Can Anyone Help a Young 4x4er

[ike181]

Hi guys & girls, I’m a 16yr old who really wants to get a 4x4 but can’t disside what to get? Can any one help?
e-mail me @ alex_adams88@hotmail.com
thank...

[mabsydney]

Patrol

[Bighazza]

Go for what you really want

I have a 40 series that i am currently rebuilding and im only 15 and a half

also you didnt really say what price range you are looking for or what type a 4wd. I.e swb lwb ute etc

but in the end chose what you like the most who cares if its not great offroad

[suzi_on_46s]

hey alex

go the suzuki sierra cheap to buy cheap to mod and cheap on fuel which is awesum on the fuel l8ly

im gettin one soon and should have it on 34`s all i am doing is a spring over (spoa)

[Zute]

You need to work out what your going to use it mainly for. ie daily drive, outback touring, weekend trail crawling, carting your friends around, etc etc..

But you prob' already have a favorite make, so just buy the best you can afford. Just remember they cost more to service than a normal car + rego+insurance.

My first 4x4 was Rocky TD, parts were had to get and dear. Also hard to get aftermarket stuff for. But I have a lot of fond memorises of that car(VIC high county and Simpson dessert )
Best bet is to get somthing common like a Hi Lux, Pajero or Suzuki.

[RockyF75]

whenevr some1 asks a question like this, it is really just a census to see what everyone on this forum drives, as they gonna just suggest what they got ...

So, yeah, GET A DAIHATSU ROCKY
Can't get alot of mods for it so u gotta DIY
Can't get lockers for em
But they're great stock so who cares

[Zute]

Yeh, Mine was standard, Open diffs, swopped ajustable shocks for OME. But was Good first 4x4 for me at the time. 14 years ago.

[RockyF75]

Yeh, Mine was standard, Open diffs, swopped ajustable shocks for OME. But was Good first 4x4 for me at the time. 14 years ago.

Thats rite, for a 1st 4x4 they are tops, do heaps of stuff stock and the upside to them not being verry common, is you can get em pretty cheap. Also, review from 4x4 mag on em said the drivetrain componets are serious overkill, so wont hurt the diffs too much when u drop em on rocks. Everyone that i've talked to that has had one, or know someone who does raves on about how good they are for basically a little box with wheels , and how reliable they are (not with mine, rebuilt gearbox + water pump + hub seals in 6 months ). Mines been everywhere my friends GQ 6" lift & 35's has, i just need more rockbuilding and a snatchy sometimes

[gurumon]

and with a rocky there's no way you can be accused of being one of those P platers with overpowered high performance cars

[chimpboy]

Come on, if you keep up with this nonsense the poor kid is going to end up with a Rocky as his first fourby!

[RockyF75]

Come on, if you keep up with this nonsense the poor kid is going to end up with a Rocky as his first fourby!

dats wat i got for me 1st (still )

[MARKx4]

I think for a first it should be a serria ar a hilux. Can get parts both standard and aftermarket for good prices, and good to modify into a very capable 4WD'S.

[DR Frankenstine]

Go a suzuki
, fun, strong,, cheap to modify.
I own a nissan

[RockyF75]

ok, everyone will have a different opinion on what to get so this seems a lil pointless. So just go for something that you live the looks of, do your research and not just by posting on forums, cuz that will get you peoples opinions, which are just that, opinions, not facts.

If/when you find a make/model you like, look for reviews in 4x4 mags, books, net watever. But again, this is no guarantee. Reviews for rocky said its gearbox is very strong for what it is, so i though, great, will have no trouble with gearbox... 3 months later, had to rebuild the gearbox (mainly cuz previous owner couldn drive proply but back to the subject)...

Get some one you know and trust to look the vehicle over for you. Some one who knows what they are doing. Dont bother with NRMA inspections IMO, cuz they will pick at every lil fault. Unless you getting a fairly newish car.

Good things to look for are live axle or IFS (if you dont know what these are, ask), find out what size tyres you can fit on it as you'll probably want to get Mud tyres for it (and bigger is better ). Go to a 4x4 place and get prices on mods you might like to get for it so you have an idea on what to save up.

And if you have say... $5000 to spend, dont buy a $5000, cause if a week after you buy it you find out it needs urgent repairs that will cost $$$, and u didnt put aside for it, your stuffed. And haggle big time. If its advertised for $5000, offer them $3500 . Be patient, theres HEAPS of 4x4's out there so dont rush it.

Can any1 add to this?? I probly could but its getting too long already.

[saigo]

Have a look at the VECHICLES FOR SALE on this site, see how much you want to spend and what mods you want. Many of the vechicles already have mods completed. Good luck mate.
P.s find a car you like if it's out of your price range then work real hard to earn some extra cash as you'll need this routine once the fourby bug bites as you are probably are already experiencing.
Old saying: Once bitten twice shy, not true in this hobby.

[Loanrangie]

You really cant go past a sierra or hilux for a first 4by, they are plentiful, cheap and parts are easy to get. I would get a hard top suzi coz you will be hauling your mates around but if camping is your go a twin cab lux or early 4 runner would be good, plenty of room for mates, sheila's and lotsa esky space I love Rangies ( i have 2 ) but unless you are mechanically minded i wouldnt recommend one.

[Patroler]

also decide how many people youre going to need to put in it, how much gear for camping, or day trips only?
Rocky/suzuki would be a good choice and cheap to run as a bonus, but that'd limit how much stuff people you can take away, fine if you travel light though.
I got a mq shorty diesel, its been great, i still use it as my daily driver and haven't been able to kill it yet, probably the best car ive owned, my modded patrol spends more time broken than being driven pity as its on straight gas, would be cheaper to run than the diesel...

Just have a think about your price range, interior space requirements, wether you need to tow stuff? it all comes into it. Good luck.

[Rangie ute on 38'']

get a mighty boy and weld the rear, those little rice rockets go hard

[BabyGodzillaGTi-R]

Hey dont fret.
My 1st 4x4 which i learned how to drive on and slapped with P plates is a Daihatsu Rocky F85.
They might be crap when it comes to aftermarket parts and the gearing way too high. (Can always be rectified by modding).
But i can tell u that it is still the best 4x4 in my opinion for me to learn how to drive, drift and go offroading haha.
Mine seems pretty reliable considering it's been offroading regularly hard for 20 years and the mileage around 400k plus and the gearbox and axles and drivetrain still been coping. Most reliable 4wd in the house. Oddly far more reliable than our Hilux, Range Rover 4.6HSE and the Classic.

But i admit i'm spoilt coz i've a Detroit and a lsd. Keke.
Learn how to drive 1st imho then consider upgrading your rig if u're commited to the game hehe...

[chimpboy]

To be honest, I don't mind Rockys. But I am of the opinion that, bang for bucks, this guy should get a Sierra.

[GRIMACE]

To be honest, I don't mind Rockys. But I am of the opinion that, bang for bucks, this guy should get a Sierra.

agree

DONT GET A ROCKY
GET A SUZUKI SIERRA
in the end you will be better off, nuthing is as simple and cheap as a sierra.
I HAVE NEVER OWNED A SIERRA, so its not a matter of wat i drive as preference.

[AussieCJ7]

for a young driver on shoestring budget it is hard to beat a zuk

cheap
no too powerful to getinto too much trouble
light for when you give it a little rest on its side
1000's of parts in wreckers
easy to work on


BTW I am not a zuk fan but the reality of it is they are great start into 4x4's

[Bluefreak]

I don't know about the Rocky's... I had an '86 2.8TD, went well when it was going, blew 2 boxes and an engine, bloke who rebuilt the box the first time said the box was the weak point of the Rocky... When it went the second time, I had another bloke rebuild it and he said the same thing. Blew the engine and decided I'd over capitalised as it was so I flogged it off.

I lifted mine 50mm, OME nitro-chargers, 30/9.5/15 BFG AT's... Always serviced and always let me down

[mkpatrol]

get a mighty boy and weld the rear, those little rice rockets go hard

What would you be welding in the rear of a Mighty Boy?????

The rust in the floor???

P.S: Zuke, I would recognise Dubbo Flat anywhere, top camping spot that

[mkpatrol]

P.P.S: Buy a Suzuki & get used to it lying down occaisinally

Great little truck & the 1300 takes a turbo really well if you want more power.

Cheap to fix & there are millions of them about.

[slowLux]

im 18, had my hilux since i was 15!

It's served me well, GET A HILUX

[81 rangie]

Im 18, first I got an 86 4 runner, great car, in really goodnick, and paid 4000, then added bout 500 for a RWC. That was a great car, but to gutless, and had the IFS front. Now I got a rangie, Cheapish car, very capable, cheap to run on gas, more powerful, but you do have to be mechanically minded, and willing to spend some time working onit. The up side to this is that they are like a big meachano set, and u will learn heaps from them

[GRIMACE]

Im 18, first I got an 86 4 runner, great car, in really goodnick, and paid 4000, then added bout 500 for a RWC. That was a great car, but to gutless, and had the IFS front. Now I got a rangie, Cheapish car, very capable, cheap to run on gas, more powerful, but you do have to be mechanically minded, and willing to spend some time working onit. The up side to this is that they are like a big meachano set, and u will learn heaps from them

but they have weak as piss diffs and you will break them and they arnt cheap unless you know people

Stick with a Zuk d00d

[Chucky]

Patrol

Start off in the patrol and you will get heaps of hands on experience in 4by recovery.

But seriously, I reckon the zooks are a ideal first 4by, cheap and they really can go places even in standard form. The slab sides are easy to repair after the roll overs and nudges agaist trees and parts are dirt cheap. You will also learn to really pick your lines carefully.

[81 rangie]

originallt i was going to get a suzuki, but i was to tall to fit in, this may be a problem for alex