Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I need advise, i'll be in a position to buy my first 4x4 in about a month, and trying to work out what to get, i'm wanting to spend up to $8000, and have around $2000 to do whatever upgrades nessesary, either that or $10,000 for something that doesn't need anything done. I don't intend to drive it everyday, it's for weekend fun doing both beach and bush work.

The complicated part is I have a back problem and i can't have too much jarring and jolting, i can tolerate some, but not excessive, sometimes i do find at the end of a day of 4x4ing it does get pretty stiff, so my question is, what can i buy that will be capable, but comfortable with my condition in mind, i'm thinking something medium size that can take pretty much anywhere.

Thankyou, any assistance would be appreciated.

GQ Long wheel base 4.2 diesel

coils are better on rough shit than leaf suspension... let the battle begin.

Coil suspension is easier on the back, 8g is bottom end of market each vehicle is individual there. U will spend a good bit of the 2g on a service especially if U change all fluids. have fun
I'll just get the flame proof gear on now

hilux surf or 4runner. ifs with coils in rear. the surfs can often be found with very high quality drivers seat also. i have a back problem aswell and can strongly recomend a surf...

Buy whatever you like and install a suspension seat?

Definitely get something with coils.

IMHO - range rovers classics and discoveries have a better ride than anything in the nissan or toyota camp. The 2.5L Diesel (200/300 Tdi) is much more economical too.

ISUZUROVER wrote:Definitely get something with coils.

IMHO - range rovers classics and discoveries have a better ride than anything in the nissan or toyota camp. The 2.5L Diesel (200/300 Tdi) is much more economical too.

You can pickup a Disco for 5-6k V8 on gas if you look, as IR said best ride available in an affordable 4wd.

A friend of mine is selling his GQ wagon, it has been retro fitted with a 4.5 GU motor and programmable EFI as well as a Gasresearch carby for LPG operation. Has a new clutch and 2" lift, it is very neat and I recon is a great buy for 10k.

Joel

ISUZUROVER wrote:IMHO - range rovers classics and discoveries have a better ride than anything in the nissan or toyota camp. The 2.5L Diesel (200/300 Tdi) is much more economical too.

This is a catch 22..... You may very well have a better ride which is good for your back but you'll be spending alot of time bending over under the bonnet which is bad for your back!
Choose wisely

one thing to take in is feul price i got the 60 seires 4 L D and it quiet $$$$$ to run before that i had the GQ patrol TB42 thats was 4 time more $$$$ to run

i think along the lines of hilux or zook could be worse holden jackaroo

my brother bought his first 4x4 holden drover basically zook

but yeah my 2 cents anyways

go a petrol on lpg. diesels have no advantage running cost wise with the price of fuel ATM, and they cost a couple of grand more for a rig of the same condition.

if you can squeeze it, an 80 series is more comfortable than a GQ. over that, a GQ LWB is a good choice.

if you don't mind getting your hands dirty, a rangie or a disco is a good weekend toy, just be prepared to work on it/upgrade it a bit more than the patrol.

if you want it to "go anywhere", i'd recommend against something with Independant front suspension (most medium size rigs). you'll be wishing you bought something better in a year or so. if moderate trips and beaches are what you'll stick to, a surf, pajero, grand vitara (not sure on their ride tho) will suit you well.

Thanks for all the feedback, it's been really helpful, but i've heard so many conflicting things about the 4runner/surfs, so many people say that they're rubbish off road, and then some say that they're great, is this because of different opinion or different capabilities? It will mostly be used to go on weekend trips on the beach, but i don't want to rule out the posibility of going for longer trips up to far north queensland for example, i will be able to spend more than the 2k later on with upgrades as i go, but that's about what i'd want to spend straight up i think. How much can you pick up a Leyland engine for a rangie/disco, because i've heard very good reports about increased reliability with that, but can't find anywhere online that can give an idea of price.

Forget the old leyland 4.4s as there to old and harder for parts.
I would look for a Disco with a 3.9 auto on Gas. One comfy sortove luxo truck that would do what you want to do with relative ease.
You could look for one with a diesel but the v8s on gas are cheap to run and have the power then. They are a very comfy ride aswell.

hey mate, have owned a couple of 4wds, forget the independent fronts, coil all round is definetly the way to go, I have to talk up the GQs at that price range, you can pick up a cheap petrol/gas one around 5000 thats in good nick, slap on a soft suspension setup and you cant go wrong.
a very comfortable 4wd, very capable with good economy and very cheap now for parts???

whythef@#!not wrote:hey mate, have owned a couple of 4wds, forget the independent fronts, coil all round is definetly the way to go, I have to talk up the GQs at that price range, you can pick up a cheap petrol/gas one around 5000 thats in good nick, slap on a soft suspension setup and you cant go wrong.
a very comfortable 4wd, very capable with good economy and very cheap now for parts???

i agree. go a nissan (gq) or a rangie or heck even a 80 series cruiser
pleantry of soft suspension upgrades around. ifs is rubbish. go coil front