Yet the Frontera is Europe's best-selling recreational vehicle and the number two 4 x 4 behind Land Rover's Discovery in Britain

Yet the Frontera is Europe's best-selling recreational vehicle and the number two 4 x 4 (behind Land Rover's Discovery) in Britain. Like most 4 x 4s, the Frontera and Vitara are pampered playthings. After all, it's only an urban jungle out there.Norfolk Motor Group, 1 Wroxham Road, Norwich NR7 8TN (01603 401044); Moulton 4x4 Centre, 65 High Road, Moulton, PE12 6PE (01406 371174); County Caravan & Car Sales 308-314 Eastfield Road, Peterborough, PEU 4RA (01733 60631).. Compared with ordinary cars, 4 x 4 off-roaders such as the Vauxhall Frontera are slow, heavy, thirsty, uncomfortable, cumbersome and expensive - lousy for everyday transport. A one-owner example, it looked purposeful and pricey at £10,995, but then it had only covered 9,000 miles.

None of those miles had involved getting muddy, judging by the condition of the alloy wheels and the deep shine on the Lagoon blue paintwork. It's hard to overlook the ever popular Suzuki Vitara, especially when it is finished in Glacier white paint. A 1992 limited edition Mustique (based on a 1.6i JLX, but with eye-catching graphics and a rhino on the spare wheel cover) had just 20,000 miles on the clock; this soft top looked almost new and had an asking price of £8,595.Not far away was the most popular Vauxhall Frontera, the 2.0i Sport. Less sparse and more prestigious was a quite remarkable 11-year-old, one-owner Range Rover Vogue, with a full service history and gas guzzling V8 engine, which cost just £4,995.In the mood for some fun, I went to County Caravan & Car Sales. On the huge site I sorted out some short-wheelbase playthings.

A tidy E-registered Nissan Patrol with all the usual bull and tow bar trimmings was just £3,995. But if you are prepared to tolerate low fuel consumption and go for a less frugal petrol 4 x 4 then the prices get even more reasonable. But because the off-road high season was coming to a close and I had no part exchange, NMG were willing to negotiate the price downwards by a token few hundred.Over at a smaller specialist Moulton 4 x 4 Centre there were more older and affordable examples. A 1986 Toyota Landcruiser with turbo-diesel engine cost just £5,995.

Stick to the specialists and avoid farmyard and company hacks. Anything that looks battered should be given a wide berth, while family owned, full service history 4 x 4s that have never strayed off tarmac or done anything more strenuous than a run to the shops, should be top of any buyer's list. That's why I made my first call to the Norfolk Motor Group in Norwich who specialise in late, low mileage, off-roaders that have been properly maintained.Most of the stock is oriental, although there were a couple of highly valued 20,000 mile Discovery turbo-diesels between £17,000 and £19,000. I'd be inclined to save a few pounds, though, and opt for one of the Far Eastern alternatives with bigger, 50,000 mileages, but with barely a mark on them The choice was between two turbo-diesel Mitsubishi Shoguns.