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I was born into a biker family...my dad was into the GP races, my borther into harley's and me into MX now I am a family man with my second bub due anyday It is time for me to sell the bike and buy a cheapish 4wd. I have looked at the Trading Post and seen many hilux's and suzi's but don't know what is a fair price or if it is a lemon.
My budjet is $6000 any advice/tips on what problems I should be looking for in different model 4bee's
What do you want from the 4be mate? Going out on a limb here, I guess you are after something which will comfortably carry the growing family around, as well as get you to the good spots in the great outdoors. $6000 is plenty for a very capable zook, but it will lack in the family comforts. $6000 will get you a fairly regular, if old, Hilux, and it'll cost you plenty more if you want to take it further 4wd wise. If you are happy with a camping rig, rather than an offroad beast, and want to have a few creature comforts or space, then shop around for a well treated Hilux for that price. If you can deal with a little less room, and less utility/more recreational freedom, then that price will fetch a very nice zook.
There'll be plenty of suggestions (I hope) on specifics, but that's my drunken take on the situation.
* Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool *
I'd say GQ Patrol as well, but you'd need to shop around for a while before you found one with a 4.2 at your price point. They do appear every now and again though.
You might get a decent (but rather old) 4runner at that price.
You could also easily get a good MQ Patrol - turbo diesel would be nice.
A Sierra's good if you're not planning on touring with it and are just making the change because you need to be able to take passengers sometimes. As with the patrols there's no limit to how capable you can make them, but they aren't as comfortable, practical or big as the patrols are.
I'm gonna get flamed for saying it, but something like a Holden Jackaroo might suit. There's a turbo diesel 87 model for sale near me for $6k, air con, ps etc, slightly overpriced at a car yard. They are (apparently) reasonably capable stock, although they're not hardcore by any means. Certainly suitable for family outings.
Along the same lines would be a Pajero. With a jackaroo or a pajero you'd probably get a 1990ish model in very good nick for your money.
Depends - if you think you are gonna get into hardcore 4x4ing then you need to avoid these last two, but if you want a balance of comfort, value, and reasonable off-road capability, they'd be alright.
stay away from jackaroos heheh
the one i had screwed up big time speically the auto hubs
constent probs trust me
but went for a nissan patrol ST 4.2l petrol1988 mod cost between 7-8k
as was in pritty go condition was just odd things with it like axle oil seal
bit of rust on drivers side roof small things like that
id also say stay away from mazda as they have probs braking to
ford raiders not to bad i think< my old mans got one he gose out on level 3 or stage 3 tracks 4x4 standard the recovery vehcalin his club is also a raider so they carnt be to bad just a bit hard on getting stuff for them
gor fo the old mq to early gq
toyotas can get some alright rigs
pajeros i think are also hard getting bits for not to sure
zook
not sure about jeeps
and not sure about your old land rover defenders
i just supose the more cash you wanna spend the better a 4x4 going to be
but yeah 6k really look around
why is it that everyone thinks Rovers leak oil....
it is only lack of maintanance and cheap seals that cause oil leaks...
the 60 series cruiser i bought some years ago had more oil leaks than the Exxon Valdes...
my '84 Rangie that i have owned now for a while has absolutly no oil leaks... if you have a leak fix it..
Now all I have to do is make a decision about which 4bee to go for. I'm thinking along the lines of a zook. It only has to get me to work each day and take me and my 6 year old son out for the Sunday drive off the beaten track. So my next queston is what do I look for in a zook?? Any common places for rust or known engine problems??
Now all I have to do is make a decision about which 4bee to go for. I'm thinking along the lines of a zook. It only has to get me to work each day and take me and my 6 year old son out for the Sunday drive off the beaten track. So my next queston is what do I look for in a zook?? Any common places for rust or known engine problems??
Thanks again.
Be patient and look for a LWB zook I did and it was worth it
Quiksilver wrote:Thanks mj...I'm sure all that reading will keep me busy for a couple of weeks
Any particular reason I should go a LWB and not a SWB??
Storage room and wheelbase If you intend on trips around a week + the extra room is a godsend Its still a zook but a longie is way better imo in this way but I do get the sh!ts carrying gear that don't fit in my mates swb's
I just figure you would rather carry the extra shite that makes the trip nicer what with the little tacker if that makes sense
It is time for me to sell the bike and buy a cheapish 4wd. I have looked at the Trading Post and seen many hilux's and suzi's but don't know what is a fair price or if it is a lemon.
Its still a zook but a longie is way better imo in this way but I do get the sh!ts carrying gear that don't fit in my mates swb's 
