Outer Limits 4x4 Board

i have a 3.0Lmaxima that i drive as daily which uses 15L/100km around town(on premium), no joke, and 10L/100km on freeway(kicks are there), and a 1.6 efi lifted and locked sierra that i use to go 4x4ing in. i was thinking of selling both after xmas as they cost alot to run as 2 rego's and both need 98 premium, and getting 1 car that will comprimise for both, a vitara.

this is what im looking for:

1: must be good on fuel ie. 12/10L(normal unleaded)/100km city and freeway repectively.

2: Lwb hardtop so i can fit all camping gear and i plan to have some electronics(uhf,stero,gauges) so i dont want anyone stealing it.

3:able to be modified, need to get parts readily and easy to mod. what i plan on is 30 or 31 tyres, 2inch sus lift, rear locker, bullbar, hid's

4: must be auto, just prefer it.

5:comfy as a dialy and decent off rd.

this what i can find so far:


pro's: cheap rego, fuel, im assuming more parts available
cons: ugly to look at as looks like a boxy stationwagon...

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/pr ... =0&trecs=4


pro's: looks better,
cons: v6 2.0L so would use more fuel and rego. fuelwise will it use what im after does anyone know?

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/pr ... =0&trecs=4



any info on fuel consumption, mods available and ease of modding, strength of drive terrain, etc on both cars would be great. also does the 2nd model come in a 2.0L4cyl LWB does anyone know?

thanks in advance.

I've heard the v6 has a tendency to snap timing chains

Get a TD5 D2 Disco

just a question, why do your cars need to be run on premium?

yeah something is wrong there... my zuk used to ping like mad if i ran anything other than 98ron... a simple tune up and now its running regular unleaded no worries... much easier on the wallet!

Personally, I'd keep the sierra and buy something to run around town in with better economy.

You'll regret selling the sierra for sure and compromise cars never work out IMHO.

Your 1.6 shouldn't need 98 unless it has HEAPS of timing in it.

Steve.

ofr57 wrote:I've heard the v6 has a tendency to snap timing chains

they don't have a tendency to snap chains, just noisy chains. this is usually due to poor servicing.
if you were to get a 2.0 litre v6 or a grand u can change the diff gears to compensate for 30's. there is more choice in ratio with the grand as you can only go up 1 step in the 2.0 litre v6 to 5.1's. it can be done and yes you can convert the grands to run air lockers. the 1.6 vitara will drink like a fish with bigger tyres, the v6 models will be better, not much better, but atleast you will have more power.

so basically only the grand vitara can have air lockers?

anyone know how much fuel all these vitaras use in real life?

and sierra was dynod to run on 98 and i think it does have heaps of timing and the maxima says to on the fuel cap and its made in japan and thats what they use apparently and nissan also say to.

most jap car manuals state 98 ron... its the standard fuel over there.

try it on 92 (run it empty and fill the tank) then go get it tuned again.... itll run fine and youll hardly notice a difference. Infact i think im getting more power now than before (although slightly less economy, but the lower price makes up for that).

my mate's parents have a 00mdl maxima and it pinged its head off on 91octane. 95 was ok.

i thought crossed my mind to buy a vitara for a 2nd car because the sierra is my only car.After every weekend it gets filled with dirt and more scratches/dints.its becoming less presentable on the road.haha.

anyone one else own these vitaras and can give me more good/ bad info on them?

My XL-7 (2.7l V6) isn't happy running on 91 octane fuel, even though it's supposed to be fine to use it. Pinging and lots of it... A friend interstate said his is the same.

Be careful the 2.0l V6 isn't similar and you end up having to run 98 anyway.