Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hey guys.
this has prolli been asked b4. i didnt know what to search for though:P
im going to be in the market soon for a 4x4. and im not too sure what i want to go with or wll suit my needs best.
i will want to drive it some days from a-b but i will also have another DD so it doesnt have to best a comfy ride.
i wont be going too hardcore offroading, but i still would like to do some tricky and fun obsticles.. i will be aiming to fit 35"s under it..
lwb/swb/mwb.. im not too sure which one yet..
anyway. the 4bys that im sorta looking at atm are the GQ, 2door or 4door.. (not fussed)RR, or gen 1 4runner/surf.
my budget will be around 6-8k, but would really be looking for something half that so i have left over $$$ for mods.
what are the pros and cons of these vehicles. any honest opinions would be great..
i dont really want to do any work with the engine... just lift and tryes.. im assuming either a GQ or RR would best suit my needs... but i really dont know.
cheers guys.
p.s are all rangie coild??

I pretty much started with a Suzuki Sierra (after trying to take a Subaru Liberty to places that shocked many a 4wder who saw me drive up). The Zooks are a very capable little beast. Bit rough, but can be improved with better suspension, and seats. Hell of a lot of fun in the nice weather when you can peel off the top. If you go one look for the "widetracK" version, it was a little less tippy.
Usually pretty cheap to buy, and pretty cheap to mod, easy to work on, and once in your blood they never leave you.

I moved up to Patrol when needed more room for family and camping gear. Again very capable, but don't FIT through some obstacles I laughed at in the zook. But are way more comfortable.

Swb is going to be generally cheaper than the LWB, has better stock standard rampover angle (but could be more iffy on REALLY steep inclines I spose), and would be fine till you have a family.

Might invite a fight, but Nissan is often cheaper to buy second hand than Toyota, but are pretty equal in abilities.
If you go Patrol, some engines are worth avoiding, I believe the 2.8 and the 3.0 have some issues, but others could fill you in better on that.
www.gqpatrol.com has a list of common faults to look for buying second hand.

The perception that these vehicles are "gas guzzlers" has a lot of them out there at really good prices at the moment. I had a dealer just about ready to beg my mate to take the Patrol he had on the lot, and happily admitted he'd had it a long time and to make him an offer (my mate is too broke at present to seriously look) and that was for a diesel one. Yet all we could find with it was a patch of rust on rear quarter panel, that he would probably do a quarter chop on anyway.

Take your time and wait for the right one and good luck.

Hey thanx heaps for your reply.
i know what u mean by the subarus are capable offroad. i have a lifted one and it really suprised me to what they can do out in the bush..
im just after somehting different now.
My brother recently bought a feroza. i laughed at him when he first bought it home, but after taking it for a ride and a quick 4wd session, i was actually quite impressed with it.
i have been looking at a wide body sierra now. there is one locally with a soft top and new 31" mongrels under it for 5.5k.
its exactly what id look for in a sierra but maybe a little pricey.. dont know.
cheers again for you reply mate.
Adam

If it's got 31's under it, consider yourself lucky, it means it must have at least a little lift too. Cause the tyre size stock standard means you get very little to choose from in off-road tyres. Whereas you'll get plenty to choose from in 31's
I'd always wanted to get my zook up onto at least 31's but never got around to it. It would have given it even more embarrament factor when accomplishing obstacles people who don't know these vehicles think they'll never manage.

I paid $5 for mine stock standard about 3 years ago, and they seem to be holding at about that price irrespective, due to them being still pretty sought after, but no way to know without more details whether the one your looking at is well priced. Mine when I bought it was a 92 model, with 130,000Kms on it, and ZERO mods.

ok thanx
i will look at it tonight and post up some more info..
i will also see if he will consider a swap.. i might get lucky?
the lift on it is decent sized. not 100% sure but id say it would fit 32s maybe 33s under it..
it isnt SPOA which suprise dme by the size of it..
Cheers

Fatz2326 wrote: p.s are all rangie coild??

Yep, all rangies from the first one in 1969 had coils (except the new ones which have airbags).

Sounds like a Disco or RR would be perfect for you. Should be able to pick one up for 4k or so and have money left for lockers/axles and a body lift to fit the 35's.

ok Ezookiel
here are the specs on the sierra for sale.
1989
5 speed manual
1.6l vitara motor
immobilizer
long range fuel tank
calmini 5" lift kit
2" BL
keyless entry
31" simex centipede (new)
fibreglass top
cd player
many spares
$5500
im liking it alot.
white in colour and couldnt see any rust.
what u guys think?

God, I'd have already put a deposit down on it.

Mine was totally stock standard, with just the 1.3 litre engine.
It cost me a grand to put a long range tank in it.
The Calmini lift kit was what I'd looked at many times.

But then I'm very good at buying lemons, so don't go by my comments

Ok thanks.
I will talk to him more later on.
He said his price is negotiable..
HOPEFULLY my car will sell b4 to long and i can get this sierra.. If not ill continue looking around until another bargain pops up.
Cheers all

p.s
with that lift.. can 32s' or 33's fit under it ok?

Yep, should be able to. 7" lift is huge. 4" is enough for 31's

Beware you will have to do some of the transfer gearing if it has none.

Nic

Fatz2326 wrote:ok Ezookiel
here are the specs on the sierra for sale.
1989
5 speed manual
1.6l vitara motor
immobilizer
long range fuel tank
calmini 5" lift kit
2" BL
keyless entry
31" simex centipede (new)
fibreglass top
cd player
many spares
$5500
im liking it alot.
white in colour and couldnt see any rust.
what u guys think?

Hmmm.... Have fun trying to get registration and keep registration with 5"+2" lift.

Add the tyres in and you're talking 9" over stock.....