Used 4wd between 8 - 12 grand? opinions needed

[supersean89]

Ok so i have finally saved up enough money to buy my 1st 4wd.

I have a few idea floating around:
Toyota Hilux
Ford Courier
Mitsubishi Triton
Mitsubishi Pajero
...
but I dont have my heart set on anything which is the main problem.

People have suggested a Grand Vitara.. Because they are a good used car, Low kms, cheap... and not been thrashed. Comparing this to a Hilux, with bulk Kms and obviously nearly every single one has been used for some tough work, im not sure what to do.

Can u fit lift kits and bigger tyres on a Grand Vitara...? To give it a bit more of a manly touch?

Any ideas or tips would be great, a ute would be sweet, but a good one seems hard to come by. A deisel would be economical too. But what deisel ute has not been used to the mines?

Could someone point me in the right direction thanks heaps!

[RED60]

The vehicle you choose will also depend on intended use......

[supersean89]

Well i wouldnt use it for extreme 4wding.. I would mainly use it for coastal trips. Like dunes, beaches, finding surf spots etc

And driving it down south and up north for weekend trips and holidays.


In saying that i also have a motorbike which i currently just use a trailer to get it around.. a ute would be handy for that. but its not a big deal.

[-Scott-]

I'm biassed. I thought I'd get that out of the way.

If you're looking for a ute, I wouldn't put Triton on that list. For the vintage you're talking, and the model you'd get, I think you could do better. Nothing really wrong with them, but I think there are better options.

If you're happy to tow a trailer, a Pajero will do everything you've described - easily.

For that money, look for a late '90s model with the solid rear axle. Either 3.5V6 or 2.8td, depending on preference. By that stage Mitsubishi had all the bugs ironed out, and they're a good reliable package. Very strong drivetrain, good LSD, can fit 33s without much hassle and there's heaps of aftermarket accessories available.

If you get bitten by the bug, add a front locker, crawler gears, decent suspension & tyres and there are few offroad places it won't take you. And you'll be more comfortable on-road, because it doesn't drive like a truck.

[supersean89]

Haha thanks for the info even though it was biassed haha.

But a Pajero is definatly one of the cars high on the list. Do they chew though the fuel?

I do want a car that can have a decent set of tyres on it and has some accessories availiable. The bug has already bitten haha

[-Scott-]

But a Pajero is definatly one of the cars high on the list. Do they chew though the fuel?

Economy is not their strong point, but all things are relative.

Vitara will definitely use less - but it's smaller, and fitting 31" tyres is a significant exercise. If you're primarily interested in sand and easy fire trails, that shouldn't be an issue.

Prados would use less fuel, but I'm not sure you'll find a good one in your price range - and their LSDs are not worthy of the term.

Jackaroos of a similar vintage will probably perform comparably offroad, better economy on road, but harder to come by - there's not as many of them out there.

To get better off-road performance you'll need a solid axle at the front. 'Cruiser & Patrol drive like trucks in comparison, and their petrol engines will definitely use more fuel. Diesels I would expect to use similar amounts, and they produce similar power - large n/a vs smaller turbocharged. LandRover V8s will use much more fuel, the tdi much less - for only marginally less power.

[supersean89]

Vitara will definitely use less - but it's smaller, and fitting 31" tyres is a significant exercise.

A significant exercise? .. like very costly compared to fitting some on a pajero or something?

Maybe the extra cost for fuel would be worth it when im out with all the other 4wds in a Vitara making it no where.

[thehanko]

is it also your daily driver?

firstly, heaps of utes havent been near the mines.

all of the cars you have mentioned will do the job, so test drive a few. vits are very good on the beach - do they have low range? paj are a comfy car but do drionk a little more. hilux drives like a truck but some like that. with a few mods they perform very well and are very tough - the diesel is slow but very good on fuel.

courier and triton would not be on my list, not sure why really but they are not a common choice and will be harder to mod.

if you think the bug will bite a bit harder i would go a paj, jackero or lux as all are very capable with a few mods.

test drive some and see what you think.

Then when you realise the hilux is the only option chuck your bike in the back and ill do the same and we can go riding and driving whilst dissing pajs

[-Scott-]

Vitara will definitely use less - but it's smaller, and fitting 31" tyres is a significant exercise.

A significant exercise? .. like very costly compared to fitting some on a pajero or something?

I saw a GV require trimming of plastic to fit 29s. My understanding is that a body lift + trimming is required to run 31s.

Late '90s Pajeros come with 31s stock, will fit 32s on factory rims, and 33s (285/75R16) on GQ/GU Patrol rims.

[supersean89]

ohh... mm i dono if i like the sound of the whole trimming idea haha
sound expensive!

Yeh this car will be my daily driver.. getting to uni and work n stuff..

Im pretty sure the Vit has low range.. my parnets used to have one, b4 i wrote it off in the wet, taking out a lightpost and nearly rolling it... 4 weeks into getting my licence.. Now i drive like a granny when the roads are wet.

would the deisel lux struggle in sand? cos i dont mind driving trucks haha.. my mate has a 2wd one... and its not bad to cruise around in.

ill definatly take ur advice on the test drives tho..

[TheOtherLeft]

GV's don't need trimming to run 29's. A small lift (OME is the best), and you can fit them and it will run a whole lot better.

[supersean89]

GV's don't need trimming to run 29's. A small lift (OME is the best), and you can fit them and it will run a whole lot better.

what about if i got a 2.5inch lift? or 3 inch... would that leave much room for a bigger tyre? cos i do want to get a decent size lift kit for whatever car i do decide to get

[jessie928]

there is only 1 real choice
dual fuel patrol SWB.

for that pricerange, you will get one and fully kit it out.

Jes

[supersean89]

there is only 1 real choice
dual fuel patrol SWB.

what year am i looking at?
most of the ones i have seen are early 90s or older...

[thehanko]

there is only 1 real choice
dual fuel patrol SWB.

what year am i looking at?
most of the ones i have seen are early 90s or older...

very late 80s to mid 90s

the hilux will be ok on sand but struggle on the hills, wait a bit and find a 2.8 with a turbo on it - you dont pay much more but they are so much better, then they drive ok.

anyone know how much you can lift a vit b4 getting issue with cv angles? this is one issue with ifs cars the more you lift them the more likely you will break them. but body lift can often give you the body height to fit your tyres without stressing the cvs.

[thehanko]

there is only 1 real choice
dual fuel patrol SWB.

for that pricerange, you will get one and fully kit it out.

Jes

this isnt a bad option, but is still a bigger and wider car though a bit shorter. but very capable and worth sfa. not a ute so no bike, but the big donk will tow a trailer with ease.

[flexytj]

tj wrangler is a good buy you should be able to find a good one for that sort of coin pretty easy .

[beerdog]

I've been through the whole process before. A number of different model Hiluxs, Vitara, Bravo and Pajero, along with a long list of cruisers and so forth which don't fit your needs.

Firstly... Bravo, cheap to buy and fix. A bit limited to the amount of abuse it would handle.

Vitara... Would go any where if it's just you and one other. But don't even think about towing a trailer with your bike and gear on it. It will do it but will struggle. Mine did tow a few heavy trailers when needed though. Good daily driver.

Pajero... you won't find a more comfotable rig in this price range. The missus will back me up on this one. She just won't like you piling your wet camping gear in the back. But... very cpable rig with all the creature comforts, you just might hesitate to take it on some of the more extreme tracks. It will handle it, and well, but you may be soooo... comfortable that you start to feel a bit more precious about damage.

Hilux... will go anywhere. Cheap to run. Can throw what you like in the back with no dramas. A dual cab still has room for friends, shopping items and stuff you want to keep dry and handy.

It's your choice. I still miss the creature comforts of the pajero and the freedom of the soft top vitara, but once you've had the conveinience of a ute, especiallialy a dual cab, it's hard to go back. Even my wife and family don't want me to upgrade to my choice of a 100 series cruiser.... they want a new hilux.

Take a few different trucks for test drives. you'll be amazed at what you see in different trucks.

[mike_nofx]

80 series, on gas if your worried about fuel.

Shop around and you will get a decent one cheap. And if you want 31" tyres you will be going DOWN a size! Plus absolutely unlimited aftermarket accessories.

Much better looking than the GQ patrol, whose body shape design was based on a house brick. Off-road wise they are equal.
Mike

[supersean89]

so many good ideas

so its down to Hilux, Patrol, Pajero or GV

if i cant accessories the vit much then i will probably drop that out.

with 4wds .. most of them have over 200,000 kms easy.. should i care about how many kms it has done? or if it has been used off road b4? especially in the hiluxs case..

[supersean89]

cos driving it down south, i want to make sure i can trust it.. n not have to worry about something going wrong

[thehanko]

80 series, on gas if your worried about fuel.

Shop around and you will get a decent one cheap. And if you want 31" tyres you will be going DOWN a size! Plus absolutely unlimited aftermarket accessories.

Much better looking than the GQ patrol, whose body shape design was based on a house brick. Off-road wise they are equal.
Mike

didnt 80s come with 31s standard?

[supersean89]

the bigger the better i say haha

[thehanko]

cos driving it down south, i want to make sure i can trust it.. n not have to worry about something going wrong

most vehicles in your price range are likely to be 15yrs plus in age, so yeah expect a few ks, but the same rules apply, aim lower than higher and make sure its been looked after. dont trust anyone who tells you its been rebuilt without recipts.

my lux is about to hit 300 000 and whilst i expect i may rebuild engine and gbox in the next 100 its not a break down stress. i have a had a few small issues with my truck in 50000ks all i can fix myself wityh a bit of advice cause they are so simple. I have no reason to expect it will let me down anytime soon.

some old yota diesels can have overheating issues so take it for a good test drive - though this was much more of an issue in the older 2.4d (2L).

I am trying to maintain my car /improve it all the time, I want to keep it for years to come yet so impretty happy to replace old worn things with new ones - the parts are easy to come by and cheap.

I dont think i would say mods to a vit are limited for what most people would want to do. it has the same limits as any other ifs car but they can still achieve more than what most will want to do. but yes ther aremore opions for pajs and even more for patrols and luxs.

by the way my lux with a turbo will tow a tonne pretty easy - slower up to speed but still holds 100 on the highway with the big load. its got torque not power.

[supersean89]

thats where my decisions is so hard..

cos i can get a 2000 vit with just over 100,000 kms for the same price as a 98 lux with 250,000 kms...

i would definatly prefer a ute. but i really want a reliable car

[thehanko]

yeah for sure. depends on if you want a nice car or a great truck I guess.

Nice car - comfy capable but damagable, truck - rougher older but less to worry about.

I totally trust my car. I go wheeling solo vehicle and am planning on going out west solo at easter.

I use it for work and travel upto 1100km round trip in a day loaded up with half a tonne.

I think its important to become familiar with a vehicle when its older. get to know it and start preventative maintenance instead of let it break then fix it.

I like taking the ute offroad as it has far less to damage, If I had a wagon It would have damage to both rear qtrs by now where as my ute has a few scratches on the tray which i can fix up later with a pressure pack.

my mate has a lovely wagon but is too scared to wheel it incase he bends it... cause he always does

these cars are pretty simple so they wont tend to completely die and leave you stranded.

[thehanko]

just noticed a locker for a paj on ebay for 250 or buy it now at 500, you would not see it that cheap in a hilux as hey are so commonly modified and thus more sought after - but then again you will see more hilux gear for sale in the first place.

want any more circle to go around

[-Scott-]

just noticed a locker for a paj on ebay for 250 or buy it now at 500, you would not see it that cheap in a hilux as hey are so commonly modified and thus more sought after - but then again you will see more hilux gear for sale in the first place.

Front or rear? For that sort of money, I'm guessing the locker is a rear for an earlier model, and won't suit the model of Paj he should be looking at.

Rear lockers for the late '90s Paj are currently hard to find - factory fitment are hard to come by, and ARB haven't released theirs yet (they've released a part number, and I believe they are taking orders, but I haven't heard of any deliveries yet.)

But I haven't bothered. The front air locker makes an unbelievable difference, and the rear LSD works so well that I've never missed a rear locker.

[thehanko]

not sure claims to fit upto 96 models, might be a good buy for someone on this forum.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Pajero-ARB-Air-l ... 240%3A1318

[supersean89]

hmm yes well my car atm is more about being rough.. not really a nice car haha. n i dont want to much to worry about.

i just wish there was a nice hilux waiting in the paper tomora for me to snatch up ahha