Recommended Me a Softroader?

900dollaridoos on 03/05/2021 - 14:25

Ok sorry for the lazy post but I've been researching for ages and can never come to a solution on what to buy. Ideally spend between 20-30k but flexible for the right car. Not looking to buy new, but ideally it's in nice condition.

My criteria in order is:
-comfortable on long highway trips.
-able to unlock off road locations (I'm in qld, don't want to be doing crazy 4wd challenges at all, just want to be able to get to most of the cool places I currently can't without damaging the car)
-decent tow capacity (I plan to get a food trailer business rolling at some point so would be nice to kill that bird now too).
-big ol sunroof and space to sleep in eg by pushing forward the back seats and lying in the boot/rear seating (I currently have a 2003 magna wagon and sleep in it quite often on weekend drives. Would be cool to look up through the roof at night).
-able to throw a bullbar on without too much difficulty (I do lots of night kms)
-not outlandish onroad costs

And finally non essentials that would be nice if they can fit the budget:
-leather seats (easier to clean and keep looking fresh)
-good sound system so I don't have to upgrade

I realise these are quite conflicting features for the budget, however I've found enough close contenders that I have hope.

Current candidates are Subaru outbacks/Forrester's (tiny sunroofs, apparently expensive engine maint) , VW Tiguan (can't push down rear seats to sleep in boot) etc.
I've been recommended Prado's by a lot of mates but I've driven them a ton for work and always found them gross to drive in town (manoeuvres like a tank) and on highways (loud and uncomfortable somehow). Even some range rovers look pretty nice in the 30k range.

Anyway, open to left of field suggestions as there are just too many niche model variations for me to comprehend.

Automotive

Comments

  • brendanm on 03/05/2021 - 14:42
    +4

    Subarus are no more expensive than anything else to service.

  • iforgotmysocks on 03/05/2021 - 15:02
    +4

    Probs a Forester

  • Drakesy on 03/05/2021 - 15:08
    +1

    depending on how fully hektik your offroading is you could probably get away with a Forester or Rav4 for the softroading.

    more hardcore stuff go a Pajero (not really affected by covid tax)

    Or Hyundai santa fe / Kia Sorento if you want something a bit bigger that'll be reliable and affordable.

  • Hybroid on 03/05/2021 - 15:14
    +3

    FJ Cruiser (baby Prado with a proper enjoyable to drive engine). I enjoy offroading with it massively and have an air bed in the back for mini camping trips. Very capable and fun to drive. Can also be hosed down internally. Tow my bowrider boat across half of Sydney perfectly fine.

    It's also good investment. Mine's gone UP in price by $10,000-15,000 due to crazy demand. Toyota were trying to convince me to sell it to them at last service. Won't sell though till there's a proper non-4 pot alternative.

    • [Deactivated] on 05/05/2021 - 20:10
      +1

      The only problem with the FJ is the shitty gearbox and terrible fuel economy. Otherwise it's a great car.

  • pharkurnell on 03/05/2021 - 15:16
    +2

    decent tow capacity

    This can be a big issue, depending on your trailer weights, its quite easy to go over the towing capacity of many cars, and towball weight..

  • spackbace on 03/05/2021 - 15:23
    +1

    <2017 X-Trail Ti?

    Like this for example. 2013 for under $20k

    Pano sunroof, obviously takes a bull bar, 4WD, decent ground clearance, rear seats fold down totally flat, 2T braked towing, leather seats…

    • wiipantz on 03/05/2021 - 15:26
      +2

      Not sure which model but one of the older xtrails used to have drink holder slots with aircon vents too, good for cans in queensland.

  • wiipantz on 03/05/2021 - 15:24
    +1

    What about a Ute? sleep in the tray with unobstructed view, some of the city utes are pretty comfy nowdays (Bt-50 and of course the HighLux's ect)

  • jv on 03/05/2021 - 15:30
    +2

    Mercedes-AMG GLE 63S Coupe

  • Euphemistic on 03/05/2021 - 15:54
    +2

    What is ‘decent tow capacity’?

    Might as well go for a full sized 4wd wagon. Pajero, Pajero Sport, Prado (although the tend to be pricey), Isuzu MUX or even an old shape Parhfinder R51 etc. We have an R51 pathfinder and it’s pretty good, if a little truck like. If we need to upgrade an MUX is top of the list.

    Yes, it’ll be more to lug around town but won’t have any trouble towing even a big food trailer. They are way more capable off road and while you say you don’t want to get too far off the beaten track, being capable on the beach is a good thing and a 4wd will have better ground clearance.

  • Colonel Flagg on 03/05/2021 - 16:13
    -2

    V6 Touareg ?

    Good towing capacity
    Full sunroof
    Room to sleep in the back
    Nice on normal roads / highways
    4WD

  • [Deactivated] on 03/05/2021 - 17:11
    +3

    LOL OP, you would be absolutely nuts to buy a $30k Range Rover. $200k Range Rovers aren't reliable, let alone one that has been trashed for the last 15 years.

    I would recommend against getting a Forester if you are thinking about towing (CVT is not a gearbox you want to use if you're towing) or going offroad (gearbox again, the Subaru cuts the power to save the gearbox when the wheels slip, so it's basically useless in many off-road situations).

    I would try and get yourself a Toyota if you can. You said you don't want a Prado, but if you actually want to tow something as big as a food truck, you want something that can actually tow. That means something that has decent size, weighs enough not to be pulled around, preferably diesel for fuel economy.

    If you want a softroader, you aren't going to go offroad. If you want to actually go offroad, even light offroading, you want something that will get you back in one piece. That means low range, at least a centre diff lock, and decent ground clearance.

    If I were you, I'd personally look at a dual cab ute, there are lots of them, and they are cheap for what you get. A Ranger, Hilux, Triton or Navara would all fit the bill. They all also get reasonable fuel economy for their size because none of them have large engines.

    You can also get the SUV version of these cars (Everest, Fortuner, Pajero Sport) if you prefer that body style, but you often pay a premium for that.

    • wiipantz on 05/05/2021 - 09:04

      He want's a ute without saying he want's a ute. Perfect Triton driver right there.

  • Presence on 03/05/2021 - 19:58
    +2

    -able to throw a bullbar on without too much difficulty (I do lots of night kms)

    Almost no recent soft roaders i can think of can fit a bullbar. A few you might get a bumper bar.

    Some companies make them for Subarus out of aluminum but really they are for looks, approach angle, and mounting accessories rather than animal strikes.

  • redvaldez on 04/05/2021 - 10:36
    -1

    A bit left field, but a Ford Territory AWD Diesel? Big enough to sleep in, available with leather, bloody nice to drive on road, would make a decent tow rig (although I'm not sure on towing capacity/GCM), and ECB make an alloy bull bar for it. My dad's got the last of the RWD petrols and I prefer it for highway driving over my Pajero Sport.

    As others have said though, you really need to determine what kind of off roading you're going to do. A soft roader is fine if you're just going gravel roads and light forestry tracks. If you are looking for sand/beach you really should consider a 4WD - a lot of soft roaders go okay on sand, but struggle with the access tracks or dealing with deep ruts.

    • redvaldez on 05/05/2021 - 08:58
      -2

      I see someone negged my post - wouldn't a reply be more constructive?

      • brendanm on 05/05/2021 - 17:03
        +2

        Probably the "bloody nice to drive on road" part.

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