4x4 v estate

[its hilly]

I wrote off my volvo v40 estate a couple of weeks ago (don't try having a sneezing fit coming up to a junction ) and am now looking for a new motor.
It will have to be under£1400 (cos i got £1350 for the volvo) and I really am not sure what to do.
I have horses and chooks so end up lugging feed and bales of shavings around, and my OHs van wont fit in the 6x4 sheets of boarding he often needs for his joinery jobs so mine needs to have room to do these. Both an estate and a 4x4 with back seats folded will do it. But only the 4x4 has the required body weight to tow a trailer with my nag in. However that only happens very occasionally at the mo.
My volvo coped with the ice and snow with no effort and was nice to drive. However I have found both a Honda CRV and a KIA sportage are within my price and age range.
So do I go for the 4x4...or an estate? Thoughts please

[FionaH]

If you are towing nags, I would go for a 4x4. Much much easier to get out of a wet field

[Glutton4...]

Sorry, I don't even have to think about it. I got my first Disco to tow Nags in trailers. Now have no trailer, but I'm not going back to a car. 4x4 is essential when you live in a rural area, as far as I'm concerned. I know many folk disagree...

I only have two complaints about a big motor - it costs a lot in fuel, but I don't do many miles, so I'm prepared to suffer it. And, it takes so long to bladdy clean!!!

[Glutton4...]

I forgot to add - I have a friend with a Kia, she uses it for towing, and says it's excellent. They did actually win Towcar of the Year, a few years back!

[bishop]

I have a mitsubishi l200,old shape 54 reg had it for 3 years, 26-28 mpg, exellent for towing, and a large flat rear bed, it is slow compared to a modern 4x4 but it will pull 3 ton, and still go the same speed, it is insured and taxed as a commercial, for me it would be 4x4 every, i wont have anything else.

[shirlthegirl43]

I have towed horses with two vehicles - land rover and a Rover V8 SD1. Both are brill for towing but there are not many Rover SD1's about now

I should think you could get another Volvo for your dosh though couldn't you?

[The Large One]

go for a Land Rover Freelander
for that sort of money you can get a 01/51 or maybe an 02 plate
ONLY go for the td4 diesel engine variant or the earlier 2.0 L series diesel, NOT the 1.8 petrol version
will tow 1800 kg and with seats folded will carry all your feed needs also
and doddle to go anywhere in the bad weather

[chris]

I have a CRV - the boot is just huge, esp how the seeds double fold (down, then up to give you a huge cavity).

Only "issue" with the freelanders are their history of reliability problems. That's what put me off one, although I don't know if they've improved / the issue related to a quick fix?

[Glutton4...]

I'm a Disco person. I much prefer them to the Freelander, but I have several friends with them, and they love them. My seats double-fold too - very useful. I guess, you are either lucky or not with cars, you hear good and bad about all makes and models. I even have a friend who hates CRVs with a passion! Why? Because he got in one 3 times, and hit his head 3 times. It wasn't the car's fault! LOL

[The Large One]

Only "issue" with the freelanders are their history of reliability problems. That's what put me off one, although I don't know if they've improved / the issue related to a quick fix?

thats why i say td4 and not 1.8 petrol
headgasket and engine issues with the 1.8 means i wouldnt have even if i were given

you'd struggle also to get a decent Disco for that money which wasnt falling apart

[its hilly]

Thanks for the comments everyone
Bilbo..Langwathby near Penrith, so not that far away.

Doesnt matter which I have I always seem to end up with the back seats folded down, so the fold down then forward trick is really useful.

Well, I think it's going to be a 4x4. Trouble is my budget is quite limited for a decent 2nd hand (round here anyway) and I will need to find one sharpish.

My S-in-L has a freelander and loves it, but it costs her a bomb in repairs
And so does my B-i-L's Disco. Dad actually has a CR-V I've just discovered (he just swopped his Jazz)and likes it, he's promised to measure the rear load space all folded up for me, but tbh I've rather fallen for the KIA's looks. And a friend of a friend reckons his is an excellent farm workhorse

[chris]

You'll get a lot more Kia for your money, than you will a Honda.. I know a few people with Sportage's and erm the other one... sorrento? They love them, won't ever change they say.

[Alison]

Don't know that much about the cars you are talking about as have no need for 4WD in the semi urban area where I live etc etc and personally don't like the high driving position of landrover type vehicles, find the sight lines pretty bad. However, your requirements are different etc etc. Only one comment that may be of any help, which is that from being a pasenger in a Freelander I was amazed at how little it seemed inside considering the size of the vehicle and wasn't at all impressed, seemed a very poor use of space in comparison with similar vehices.

[mrswadders]

From experience I would go for the Honda, I had a sportage last year which unfortunately was written off when someone drove in the back of me. I bought a Suzuki Baleno estate with the insurance monies - which although a lovely car was much too low for me. I was very lucky and just before xmas was fortunate to buy my daughters CRV which I have to say I LOVE!! My sister has driven CRV's for years now and swears by them (she must be on her 3rd now!) One of her friends has her first one which is still going strong. Mine is a P reg but you wouldn't know it - its just like a new car.

Harriet (the honda) and me are as one!!!!!

[matthew2riches]

Funny that when I come back to this forum I see this thread lol. I've just bought a Land Rover Discovery 1. Very very good! Got fed up of driving around in the work van all the time so thought I'd grab one.

Running it on biodiesel at 20p a litre. Its very fast. Automatic with cruise control and lots of electric toys Much more fun than a dirty old Transit lol!