!! Everywhere is a major drive for us (even the supermarket) and I'm afraid luxury and comfort won over sheer practicality.

We had a range rover and it cost a fortune to keep on the road, so we got rid. I wanted to buy japanese, but Al went for the badge I'm afraid, hence the new Discovery - which is actually very good. His back is too dodgy for a Defender (ski-ing accident, broken back, etc. etc.). Sometimes I think it's just an excuse so I'll have to move pheasant food, logs, dog food, horse food, blah, blah, blah.

Sympathy is my middle name

I can't imagine NOT going on holiday in the defender.....how else would I get 6 hounds up the side of a mountain???????
An as for Japenese....*********

Hi Dudley.
I would suggest that Japanese cars are the most reliable, having had considerable experience with a lot of others. Discoveries are notoriously unreliable and we have had a Range Rover and was the biggest load of rubbish out. We have had Land Cruisers and a 4 Runner and were delighted with them. We now have a Lexus RX300se which is a dream. The Honda seem very popular and one of our clients changed his Jaguar in for one and is delighted with it.
Good luck in your choice.
Dawn B

thanks for all the comments. Believe me, after various vans and my Peugout 106, anything bigger will be sheer luxury. I have to keep my 106 for work, as I need something small economical and nippy, but when it comes to taking the dogs out its a different matter. I'm very grateful to the 4-wheel owners who have towed me out of fields and quagmires from various training grounds in the past;)
Lorna

Does anyone out there have a Subaru Legacy, Outback or Forester? If so, what are your opinions? Thinking about getting one next year to replace my VW Golf. Or does anyone have any good ideas for a very well spec'd estate car with a huge boot, good ground clearance and ability to cope with Highland winters?

Ta.

Kate & Loki

A friend of mine swears by his Legacy, uses it quite a bit off road on his shoot. For my part I still like my Volvo 940 but I must admit it's off road performance is not that hot!

Regards, John

The most off road the new car is likely to get is our drive, but that can be pretty hairy at times - it has pot holes in it you could use as flighting ponds!

Hi,I have a 10year old subaru legacy its my second subaru and once youve had one your spoilt for anything else,they are so easy,comfortable to drive and very reliable!if you opt for a model that has the dual range gearbox it will get you anywhere in comfort,you have 5forward and 1reverse gear in high range for normal driving,and then you can drop it into low range for getting you out of sticky situations,try one you wont regret it .As for service and reliability they are always winning the jd power awards for this,hope you get one and enjoy