general advice

[MightyMouse]

I think the stats speak for themselvesl
http://www.rsconference.com/pdf/RS040065.pdf?check=1

"young, novice drivers represent only a minor proportion of the licensed driving population (eg 14% in Victoria in 2002) yet are substantially more likely to be involved in fatal and injury crashes than older, more experienced drivers (about four times more likely in Victoria)."


Unfortunately the stats on 4WD rollovers also show a link between vehicle age and young drivers. Heres a relevant quote from MUARC

"showing higher rollover risk for those vehicles with a high centre of gravity compared to the width of the wheel track (4WDs and People Movers). As found in a previous study, higher rollover risk was found for young drivers. Higher rollover risk was also found for older vehicles: a 2% higher rollover risk (95% CI 1% to 3%) for a vehicle that is a year older than another vehicle. Female drivers were found to have a 35% lower rollover risk than male drivers (with 95% confidence interval 42% to 27%). The results overall warn that parents who are 4WD owners – and, to a lesser extent, owners of People Movers – need to be wary of allowing their novice family members to use such vehicles (keeping in mind that for young drivers, regular cars present significantly less rollover risk than 4WDs and people movers)"

http://www.monash.edu.au/muarc/reports/muarc262.html

[cookie monster]

Excuse my ignorance Cookie Monster but what the hell is "camo pink"?

I might be sorry i asked......

camo pink is basically army camoflarge, but in pink ! its a 'Hailey' thing !

My daughter (Hailey) is 14 and has always wanted to due up a sierra. she has a school project to do for 12 months and we are hoping to get one for her to due up. I will be using it as a daily driver, as i am changing jobs and giving up the company ute.

cookie monster

[cookie monster]

maybe some of you should read this before continuing with your posts

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/vi ... 9575:shock:

Hi all,

Looking at getting a sierra for the daughter to do up.
I can check for the usual stuff, but are there any unusual things to look out for when buying?
The one we are going to look at is a 1990 soft top (new soft top) with 320,000km. Looks resonable from photo's.
Owner not sure if original engine, but says it runs well and gets approx 350km per tank. Is this about right for a 40 ltr tank? I expected a bit better than that ??
We will be going over the car both mechanically and bodily as part of a school project. Will end up repainting camo pink
Hope you can help as you may save me a drive to Melbourne from Adelaide ! Oh, he is asking $1800

cheers
cookie monster

I'm not getting into the previous posts, But going to answer to the best of my knowledge instead of ranting and raving about which car is the best for D/D.

un-usual things to look out for:
: have a look under the inlet manifold above the starter motor, use a torch if ya have to, You are looking for dis-colouration in the block, usually yellow-green fairly faint, as well as a crack if any,
(possible crack in the barrel which causes the outer block to crack and leak coolent-)

1990 soft top (new soft top) with 320,000km:
: I bought my 88 W/T with 305,000kms for $2000, fairly recent paint, reco'd G/Box and Transfer case, Unfortunatly the motor was sad and so are the F & R diff bearings and rear main pinion bearings, not as cheap as I thought But a LOT cheaper then some small late model cars getting around!! Yeah it has some 5cent size bits of rust under the bonnet but they are an easy fix,

Owner not sure if original engine:
You can pick up second hand motors for under $500, and only 3hours to change over by your self, Its only $550 for a reco kit to do it your self anyway.

gets approx 350km per tank. Is this about right for a 40 ltr tank? I expected a bit better than that ??
Most old tired engines only get about that anyway, maybe give it a tune up when you get it home and play with the timing a bit (10 DBTDC)
If tuned a little leaner you can get up to 420kms out of a tank but it would have to be a good motor and a granny driver, also if the tank has a small ding in it, it may only be holding 35 to 38 ltrs of fuel,

1990 model,
If the suspension looks original then it probably is flat and beyond any comfort or safe riding ability, fairly cheap and easy to fix, there are a few different combo's of different car springs in it if you didnt want to spend to much to fix it,

Good luck on the colour choice and in camo, Havent seen that one before
you probably know most of what I have said but I thought I was more to the point of your question

Danzo,

Many thanks for your reply, most informative. I will bare them in mind when looking.
Doesnt seem to be much around in Adelaide at the lower end of the market ($2000), so may have to spend a few more dollars on one (have to get something roadworthy in the next 3 weeks as changing jobs).
will let you all know how we go.

cheers
cookie monster

[cj]

Excuse my ignorance Cookie Monster but what the hell is "camo pink"?

I might be sorry i asked......

camo pink is basically army camoflarge, but in pink ! its a 'Hailey' thing !

My daughter (Hailey) is 14 and has always wanted to due up a sierra. she has a school project to do for 12 months and we are hoping to get one for her to due up. I will be using it as a daily driver, as i am changing jobs and giving up the company ute.

cookie monster

So eventually you are going to be daily driving a camo pink Sierra If my little girl saw one like that she'd be after Dad to paint the Vit the same way and we Vit owners get enough grief as it is with our hairdresser's cars without it being camo pink.

[St Jimmy]

maybe some of you should read this before continuing with your posts

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/vi ... 9575:shock:

Hi all,

Looking at getting a sierra for the daughter to do up.
I can check for the usual stuff, but are there any unusual things to look out for when buying?
The one we are going to look at is a 1990 soft top (new soft top) with 320,000km. Looks resonable from photo's.
Owner not sure if original engine, but says it runs well and gets approx 350km per tank. Is this about right for a 40 ltr tank? I expected a bit better than that ??
We will be going over the car both mechanically and bodily as part of a school project. Will end up repainting camo pink
Hope you can help as you may save me a drive to Melbourne from Adelaide ! Oh, he is asking $1800

cheers
cookie monster

I'm not getting into the previous posts, But going to answer to the best of my knowledge instead of ranting and raving about which car is the best for D/D.

un-usual things to look out for:
: have a look under the inlet manifold above the starter motor, use a torch if ya have to, You are looking for dis-colouration in the block, usually yellow-green fairly faint, as well as a crack if any,
(possible crack in the barrel which causes the outer block to crack and leak coolent-)

1990 soft top (new soft top) with 320,000km:
: I bought my 88 W/T with 305,000kms for $2000, fairly recent paint, reco'd G/Box and Transfer case, Unfortunatly the motor was sad and so are the F & R diff bearings and rear main pinion bearings, not as cheap as I thought But a LOT cheaper then some small late model cars getting around!! Yeah it has some 5cent size bits of rust under the bonnet but they are an easy fix,

Owner not sure if original engine:
You can pick up second hand motors for under $500, and only 3hours to change over by your self, Its only $550 for a reco kit to do it your self anyway.

gets approx 350km per tank. Is this about right for a 40 ltr tank? I expected a bit better than that ??
Most old tired engines only get about that anyway, maybe give it a tune up when you get it home and play with the timing a bit (10 DBTDC)
If tuned a little leaner you can get up to 420kms out of a tank but it would have to be a good motor and a granny driver, also if the tank has a small ding in it, it may only be holding 35 to 38 ltrs of fuel,

1990 model,
If the suspension looks original then it probably is flat and beyond any comfort or safe riding ability, fairly cheap and easy to fix, there are a few different combo's of different car springs in it if you didnt want to spend to much to fix it,

Good luck on the colour choice and in camo, Havent seen that one before
you probably know most of what I have said but I thought I was more to the point of your question

Danzo,

Many thanks for your reply, most informative. I will bare them in mind when looking.
Doesnt seem to be much around in Adelaide at the lower end of the market ($2000), so may have to spend a few more dollars on one (have to get something roadworthy in the next 3 weeks as changing jobs).
will let you all know how we go.

cheers
cookie monster

good my daughter and son both had zooks as first cars and their still alive and healthy i worry more since my son bought a laser and a motor cycle if your daugter wants to drive one let her as for camo pink go for it it will look cool. don't listen to all the doom merchants out there' their just jelous that you have a girl that want's a zook to drive i know that their not that safe but their safer than a motorcycle

[MightyMouse]

Well Cookie Monster, whilst I now know what Camo pink is I really really need a pic when its done.

If its your DD then can I suggest a full face helmet or a paper bag with eye slits ? Reminds me of the Top Gear review of the Nissan micro car ( can't remember exactly which model )

[Jock]

blah blah blah.......

Get her a LJ50

Cool car top speed of 80kph and it's a Suzuki. What more could you want?

[MightyMouse]

As a original LJ50 owner, I wouldn't wish them on anyone.

It was my first "car" and the oldies thought that with 539cc's there was little potential for trouble wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong.

Took almost a year for my first rollover but got better at it after that.

Engine lasted 32,000 K's ( little end bearings ) and even after it got repowered ( Corolla then Alfa ) by the time it was six the body was mostly rust. With the 2Ltr Alfa engine it would do around the old ton ( top speed unknown - not willing to die ) but it was VERY NOT FUN at that speed.
Even with disks it didn't stop well, didn't handle well - in fact it was just plain dangerous.

Lots of fond memories, some very scary ones and some my mind has just about being successful in blocking out ( backflip with a couple of half piles ).

To this day side angles still scare the s#$t out of me...... and if you don't understand why, talk to any 50 owner.

[Jock]

To this day side angles still scare the s#$t out of me...... and if you don't understand why, talk to any 50 owner.

I have two LJ50's and a LJ 20

[Guy]

I reckon a Zuk make a FANTASTIC first car for a kid.
Simple, light and pretty forgiving ( it feels WAY worse than what it actually is, enough to scare the poop out of most kids). Having thrashed many a car during my driving career.. often way to fast for the conditions, vehicle and driver capability (+200 Kph on retreads for sustained periods).

As far as a fun to thrash ratio I have found the sierra to be one of the for want of a better word "funnest" vehicles I have ever owned, with a set of OME springs and shocks on it, it would out brake an alpha sud the handling to be very consistent and predictable ( you can count down 5,4,3,2,1 and counter steer in a corner .. kind like an old HZ).
Also instead of hanging out at the local macca's they can hang out round a campfire .. I know which one I would prefer my children to be doing.


In my experience many FWD cars that the AVERAGE parent can afford for their child's first car (knowing that there may be 3 other kids to buy first cars for and maintain) they are just plain shit box's that are dangerous, suffer very poor handling with there 15 year old McPherson struts that cost a bomb to replace and dubious tyre wear issues.
I am not to sure how they would feature in a crash either .. but allot will still do 150Kph or more .. certainly not what you want a kid with little experience doing.

So when my children are old enough I will be an irresponsible parent and put my children in small 4wds as their first vehicle's and teach them some responsibility, how to stand up for themselves to their peers and how to enjoy life, enough to want to see tomorrow.