Looking for a new DD - must be AWD/4WD RRS/LR4/LR3/Wagons

hillstrubl

hillstrubl

Founding Member
Casting a wide net, looking for something inexpensive to help offset the miles I put on my 110. After Christmas roadtripping in my wife's GTI we realized maybe we need something bigger that isn't my 110. It'll need to be 4WD as I'm not doing another car twice a year in the drive swapping tires... I had an LR3 previously, never drove it so we sold it. Then a few years later bought a poconos house and now runs to/from that have made us needing another car. This will be used 99% of the time for driving me to the train station 2 miles away however.

I've always loved L320 RRS' but I'm also looking at things like AWD bimmer/audi/volvo wagons.

Anybody have something that I should consider?

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mitherial

mitherial

Well-known member
Even though they share a chassis-platform and the actual cargo volume can’t be that different, I always felt that I could get much more into the rear of my LR3 than the RRS that I replaced it with (full length roof rack helped too).

That being said, repairs on either of those can clobber you if you are trying to stay on a budget. On this count, for a cheap 4WD winter beater with cargo space, maybe add an older Lexus GX/4Runner to your list; on my 4Runner the cargo area felt similar to the RRS, and you can make it as off-road capable as you want. Now I drive a full size pickup with a bed cap, and could probably fit that entire Golf into the back.
 
G

Giftshopduane

Well-known member
What's inexpensive? I'm cheap.. never paid more than 10k$ for a vehicle, other than my wife's new Atlas. At the core I'm a Land Rover fan.. but I also do my own repairs (relatively few over the years btw, maybe I get lucky) I've had them all and currently drive an 11' L322, I don't think I want for anything else, I love it. I also really liked the LR3, still have it in storage. They're mostly disposable nowadays, cheap.. I also had a MB R350, I really liked it, butt ugly most think, I didn't.. tons of room, MB tex interior always looked new. I realize Toyota is a viable option for many, could never bring myself to own one, I don't like the way Asian imports drive. BMW has been off the table for me for many years. If I were to swap the RR for something non LR it would be a Q7.

That being said, a VW Golf is and will always be one of my favorite cars, I've had a few, my son drives a MK4 GTI, it really was the best platform ever.
 
hillstrubl

hillstrubl

Founding Member
My expectations for cargo are pretty low, we're LIGHT packers and the GTI is good most of the time. Christmas with gifts and the dog put us over the edge.
I don't love the Lexus marque (despite loving Toyota trucks, yes I know, I'm complicated) and (already regretting typing this) have a higher tolerance than most for car quirks.
 
P

pfshoen

Well-known member
Audi Allroad. Older ones are A6, newer are A4. They go up and down like an LR3. Sticks are rare.
LR3 has largest cargo capacity of anything its size.
I swap out summer/winter tires on my all wheel drive vehicles. All season tires aren't.
 
hillstrubl

hillstrubl

Founding Member
KW1985def110 said:
Toyota FJ80 - lasts forever, cool, easily modified, lots of aftermarket support
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Maybe out of my price-range for this endeavor, they hold their value TOO well... having said that there's one around the corner from me that hasn't moved in over a year, maybe I'll leave a note on it.
 
rocky

rocky

NAS-ROW Addict
There are so many AWD vehicles out there and if the GTI works for you, Try a xV40/xc60 or XC70. Wifey has a 14 XC60. She doesn't drive it enough. Phenom 3.0 Turbo engine. Way more than she needs but we bought it in a rush after her xc70 was totaled by a drunk car salesman.
 
hillstrubl

hillstrubl

Founding Member
Anybody in Indianapolis (NE) 'burbs able to do a prepurchase inspection ($)? I may have found a candidate... (RRS)
 
MountainD

MountainD

Technical Excellence Contributor
My Mini Awd Countryman swallowed gear. Loved that cat. Love my current 2015 Q5 if you need bigger.
 
evilfij

evilfij

Well-known member
I know you don’t like Lexus so I won’t explain how the GX460 is the finest vehicle ever, how about a 4Runner? You can get a new TRD Off-road for under $50k, drive it for a decade, and it will still be worth $30k.

If you like the GTI, you could get an awd golf sportwagen. They came out with 4motion starting in 2017 and you could get a manual. I have no idea what the market is for them these days, but they were not expensive when new and I like the not a lifted wagon form factor. I miss my tdi sportwagen.
 
JimC

JimC

Super Moderator
Staff member
Double down on JLR and get one of the XF Sportbrakes that flopped here from 2018 to 2020. Just leave one for me.
 
hillstrubl

hillstrubl

Founding Member
erover82 said:
Imported Japanese AWD vans are fun and spacious.
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"HARD NO" -my wife (I'd personally love one)

JimC said:
Double down on JLR and get one of the XF Sportbrakes that flopped here from 2018 to 2020. Just leave one for me.
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Also would love one, but this is out of my pricerange for what is hopefully a temporary thing until I can save for something more substantial to replace it (Ineos maybe?)

evilfij said:
If you like the GTI, you could get an awd golf sportwagen. They came out with 4motion starting in 2017 and you could get a manual.
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I like this idea
 
1of40

1of40

Well-known member
hillstrubl said:
"HARD NO" -my wife (I'd personally love one)


Also would love one, but this is out of my pricerange for what is hopefully a temporary thing until I can save for something more substantial to replace it (Ineos maybe?)


I like this idea
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I'd take my time to find an LR3 with the 4.4L from a warm climate.
 
mgreenspan

mgreenspan

Founding Member
You should consider just getting an AWD Toyota sienna. Pointless to spend $$$ on a big SUV to drive 2 miles to a station most of the time and have the odd trip to a vacation house. Only other rec is any version of a Tahoe/Yukon or a Tacoma/Frontier with a higher roof bed cap.

The obvious choice is to just use the 110 when you’re needing space. If it’s out due to corrosion concerns then a beater of the above vehicles is my rec.

It sounds more like you want one of the mentioned vehicles more so than need one.
 
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