Outer Limits 4x4 Board

G'day all.

i'm thinking of trading down from my faithfull hj60. The old girl has served me well (and still does) but i don't really need such a big vehicle (or diesel bill!). Its just me and the missus and although we do a bit of 4wding and camping, i still need to do alot of running around town.

Im considering either a sierra or a feroza.

Any thoughts on these vehicles? (i still want a reasonably capable 4wd)
Will these be cheaper to run then the cruiser?

Cheers.

Have you considered a diesal 4 Runner or Surf.

Cheers

Not really, but i'm open to any ideas. just want something cheaper on juice and yeah, i dont really need a big vehicle.

i like diesels for off roading too. cheers

I didn't know Sierras and Ferozas came with diesels.

Perhaps you want a Rocky?

they dont. what im getting at is that im not fussy..diesel or petrol, im open to ideas. just want something for about $4000ish that is reliable, capable and economical.

I ,ve had a surf 3.0lt diesel and it wasnt and they arnt very fuel efficient !
good power but used more diesel than my 4.2 diesel GQ patrol .
Ide try a pathfinder duel fuel if you want cheaper to run the early 2000mdls are a sweet truck - a rocky / feroza is very rough ride - short wheel base. - good luck

What sort of offroading do you do? Sierras and ferozas are fairly disparate. Personally, I love my sierra (downsized from a GQ) but if I was doing more road driving and only light/medium off roading then would lean more towrds a Vit/Feroza.

toyota tercel

Sierra or vitara would be fine I reckon for 2 people...

or bit more comfort, Jackaroo, but probably wont get shit for $4k

Rocky's are good, and some okay ones in your price range. the 2.8 turbo diesel is the way to go and is a very good motor.

Worst thing is there is not much in the terms of modifications off the shelf for any of the Daihatsu's, Ferozas included.

Have seen some good priced pajeros lately, the early square ones.

$4k doesn't buy much but a Paj would be good value.

Cheers

10L/100 is not un-doable, and I generally get 11-12L/100 without really trying to feather it. Towing is another story and it drops to about 15L/100.

Comfort, well, with SWB and solid axle leaf sprung f+r, you do the math. But I hear the 1993 on shopping trolley models with IFS are real comfy, just ask nick

4k will get you a great late 80's one, be pushing it to get an early 90's for that much but possible. All in all a great little 4b, with the lack of lockers/crawler gears the only down side.

However a healthy lack of respect for the vehicle and right boot takes care of that And mines held up to it fine so far

One thing worth noting, is the really early one's are slightly longer wheelbase. Pre 1988 IIRC. 10cm I believe, doesn't sound like a lot, but I've got one of each, and the 1984 ones got a heap more boot space.

This is just my opinion, here goes...

Went from an MK turbo diesel wagon to a Sierra, as i wasn't doing a whole heap of 4x4ing, and though i should "downsize". Got a WT soft top sierra, did all the usual crap to it, but ended u getting rid of it due to a) knowing the motor wasn't going to do an awful lot of kms before needing replacement; b) is wasn't big enough for two people PLUS camping gear for 2-3 days (it was, but it was TIGHT) ; c) the little 1.3 worked its arse off constantly.

The Sierra was awesome, embarrassed quite a few VERY expensive 4x4's while i had it.

I have since bought a TD42 GQ wagon - will probly hang onto this one for a while i reckon.

IMO, if you want a CHEAP car thats also CHEAP to run - go GAS. Cant go wrong. Maybe a GQ with RB30 and LPG, or TB42??? Plenty of space, accessories are cheap and plentiful, and they're a bl00dy good truck!

Coxy

coxy321 wrote:This is just my opinion, here goes...

Went from an MK turbo diesel wagon to a Sierra,

Slightly off topic, but what was the MK like on fuel?

Been thinking about an MK/MQ as a trail pig in the distant future, their cheap enough.

It all depends on how much of a hurry you're in i suppose.....

Cant remember exactly, but i'll have a guess and say about 600km to a tank in the wagon town driving, and the MK ute/tray i had was only about 450km (poor maintenence from SLACK previous owner).

Considering that it was a 20yo motor pushing around 3T of car - it was pretty good. We did about four trips to sydney and back (1700km) with a loaded tandem "supertruck" style (no stopping) and it sat on the speed limit with no issues for 99.5% of the way. Awesome car, mine was SUPER tidy, i should never of sold it.....

And best of all for YOU, MQ/MK's are cheap as chips!! $500/ dozen is the going rate at the moment.....

Coxy

go the vit.....good reliable vehicle.