After several SUVs I’ve done my bit for the planet and bought the new Honda Civic e:HEV.
Have to say it’s a brilliant car. Quicker by some way than Honda stated, good handling and comfort achieved at 50 mpg.
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I craned a sofa into my London apartment many moons ago- it didn’t cost 39m though- and I got the crane for free at the end of its day
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The winter wheels have been removed, cleaned and stored in the garage.
The summer wheels are on.
Summer has arrived early this year 
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Having had my car stolen recently and this week having received a penalty charge notice for the same vehicle a couple of miles away parked in a residential bay, an assumption of mine was blown into the weeds - I thought that any self respecting thief would swap over false number plates as with all the number plate recognition cameras in London, it would be essential to do so. Despite reporting to the police in the morning, a ‘traffic control officer’ for a local council photographed, recorded details of and issued a PCN for a stolen vehicle!
So that has me thinking, there really might be a purpose for a tracking device and I wondered if any folks on here are well versed in the products currently available and any dos and don’ts for improving your vehicle security. Whilst the insurance company was very quick in reaching a settlement with me, they clearly no longer wish to continue providing me with insurance cover and that is the sting in the tail for having the car stolen.
Peter
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Insurance companies are the same all over the world. They’re
only interested in you when you pay your premiums.
I had a Scorpion S5 tracker fitted circa 2 1/2 yrs ago…the company monitor the car 24/365, At the same time the car was fitted with an Autowatch Ghost 2 immobiliser
So in theory, well protected…in practice, all is well…if a would be thief manages to move it, the tracker Co would pick it up/notify me immediately.
Also, the car App (Hybrid car) shows the location of the car….
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Thanks for the feedback Y’Pud.
Peter
After much self debate as to whether I even need to have a car (the answer is logically no, but we are human 
!); and then debate about what would be a good alternative - everything from a Toyota Yaris GR (exceptional engineering but too small); Honda Civic Type R (brilliant manual gearbox etc; but crazy prices and slightly asbo looks for my age); 911 GTS (brilliant but not practical enough for one car garage and no chance given current circumstances mean on street parking - they attract the wrong attention); etc.
Ended up with head getting the better of heart and picked up a BMW M340i touring y’day. Dodgy back dictated trying to get hold of the m sport seat option and this was the only one I could find - it’s about 6 months old. Pleased to have model badges deselected.
First impressions are fantastic mechanicals; totally perplexing daft curved screen dash (give me back buttons and dials please!); seats are ‘snug’ and supportive; surprised to really notice perceived build quality several rungs down from the Lexus RX. BMW have fitted a Trackstar S5 tracker and steering wheel lock just landed from big river.
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Good choice. BMW touring models always seem a lot classier than the Audi equivalents. The B58 is a peach of an engine too.
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Question for the hive mind…
My ‘office’ aka our 2010 mk3 RAV4 is becoming uneconomical to repair and it’s time for a change.
We are now in the fortunate position that we can retire (for the second time😁) and the new car will no longer have to on occasion carry the cement mixer, or a tonne of stone sand cement etc so we can look at relatively new replacements.
However, living above the snow line on a 14% hill, and as a dressage judge and horse trials fence judge it will need to be grass, mud, snow, sloping uneven ground but not rocky capable.
Also needs space to carry 3 saddles plus bridles and I dislike having to have the back seats permanently down to accommodate them.
Full EV or self charging hybrid appeals and I know there are many manufacturers offering SUV’s but how many of them are ‘about town’ cars and would turn their toes up at a muddy field.
Will be keeping the BRZ for longer journeys of which we don’t do many.
I guess Forester is the obvious choice.
Discovery too big / expensive
Not sure Evoque has big enough boot and how reliable are they
Suggestions on a postcard please
I usually find that my car buying ends up being about what I want at the price I can afford and however many logical arguments I can muster end up being ignored if I’m not going with my gut.
That said, getting it maintained is key and I’ve been lucky with 4x4 specialists and LR specialists in particular over the years. The car we’ve run the longest is a Disco 4 that is approaching its 10th birthday and 190,000 miles. It has been utterly reliable apart from 3 door lock mechanisms that cost £150 each. It is relentless. The boot is cavernous, the interior robust. I’m told 2013 was a good year for the D4. We’re not planning to sell because we can’t think what we’d prefer or that would be better.
The car we kept second longest was a Grand Cherokee 3 litre that went away at 100,000 miles and 10 years. It was a 2008 car and plastics finish was below European spec but reliable, rapid enough and robust. I also remember taking it out into ice and snow and it coped very well. Same with our previous Jeep, a 2001 2.7 diesel. That would plough through deep snow but had the tyres for the job.
I think Jeep often doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. However keep an eye on the Merc diesel injector seals and the so called ‘black death’
If we we go with Subaru, every user I know keeps their car as long as their Barbour jacket and would only trade it in for another one. Used for shooting, fishing, dogs, cr&p haulage, family car etc. I understand the argument for them but I’ve never wanted one.
Certainly one of the best looking cars out there at present IMHO is the Discovery Sport, cousin to the Evoque. People do question the reliability but others don’t and I’ve had dire reliability from Mercedes, BMW and constant failures from a Land Cruiser so in my view it may depend on the actual car you get and who looks after it for you.
An X5 was the only 4x4 I’ve had that couldn’t do snow. Down to the tyres I assume.
Not sure if any of that helps.
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Thanks
I forgot to mention that the car prior to the RAV was a Forester the more estate looking version and yes it did e rything we wanted it too but when it died the newer Forester was still too new be affordable for my office.
We have a 2009 GC. The thing to watch for on these Mercedes engines is the oil cooler seal failing, the cooler sits in the ‘V’ of the engine and needs everything off the top of the engine removing including the turbo. It’s a large bill and 99 percent is labour. 
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The other thing I’d add is that apart from the Disco I wouldn’t normally buy new on principle but this second hand market is still dislocated. The Jeeps were always reasonable used. They are fairly compact (I did see your comment that Discoveries were too big but thought I’d share anyway) and the newer Jeeps are presumably FIAT based or influenced which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
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The highest selling vehicle in the world in 2022 - Toyota RAV 4! My sister has a new hybrid one- it is her second and she sings its praises. Must say I find them rather impressive, particularly the plug in hybrid version but it comes at a premium you are unlikely to recover. More of a sustainability debate thing. I’m not a farmer nor off roader so can’t advise on suitability for the terrain you will be facing but suspect that a RAV 4 with four season tyres may cope with a large range of conditions - provided you opt for a 4WD version. The Lexus NX offers more of the same with better quality (maybe less rugged) interior finish.
One thing I noticed recently when looking for a replacement car was the sometimes massive difference in finance rates offered by manufacturers/ main dealers on new vs pre-owned vehicles. This varies with the models but well worth considering if you are intending to finance the new car. With BMW I think it was circa 5% on new and 11% or 12% on pre-owned cars.
Having said all of the above I do have a soft spot for the Discovery - ticks many boxes and has a lovely interior.
Peter
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My wife said the Forester was the only car I didn’t manage to break!
Mine was also the estate version. Mk.2 I believe.
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BMW Touring related, I spotted this M3 Competition version at our local dealer while dropping Mrs n’s car off for a service this morning.
Tasty and practical 
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Except it has a face only a mother could love. 
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I agree, but it’s something you don’t see when you’re in it 
Same thing Tesla owners must be pleased with.
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