Alex Hall

Many poms moving to Oz consider getting a 4x4 such as a RAV4 or an XTrail, often the closest they get to off roading is parking on some grass somewhere..

Anyway, whether you think 4x4s are gas guzzling monstrosities that should be heavily taxed, or a fun vehicle that is just as fuel efficient as an Ozzie sports car is not the point...

the link below is an Australian mini review of the contenders in the soft road market for a new cost of around $34k.

http://drive.com.au/editorial/articl...?id=10250&vf=1

For me, I like the styling of the current RAV4 and dislike the styling of the XTrail, however things are about to change. The new RAV4 is out in the next few months and will likely become a class leader, although from the photos I dislike the styling! The new Suzuki Grand Vitara is also out in the new few weeks (and looks good from the front) and like the new Suzuki Swift it has made leaps and bounds from the previous model.

So if you are after a soft road 4x4.. I hope this article is of interest.

regards

Alex

Timber Floor Au

New Grand Vitara is very sexy. My fave of the so called sofftroaders is the RAV.

Amazulu

The 3rd generation Rav4 is due out in 2007:

http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_sh...7_toyota_rav4/

I quite like the look of it, bigger than the current model that we have just sold.

Wol

I never had one of these things until we came out but bought a Honda CRV because of the amount of "stuff" we would be carting around. Best thing I ever did!

Quite apart from the Honda engineering, the styling (if that's important to you), the ride is fantastic, the steering circle is quite a lot better than anything else I've had recently and the thing just damn WORKS!

And, speaking as someone for whom the words "reversing" and "bollards" seem to mean the same thing, it's the easiest car to reverse I've driven*: weird for that sort of car, but you know exactly where the corners are!




* So far....

A dogs life

I see we have a couple of hairdressers on the thread

The Xtrail is ok, I own one, and yes I have off-roaded on it on North Straddie island. It does the job ok.

I'm not going to rave about it though. I think I'd get a Hyundai Tucson next time, after I 'accidentally' drive my plastic Xtrail into a tree.

Don't tell the insurance company

Timber Floor Au

Yer the HONDA is a nice engine. Was just talkin bout gerrin the missus a Honda Invertor Gennie today

Timber Floor Au

Wouldnt drive a Hyundai if ya paid me , sorry. They have as much street cred or off rd cred as a wet flannel

Wol

If that sort of thing worries you then you probably *should* drive one! <g>

Timber Floor Au

I just bin *bitchslapped* Ouch ! lol

A dogs life

Much better to drive a car made of plastic

I'm already fighting against my brand name obsessed wife to get a Hyundai. They are perfectly good cars. I owned a Hyundai Accent in the UK and it was good. My folks have driven a variety of Hyundais for 10 years, the love them.

I really don't care about 'street cred'. Its not like I'm gonna be cruising down Chapel Street in shades picking up chicks in it. I just want it to work, be economical, drive well, and not break down.

Ok, I may get a bumper sticker saying 'my other car isn't a cheapo Korean import'

Timber Floor Au

Mate in Uk, is a Hyundai Dealer, and to be fair, you get a lot more car for your money. Its just the FUC*** adverts on TV. Every advert in each country uk or oz, they change the pronunciation pmsl.

Does me hed in man !

Amazulu

Why not?.

A dogs life

The wife might do a John Wayne Bobbit on me if I even tried. :scared:

JackTheLad

And did I ever mentioned I'm still the current Chopper Champion?

Mrs JTL aka your wife

A dogs life