4x4 Mart May Preview

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FREE! PULL-OUT INTERNET GUIDE GET ONLINE FOR OFF-ROAD FUN MAY 2010 • £2.50

BUYING • SELLING • OWNING MORE THAN 1,000 USED 4x4s FOR SALE INSIDE FIND YOUR NEXT VEHICLE HERE!

SECONDHAND SUPERSTAR

ROAD TEST: X-TRAIL ACENTA NISSAN’S FREELANDER RIVAL ON TRIAL

DISCOVERY 3

GRAB LAND ROVER’S TOP-SELLING ICON FROM JUST £11,000 BUYER GUIDE ’S INSIDE

Land Rover 110 300tdi £6,495

Suzuki Jimny Estate £3,995

4X4 Mart • May 2010 • £2.50

DUMMY’S GUIDE TO BUYING 4x4 TYRES

RUBBER UP!

TOP TRUCK ON THE USED SCENE?

MITSUBISHI WARRIOR

DRIVING SKODA’S CROSSOVER

YEARNING FOR A YETI?

50 PAGES OF 4x4s TO BUY!

INCLUDING 400-PLUS LAND ROVERS

OVER 1,000 4x4s FOR SALE

BUYING • SELLING • OWNING

MAY 2010 • £2.50

Mitsubishi Shogun Equippe £7,995

4x4 NEWS

Our dummy’s guide to choosing tyres for your 4x4

78 ROAD TEST: GRAND VITARA 2.4 SZ5 5-DOOR Evergreen Suzuki gets a new engine – but is it enough?

16 SHROPSHIRE OFF-ROAD CLUB

83 USED TEST: MITSUBISHI L200

Fun and frolics in the mud with the Shropshire crew

Discovering the delights of a secondhand L200 Warrior

18 PRODUCTS & KIT

85 NEXT ISSUE

Great new kit for your 4x4, including Jimny upgrades

Buying a Defender, driving a Panda – and more!

19 4x4s FOR SALE

86 COFFEE BREAK

Our bumper Free Ads section starts here: grab a bargain!

Got 10 minutes to spare? Enter our free competition.

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Land Rover’s family favourite – a sensible buy?

76 GRIPPING STUFF

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Driving the 4x4 version of this popular crossover

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getting as much feedback as possible – as well as details and photographs of the 4x4s that YOU drive. Next issue onwards will see the launch of our new Readers’ Feedback pages – so why not make sure your views are heard? We look forward to hearing from you‌

THE 4x4 MART TEAM Editor: Paul Guinness editor@4x4mart.co.uk Advertising Manager: Caroline Jay cj@cslpublishing.com Managing Director: Sue Baggaley Designer: Flo Terentjev Studio Manager: Sal Law Production Controller: Anthony Gibbons Private Advertising: Lindsey Close Contributors: Tom Phillips, Frank Westworth, Chris Westwood

4x4 SUCCESS FOR STUDENTS

Published every four weeks by: PUBLISHING CSL Publishing Ltd, Alliance House, 49 Sidney Street, Cambridge CB2 3HX Tel: 01223 460490 Fax: 01223 315960 Subscriptions: 01442 879097 EXCELLENCE THROUGH EXPERIENCE

The views and opinions of the contributors of this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Accordingly, the publisher disclaims any responsibility for such views and opinions. Printed in Cambridge by Cambridge Newspapers Ltd. Distributed by Comag Specialist, Tavistock Road, West Drayton UB7 7QE. Š 2010 CSL Publishing Ltd 4x4 Mart is copyright of CSL Publishing Ltd 2010 and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. Every care is taken in compiling the contents, but the proprietors assume no responsibility for any effect arising therefrom. We welcome unsolicited manuscripts and photographs, but accept no responsibility for their loss, damage or total disappearance.

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It was mud, water, slippery slopes and nail-biting drops for a team of students from Withernsea High School, North Humberside, as they experienced the thrills and excitement of off-road driving recently – all part of their prize as winners of the 4x4 in Schools Technology Challenge. Harry Cornwall, Rob Spick, Rob Greaves and Gary Whittaker won this unique opportunity after battling against school teams from around the country. And their efforts were rewarded with a day at the Yorkshire 4x4 off-road driving centre in Felixkirk, Thirsk, where

they enjoyed driving in fifty acres of off-road terrain – with professional instructors showing them the ropes and each student being given a chance to take the wheel. The 4x4 in Schools Technology Challenge tasks groups of students to design and build a remote-control four-wheel drive vehicle, which then has to negotiate various obstacles on a model off-road track to emulate a full-size 4x4. And the Whithernsea Warriors – as the winning team called themselves – were delighted to win first prize. Andrew Denford, director of the 4x4 in Schools Technology

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Getting to grips with Nissan’s entry-level version of the X-Trail

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72 ROAD TEST: SKODA YETI 2.0 TDI

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Safety first in your 4x4 – plus cooking tips for men!

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71 4x4 FAMILY

Catch up on what’s happening within the 4x4 industry

we’ll be bringing you the best in road tests, ensuring we get to grips with what’s available on both the new and used markets. We won’t be shying away from technical issues, and we’ll be bringing you news on all the latest kit and accessories you’ll need for your 4x4. We’ll be heading off-road too, joining club members and 4x4 enthusiasts at events throughout the UK. And we’ll even be making suggestions for your leisure time, via our new 4x4 Family section and some great puzzles and competitions. But the most important part of the new-look 4x4 Mart is ‌ YOU! That’s right, we want YOUR involvement. So, once you’ve read through this inaugural issue, make sure you drop us a line and let us know what you think. We want to provide you with the value-for-money 4x4 title that we know you deserve. And that means

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7 MARKET WATCH

With 4x4mart.co.uk going from strength to strength, increasing numbers of followers have been asking when we’re likely to be back in the newsagents. And that day has finally come – via this bigger, brighter and better-value version of your favourite 4x4 title. It’s a time of major change for us, hitting the market with a new, industry-leading price of just £2.50. Why pay well over £4 for a magazine when you can grab this exciting new 4x4 newspaper-size version at such a low price? Especially when you look at what you’re getting for your money‌ Not only does 4x4 Mart boast more vehicles for sale than any other allmarques 4x4 title, with over a thousand used 4x4s available at any one time, we’ve got some top quality editorial lined up, too. And that includes an in-depth Buyer’s Guide in each issue, helping you to make the right decision when buying your next used 4x4. And

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Free pull-out guide to clubs and off-road centres online

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44 GET ONLINE!

All the latest updates – including the demise of Daihatsu

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WHAT’S IN YOUR GREAT NEW ISSUE‌

12 BUYING USED: DISCOVERY 3

www.4x4mart.co.uk

4X4 MART | MAY 2010

MAY 2010

Challenge, told us: ‘The boys had put so much effort into their remotecontrol car, and this paid off with the team winning their great day at Yorkshire 4x4. It’s the first time they have driven a car and I’m sure it’s an experience that they will always remember.’ The 4x4 in Schools Technology Challenge is a programme that fits into the National Curriculum and raises awareness, interest and enthusiasm in engineering through the practical application of design and technology, mathematics and science. For further details, check out the website at www.4x4inschools.co.uk.

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4X4 MART | MAY 2010

BUYING USED: LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 3 Â? 0CG7<5 CA32

TOP BUY OR BIG RISK? With prices of the earliest examples having dropped to sensible levels, the Discovery 3 suddenly makes a tempting used choice. Tom Phillips investigates both the pleasures and the pitfalls

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and Rover replaced the ageing Discovery II with the bang up to date Discovery 3 in 2004 – and, in doing so, left reviewers dazzled with its 21st century abilities. It shot straight to the top of the large 4x4 class and, for many fans, remains there to this day. Even better, Discovery 3 prices now start as low as £11,000 – but does that automatically make it a decent used buy? The Solihull firm pulled out all the stops with Discovery 3, using it as a base for other variants – including the Range Rover Sport that would come later. And it all started with the

Disco’s clever Integrated Body Frame, combining the off-road benefits of a traditional ladder-on-frame setup with the refinement, ride and handling benefits of a monocoque. Air suspension was standard on all but the most basic models, and Land Rover didn’t hold back on drivetrain technology, fitting as standard an electronically controlled transfer box, ECU-controlled centre differential and locking rear diff. Added to this was the famed Land Rover Terrain Response, with five bespoke settings for dealing with almost any challenge. All this made

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4X4 MART | MAY 2010

ROAD TEST: SKODA YETI 2.0 TDI CR 140 ELEGANCE 4x4

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MONSTROUSLY GOOD BUY? The oddly named Skoda Yeti is already making an impact on Britain’s crossover scene, just months after its launch. Tom Phillips tries his pick of the range to see what all the fuss is about

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hile Skoda has been doing rather well of late, with a range of impressively competitive models, the Czech company has had nothing to offer the 4x4 fan up until now – bar the odd soft-roader version of the Octavia Estate, of course. But that’s all changed since Skoda launched its Yeti onto the UK market, giving buyers of five-door crossover-type vehicles an intriguing new addition to the sector. As you’d expect from Skoda, there’s some serious value on offer here, with prices starting from just £13,990 –

although at that level you’re getting only a ‘basic’ Yeti with two-wheel drive and no more off-road capability than your average family hatchback. So it’s the all-wheel drive models that obviously interest us the most here at 4x4 Mart, though you’ll need to dig deeper into your savings for the privilege, with prices starting at ÂŁ17,580 for the Yeti S 2.0 TDI CR 4x4, rising to ÂŁ22,635 for the range-topping 2.0 TDI CR 170 4x4 – an opulent machine, with power boosted to 170bhp from the regular diesel’s 140bhp. Whichever Yeti you choose, you’ll

find it a good looking device, its chunky stance being a mix of estate car styling and a bold front end to emphasise its off-road image. And it all works well. As does the interior, which – if you haven’t sat in a new Skoda recently – will amaze you. There’s genuine quality here, with smooth, soft-touch plastics and classy chrome detailing giving it a really upmarket feel. We can’t fault the driving position, and rear space is decent considering the Yeti’s compact dimensions (overall length is ‘only’ 4223mm – making it 107mm shorter than a Nissan Qashqai).

Those seeking more rear legroom can use the flexibility of the Varioflex seats, with all three back seats being independent and removable. Just take the middle one out and you can slide the outer two inwards and rearwards, giving a huge amount of legroom for two. Take all three seats out and the 416-litre boot stretches to 1760 litres, a pretty staggering amount of room for a car which doesn’t look that large on the outside. Skoda fits the Yeti with a Haldexclutch 4x4 system familiar to many front-drive-based machines. In normal

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4X4 MART | MAY 2010

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USED TEST: MITSUBISHI L200 WARRIOR

WARRIOR BY NAME‌ Frank Westworth was tempted to swap his Defender 90 for a secondhand pick-up recently. Why? Because we let him loose in a 2007 Mitsubishi L200 Warrior – and he hasn’t been quite the same since

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here are very many reasons for buying a vehicle, not all of which revolve around its suitability for some definite purpose or other. When asked, most of us will proffer some compelling reason why we bought the Freelander, Grand Vitara or Terios (add your own purchase at this point, if you so wish). I chose my own Defender 90 because ‌ ah, well, in fact I bought it because it was big, blue and butch, and I fancied driving a big, blue, butch Land Rover. Logical, you see. But most purchase decisions are taken for more sensible motives than that one. Where it becomes a little tough in the vehicle selection scenario is when there is a fine choice of motors and they are all extremely competent in their fields. If, for example, you were in the market for a secondhand four-seater pick-up of sturdy construction and proven reliability, you would have no problems in finding one. In fact, you’d have no problems in finding several of them. None of these vehicles offered by the majors is particularly poor in any way, truth be told. And they are all entirely competent when it comes to the people and stuff carrying thing. Me, though ‌ I’ve a soft spot for the current-shape Mitsubishi L200, ideally in Warrior guise. And there are two compelling reasons why this should be so. First; it looks truly awesome. No other pick-up looks like this or looks this good. Second; it’s an impossible hoot of a vehicle to drive. It’s not alone in the second of these two fine feel-good features, of course, but the combination is a winner. And here’s why‌ Most of the time, the Warrior (editor Paul would probably prefer me to refer to the Mitsi as an L200, but it’s not a number, it’s a free-thinking beast of a car) will spend its road miles in twowheel driven mode. Drivers – that’s you and me – will do this because it saves fuel, and we are all of us entirely

responsible drivers, putting our respect for things environmental second only to our desire to enjoy our driving. Of course. In fact, using two-wheel drive does save a little fuel, but it also saves a little wear and tear on the power train, and it makes a tiny difference to the dynamic experience of steering on dry, grippy, well-surfaced roads, but that’s not the real reason I preferred to shove all that motive force through just the rear wheels. Do you want to know the real reason? Read on. All wheels depend upon many things for their ability to grip the road. If they fail to grip the road then you fail to make forward progress. There used to be a traffic offence called ‘failing to maintain normal progress’. I wonder whether there still is? Editor Paul will know, because he’s a master of all things automotive, but I am just a simple hack, who much prefers driving to research‌ And because I prefer driving to research, I understood very quickly that all of the weight of the powertrain and most of the weight of the cab and its occupants lives over the front half of the Warrior. It just does. Look at the pics and you will instantly see

‘At the front lurks a faintly modern design of independent suspension, while at the rear is another reminder of the funky Warrior’s truck heritage’

why. Okay? Got that? Look again at the photos and share with me the profound understanding that over the back wheels there are but a few bits of tin, an axle and a whole lot of nothing else. Trust me on this.

THE GOING’S GOOD The Warrior develops around 135bhp in the form shown here. Those horses are of the hirsute and stump-pulling variety, not the fussy, whining, fractious

sort that inhabit more nervous vehicles. When all those horses get the bit between their collective teeth and cause those rear tyres to turn with a little vigour, it is, quite frankly, a whole lot of work for those tyres. And they’re not entirely up to it. They are big fat tyres with a wide footprint, and contrary to popular myth, if you increase the size of the tyres’ collective footprint it requires a little more downforce to take

full advantage of the friction between rubber and roadway than does a smaller footprint. It just does. And the Warrior is not an F1 race car and does not boast a lot in the way of aerodynamic aids. Or indeed traction control or launch control or any other form of control. Well ‌ it might, but I didn’t find it until later, when I read the handbook. And had I found it by accident I would have switched it

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4X4 MART | MAY 2010

SHROPSHIRE OFF-ROAD CLUB

MUDDY GOOD TIMES There’s no shortage of challenging terrain in Shropshire. So we sent Chris Westwood off to see what the guys behind the Shropshire Off-Road Club get up to at weekends

It’s probably no surprise to hear there’s a competitive streak running through the Shropshire Off-Road Club, with several of its members having won trophies for their antics and achievements in tough terrain. But that’s a small part of what goes on within this relatively young organisation – because the emphasis here is very much on having fun. Founded as recently as 2007, the SORC has grown rapidly, and today boasts its own website (www. shropshireoffroadclub.com), its own Facebook fan page and an everbusy calendar of events taking place throughout the year. And while some of those days out are aimed at the serious off-roader, with winching competitions and trials attracting the more hardcore enthusiasts, the club also arranges green lane outings,

treasure hunts, off-road fun days and barbecues to make sure there’s something on offer for all members and their families. We went along to soak up the atmosphere of an open trial and winch challenge at Buildwas, a superb off-road course in deepest Shropshire. And, despite appalling weather on the day, the club managed to attract a decent number of members and their vehicles – with an impressive line-up comprising the usual array of Defender 90s and modified Discoverys, soon joined by a Jeep Wrangler, a seriously ‘lifted’ Daihatsu Sportrak and a cutdown Suzuki Vitara that left many a rival trailing in its wake. Much of the work behind the scenes is carried out by club chairman Colin Dodd and secretary John Grice, although there’s a real team

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atmosphere involved – which means everyone mucking in, with many of the decisions and planning being carried out at the SORC’s monthly pub get-together. The club even organises its own Run to the Sun event each summer, though in reality it tends to be in Wales – and the sun isn’t always guaranteed. Still, with the entire weekend taken up by green lanes, barbecues and a few cans round the fire, who’s complaining? To find out more about the Shropshire Off-Road Club and its planned events for the rest of 2010, go to the website and click on the ‘Diary Dates’ link. And while you’re at it, you can download a membership application form – with annual membership costing just ÂŁ25 per year. Don’t forget to mention 4x4 Mart when getting in touch! â–

4X4 MART | MAY 2010

www.4x4mart.co.uk

ROAD TEST: NISSAN X-TRAIL 2.0 dCi ACENTA

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SUBSTANCE OVER STYLE? In a market that’s not short of stylish newcomers, Nissan’s X-Trail might be seen as more of a workhorse than a trendsetter – which perhaps explains why Paul Guinness rates the latest version so highly

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ompared with the first-generation X-Trail line-up that remained a popular buy in the UK until its demise in the summer of 2007, the latest range could be considered rather sparse. In fact, with only three different versions on offer, comprising just two trim levels, you might think Nissan’s been a bit mean when it comes to providing us with choice. And yet the company’s decision not to bombard us with different X-Trail models makes sense, particularly as sales of 4x4s fell dramatically in the UK soon after its launch here. The market has seen growth since

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4X4 MART | MAY 2010

GET ONLINE! Whatever make or model of 4x4, SUV or off-roader you own, make sure you check out these great websites – and get the most out of your vehicle

NATIONAL CLUBS 4x4 UK www.4x4uk.org All-Wheel Drive Club www.awdc.co.uk All Marques Off Road www.amorclub.co.uk Austin Champ Register www.austinchamp.com Camping & Caravanning Club www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk Caravan Club www.caravanclub.co.uk Club Off-Road www.cluboffroad.co.uk Club Pajero www.clubpajero.com Daihatsu Owners Club www.daihatsu-drivers.co.uk Frontera Owners Club www.fronteraowners.co.uk GLASS (Green Lane Association) www.glass-uk.org G-Wagen Owners’ Association www.gwoa.co.uk Hilux Pick-up Owners’ Club www.hpoc.co.uk Isuzu Trooper Owners Club (UK) www.itocuk.co.uk J33P Adventure Club www.j33p.org Jeep Club www.jeepclub.co.uk Land Cruisers Club www.landcruisers.info

Mahindra Register www.mahindra-register.org Military Vehicle Trust www.mvt.org.uk (Mitsubishi) Delica Owners Club www.mdocuk.co.uk Mitsubishi L200 Owners’ Club www.L200.org.uk Mitsubishi Pajero & Shogun Owners’ Club www.psoc.org.uk Nissan 4x4 Owners’ Club UK www.nissan4x4ownersclub.co.uk No Limits Jeep Club www.jeepey.co.uk NRG4x4 www.nrg4x4.com Pajero Owners’ Club UK (Mitsubishi) www.pocuk.com Pants Off-Road Club www.pantsoffroad.co.uk Reject 4x4 Club www.reject4x4club.co.uk Rhino Riders (Suzuki Enthusiasts) www.rhinoridersclub.co.uk Suzuki 4x4 Club www.suzuki4x4club.com Toyota Land Cruiser Owners Club www.tlocuk.co.uk

REGIONAL CLUBS Borders 4x4 Club www.borders4x4club.co.uk Bonkas 4x4 Wales www.bonkas4x4wales.com

Bristol & West Off-Road Club www.bworc.org.uk

Northern Off-Road Club www.norc.org.uk

Viking Four-Wheel Drive Club www.viking4x4club.com

Buchan Off-Road Drivers’ Club www.bordc.net

North Lakes 4x4 Club www.nl4x4.co.uk

Wessex Hillrunners www.whr4x4.moonfruit.com

Burnham Off-Roaders www.burnhamoffroaders.org.uk

Peak & Potteries 4x4 Club www.peak-potteries4x4.co.uk

West Wales 4x4 Group www.ww4x4.co.uk

Central Off-Road Club www.centraloffroadclub.com

Raiders Off-Road Club www.raidersoffroad.com

Wormhough 4x4 Club www.wormhough.co.uk

Challenge South West www.challengesouthwest.co.uk

Shropshire Off-Road Club www.shropshireoffroadclub.com

Yorkshire Off-Road Club www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net

Cornish Leaf & Coil 4x4 Club www.clcc.uk.com

Scottish Mud Club www.scottishmudclub.com

Ystradgynlais Overland Club www.yoc4x4.com

East Devon 4x4 Club www.eastdevon4x4.co.uk

Scottish Off-Road Club www.sorc.org.uk

East Devon Off-Road Club www.edorc.org

Scotland West All Terrain Club www.scotlandwest.org.uk

Four-Wheel Drive Club of N. Ireland www.4wdni.co.uk

South West Pajero Off-Road Club www.swporc.co.uk

Glamorgan Off-Road Club www.gorc4x4.co.uk

Southern Counties Off-Road Club www.scor4x4.co.uk

Glossop 4x4 Group www.glossop4x4group.co.uk

Spondon Off-Road Club www.spondonoffroad.co.uk

Herts Off-Road Club www.4x4offroadclub. valvesunlimited.co.uk

Tay 4x4 Club www.tay4x4club.gdnetwork.co.uk

Isle of Wight 4x4 Club www.iow4x4club.co.uk Kent Off-Road Club www.kentoffroadclub.co.uk Lincs 4x4 Club www.lincs4x4.com Midland Off-Road Club www.midlandoffroadclub.co.uk Mid Wales Four-Wheel Drive Club www.midwalesfourwheeldriveclub.com Mid West Off-Roaders’ Club www.midwestoffroadersclub.co.uk Milton Keynes 4x4 www.mk4x4.org.uk Neath Valley 4x4 Club www.neath4x4.co.uk Norfolk Rhinos Off-Road Club www.norfolkrhinos.co.uk

Thames Valley 4x4 Club www.tv4x4.co.uk Twickenham Off-Roaders www.twickenhamoffroaders.co.uk Twin Axle Club www.twinaxle.com

NATIONAL LAND ROVER CLUBS 101 Forward Control Club & Register (Land Rover) www.101club.org Association of Land Rover Clubs www.alrc.co.uk Discovery Owners Club www.discoveryownersclub.org Freelander Club www.freelanderclub.org Land Rover Series I Club www.lrsoc.com Land Rover Series II Club www.series2club.co.uk

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