The choice- Need opinions

[-Nemesis-]

Ok, after months of trying to work out what to do with my selection of 4WD i've finally narrowed it down to two options.

Option 1:
My 1994 Toyota 4Runner RV6.
Through an old finance loan this truck owes me $11,500, so in theory that's it's purchase price now.
Idea: Get Overkill etc to do a SAS on it $4000
Rebuild the gearbox thats had a slight wine since i bought it three years ago $1200?
Sprite up the V6 a bit for better performance and economy, say: $2000?
Total package roughly = $18,500

Pro's are the little bit better refinement/comfort and features of a 4Runner. The V6 performance. And i can camp in the back of it etc.

Option 2:
Try and sell the 4Runner and buy about a 94-95 model Hilux for about $14000 with some goodies on it.
Get it turbo charged because the NA Diesel would drive me mad $3000
Tweak the suspension with all the goodies to match the Overkill SAS setup $2-3000?
Total package roughly = $18,500

Pro is that i can use it shooting cos of the tray, and the diesel economy.
Cons include less refined (noisy diesel etc) and a possible bouncy rear end unladen compared to the coil rear 4Runner.

As you can see it's going to end up about even either way. I wan't a highly capable car but i'm not "tow it home" type of person so it won't have to win any tuff truck challenges.

Which way do you think you'd go? How come?

[-Mick-]

If it will see heaps of road miles and not go to hard offroad then keep the 4runner I say You already know it inside out so no nasty surprises like the kind always pop up when buying 2nd hand.

Also it will be slightly comfier like you say. Do you NEED to sas it Will locked + gearing etc get you far enough

Finally what is the 2g gonna buy you on the motor I would imagine you could get a good deal of work done for that, maybe more than you need

Mick

[Slunnie]

Better the devil you know.

[Birlo]

I'm with them - if your happy with the 4runner then keep it
Its much of a muchness either way
But as the guys said - 4runner would be more comfortable
And if you don't want to do anything "Tuff"
Why SAS it? Independant is heaps nicer on the road - 'Specially if thats the most driving time

[ausyota]

I say stick with the runner dont worry about the SAS right away.
Just stick an ARB in the back and get some grippy tyres.
If later on down the track you want to go harder you can either SAS it or pull the locker out and sell the runner as a near stock vehichle and buy a Lux and you will allready have the locker
Paul.

[-Nemesis-]

That brings me to a good point. If i was to only get the one locker would the back be best as you said? Or the crappy front to pull it over things?

[turps]

For the locker ?? I would put it in the front. As on a Med/Hard trip the 4runner that was with us was really in 2wd most of the day cos it just lifted wheels all the time. Where as the back has abit of flex and seemd to stay on the ground but the front did nothing.

[ausyota]

But if you get a rear locker you can still use it if you upgrade the front to a solid.
Also IFS CVs are pretty weak, the diff is probably better left open.
Paul.

[De-lux]

buy a solid axle lux.

theres a few main reasons why they are called "another lux" and thats because they are reliable, cheap to kit up, and versatile

[-Nemesis-]

But, that brings me to why i posted the question. Buying a solid axle hilux and modifying it will cost me the same roughly as getting the SAS on my 4Runner. Which will pretty much make it a Hilux with a V6 anyway. It's a hard choice, hence why i thought i'd get input.
Thanks for the ideas so far....

[cdnes]

If it was a choice between buying a runner or a lux I would say go the lux. But why buy someone else's problem when you know how to fix yours.Stay with your runner.

[NICK]

buy the 80's in the 4 sale section, haggle him to 12,000

buy ruffs truck, huggle him to 6000.


buy a motor for the trader/wrecker 500


total 18,500

save and buy a trailer 2000


DRIVE IT





NICK

[-Nemesis-]

Hehe sounds fun. Cept the only reason i'm not getting an 80 or a GQ is because i simply don't want a car that big as my daily runner.

[MissDrew]

I agree with Nick, buy ruff`s snot lux.
Put these things on it.

Motor $1500 max
2 centres $800 max
2 ARB`s $3000 max
rego etc $1500 approx

That works out to $13300, now with your $18000 that you are looking at spending you could even get a new winch for it and then you have a fully setup hard core rig and still have $$$$$ left over