Hilux Dilemma

[philthylux]

I am facing somewhat of a dilemma and just getting an OL opinion on the matter.

I currently have a 2003 Dual Cab Hilux. Its V6 manual with 115000km. Over the last five years I have done the following to it. Also have ZX9 motorbike. After living in Darwin riding in Sydney is suicidal.

2” OME Rear, 2”Rancho Shocks and Torsion bars front, 2” Bodylift, 33” Tyres, 4.53 Gears and Air Lockers Front and Rear. Bar work all the way round, Winch, Extractors and twin Exhaust, Dual Battery, Driving Lights, Long Range Tank. I have done most of the auto electrics myself.
It is currently registered in Victoria but has not yet been engineered.

It’s a fuel hog, chews around 15-16L on the HWY, around 17-19L in the City, when towing a trailer around 20-22L. It’s my daily driver and I do 50km each way to work. With my wife down to 1 day a week work the cost of three regos, three insurances, and three sets of maintenance and fuel it just a bit much.
I really do not want to part with it. To get NSW it will have to go over the pits at the RTA, I get a blue slip easily enough but then it will just get knocked back there.

So my dilemma is do I spend the cash to get the Hilux to be a more economical and NSW registered toy or sell it and my motorbike to buy a Cruiser/Patrol that’s on gas. I also sick of not having power windows, central locking, cruise control, power mirrors, features that my wife repeatedly tells me come in her barina. So if I keep the Hilux a gas conversion ($6300) is on the cards, maybe a snake racing lift kit ($4000) and then engineering and rego. Plus whatever else the engineer says I need to get approved. But then really that’s only a course of action if I can get the power windows, central locking, cruise control, power mirrors from an SR5 at the wreckers? (I don't know if its even possible to do)

If I sell, then maybe I can get 20000, probably less thou as no rego for the Hilux depending if I take stuff off, maybe 5000 for the bike. I figure that sort of cash can get a similarly aged Cruiser/Patrol already on gas, with a few mods.

Any input/feedback/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[howsie]

For a patrol on gas your options are gq all work done for around 13000 to 15000 on gas, gu for around the same but fairly stock on gas.

Landcruiser 80 anywhere from 10000 to 15000 on gas in my area (sydney, penrith)
100 series from 15000 to 20000 on gas with minor mods.

My personal pick would be a solid front axle 100 series as I think all the gu are ifs (im may be wrong I am far from an expert on patrols).

Alternatively get the hilux dyno tuned and get them to improve economy that some large figures for a lux sounds more like cruiser stats and they're 3 tonne.

Also FYI 80 series cruisers love gas and 100 don't even though It's the same engine I get 500 km out of 90 litres on 35's in my 80 but my step brothers 100 would be lucky to get 300 out of a similar setup and same size tank.

[SIMMO84]

For a patrol on gas your options are gq all work done for around 13000 to 15000 on gas, gu for around the same but fairly stock on gas.

Landcruiser 80 anywhere from 10000 to 15000 on gas in my area (sydney, penrith)
100 series from 15000 to 20000 on gas with minor mods.

My personal pick would be a solid front axle 100 series as I think all the gu are ifs (im may be wrong I am far from an expert on patrols).

Alternatively get the hilux dyno tuned and get them to improve economy that some large figures for a lux sounds more like cruiser stats and they're 3 tonne.

Also FYI 80 series cruisers love gas and 100 don't even though It's the same engine I get 500 km out of 90 litres on 35's in my 80 but my step brothers 100 would be lucky to get 300 out of a similar setup and same size tank.

ShortyIQ lol,

[AndyH]

For a patrol on gas your options are gq all work done for around 13000 to 15000 on gas, gu for around the same but fairly stock on gas.

Landcruiser 80 anywhere from 10000 to 15000 on gas in my area (sydney, penrith)
100 series from 15000 to 20000 on gas with minor mods.

My personal pick would be a solid front axle 100 series as I think all the gu are ifs (im may be wrong I am far from an expert on patrols).

Alternatively get the hilux dyno tuned and get them to improve economy that some large figures for a lux sounds more like cruiser stats and they're 3 tonne.

Also FYI 80 series cruisers love gas and 100 don't even though It's the same engine I get 500 km out of 90 litres on 35's in my 80 but my step brothers 100 would be lucky to get 300 out of a similar setup and same size tank.

WTF?!

[Mr DJ]

My personal pick would be a solid front axle 100 series as I think all the gu are ifs (im may be wrong I am far from an expert on patrols).

[Clanky]

Keep the Lux and bike
Sell the Barina
Move away from Sydney
And leave the wife behind.

Although a GU with IFS and a belly full of gas does sound mighty tempting

[RockyF75]

What part of sydney you in? You can't just DD the bike?? I did it for a little bit and didn't think it was that bad, you just gotta be on your toes cause everyones blind or wants to kill you.

Public transport?

I know if I only needed to cart myself to work, and not a heap of gear, I'd be doing everything I could to leave the car at home, the traffic is deadset ridiculous.