[Keen Joinee (GTJ)]

Help, we need a new car!

We currently have two, two seater Land Rover Defenders, but not having a car with four seats is becoming a bit of a problem. We need a 4x4 that can go off road, has at least four seats and room for a couple of dogs in the back.

We're really liking the Mitsubishi Warrior Clicky, but there does seem to be quite a few similar vehicles to choose from.

I just wondered if anyone had any car knowledge and could tell me if;
a) the Mitsubishi Warrior is any good?
b) there is anything better/different we could go for?

[SJ Del (The Train Man)]

My stepdad had a Warrior for a while, and really liked it but really just got it because he wanted something big and high up, so no idea about off-road abilities. Although I do know that the firm that does the security all along the Channel Tunnel Rail Link use them.
Do you want something with a flat bed behind the cab? If not, what about a Defender Station Wagon?

[Joinee Hathorn]

I'm lead to believe that the Warrior is a very nice car as is the Nissan Navara. The other options worth looking at are the Toyota Hilux Surf and a later model Land Rover Discovery. Reliability is best with the Hilux, but off road performance is best with the Land Rover. The Navara has had some bad press due to reliability (faults rather than build quality) while the Disco has the usual Land Rover faults.

I've only driven the Disco, the rest of the knowledge is courtesy of the Land Rover off road capability team. Oh and avoid the BMW X series models like the plague!

[GJ Drought]

The warrior looks good but no no no! unless you want to spend most your time using one of the defenders to pull it back out of difficult land! hateful i found them.

I mostly agree with Noel, Disco's are pretty good, but still the best car ive driven was a range rover we had, that thing would have climbed to the moon if we'd asked it!
We had a race once with our old range rover against a new discovery, the disco on tarmac and the range rover in anything up to knee deep mud slop over a similar distance. The Disco lost and the range rover was minus two foot sills that were ripped off after a 4 wheel drift through some pretty deep muck! but it won!

not sure about the hilux off road but its reliability is legendary!


on a side thought, what about a subaru imprezza 4wd estate, not bad off road, and very capable on road! its a good compromise between a work horse and some comfort.

i hope i never have to take a defender on the motorway again in my life

[Joinee Hathorn]

Oh Craig is right, the Range Rover (original or even the sport) is the best off-road by far. The new Discos are getting very close to that level of performance but the Range is still the best. I just automatically discounted it because I always assume they are only driven by Sheikhs, and I didn't think that you were one... unlike Craig who clearly is.