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New in 4WDing

General Tech Talk

Moderators: toaddog, TWISTY, V8Patrol, Moderators

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New in 4WDing

Post by searsy989 »

Hello everybody. I'm turing 17 and getting my P's in a month and I love 4WDing. I always read Australian 4WD Monthly and it has given me alot of information about 4WD's, but as I want to get into 4WDing i'm always wanting to know more. So I have a couple of qustions?

1. My first 4WD will of course be second hand so I need your opinions, is a Nissan GQ a good second hand 4WD to begin with and if not, what do you people reconmend.

2. Am I old enough to join a 4WD club and if i am, what one should I join thats around my area. I live at Engadine in The Sutherland Shire which many of you should know is virtualy next door to Menia :lol:
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Post by mud13s »

With regard to buying a 4wd I wouldn't try and sway you but I've got a Patrol MQ and Nissan's are the way forward! ;)

I am a member of Sydney District 4WD club which is based in Baulkham Hills so a bit of a trek from Engadine but I travel there from Menai, and other club members are local too, Heathcote, and Caringbah from the top of my head

A bit of a family based club but we do a bit of everything depending upon what you want to do

I joined coz I wanted to join a club and learn how to drive my truck without breaking it (well until I can afford to fix it!)

The club has a website at www.sydneydistrict4x4.com.au

If you are interested I could give you a lift up for the next club meeting it's an out meeting so not at our normal venue but you could meet people all the same

Someone local with skills similar to mine (minimal) are always good

Paul
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Post by Rainbow Warrior »

Although a GQ is tough and pretty good money for value, realistically for your first 4x4 on the budget you're likely be able to afford for repairs tyres and fuel commuting to work, Suzuki Sierra is the only way to go, toughest little truck around, plenty of decent priced parts, cheap to run, very capable, chicks like em too.
Pat,
Brisbane, Australia,
JK 4door Rubicon, currently 4 Sale :(
It's a Jeep thing, I don't understand........
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Post by searsy989 »

I'm not fussy, I just need a general idea so thanks for that. I'll come up and have a look when i DO get my 4WD and my P's. Hopefuly i'll see you very soon.
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Post by customhilux »

yeah i would go with the sierra as well i owned 2 on my p's, everything is tucked up nice underneath.

think of the fuel for each week to, GQ will cost alot more than a sierra but it just depends on what u earn a week.
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Post by Daisy »

If you get a GQ - it'll be worth it in the long run. They are still awesome 4x4's standard. And relativly easy to do up.

If you're on a tight budget.. sierra would be good as well..

BUT then again.. are you biased?? eg ford/holden thingy.. or toyota/nissan thingy?

If its a nissan.. any of the patrols are still awesome.. from MQ's to GQ's to suit your budget.

Personally id go GQ.. but there are a lot of MQ-MK owners out there who are biased towards them as well over GQ's

Good luck in your choice.

TOM

:arsmup:
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Post by V8Patrol »

Rainbow Warrior wrote:Although a GQ is tough and pretty good money for value, realistically for your first 4x4 on the budget you're likely be able to afford for repairs tyres and fuel commuting to work, Suzuki Sierra is the only way to go, toughest little truck around, plenty of decent priced parts, cheap to run, very capable, chicks like em too.


customhilux wrote:yeah i would go with the sierra as well i owned 2 on my p's, everything is tucked up nice underneath.

think of the fuel for each week to, GQ will cost alot more than a sierra but it just depends on what u earn a week.


Guys ..... why recemend a zook and then have to update it later on??, thats like getting lots of foreplay but never getting around to the real thing ! :D
He buys the zook drives it, mods it and then sells it off for a lot less dollars because he wants a bigger and better and more capable rig ...... end result is a lot of wasted $$$ and time.

to answer your questions Searsy ....

YES & YES !

Kingy

p\s
this should be in General Chitchat moderators ;)
[color=blue][size=150][b]And your cry-baby, whinyassed opinion would be.....? [/b][/size][/color]
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Post by customhilux »

the reason we said about getting a zuk is, cause when eveyone is young they want the big v8's or the turbo cars and shit like that but MOST young people wouldn't be able to afford to run em everyday. and whats wrong with buying a cheap sierra, then when he has more money or more expeirence. sell the zuk and go out and get a GQ,

if ya look at everything in life being a waste of money, than ya never will really live a fullfilling life.


searsy989, buy what ever u want, but look at what everything else is going to cost u, like insurance, parts, FUEL.

keep that in mind and i'm sure u will buy a good truck. :cool:
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Post by -Mick- »

customhilux wrote:the reason we said about getting a zuk is, cause when eveyone is young they want the big v8's or the turbo cars and shit like that but MOST young people wouldn't be able to afford to run em everyday. and whats wrong with buying a cheap sierra, then when he has more money or more expeirence. sell the zuk and go out and get a GQ,

if ya look at everything in life being a waste of money, than ya never will really live a fullfilling life.

searsy989, buy what ever u want, but look at what everything else is going to cost u, like insurance, parts, FUEL.

keep that in mind and i'm sure u will buy a good truck. :cool:


He can also do a lot of the work and mods on a zook himself which is pretty vaulable experience I reckon :D He'll also be able to build it up a little more quickly because many of the parts etc can be dirt cheap :)

Then when he is a bit more experienced/ financial he can go and buy a patrol/ cruiser which will be comfier/ better to tour in/ good for light/ medium 4wding and able to tow his zook based tube buggy :lol:
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Post by N*A*M »

buy whatever you can afford as long as it's got live axles. sooner or later, you'll want to upgrade to a sierra though. ;)

here have some inspiration: http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... hp?t=18307

i built my old zook for about $6k all up (doing mostly my own work) and it did really well in my first comp (navtrack).
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Post by searsy989 »

Yeah see my main reason for wanting a GQ is it's cargo space. I also love mountain biking so I need a 4WD with good loading space so I can take me and my friends bikes around and when reading 4WD Monthly, the GQ seems like a good start. I'm also NOT biased. I don't care what 4WD it is as long as it runs well and is good off road.
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Post by cdnes »

This is easy d/cab Hilux.Room for your bikes and your mates also cheap and good off road.
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Post by V8Patrol »

[color=blue][size=150][b]And your cry-baby, whinyassed opinion would be.....? [/b][/size][/color]
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Post by customhilux »

yeah go the hilux, sweet offroad, and look good hahaha :cool: :cool:
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Post by searsy989 »

I was just thinking last night, do you think it would be easier to try and buy a 4WD that's already had a few good mods done to it, kept it good condition and meets my needs and budget so the work I have to do to it will be minimun (considering I have almost zero mechanical experience). :?:
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Post by droopypete »

What is your budget?
Peter.
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Post by Macca177 »

Mate its all depends on wot budget ya on..get any good condtion rig and just build it up from there..it will all cost $$$ nomatter wot ya get.. as for clubs in the area..there isnt to close to our sutho shire ..there is one based in engo but u have to know sumoen in the club already to let ya in.... thers a club at oatly and revsby area i thinks but i havnt looked into them yet oh and stgeorge has a 4wd club as well.
hope this helps
gota look after follow shire ppl :)
Cheers, Hayden!
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Post by Rainbow Warrior »

V8Patrol wrote:
Rainbow Warrior wrote:Although a GQ is tough and pretty good money for value, realistically for your first 4x4 on the budget you're likely be able to afford for repairs tyres and fuel commuting to work, Suzuki Sierra is the only way to go, toughest little truck around, plenty of decent priced parts, cheap to run, very capable, chicks like em too.


customhilux wrote:yeah i would go with the sierra as well i owned 2 on my p's, everything is tucked up nice underneath.

think of the fuel for each week to, GQ will cost alot more than a sierra but it just depends on what u earn a week.


Guys ..... why recemend a zook and then have to update it later on??, thats like getting lots of foreplay but never getting around to the real thing ! :D
He buys the zook drives it, mods it and then sells it off for a lot less dollars because he wants a bigger and better and more capable rig ...... end result is a lot of wasted $$$ and time.

to answer your questions Searsy ....

YES & YES !

Kingy

p\s
this should be in General Chitchat moderators ;)


For the average 18yo to go and borrow 10k for a stock poverty pack GQ diesel is not really an option, a petrol GQ or MQ is no good as it may cost too much in fuel and the age will catch up to him with repairs needed.

A $5k Zuk costs near nothing to run, is a ball of fun in standard form, and won't fall apart on speedhumps. Single cab Hilux is another option I suppose, unless you want to take a few mates with you.
Pat,
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It's a Jeep thing, I don't understand........
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Post by r0ck_m0nkey »

Rainbow Warrior wrote:a petrol GQ or MQ is no good as it may cost too much in fuel and the age will catch up to him with repairs needed.


Just for a comparison, I currently own a petrol MQ and it uses hardly anymore fuel then what my old Feroza did, so they don't chew that much fuel at all, when tuned and running properly.

My suggestion is if you can run and afford the bigger 4WD's go for it.
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Post by Squik »

If you decide to go with a Sierra (you can often get a well modded one at a good price and they are cheap as chips to run and get parts for)...look into joinging the Suzuki 4WD Club (www.suzuki4wd.com.au).
There's quite a few pups (young blokes) in the club who are in the same situation as you.
There are actually quite a few modded ones for sale within the club at the moment.....not sure whether its still there, but there was a comp modded with engineers cert sierra (boggers, winch, full external cage etc) up for grabs for $10,600.
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Post by RB zook »

derfinatly get a sierra the are the way to go.

im on my p's and i am in the suzuki 4x4 club of nsw :D
meetings are at Ermington so that would bout 1/2 hour drive from yours
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Post by Gwagensteve »

Go the zook - purchase price is not everything - service and parts cost and price for mods are an issue too. In this area, Sierras kill a bigger car. Also, if you currently have limited mechanical experience, a zuk is much easier to cut your teeth on, as they are nice an light, simple and logical to work on.

As to wanting a more "capable" car later on, that's just rubbish, unless capability is long highway runs and heavy load carrying. A sierra will spank anything for running and service costs, can be built to spank anything off road for less money, and you'll be getting the newest car for the money.

Personally, I wouldn't buy a modded car - generally you will be buying another person's compromises and their idea of what works. Start with a stocker, join the Suzuki club, and build the car along with your confidence.
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Post by stool »

NO ONE HAS MENTIONED THE MIGHTY 60 SERIES TOYO VERY GOOD TRUCK FROM MY POINT OF VIEW [/b]
GQ with big nuts
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Post by -Mick- »

stool wrote:NO ONE HAS MENTIONED THE MIGHTY 60 SERIES TOYO VERY GOOD TRUCK FROM MY POINT OF VIEW [/b]


inside voice mate :lol: The 60 as a diesel may be a good option but again it costs vastly more to maintain/ modify than little rigs ;)
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Post by fat40 »

how bout a toyota 40 series??? they look good and parts are a breeze to find also. cheap to buy but not as cheap to run as a suzuki, tougher though. also i know where a good soft top with lots a chrome, half doors, extended rear shackles, disc front end, new tru fit carpet front and back, bucket seats and near new 31's. running standard 2f engine but is engineered for V8, (as i have taken the V8 to put in the current 40 i am building) is for sale, going for a good price too.
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Post by Nev62 »

Dude, get a 4b that you like and feel comfitable driving.

IF it has IFS then you are going to be restriced in what it can do but since you are just starting out, grade 5 tracks should not be on the menu just yet anyway (build up some experiance and get to know your vehicle first).

If this is going to be a daily driver, then your better off with something reliable. If this is going to be a trailer queen, then go nuts.

Running cost has to be thought about too. Bigger = more $$$. For a daily driver it could mean an extra $70 per week on top of everything else.

Check out the internet for local clubs. There is a lot of us around Sydney. Before you join a club go out on a trip or two with them and check out a meeting. It is better to join a club you feel welcomed in, you will enjoy it that much more. Membership fees also varies from club to club.
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Post by droopypete »

droopypete wrote:What is your budget?
Peter.


This thread is pointless without a budget.

We know he needs cargo space,
we know he has almost zero mechanical experience,
we dont know how many K's a week, how many people it needs to accomodate, does he tow a trailer, does he have a sister (pics), but mostly we don't know how much he wants to spend.
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Post by stool »

Hay searsy have you got a zook yet
GQ with big nuts
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Post by Rainbow Warrior »

droopypete wrote:
droopypete wrote:What is your budget?
Peter.


This thread is pointless without a budget.

We know he needs cargo space,
we know he has almost zero mechanical experience,
we dont know how many K's a week, how many people it needs to accomodate, does he tow a trailer, does he have a sister (pics), but mostly we don't know how much he wants to spend.
Peter.


Well, we might be stereotyping but being a 17yo, we're guessing a brand new Patrol or Rangie isn't in his financial possibilities list.
Pat,
Brisbane, Australia,
JK 4door Rubicon, currently 4 Sale :(
It's a Jeep thing, I don't understand........
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