Thread: Suitable small car for occasional off-road use

I want/need a car to get me into and out of town, with occasional use down farm tracks and across meadows. At the moment I've got a Vitara, which is a POS but keeps passing its MoT so I can't justify getting rid. However, judging by the dodgy noises it's putting out now, the moment may be at hand.

A 110 is too big, and I need 4 seats. Don't want to spend more than £5k.

Any suggestions?

Darren Swanson once did a load of dognuts on our school field in an old Fiat 50.


Or a Skoda? / VW Passat something like that. Solid enough and quite reliable. I've been given a few of them (via work) and use them in all sorts mucky situations and they do fine. Quite big reliable turbo diesels - you can't go wrong.

Subaru Forester/Outback? Will outlive you, and the farmers favourite.

Didnt Subaru do a small 4X4 ?

Her indoors has a Grand Vitara (last shape, not the current one) and its annoyingly nimble off road)
If you like your Vitara you'll love a Grand Vitara.
I would take a look at a Shogun Pinin or swb Shogun.

A slightly newer Vitara?

The one you have seems to be doing ok

Originally Posted by polar69

Didnt Subaru do a small 4X4 ?

The Justy, terrible thing, ugly, drinks fuel.

Originally Posted by leveller

Originally Posted by polar69

Didnt Subaru do a small 4X4 ?

The Justy, terrible thing, ugly, drinks fuel.

Horrific things.
1200cc and won't manage 30mpg, won't manage 70mph in any degree of comfort either

Had a VW Tiguan as a hire car recently, not bad at all. Not sure what a second hand one goes for but it might be worth looking at for the future when they go down in value.

Landrover Defender 90, pick them up half decent for less than 3.5k.

Vitara always seemed to handle like a big nissan micra to me

What about a smart car??

Dihatsu fourtrack

Looks like the old style Fiat 50 is looking favourite.

Fiat panda 4X4.