How's the Rocky?

[BushBoy]

Hi all,
I'm actually a bit of a toyota guy myself, but i like other makes too, and I've heard that the Rocky can be quite a decent truck,
I've heard they can be pretty cheap to buy, and as money might be a bit of an issue for buying my first 4b I thought it might be worth a shot
so,
How do the rocky's hold up?
faults?
pro's?
cons?
etc?

Thanks guys
'cheers'

BushBoy

[Skyzic]

The biggest con I can think of is Parts or more Precisely the lack of easily available ones. Also having an Independent Front Suspension is somewhat of a hindrance, Finaly the Gearing…it would be nice if the Rocky/Fereza came with some lower gearing. Now for Pro’s. It just looks good. The Fereza is built Tough, I have Seen ppl on this site put a lightly moded Fereza places another more heavily moded 4x4 would think twice about going. The Fereza is Light that lets get around some of its other limitations. Reliable, I have heard stories with Ferezas with over 30000miles on the Odometer. The Fereza is One of those trucks that you love are........just like alot. I have never heard anyone talk bad about them unless its for the reasons That i mentioned.

[*BESTY*]

Hi all,
I'm actually a bit of a toyota guy myself, but i like other makes too, and I've heard that the Rocky can be quite a decent truck,
I've heard they can be pretty cheap to buy, and as money might be a bit of an issue for buying my first 4b I thought it might be worth a shot
so,
How do the rocky's hold up?
faults?
pro's?
cons?
etc?

Thanks guys
'cheers'

BushBoy

Being a Toyota guy, the next best thing to a Toyota is a Daihatsu Rocky !!

They use a lot of parts the same....early Rocky's are better (did you want Petrol or Deisel ??)
You CAN get lockers for them more readily than the US version of the Rocky......Feroza....

Are you considering a hardtop or Ute ??, whichever you chose, it will be relatively easy to modify...SPOA, 35" tyres, Lockers.......the list goes on.

As for the down side.....there aren't too many of them and parts do become a problem (only the cosmetic things, 'cause you'll want to increase the power and gearing options)...which bring me to my next point........ there ain't any options for better gearing aside from dropping the running gear from a Toyota into it ! or Turbo charging the engine,,,,fairly limited

As for bog / stock / standard, it would be an excellent first 4WD.

Murray (Ferwoaza) originally had plans to do up a Rocky, but the 40 series ended up being the right price, more parts readily available....etc.

I hope some of this helps you make a decision.

Cheers

[BushBoy]

hi guys,
the reason i was asking was cos i saw a white rocky on the kerb yesterday for $3,500, and thought to myself one of them would be ok,
i remember now reading about them in a 4WD monthly mag too ,
just last night a mate told me that a friend of ours said she was buying a white rocky for $3,500, same one ,
anyway i wouldn't be getting that one, i'm broke ,
if i did get one i probably wouldn't modify it much, just some bigger chunky tyres,
yeah hardtop or ute, no matter, diesel or petrol, preferrably diesel tho,
and then i'd sell it and get what i really want, ie. toyota, more parts etc.
but yeah your right the next best thing to a toyota is a Rocky,
those Nissans don't stand a chance, hehehe
just kiddin'

cheers guys
thanks

Daniel

[-Mick-]

Hahn Premium Light
I Just love the Taste

Really???? Try cat piss, it's about the same and much cheaper

Seriously though an old rocky would be good value for you I reckon. At least you get live front end and possibility of buying a locker, unlike ferozas
Buy a cheapie to learn in then a couple of years domn the track when it's worthless you can upgrade to a toy and butcher the dai@atsu. Would make a cool project

Go a rocky for sure, as cheap as you can get a good runner

[BushBoy]

Hahn Premium Light
I Just love the Taste

Really???? Try cat piss, it's about the same and much cheaper

Actually I've never tasted it before,
Just saw the ad,
"Some drink it cos they're responsible, others just love the taste"
just saying i love the taste, meaning i'm not responsible
prefer VB or Carlton Draught/Cold

Yeah just wait to see how the costs etc work out, still might get the tojo i want, she'll need rostoring first tho, the lift her up and put some 33" Mongrels on, snorkel, winch, lockers etc.
Whatever i get will be on a budget, but will still rig it up for some decent off roading

cheers

[BushBoy]

My friend Sally ended up buying it yesterday, took us for a drive, she loves it to pieces, me too, built tough as a cruiser, looks a bit like a mini troopy inside and out, she got it for $3300, engine been swapped for a different toyota one i think, tis a 4cyl, 5 spd manual, decent all terrains
the inside dimensions of it seem bigger than it looks from outside, fairly spacious,
its in real goo nik
still might think about gettin one if i see one for a good price too

btw it only had 2 leaves in both of the front 2 packs, is that normal?

cheers guys

[FEAROZA]

I like the Rocky - I saw a beaut white '99 model on the freeway the other day that looked the business - lift, big wheels, bulbar with step and side bars etc.

Given the mad depreciation of ferozas and rocky's over the first 3-5 years the late models must be one of the best 4wd bargains going IMO.

What happened to Daihatsu - they used to make cool as ish vehicles - Charde with blown 3 cyls' , feroza's, rockys, - and what now - Sirion GTVI and terios'!

[BundyRumandCoke]

I think what happened to Daihatsu is much bigger markets than Australia dictated what cars they were going to make, eg Japan. Australia, after all, is a very small market globally. Japan has some wierd regs, something like the width of your car dictates how much rego you pay, hence cars like the Terios and the Move. Tall, narrow, and short.
Lockers ARE available for Rockys, BUT, they are rarer than hens teeth. You would have to source them secondhand, as they are no longer made new.
You can do heaps to early all leaf sprung Rockys, the later IFS tends to hinder off road performance, as does all IFS. The greatest bugbear is the lack of aftermarket accessories. You can, if you are mechanically minded, and creative, adapt, or build, most accessories available for other makes.