New and used car price guide specialists Parkers recently did some “Cost of Motoring” comparisons and came to the conclusion you would save a massive £6,769 a year driving a Land Rover Freelander rather than a BMW 3-series. Even a new Skoda Yeti 4×4 would save you £936 over a standard Ford Focus.
According to Parkers, attitudes to owning 4x4s are changing. Where, in the past, many people discounted them because of a reputation for being expensive to buy and run, that’s not necessarily the case – especially when Parker’s “Cost of Motoring” index includes depreciation and resale value. (The calculations are based on 10,000 miles a year, over a three-year period). The Freelander they used in the comparison started as a cheaper buy, but was similarly equipped and was capable of matching the BMW in fuel consumption, but it was the Freelander’s stronger residuals that meant it was ‘cheaper to run’ over a longer period. In Parker’s top 50 cars in the ‘Cost of Motoring’ table, 12 of them are 4x4s, up from seven last year.
How refreshing! As we all moan about the price of fuel, as manufacturers produce infinitely clever engines that squeeze every last yard from a thimble full of fuel, what do Jeep do? They announce the Grand Cherokee SRT8, the company’s latest model, but now available with a 6.4-litre V8 Hemi engine producing a wonderfully uncompromising 470bhp and mountain-nudging 630Nm of torque. 
Well, this has created some furious discussions on the forums, and around the clubs. Land Rover unveiled ‘the potential future direction of the iconic Defender’ at this month’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Designated the Land Rover DC100, it has been produced by the successful design team led by Gerry McGovern. This magazine actually went to press before the Frankfurt Show, but the pictures and details we received before the model was unveiled did say this was a ‘concept’ Defender. However, one fact was confirmed: Land Rover intends to launch a new Defender in 2015. Concept it may be, but is it a blueprint for the new Defender? Well, remember what the ‘concept’ Range Rover LRX looked like when it was unveiled, and compare it with the production Evoque. Spot the difference?
Few vehicles offer the practicality and load-carrying capability of a pick-up. But it’s sometimes hard to know exactly what to do with that vast expanse behind the cabin. Fortunately, there are all sorts of accessories available for your truck’s loadbed. We take a look at some of the options
Carryboy is the world’s largest manufacturer of trucktops and so it’s no surprise that the company has made a version for the VW Amarok. Sliding tinted side windows, heavy duty roof rails, stainless steel door hinges, double action rotary lock system and grey carpet lining, heated rear tailgate glass the top is ‘topped off’ (!) with a roof spoiler.
Webcon are now offering -6 type connectors on all their billet fuel regulators to allow them to be used with Aeroquip and similar type braided hose fuel lines. The Regulators are available as fixed pressure versions in 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.5 bar or as an adjustable pressure version.
Discovery 2 owners can now replace their aging bump stop rubbers with new options from Flo-flex, both in standard and extended sizes. Complete with stainless steel fitting plates, they are available in different colours, including orange polyurethane. Polyurethane is an incredibly resilient, flexible and durable material, it is also oil, grease and gasoline resistant.
Specialist tool provider Gunson has produces an easy and accurate wheel alignment for the home mechanic. The Trakrite Laser System provides quick and easy diagnosis of front wheel alignment (tracking) on vehicles. Low ground clearance is not a problem (100mm is all the clearance required) and the system is suitable for modern alloy wheels of up to 22inch diameter.
Modern 4x4s with massive rear bumpers are very susceptible to scratches and damage. Getting them repaired and resprayed can be expensive, as any decent repair shop will insist on taking the whole bumper off the vehicle and spraying the whole unit. A scratch or dent will end up costing you hundreds of pounds to repair. Rearguards can make sense as a cheaper alternative. They are self-adhesive and available in black or silver finish.
Trilock security bolts and nuts now have a new range of locking wheel nuts. The Evo5 range is suitable for Range Rover Sport, Discovery 3 & 4, and Freelander models. These are Thatcham tested and approved. In addition to the nuts being virtually impossible to remove, there is also a secure replacement key system, which means that if you loose the wheel key, only the legal owner can get a replacement.
Prev