I've already posted in the sticky note intros, but I thought I'd introduce myself and expand on my experience with buying my Feroza.
NAME: Darren
LOCATION: Northern Suburbs, Perth Western Australia
VEHICLE: 1993 SX II Feroza, Black and Silver.
MODS: No mods yet, but hopefully intake and exhaust soon.
PREVIOUS CARS: Honda Prelude and ........ a 1997 Lada Niva
.
(The Lada was a mountain goat off-road, but felt like a 1960's tank on-road and was outright dangerous).
BUYING MY FEROZA: I bought my Feroza about 4 days ago after researching various small 4wd's over the net (including continually lurking this BB) over about 3 months. I quickly wrote off buying a Sierra after driving a couple and finding their on-road handling choppy. The other option was the Vitara, but it looked too ....... girly!
The security of a hard top with the freedom of a removeable roof was also an attractive feature of the Feroza. Furthermore, I couldn't find a single review with anyone indicating a major problem with a Feroza.
After reading so much about Ferozas, I ended up extremely eager to own one but couldn't find the model (1993 SXII) within my price range (under AU$10,000).
After searching newspapers, Autotrader, Quokka and caryards for about three months, I was just about ready to give up looking because most SXII's were around AU$11,000. I had scoured Perth for my Feroza ( I found a good 1993 SXP in Fremantle for $6,999 and arranged for an SGIO check ($200!!) which gave a pretty good report. The only problem was that someone came in and paid cash about 15 minutes before the inspection was complete
I still had to pay 200 bucks for a report on a car I couldn't even buy! ).
Last Monday I arrived in Bussellton (about 3 1/2 hours drive south of Perth) for a holiday with the family and, within hours, spotted a poster advertising a good looking 1993 SXII with nudge bar, tinting, CD player and alarm for AU$8000.
I phoned the number and was advised that it was now selling for AU$6500.
After a test drive, RAC check (only $110) and REVS check, I knocked the guy down to AU$6000 and was exploring the Ludlow State Forest the very next day!
The RAC check only identified a rusted tailpipe, blown interior light and a small leak from a hose, so the only reason I can see for the gap in prices is that small 4wd's aren't easily sold in country towns where larger sedans and 4wd's are more common. The seller indicated that the car had been on the market for a while, but no-one even took it for a test drive!
My Feroza even had the original vinyl spare wheel cover ...... which fell apart when I removed it to check the spare tyre.
Anyway, if you're looking for a well priced Feroza, think about taking a trip to a country town. A lack of buyers may make the seller eager to lower his price.
Seeya,
Darren
