Next tow vehicle

[Portholme]

I'm looking for a few comments about tow vehicles from anyone who can offer sensible comments. I've got £25 to 30k to buy a seven seat 4x4 but it has to be a large one. I'm thinking

Mercedes ml420
Land cruiser amazon
Disco 4

I'm most attracted to the merc as I have a viano 3.0 diesel which is pretty damn good, I've had a land cruiser which is a bit like the dark ages but it was a chuffing good truck and I've never had a disco but bro in law swears by his.

Criteria; high tow capacity ideally up to 3.5t, very high spec, plenty of grunt. I know defenders are popular on here and I love them but it's not the car for us at the moment.

Cheers

Port Holme

[Rokraider]

You wont beat a Land Cruiser with the other 2 in your list.

[whisper]

After owning a disco 1 & 2 I would be looking at the disco 4, the rest aren't really the same for me.

[Lee argyle]

Late D3 or D4, great motors

[Portholme]

Sorry meant the gl420 not ml420.

[mick]

Originally Posted by Lee argyle

Late D3 or D4, great motors

+1 for a D4

[csjukes]

We have a discovery 4. The engine is fantastic and the whole car is refined and perfectly engineered. The land cruiser is also great but I don't really like the looks, sound of engine. Land rover make the best 4x4 's and the quality is there. Not just for towing, but the discovery is the perfect all round car and nothing compares.

[Bern Hanreck]

Why no Shogun 3.2 DID on your list then ?

Had one ( admittedly the SWB ) from new in 2004 and it's never missed a beat !

( Touches wood rapidly.........)

[kerny]

Land cruiser

[ncp]

Originally Posted by Portholme

Sorry meant the gl420 not ml420.

I was going to ask about that because an ML isn't very big.

My brother's wife drives a GL... Looks great with car seats in the back.

[secondopsman]

Originally Posted by Bern Hanreck

Why no Shogun 3.2 DID on your list then ?

Had one ( admittedly the SWB ) from new in 2004 and it's never missed a beat !

( Touches wood rapidly.........)

Another thumbs up for the Shogun 3.2 did ,Run a lwb diesel auto been brilliant the last 3 years,
Pete

[tonymac]

Originally Posted by secondopsman

Another thumbs up for the Shogun 3.2 did ,Run a lwb diesel auto been brilliant the last 3 years,
Pete

Yet another thumbs up for the Mitzy. This is my second LWB one. Both have done excellent service. Loads of grunt, no problem on slips of muddy fields or sandy beaches. Loads and loads of gear! From hard drive sound system to colour rear view cam to leather everything. 7 seats - two of which fold into the floor pan in the rear giving you a clear big boot

[mitchc]

For me it's the Amazon. Look on the news and see what the UN are driving in Africa/Afghanistan/Iraq.
Its not the LR or the shogun.

And that's also why you can't find good 2nd hand Amazons on the UK, they've all been shipped overseas where you need robust reliable 4x4's

New disco's are great, but I think the Toyota is better. I've got the v8, and it's mega!

All IMO :-)

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by csjukes

We have a discovery 4. The engine is fantastic and the whole car is refined and perfectly engineered.

Discuss

[Devonmark35]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Discuss

Watch out. He'll be telling you to buy a crappy old L200 next which is the real best 4X4 ever :-)

[Dhf]

Originally Posted by tonymac

Yet another thumbs up for the Mitzy. This is my second LWB one. Both have done excellent service. Loads of grunt, no problem on slips of muddy fields or sandy beaches. Loads and loads of gear! From hard drive sound system to colour rear view cam to leather everything. 7 seats - two of which fold into the floor pan in the rear giving you a clear big boot

And another 1 93 Paji for dipping trailer and 07 3.2 DiD elegance with all the trimmings as you mention,

although probably not worth getting one if you like tinkering on yer 4x4 on a weekly basis, probably best getting a LR if you like that sort of thing.

Originally Posted by Devonmark35

Watch out. He'll be telling you to buy a crappy old L200 next which is the real best 4X4 ever :-)

I must say the 2.8 L200 import, is a very comfortable vehicle to crash in. I climbed out off the windscreen of this one after hitting black ice totally unscaithed replacement is picured left btw.

[Portholme]

Thanks. Some good comments. Hadn't even thought of mitsi. What about Nissan patrols?.

The appeal of a bigger lump in the Toyota and merc is there. Is the disco engine really as strong as a lazy v8??

[mick]

Originally Posted by Portholme

Thanks. Some good comments. Hadn't even thought of mitsi. What about Nissan patrols?.

The appeal of a bigger lump in the Toyota and merc is there. Is the disco engine really as strong as a lazy v8??

The D4 engine is awesome goes as fast as you dare hardly ever drops out of top gear

[Razorbill RIBs]

[QUOTE=Portholme;497097]What about Nissan patrols? [QUOTE]

Def worth a look...They're amazing VFM in my opinion...... I reckon you'd get a nice specc'd up late naughties /respectable miles DCi for half your budget....... leaving more to spend on boats

Somone mentioned the UN earlier...... They like patrols too

Okay as an example: Nissan Patrol 3.0 DI AVENTURA 5DR AUTO 2007

I'm not sure if they've ever imported the new one to the UK? I'm sure i also read that it was only available with a petrol v8???

[GordyP]

From your list I would go for the Land Cruiser. I run a LWB Shogun currently which is great for towing, I would say that its a bit agricultural as a day to day motor, handles like a bar of soap in the wet!

I looked at Discovery's, my problem was that out of the 4 people that I knew that had them, every one of them had issues mainly with the suspension and electronics.

Not sure if it'll do the tow capacity but the Volvo XC90 is a nice motor, very refined for a 4 x 4.