Looking for SWB advice

[tierney]

Greetings,

First post here, I'm looking for some buying advice if it's not too much to ask. Otherwise direct me to the proper forum/site to direct these questions....

I'm in the market for a short wheel base 4WD.

At the moment the number one preference for me is an FJ40.

My old man used to own one, so I guess it's mainly a sentimental thing for me... but also I love the look of them. In some ways the new Jeep Wranglers kinda have a similar look... but not so sure I want one of these... maybe a bit pricey and a bit fuel guzzly...

I mainly want the vehicle for bush missions... basic stuff.. just cruising dirt / mud roads with confidence, and going that extra mile to more discrete camping spots.

Also I'll probably use it for long distance as well. I live in Melbourne city so most of the time it'll be parked while i use Public Transport, and then I'll jump in her when I head out of town...

SO I guess I'm just looking for some pointers... I don't want a Troop Carrier. I'm actually a kinda small guy so I feel like an SWB suits my style. 2 seater is fine. I want a roof rack for a surfboard and whatever else, hopefully enough room in the back for an engle and some gear. Maybe in the future I'll look at hooking up a small enclosed trailer... and potentially a boat too.

That's kinda what I want out of the car, and I'm willing to pay around the 10k mark to make sure it's all in tip top condition with extra trimmings, air con, sound system and what not.


So... I guess I'm just looking for basic advice. Things like fuel economy, reliability in the tasks I mentioned. Ease to get spare parts. What is a good mileage. Just basic things to look out for. I know it will probably be the fj40 that comes out on top... but anything else in this ballpark I'm willing to consider. I've seen a few Vitara's and Sierra's flying around and they look kinda cool too, but I don't know much about them.

Any advice would be great. Will be my first forbie.

Cheers guys,

Matt

[nicbeer]

another vote for sierra

not the best on economy (Driver depending) but parts and mods are easy as.
basic to work on excellent in the sand etc.

[hj 45]

A FJ 40 with the 2F petrol motor will guzzle fuel, plus aren't too awesome on the open road with the 4 speed box, although a later FJ40 or BJ 42 LX would be better as they have a 5 speed box, air con and power steering. As they're getting older, watch for rust everywhere. I don't know a hell of a lot about Jeeps so I won't comment on them.

[tierney]

The Feroza's look good to, what are they like?

I just discovered the Taft which looks quite a bit like the FJ



Cheers.

[tas80]

Don't know about Ferozas but I had a turbo diesel Daihatsu Rocky which was great for the 60000km I owned it, could pick up a very nice GQ swb in your price range.

[RAY185]

I own a 40 series but I am going to agree and suggest a SWB GQ Patrol on this one. Much better chance of getting one in good nick than a 25+ year old 40 series. Much more comfortable, much more secure when left parked (well you might want an alarm system, apparently thieves have been targetting GQs recently) and more capable of towing and storing stuff than a Sierra/Feroza/Rocky.

[alien]

i vote sierra - youll have a blast in it... jump over to the suzuki section and have a read around there in the bible etc and youll get a good feel for what they can do and how you can mod them etc.

Theyre also relatively cheap on fuel and cheap to fix.

[atari4x4]

x2 on the Vitara

[phat-customs]

Vitara

OR

Pajero

If ur spending around 10K u prob want something a bit nicer that a sierra.

Both of the above will

I mainly want the vehicle for bush missions... basic stuff.. just cruising dirt / mud roads with confidence, and going that extra mile to more discrete camping spots.

Also I'll probably use it for long distance as well. I live in Melbourne city so most of the time it'll be parked while i use Public Transport, and then I'll jump in her when I head out of town...

If u have to travel any distance there going to be nicer on the road.

[Nev]

My votes with the shorty GQ Patrol as well. GQ's are great value for money, comfortable and reliable and if you find a diesel will be quite good on fuel. Second choice would be a pajero or perhaps vitara.

Rocky's and ferozas are ok as well but harder to find parts for and not as much aftermarket stuff to mod them if you want to go down that track later.

Sierras are a fun little car and I used to own one and loved it. But they are not nice to travel any sort of distance in, are hard to find with air con and if you're likely to tow anything down the track I would look elsewhere as they struggle enough to push themselves along.

I'd just be looking for the lowest k car you can find and if you can get some service history to show regular servicing even better. Good luck!

[mike_nofx]

Sierras are good only if you plan to go hard (or at least decent hard) core off road. This is where they are number 1.

Everything else you mentioned they suck at - Security, space, towing, touring.

Heavily modified they are fuel guzzlers too with a top speed of 95km/h. Mine used 13l/100km - same as my turbo diesel 105 landcruiser.

Another vote for GQ. Forget the 40, the GQ will be much better all round.

[tierney]

Unfortunately I don't know if I'm much of a fan of the GQ to look at tho. Although the Pajero swb looks pretty sweet, and the interiors look nice. Any qualms with Mitsubishi?

Something like this looks pretty schmick:

http://tiny.cc/sazZS

[Highway-Star]

You say you want a SWB. Do you care if its a Softop or a Hardtop?
Might have an influence on your decision and the advice people give

[tierney]

Probably prefer a hard top, tho I'm not too worried. Is a roofrack not an option with a softie? Otherwise yeah probably prefer hardtop/

[atari4x4]

Probably prefer a hard top, tho I'm not too worried. Is a roofrack not an option with a softie? Otherwise yeah probably prefer hardtop/

soft tops will require some sort of exo/ladder rack

check out my build up thread to see what can be done to a vitara -> http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/ftopic162392.php

[tierney]

Cheers for all the sweet advice guys...

Looking like a toss up between Vitara, Sierra, and swb Pajero at this stage...

[alien]

now that you have it down to a top 3 - go take them for a test drive =)

with zuks not pulling, i disagree - with my 1.3l engine i pulled a dinghy loaded with camping gear over 150km averaging 100km/hr the whole way - wasnt an issue at all - its only when u modify them u start losing power etc...

Mines now on 31's, SPOA and has reduction gears and 1.6l EFI vitara engine and pulls even better. As for fuel economy, its slightly worse than the 1.3, but with the added wind resistance and weight of 31's what do u expect... its not terrible though - i get about 270km to 30L.

[tierney]

What do people know about the Holden Drover, it's basically a Sierra, right?

[alien]

identical - just has a different badge and interior design.

[Thommo 73]

what about the bj/fj 70/73/74 SWB oR MWB still look like the old 40 (abit) and share some parts, most have aircon and all have 5speed boxes.
and there is plenty of choice with price

[tierney]

true, tho it has more of a look of the GQ which I'm not so keen on. Actually the small form factor of the Sierra's and Pajero's is quite appealing to me now.. If I could find a Sierra kitted up with a 1.6 and aircon I'd be stoked...

A lot of people around the webs are saying the Sierra's lack power... I was reading some of the earlier Pajeros came out with some more models such as turbo diesel and up to around 2.5 litre, quite a bit more go than Sierra, so they might be a bit more the go for long distance on the highways etc...

Like I said not to worded up on the whole thing... cool learning about it all tho!