I'm never one to jump into a quick decision and I'm over half way through my gt86 contract so thoughts are beginning to turn to replacements. The new house is proper arse end of nowhere in country lanes that if we get a heavy snow or similar I'm buggered. Hell, even all the leaves coming off the trees are making the roads sketchy! Therefore im considering alternatives.

One route is Rav4s, CRVs, Sportages and General softroaders. No need to get carried away. Defenders would be overkill.

Alternatively pickups are a lot of car for your money even though the ride isn't necissarily great. Apart from Hiluxes I've little practical experience though. Nevaras and Warriors seem popular but no idea why.

Opinions folks?

 

Scooby

 

We have a Forester 2.5xt for the same issues, it is also our DIY shed and dump run car
You need to have a think about what else you would use it for or you may find it gets left standing and quietly dying in a corner
I'd also suggest having a look at the Suzuki SX4 4grip
Cheap reliable and can 2wd, active 4wd or locked 4wd
I wouldn't bother with a pickup, costly to run and service the more modern ones

 

Just get an old Rav 4 / Jimny / SJ410 to use as a winter hack IF the weather gets bad enough.

TBH where i used to live, the S2000 with winter tyres was more than enough unless the snow was 6" or more and at that point, who goes out to drive in it anyway.

 

I've only had a look around one, rather than driven but the VW Amarok seems to closer to Golf than Truck in terms of comfort.

 

I would have thought that the agricultural ride of most trucks would get pretty wearing after not too long. The Forester suggestion sounds like a good idea ...

 

Unless you absolutely must have a truck, I would avoid them. My friend's Navara - used mainly for work - has a dreadful ride.

And as for the VW Amarok, the price is taking the piss. It's VW pushing the brand-premium to an all time high IMHO.

Subaru is a spent-force; they were two-a-penny once in my rural area but the absence of dealers and the eye-watering servicing costs has decimated their once core customer base.

A good, used Panda 4X4 is the tool. Use it only when you need to to and employ the resources that would otherwise buy and fund a larger AWD for other toys!

 

Foresters are easily serviced by ANY Impreza specialist (it is a jacked up Impreza) and there are plenty of those around (£330 for the major cambelt service at a indie recently)
We considered the Panda 4x4, they are over priced and too small to be comfortable or practical
I would echo the avoidance of pickups though

 

fester has it right, a set of winter tyres is all you really need, and costs you very little..

 

interior of the trucks are on the whole dreadful. designed for work men and not families.

if you need 4wd, sign up for a Golf R like me, they are on a 6 month build so might fit in well and very good prices out at the moment. 6+23 at a under £250 and my dealer is throwing £300 towards the deposit, so call it 5+23.