Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi All

Dad (65yrs old) is finally looking at getting a 4wd after all his life wanting one

the question is what type will best suit his needs ? ? ? ? ?

he wants one that has & can
- Under $6000 or there abouts
- tow his caravan (not much maybe twice a year)
- Auto, Has to be auto for mum
- diesel (cheap to run)
- easy to get in and out
- cheap on parts
- comfy as a daily driver

is he after the impossible ? ? ?

He's been looking for a while but just wanted to find out what you guys thought,

He's been looking at Toyota Surf 2.4 td, Holden Rodeo,

any thoughts would be muchly apprieated

Thanks guys

i'd steer clear of the auto rodeo, my experiences with them are that they shift through gears too much where they shouldnt have to and dont particularly like towing ...only my experiences. Used to tow a John Deere 1445 mower with one ...approx 1.5-2 ton of machine and it DIDNT like it lol

1993-1999 Discovery 300Tdi diesel with ZF Auto.

Probably the most comfortable option, best at towing. Auto is good and engine economical.

Should be able to get one <6k. Just make sure he gets someone who knows landies to do a thorough pre purchase inspection.

Pajero

Save a bit more and get an auto turbo diesel Prado. I don't think you have many options that meet his criteria for $6 grand.

As a Surf owner, I would love to recommend one to you, but I don't think a surf will suit his needs.

Being 65years old, I think a Petrol 60 series or GQ on LPG would be a winner.

The patrols and cruisers are easier to hop in and out of and as far as fuel economy goes, the Surf is not as good as you would hope it to be on fuel.

As for towing, unfortunately it can be another downfall in the Surfs as they are renowned for overheating under load.

I hate to sound negative about the Surfs as there are heaps of good one's out there that are fantastic vehicles, but I think it just depends on your needs.

Here's a few examples of Patrols and Landcruisers for you...
http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/pri ... B99A6C861A

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/pri ... B99A6C861A

chunks wrote:Save a bit more and get an auto turbo diesel Prado. I don't think you have many options that meet his criteria for $6 grand.

At 65 he doesn't have time to save (my dads line not mine).

The L/C 60 would not be comfortable enough for them, add to that list any large, leaf sprung vehicle, and any any full size 4x4 is never going to cheap to run (especially any thing that is old enough to be under $6000)
I thing we need more information on the towing, how heavy is the van? (there is a huge range in van weights these days), and how far does he intend towing it?

If it is only a small, light, pop up that he tows to the beach each Christmas and Easter, it opens up a lot of smaller vehicle options,
conversely if he likes to do a tour of all our capitol cities towing his tri axle, double push out, split level, Jayco Condominium 5th wheeler, then he is in deep shyte.
Peter.

Have a look at a Nissan terrano you can pick up a turbo diesel auto pretty cheap!
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1992-Nissan-Terr ... 286.c0.m14

Pajero.

Reliable
Cheap Parts + readily avaliable
Cumfy
Cheap to Buy

mhgill wrote:Pajero.

Reliable
Cheap Parts + readily avaliable
Cumfy
Cheap to Buy

x2 a paj would suit him great from what you describe


Another option would be a late 90's Ssanyong Musso. Most (all?) are petrol, but a bloke at work has had one for years and hasnt had anything go wrong, and its apparently reasonably economical. He tows a big poptop caravan almost every weekend with it. Only mod he has done, is fit airride airbags in the rear to help keep it level with all his crap in the back and a heavy van on the towbar.

I would consider a gq on gas for a cheap capable vehicle - how reliable are they on gas?

if he doesnt need something as capable as a trol then pajero for the win.

droopypete wrote:

chunks wrote:Save a bit more and get an auto turbo diesel Prado. I don't think you have many options that meet his criteria for $6 grand.

At 65 he doesn't have time to save (my dads line not mine).

The L/C 60 would not be comfortable enough for them, add to that list any large, leaf sprung vehicle, and any any full size 4x4 is never going to cheap to run (especially any thing that is old enough to be under $6000)
I thing we need more information on the towing, how heavy is the van? (there is a huge range in van weights these days), and how far does he intend towing it?

If it is only a small, light, pop up that he tows to the beach each Christmas and Easter, it opens up a lot of smaller vehicle options,
conversely if he likes to do a tour of all our capitol cities towing his tri axle, double push out, split level, Jayco Condominium 5th wheeler, then he is in deep shyte.
Peter.

he's got an old'ish normal viscount caravan, single axle, about 50kg down on the tow bar and about 1.2 ton of van,

so are pajero's still gonna be a winner ? ?
but keep your suggestions comming as he's not going to get one untill he's 100% sure its gonna do the trick, and he's gonna have to sell his pride and joy he's owned for almost 15yrs (HZ holden premier) to get one and doesn't want to get something that need much work done on it, if any,

Pajero for sure.

Relo of mine brought a 95 paj wagon in mint cont (v6 auto) 150kms for $4000.
I dont think you would find a auto diesel for that price without having to spend a decent amount of money on it. Even if you did it would be very high kms.

hienuf wrote:Pajero for sure.

Relo of mine brought a 95 paj wagon in mint cont (v6 auto) 150kms for $4000.
I dont think you would find a auto diesel for that price without having to spend a decent amount of money on it. Even if you did it would be very high kms.

The Aus factory didn't start to sell an auto diesel until the 3.2DiD - either late NM or early NP, but either way, nowhere near $6k.

A grey import with 2.8 and auto may fit the bill, but make sure Dad understands the implications of insuring, maintaining & repairing a grey import.

If going the V6 auto make sure it's the 3.5 - I wouldn't like to tow a van with my 3.0 (not that it's an auto...)

Hey

How about an Isuzu Mu

Not too big,
comfy,
diesel,
Auto about 50% chance?
And should have a decent towing ability
Uses mostly Rodeo parts or so im led to beleive

-Scott- wrote: If going the V6 auto make sure it's the 3.5 - I wouldn't like to tow a van with my 3.0 (not that it's an auto...)

My father pulls a huge horse float (with two nags in the car, and two in the trailer) with his auto 3.0 paj, and to be frank, he told me today, it pulls it better than his supercharged 3.9 rover.....

The 3.0 is a good motor, but
- prone to cracking the manifolds,
- Serpentine belt pullies are expensive and wear out and get noisy
- seats are great
- easy to get in and out of
- Great brakes
- Quiet
- Great air con
- Rear lsd is awsome
- Cruise control is simple to work
- eats the fuel if your working it..


Its no power house with the massive loads, but we have pulled 3 tonne of super fosfate behind ours, pulled tandem loads of wood around the place, taken on long hauls all around the state, and practically been thrashed every day of its life.

It has been through 3 P platers, and one auto gearbox, I might of killed it when i had it sitting on the brake with the revs up using the fast lane... leaving it in 1st till it hit the limiter before manually changing it to second...

Its burning a little oil these day, but it has never ever ever stopped. Its been overheated and off the temp dial about three times, and still, keeps on going. Its down on power now, its not as quick as it used to be, but It Dosn't blow smoke, never had greese put into its uni's, and its come back for more.

Awsome brakes as well, good towing capability, and they handle really well - with good tires. I put BF AT's on it, and they were a sketchy tire in the wet. Just to hard.

I have chased a mate along a back road, in a awd subie, and it stuck with him, and i have put it on the local race track as well....

Its defently one car i would own, as you can get in, turn the key and go. very reliable. And interesting enough, if you go the wrecker's, its the one car they have trouble setting parts off, and I wonder, why that is.....

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/pri ... &silo=1011

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/dea ... 23A5D06EC5

Stick with the GLS, loaded with goodies...

Pajero is a good option, although once you get past the 200,000km mark they are prone to blowing smoke etc, although it really depends on what the service history is like.

Stick with the 3lt or 3.5lt SOHC engine and not the DOHC one which is in the link above. The DOHC can get real expensive if it needs work plus they were only in the Pajero's for a limited time.

I had a NH Pajero which I sold about a year ago. They dont go for much and the person who bought mine got a good deal. I did all the suspension in it and the heads were done up because it had a cracked head. I ended up selling it for around the $5k mark.

Bit slow, but so is any 4wd of that age although drove quite nicely.

I'd be snapping up something like this. Diesel so should be good for towing, although its just a GLX so doesnt have velour seats etc

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/de ... __Qpb=true

^^^ He needs an Auto, manual no good^^^

I recently purchased an NL pajero 99 model, road worthy, new gas system (6 months old) for 5800 off ebay. 240,000Ks on it, pretty economical (on gas is doing about 17 liters per 100 sitting in 110Kph) 4 speed auto works perfectly.
The superselect 4wd system was a bit sticky at first but has freed up with a little bit of use.

Pulls a trailer full of firewood dead easy, has not been using oil, crusie control, seats are comfy-ish have sat in better ... handles Ok for a 2.4 tonne vehicle
But all in all it is not a bad jigger .. especially for the $$

love_mud wrote:.... seats are comfy-ish have sat in better ...

Ahhh, see, i have quality race seats in the GQ, and they are good for short runs, but if you sit in a paj seat for five+ hours, i find, my legs don't get tires, i still can feel my feet, and my lower back dosnt get sore. With the GQ, I find my arse goes to sleep and i have to keep shifting around.

I find the seats very firm, but after a while, I find them very good.

I think they are better value than the rovers. The motor is 100x's more advanced, and give no problems, the auto is good (depending on how it is maintained). I also heard that the auto is the same as the box fitted to the 100 series..... and is in fact a toyota box....?????

Just bang for you bux.

I have used the full time 4wd on the 3.0 pajero in the fast and loose sections on the gravel road, and its pretty good, however you will find it under steers quickly, and the steering becomes heavy. Now this is not a bad thing, as it slows you and the car down. I feel, that if you had a little more power, such as turbo, you would have a very quick car, capable of so much more. I prefer to stick it in 2wd, and overcome the under steer with over steer

Is the 3.5 that much better than the 3.0 scotty??

Reddo wrote:

love_mud wrote:.... seats are comfy-ish have sat in better ...

Ahhh, see, i have quality race seats in the GQ, and they are good for short runs, but if you sit in a paj seat for five+ hours, i find, my legs don't get tires, i still can feel my feet, and my lower back dosnt get sore. With the GQ, I find my arse goes to sleep and i have to keep shifting around.

I find the seats very firm, but after a while, I find them very good.

I think they are better value than the rovers. The motor is 100x's more advanced, and give no problems, the auto is good (depending on how it is maintained). I also heard that the auto is the same as the box fitted to the 100 series..... and is in fact a toyota box....?????

Just bang for you bux.

I have used the full time 4wd on the 3.0 pajero in the fast and loose sections on the gravel road, and its pretty good, however you will find it under steers quickly, and the steering becomes heavy. Now this is not a bad thing, as it slows you and the car down. I feel, that if you had a little more power, such as turbo, you would have a very quick car, capable of so much more. I prefer to stick it in 2wd, and overcome the under steer with over steer

Is the 3.5 that much better than the 3.0 scotty??

I drove some 3.0s while looking ... the 3.5 is no question gruntier .. 40Kw so the factory says. The auto is the same as an a430e from memory. (behind the 3.5's anyway)
The seats in my wifes magna are much nicer.
I used to love the seats in my GU .. could sit in em for hours, 1200+ kilometers a day without issue.

PJ.zook wrote:

mhgill wrote:Pajero.

Reliable
Cheap Parts + readily avaliable
Cumfy
Cheap to Buy

x2 a paj would suit him great from what you describe


Another option would be a late 90's Ssanyong Musso.

noooooo, try find a mechanic that wont try to palm you off if you have any issues other than an oil change

for the pajero seats, pick up the ones with the suspension base

cheap on parts/fuel? get a vitara... i tow everything with it...

surfs have alot of probs-blow plenty smoke...

get a patrol gq turbo diesel... u will find them for less than 6g and maybe a bit easier to get in and out of than a vitara

danssurf82 wrote:cheap on parts/fuel? get a vitara... i tow everything with it...

surfs have alot of probs-blow plenty smoke...

get a patrol gq turbo diesel... u will find them for less than 6g and maybe a bit easier to get in and out of than a vitara

You will be very hard pressed getting a GQ Turbo Diesel for $6,000 and even more hard pressed finding an AUTO one too...

If you want a GQ for that price, look for a 4.2ltr Petrol/LPG Automatic, there is plenty of them around.

Just watch out for rust in the gutters and under the rear sliding windows and try to find an EFI model too. The Carby models are great, but the EFI is better again.

Good Luck

1st one has high k's but if it's been looked after, it will keep going
http://www.tradingpost.com.au/Automotiv ... esult=true

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/dea ... &silo=1011

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/pri ... 23A5D06EC5

this won't be a popular suggestion but a jeep cherokee.

they are great for towing and fine off road.

plenty comfy, auto, and turbo diesel avalible.

fire extinguishers advisable.

AHF01U wrote:this won't be a popular suggestion but a jeep cherokee.

they are great for towing and fine off road.

plenty comfy, auto, and turbo diesel avalible.

fire extinguishers advisable.

haha they are very very thirsty!!! 18-20L/100km!!! expensive on parts


yeah mates one caught fire.... stuff having one fire extinguisher get 2 or 3! and it struggles to tow his boat

haha you think 18-20L /100km is thirsty!

Jeeps seem to be like most cars, you get ur good and bad one's. Usually depends on how it was looked after by it's previous owners.

I'm pretty sure that the turbo diesel Jeeps don't come in auto though...