New to the scene and looking for options on what to buy

[TMZ_MK]

Not sure if this is the right section, but im new to the 4x4 scene and im chasing some advice. Did my first proper run to bribie island qld today, took my mums partners ssangyoung musso, which as much as i hate to admit it wasnt a bad bit of gear.
Im looking at getting a daily driver soon and wouldn't mind doing a bit of offroading here and there, so Im chasing something preferably auto, 6cyl , comfy and fairly capable offroad. Would have to be under the 6-7 grand mark also. I've put up with my 5 series bmw using 16-17L per 100 kays as a daily for a while so fuel consumption isnt a major issue. However on the beach I was suprised at how much fuel the musso went through. I work in the car industry so Ive got a decent idea of what I'll be getting for this money, Im just wanting to know how capable they are offroad.
I was originally chasing a petrol 80 series, but factors such as size and fuel consumption would probably bug me as a daily.
So pretty much if im chasing a 6cly, auto, comfy daily, thats a capable fourby for a bit of dirt and beach work, what should I be looking at? Jeeps? GQ's? Even the musso? lol, id also be open to doing a few small mods like a lift and what not, but at the end of the day i still want a good comfy daily, and im not looking at doing hardcore rock crawling or anything, just the occasional beach trip and dirt tracks.

[Tiny]

I would say a pajero would be one of your best options imo, 80s \ GQ will both be horrid on fuel, a paj auto on gas will probably suit you

btw sand driving uses lots of fuel

[macca81]

i love it when they give lots of detail when asking a question

a paj or a hilux surf, even a jeep cherokee would likely fit the bill quite well.

paj would want to be the v6 or turbo diesel (im not a mitsu man so i dunno the models to well sorry)

surf you would want the 3.0l turbo diesel model (you are almost garunteed to get an auto here, manuals are rare as rocking horse shite)

jeep has an inline 6 petrol auto cherokee, XJ i think.

all these would be in the upper end of your price range, but you are getting a good bit of gear from them

[PJ.zook]

Yeh i agree with the Pajero, or even an older Discovery.

[TMZ_MK]

Thanks 4 the advice. Yeah I dont mind pajeros, the gls or glx i think it is, the two tone one with the cruise, nicer interior etc seem decent. Id be looking at the older 3L engine id say for my price range, and id imagine they'd still be pretty heavy on fuel yeah? but nowhere near as bad as the 80/gq's?

[bad_religion_au]

older disco/rangerover are probably the best value rig out there on the second hand market.

[Thomas101]

Gday,

If your looking at a Paj sounds like your after a NH-NL GLS. If you can get the 3.5ltr would be worth it. From what i know, the 3ltr isnt too bad on fuel, but not great. My GLX Paj is pretty comfy but lacks the cruise and power windows. So definitely try and get the GLS. If you head for a Jeep, as mentioned, XJ would be what your looking at. Don't know much about them. The missus has one and its got plenty of power, but drinks alot. Her main problem is finding second hand parts. Ours both perform pretty well off road, for stock. Never been on sand though so can't tell you about that. Either way they are both great 4bys.

Thomas

[gumbs]

A very large percentage of the petrol GQs will be on gas, so that will help the fuel bill considerably. At the 6-7k mark you might just get a stock GQII. Biggest killer in your price range is rust, 95% of them will have it in the rear windows.

I can't comment on any of the other trucks, I was set on either an 80 or a GQ but I found the 80's to be too far out of my price range (my max was 6) so I went for the GQ.

[TMZ_MK]

What about tritons? ones just come into my work, 96 gls petrol dual cab auto, seems like a pretty tidy truck, has a cb and looks like its been lifted and would just slip into my price range. Think a gq might be a big too big for my needs at the end of the day, during the week its just going to be driven in traffic. Thanks for the advice so far as well guys

[Tiny]

What about tritons? ones just come into my work, 96 gls petrol dual cab auto, seems like a pretty tidy truck, has a cb and looks like its been lifted and would just slip into my price range. Think a gq might be a big too big for my needs at the end of the day, during the week its just going to be driven in traffic. Thanks for the advice so far as well guys

nothing wrong with a triton, but be aware with the leaf rear it will be a less refined vehicle to drive and dual cabs never really have that much room inthe rear

[TMZ_MK]

yeah triton sold pretty quick, ive pretty narrowed it down to 2 pajeros. 1's a 93 gls with reg and safety cert, has 2 inch left, recon motor done 260. The other's a 94 exceed with the 3.5, no reg or roady. Both are around the 5g's mark. For those that have bagged the 3.0, is it that bad? id feel better getting something with a safety cert and rego would be a bonus. The exceed has 2 spots of rust which apparently is all that needs doing for a safety cert, is it worth me forking out more for the 3.5? is it that much of a better engine?

[Tiny]

you will get a better response on paj specific question in the bitsamissan section

[Middo]

if u start by getting as far away as possible from that sangyong then ur headed in the right direction haha

[Gav75]

I had a 93 Pajero and killed it. The engines are alright but once mine got to around 250000ks the engine was shot. Ended up selling it for 1500. It was in good condition but I couldn't justify spending 3 grand fixing a car that was worth half that. The V6 engines go hard but aren't built to last.

Got a Toyo with a 13B-T now. Rock solid unit that will go the distance. Go a diesel toyo and spend the extra cash its well worth it.