WE may well be staring into the jaws of another severe winter. If it’s anything like the last one this is likely to involve appalling television, a total collapse of basic public services and many an abandoned premium car dumped in a snow bank in the middle of nowhere. If the likely outbreak of a peculiarly English mayhem has prompted you to pick up a 4X4 before the worst of the weather kicks in you’d better get a move on. It’s still possible to get a good one for under £5,000 if you know where to look, and we do. Here are three of the best all-weather cars at around that money from UsedCarExpert. Toyota RAV-4 The Rav-4 is a rock solid choice at this price. It’s tough, stylish and very practical. Also the newer versions look virtually indistinguishable form earlier cars so you get a very cool looking all-weather school run express for a very reasonable price. More so if you ignore the over priced diesel cars and go for a nice reliable petrol model instead. UsedCarExpert.co.uk Cars for sale: A well looked after 2003, 2.0 petrol Rav-4 in a lovely metallic blue with a full service history and less than 70,000 miles on the clock is available for £4,695. Dodge Caliber A strange choice you might say, as it’s not actually four-wheel-drive at all, and to an extent you’d be right. But the Caliber is very, very cheap second-hand and has great ground clearance, more useful in the white stuff than four-wheel drive in many situations. Stick some winter tyres on and you’ll be fine. A premium looking car, with tiny miles, for a tiny, tiny price. UsedCarExpert.co.uk Cars for sale: A 2007, 1.8 petrol with a lowly 12,000 miles on the clock and a full service history can by had for a very low £4,995. Suzuki SX4 Co-developed with Fiat (whose identical Sedici can be had for around the same money) the SX4 is an oft forgotten junior 4X4 that is short on image but long on ability. You could pay the same money for a slightly more chic but much smaller Fiat Panda 4X4 but unless you have no kids (in which case, take the Panda) you’d be better off with the bigger SX4. It’s a great car, tough, cheap to run and great in the rough stuff. UsedCarExpert.co.uk Cars for sale: A 2007 SX4 with less than 40,000 miles on the clock and the same fantastic 1.9 Fiat Group turbodiesel that you might find in an Alfa Romeo 159, can be found retailing at £5,295. | 
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