FTO AUSTRALIA

I got a new mate,


So, I need a new car, some small 4WD. Will be selling the mx5 to buy this.
Budgeted max of $13k, no Kia, Hyundai, Daihatsu, has to be 4+doors, manual is better, silver/black or white colour

I was initially looking at the Honda HRV which is around $10-13k. 1.6lt engine is bit too weak, very hard to find 4dr + manual. had a look at one on the weekend
http://www.carsales.com.au/please/carsales ... istance=25
Major service just done, rego almost expired, manual, 5 doors, minor oil leek to be fixed, no towbar, great colour, racv inspected.
I thought it is a great little car, didnt do a road test though.

Then I had a look at the internet for what other options available,
I found few Landrover Freelander in the price range,
This is good
http://www.carsales.com.au/please/carsales ... make_id=18

But especially thinking about this,
http://www.carsales.com.au/please/carsales ... make_id=18
The owner bought the car engine blown. Previous female owner cooked the engine due to lack of coolant. Landrover has put in brand new engine almost 15k kms ago, thats Brand New, not reconditioned, ant there is a paper work to back this.
1 year rego, colour is white, brakes serviced recently, last service 3k kms ago, interior, exterior good condition, towbar, rwc, presumably no accidents.

Also, gf found this,
http://www.carsales.com.au/please/carsales ... make_id=21
over the price range, expensive than market value, looks a bit girly to me

What do you think?
Any experience with FreeLander?
What do you think the car being have a new engine?

Please help

i always liked the freelanders..when they came out they were cool. seems like a cheap price.

If the engine and every checks out ok...then a new engine would be good...depends on what else is wrong.

u comming to go-karts this weekend?

honda hrv looks funny...
suzuki looks like a womans car...

and the land rover looks bulky... just like a mans car should be...

Few of my friends had the freelander, they are nothing but trouble, always break down and service aren't cheap.

IMO Toyota RAV4 is the best small/medium softroader. They look pretty good, very reliable and service are cheap.

I have been reading nothing else but negative feedback about Freelander, which put me off big time

I like Rav4 as well, but too expensive the newer models.

Great feedback around Suzuki Grand Vitara although it looks a bit *~delightful!~*

do you really need a 4wd?

because if you dont...you could always get a ford falcon.

my friend got one at a ex-fleet car auction for for about $12,000... milage is about 10L/100km... parts are cheap too

hrv's are pieces of utter crap. Its not even a true 4wd system.

Its basically a FWD, and the rear wheels kick in after you loose traction for a while. It's a cheap half-arsed attempt at a 4wd system. same as the crv's.

any feedback about the Grand Vitara?
I am currently moving towards this gayish direction.
Vitara seems to be the better 4WD than HRV, CRV, RAV4 market

I need a 4WD, sedan wont do me.
Wont be bush bashing hard core, but will be offroad quite offen.

Well, you already have the designer handbag dog fashion accessory, so I think the Suzuki is a good choice

Supplanter wrote:Well, you already have the designer handbag dog fashion accessory, so I think the Suzuki is a good choice

Although the puppy looks a bit like that style, he doesnt get trained that way.
Already almost trained to retrieve quail, still need to learn fox hunting. He loves it.
Don’t think he likes to be in a bag, although my silly gf dieing to do that.
Bloody girls!

Back to Grand Vitara...

Well which year and spec you after? I saw a few site, but i don't know if they going to help. Not much info on these Grand Vitara.

http://www.suzukiforum.com/

http://www.suzuki-forums.com/

FTO338 wrote:Well which year and spec you after? I saw a few site, but i don't know if they going to help. Not much info on these Grand Vitara.

From my reseach I am looking for year range between 99-03
03 is bit more expensive but at least the interior has been upgraded
Has to be the V6, constant 4WD version, which is JLX or JLX+ I think.

Here is couple I have found, first one is expensive, 2nd one is cheap
http://www.carsales.com.au/please/carsales ... make_id=21

http://www.carsales.com.au/please/carsales ... make_id=21