16, Oaks Road, Great Glen, Leicester LE8 9EF....Tel. 0116 2592385 or 07802 483214....email trevor@king4wd.co.uktrevor@king4wd.co.uk

Finding the perfect 4x4

We're big fans of the Discovery 2, especially with the TD5 diesel engine, although the fabulously throaty V8 can be fitted with an LPG conversion to give you green credentials. Its' serious off-road capabilities combine with flexibility & comfort- pick a 7 seat model for maximum passenger capacity but when the 2 sets of rear seats are folded away, they can carry huge loads too. Combination splitting gives even greater versatility. The Isuzu Trooper is well- respected competitor with a 3.0 litre turbo diesel, or perhaps the Mitsubishi Shogun might be more your style.

Crew cabs benefit from keeping the passengers seperate from the load, a great advantage if you are carrying animal stock, particularly dirty or smelly products which would ingrain the interior or need a potential for overhang or larger loads. The L200 Mitsubishi has the 'long legs' to be comfortable with road mileage while having a great load space, where the Ford Ranger gets our vote for a super towing capacity & lots of low down 'grunt' & torque. Consider the Isuzu Rodeo & Navara too.

Serious off roading is a real potential with the Land Rover Defender or series landrovers. The long wheel base 110s come in a variety of back styles, depending on your need for passenger versus carrying capacity. Short wheel bases and military vehicles are plentiful and while pretty basic internally, it's always better than being stuck in a better equipped but not so able vehicle! The Diahatsu Four track is another utility vehicle beloved by those in the know.

So- called 'soft roaders' have been heavily invested in by the major manufacturers and represent a really viable compromise between comfort and 4x4 performance. In this market, you can expect a flexible and well appointed vehicle which feels and handles far more predictably on-road yet has the drive to handle the wosrt that British weather and fields can throw in front of you! Our previous customers have been extremely impressed with the very road- freindly Rav 4 with it's enjoyable VVT-i engine and we've had many delighted customers for the Freelanders. If you need a roomy interior which carrys loads really well, look for the Nissan X-trail- a durable and rugged load bed makes this a very practical alternative to the usual choices..

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It's a good idea to put your needs & lifestyle down on paper or a 'Word' file initially. Ask yourselves-

• Who will drive it, where, and does it need to carry equipment & goods- how far, via road or off-road?
• Who are my passengers- do they have access limitations?
• What is the largest & heaviest things I will carry- are they dirty? Will they move around?
• Do I need particular towing capacity?
• What lifestyle does it have to cope with- for instance, my work, sports or other rural pursuits?

And please feel free to contact us for a chat about what you want- we're delighted to help by talking through your needs and sourcing vehicles for you.