4x4's - Disco's, Shoguns etc etc.

[neatbik]

Due to an expanding family the faithful old Focus has to go in place of something with 7 (well 6 really) seats.
I'm looking at V70 estates and various MPV's, but im interested to hear peoples experiences with big 4x4's, especially if you have run one on LPG.

Greenlaning is something i enjoy, and i would like to take my boys off for adventures on some (fairly easygoing) lanes.
Main concern will obviously be running costs, hence my interest in LPG, and reliability.
Cheers

[G]

I recently got a Delica:
https://gees.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v19/p983080406-4.jpg

Afraid no experience with them running on LPG (diesel models are more common, but petrol ones are out there) - fuel consumption isn't amazing on mine, especially as it's got a higher than standard roof.

However, you do get plenty of space inside with spacious seating etc.
It's based on the Pajero running gear I believe, so should be decent off-road - it has diff locks and low range. Normal 2wd and 4wd modes, but the latter only comes in as needed, so no reason not to.
Definitely was fine for getting around steep snowy/icey north streets no bother.

Apparantly can fit a bike in the back - and it's tow bar nose weight is enough to carry a bike on there legally too,which is partly what attracted me.

[neatbik]

Cheers G. What MPG are you getting?

[G]

Haven't measured it, but low 20s is the norm for my 2.8TD and seems about right.
At least mine was at the cheaper end, so shouldn't depreciate massively at least (I'm always amused by people buying expensive cars to get good fuel consumption, then paying more per mile in depreciation than they're saving!)

Mine's quite a low spec model, but the higher spec ones come with loads of nice gadgets - electric side door, electric curtains, 5 x sunroof, 6 position climate control, fridge etc.
As standard, I think on all of them you can flip the front seats around to make them rear facing, or lie all the rear seats flat to make a bed.

[virus]

crewcab hilux is the daddy, but a bit thirsty for around town probably.

Avoid the early landys, they arent built for comfort and unless its had an engine swap for a disco lump etc it'l be thirsty too.


Cheers
John
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own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[G]

[karoshi]

[Pernig]

My Dad had a Discovery, and it wasn't that bad on fuel although can't remember exactly what mpg it could manage. He had the Series II diesel.

Like karoshi said, the rear two seats are but a token gesture. They take up all your boot space, and unfold sideways with only a lap belt to strap yourself in. I don't think many parents would want their kids sitting in them, not to mention the difficulty you would have getting car seats on them which you didn't have to have back then, plus there were only five of us. Maybe the third generation of Discovery would be better for this?

Reliability wise, it had a fair few problems. It left my Dad a good few miles out of the way on more than one occasion. Not quite sure but one time I think it was something to do with a bolt inside the oil pump shearing off. Maybe someone knows more about this fault?
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H100 Breaking for spares

[Marmalade]

Had a delica, decent car but rubbish off road due to the long front and placement of the radiators etc

Land rover much better off road and more readilly available bits for modding and replacing the odd bits you're bound to break off when laning.
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[truslack]

Daihatsu fourtrak (although they're getting a bit old now) - nice off road, 7 seats (2 fold down in the boot), low 20's on fuel.
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Current: Suzuki RG 125 Gamma, Honda H100, Triumph Tiger 800XC, Suzuki SV650 (minitwin)

[karoshi]

Alternatively..

are you ready to be a hero to your kids?

Same footprint as a Range Rover and you'd get at least 7 seats in one

'course you'd have to live with no power steering, top speed of ~60mph, brakes that rate somewhere between questionable and life threatening, no leg room for the driver, no crash protection other than the crumple zones designed into whatever you hit, no heater and 10mpg on a very good day..

if I had the cash i'd have one already
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Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, Doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it. - Elwood P. Dowd

[Hetzer]

I had a LWB Shogun with the full Mitsu Diamond Pack but at 3.5 petrol I had enough of the cost of fuel. Other than that it was a fantastic wagon and did everything I asked of it on the odd occasion I went off-road, though I did almost get stuck in a 2'-deep marsh, had to get out and find logs and stuff to put under it's tyres. They were standard road tyres though, to be fair.

I originally intended to LPG it, but at over £2000 I changed my mind.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[hmmmnz]

i have the older shaped l300 delica, 2.5 diesel turbo, that returns about 35mpg, and is arguably better off road than the l400,
but no where near as comfy or refined, and i'd say in the uk, salty roads probably would have eaten most of them by now,
shame more companies don't do decent 4x4 vans
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the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[tatfan]

Check out www.pocuk.com for advice on pajeros and shoguns. I've had a 2.5 for about 2 years, the fuel is a bit of a killer, but it's really comfortable, and just keeps going. Wait until after winter, and the vat rise, as that will put a lot off people off wanting them, so prices should go down a lot.
If you go for a 2.8 pajero, check the fuel seals have been replaced, or, knock a couple of hundred off to get it done. The bodies and chassis on pajeros are usually pretty tidy, as they've only been here a few years, and they apparently don't use salt on the roads in japan, so don't tend to rust much.

[evoboy]

Dad has a '90 Shogun 3.0 V6 in SWB guise. Being an auto aswell, it suprisingly isnt too bad on fuel. Normally gets around 20ish mpg round town.

Its mainly used as a towing machine and it does it brilliantly. Worked very well in the snow also even on cheap road tyres.

Sounds the nuts too
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[DrDonnyBrago]

https://www.mod-sales.com/auction/
Have a gander .

example:

https://www.mod-sales.com/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=../images/product/1291998042Auction101210%20011.jpg&w=400&h=340&zc=1&fltr[]=wmi|../images/over.png|CBR|100