SUV for 300k budget

[Underachiever]

Thread revival ....

 

My trusty Zafira 2.2 has just stopped, after making loud rattling noises in the engine. It got towed away and the verdict is still outstanding but after 15 year and 270000km, it's time I did some homework regarding what might replace it.

 

I need:

- A tow vehicle (~1000kg trailer)

- Comfortable highway top gear cruising performance.

- Reasonable gravel road comfort and adequate ground clearance. (The Zafira survived significant abuse and I would like to avoid this on the next car).

- A full sized spare wheel, if possible.

- Otherwise 2WD should be adequate. Costs of purchase, fuel and maintenance for 4WD is probably not justified.

- 5 seats is OK, (family have outgrown the 7 seater) but generous load space and seat room would be appreciated.

- My preference is for petrol and no turbocharger but maybe I should reconsider this. (I am planning on doing another 15 years / 270000km on the next vehicle.)

- I have always driven manuals, but I would look at an automatic. Provided it is economical and can tow.

- A reversing camera would be very nice to have. (For hooking up trailers).

- Fuel consumption of up to 10l/100km.

- Not too big for parking around town.

 

I would look at a 2 or 3 year old car with up to 60000km. Starting budget R300000. I could go up if the millage is lower.

 

Any suggestions ....

Disco 4 V6

[Rocket-Boy]

Disco 4 V6

Fantastic cars to drive, great comfort and lots of power.

Be prepared to sell a kidney if anything breaks.

[PhilipV]

Disco 4 V6

The disco is a really really nice car. But a really really expensive vehicle to fix if it breaks.

The TDV6 engines are known as the grenade, so if you are going to drive a disco out of warranty, rather take the V8 petrol.

But then fuel efficiency is another story.

[Slowbee]

When discussing vehicles, politics may come up, religion may come up, the size of the fish that got away is allowed, the fact that you did the "epic" on a vegan diet that may come up,or, that someone supports the Blue Bulls is allowed.

 

But, never, EVER talk about fuel consumption. Ever !

[PhilipV]

When discussing vehicles, politics may come up, religion may come up, the size of the fish that got away is allowed, the fact that you did the "epic" on a vegan diet that may come up,or, that someone supports the Blue Bulls is allowed.

 

But, never, EVER talk about fuel consumption. Ever !

^^^^^^^ that is how you know that someone drives a kroooooozer.

[fanievb]

When discussing vehicles, politics may come up, religion may come up, the size of the fish that got away is allowed, the fact that you did the "epic" on a vegan diet that may come up,or, that someone supports the Blue Bulls is allowed.

 

But, never, EVER talk about fuel consumption. Ever !

What wrong wiff supporting the bulls?

 

Ek report sommer die post.

 

#discrimination

[Ispeed_V]

Hyundai Sante Fe

[i24]

Hyundai Sante Fe

 

How reliable are their diesels? Are they good for > 200000km?

 

What is Hyundai service like?

 

Thank..

[Chris NewbyFraser]

If you like adventure as well as SUV convenience with good towing allowance, have a look at the Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.4l petrol (Dune model with manual transmission). This is the bigger brother of the giant beating Jimny. Full time 4 wheel drive with genuine low range off-road abilities (ground clearance a bit low at 200mm, not as good as a Fortuner, Ford etc). The car is not as big as the other 4x4's either -a great city/bush all-rounder.

You can get a low mileage recent model for under R300k. Fuel consumption is on the high side tho, since they dropped the 3.2V6 motor and went for the smaller, more affordable engine. One problem is the social aspect because, drive a GV (Grand Vitara) and you form of part of a social group that has a passionate global following, like the Jimny. Yoh might become involved snd then the misdus gets annoyed and your dogs start missing you on weekends 'cos you're always off playing in the myd with the boys.......

[patham]

Fantastic cars to drive, great comfort and lots of power.

Be prepared to sell a kidney if anything breaks.

 

I loved my first Landy. I traded it in at about 40 000 km on the clock when I was at the dealer having a regular service. A salesman needed one more sale to hit his big time rewards and he came up to me and begged - he needed a order that morning. Landy 1 had never given a whiff of trouble, the deal was more than excellent, so I took him up.

 

Landy 2 was even better for the first 100 000 km. As soon as the warranty was up, it turned into a heap of scrap that I couldn't trust. When the repair bills in a few months are more than 40% of the cars nominal value it was time to change brands. The worst part was the hassle of returning from a trip in the Drakensberg with a blown turbo manifold. No turbo pressure, so driving a normally aspirated diesel tractor, doing inclines that would normally be in fifth in second or third gear, way overfuelled so laying more smoke than the dreadnought fleet at Jutland. Being towed through Wittkoppen - Rivonia Road intersection when limp mode was engaged on another instance was also great fun - especially as the tow shackle broke in the middle of the intersection. Oh, how I laughed !

 

So that ended my Landrover days. I now stick to Kia SUV's. I have had three now, with no issues with their diesels.

 

In the Disco's the petrol engine is meant to be bulletproof. Not the rest of the mechanicals mind, just the engine.  

[Rocket-Boy]

I loved my first Landy. I traded it in at about 40 000 km on the clock when I was at the dealer having a regular service. A salesman needed one more sale to hit his big time rewards and he came up to me and begged - he needed a order that morning. Landy 1 had never given a whiff of trouble, the deal was more than excellent, so I took him up.

 

Landy 2 was even better for the first 100 000 km. As soon as the warranty was up, it turned into a heap of scrap that I couldn't trust. When the repair bills in a few months are more than 40% of the cars nominal value it was time to change brands. The worst part was the hassle of returning from a trip in the Drakensberg with a blown turbo manifold. No turbo pressure, so driving a normally aspirated diesel tractor, doing inclines that would normally be in fifth in second or third gear, way overfuelled so laying more smoke than the dreadnought fleet at Jutland. Being towed through Wittkoppen - Rivonia Road intersection when limp mode was engaged on another instance was also great fun - especially as the tow shackle broke in the middle of the intersection. Oh, how I laughed !

 

So that ended my Landrover days. I now stick to Kia SUV's. I have had three now, with no issues with their diesels.

 

In the Disco's the petrol engine is meant to be bulletproof. Not the rest of the mechanicals mind, just the engine.  

Yup its the sad part of modern Landy's.

My mate had a fantastic Disco 3, low kilos but out of warranty.

When things like the air suspension started giving hassles then repairs bills were pointing north of R30k each time. He tried to sort out the issues thinking it would be good as new after that, but new ones kept creeping in.

Man was that a comfortable car though and it was happy to drive pretty much anywhere we took it.

[Duane_Bosch]

My opinion.

 

If you can't afford to buy the cars below new you can't afford the cars below.

 

 

BMW X Range

Land Rover

Range Rover

Porsche Cayenne

Merc ML.

Anything with the word Jeep written on it.

 

 

In fact. You should NEVER EVER buy a high end 2nd hand SUV. EVER! They are amazing until the warranty runs out. After that it will be a never ending emotional roller coaster of warning lights and repair bills offest by tiny moments of ego validation from the uninitiated. 

 

I have lived this with my Jeep. It sucked and when the frustration finally boiled over the only people who would take it off my hands was Tata. For 55k. I had spent 40k on a new diff 2 months prior.

 

There is a VERY VERY VERY good reason they have catastrophic 2nd hand

values.

 

320k buys you a new Renault Duster or a Hyundai Venue which comes with a 200000km warranty!!!! Or a close to new Ford Kuga, Kia Sportage.

[i24]

My opinion.

 

If you can't afford to buy the cars below new you can't afford the cars below.

 

 

BMW X Range

Land Rover

Range Rover

Porsche Cayenne

Merc ML.

Anything with the word Jeep written on it.

 

 

In fact. You should NEVER EVER buy a 2nd hand SUV. EVER! They are amazing until the warranty runs out. After that it will be a never ending emotional roller coaster of warning lights and repair bills offest by tiny moments of ego validation from the uninitiated. 

 

There is a VERY VERY VERY good reason they have catastrophic 2nd hand values.

 

I don't drive for pleasure. Cars have a job to do - to get me, my passengers and my stuff, to where it I want to be, with as little discomfort an inconvenience as practical. If I want fun, I will take 2 wheels, if I did fashion (which I don't) I might try Cavendish Square, if I wanted to be seen to spending lots of money, I would buy an aeroplane or a boat.

 

With that approach, it is easy to make a list of cars NOT to buy. But how many lurkers are there that need to be added to that list? Does the maintenance of modern day turbo diesels make them not worth owning after 160000km?

[urbanroyal]

How reliable are their diesels? Are they good for > 200000km?

 

What is Hyundai service like?

 

Thank..

I made it to about 320 000km on my H1 7 seater when the oil light came on...only because of the muck in the sump that blocked the oil pick up..that's what the mechanic told me...if I had done a 'sump service' at 200 000 km's..I could've been good for another 200 000 km's..I'll see now as I've sold the old van and now have 90 000 kms on my current one...service by Hyundai Diep River ..good.

[The Ouzo]

How reliable are their diesels? Are they good for > 200000km?

 

What is Hyundai service like?

 

Thank..

it started life as a merc motor. The original 220cdi mercs and the santa-fe shared the same engine, some small changes along the way but still essentially the same thing.

Rather reliable.

 

as for servicing, as with any other manufacturer it boils down to the workshop you take it to. Fortunately with Hyundai they are like the old corner cafe, every second corner has a dealership.

 

i dont know if you'll get a nice one for under 300k though, havent looked at the prices for a while.

[Slowbee]

What wrong wiff supporting the bulls?

 

Ek report sommer die post.

 

#discrimination

Nothing, wrong. I mean their favorite colour is pink (or is that magenta)!