"reasonable" 4WD for <$12K ???

[Sea-Dog]

Background first.

I have Zero 4WD experience.

I have a wife with Zero 4WD enthusiasm. (Although I did see a bit of a glint in her eye when she climbed behind the wheel of one I was looking at though.) Maybe she was thinking of playing rough in the shopping centre car park.

Bamm, Crunch..... <thinks to self - Never let wife drive 4WD>

We need a 2nd car.

I only want something as a short-distance commuter to and from work (about 5Km each way )

I want it to tow my boat to the ramp and back, with maybe a bit of camping thrown in. (Once I get a bit of experience, maybe being a bit more adventurous with where I would take it offroad)

I would like one of the "larger" 4WDs as I tend to take a lot of crap with me when I do anything.

I am leaning toward diesel, as most of the LPG conversions I have seen have the tank hanging underneath the vehicle, killing the ground clearance.

I even saw a '93 Maverick on LPG ONLY........ No thanks

I have seen a very clean, straight and rust-free '84 60 series diesel Landcruiser.

It was almost perfect inside too - looked like they kept it in a glass case most of its life. It has 370K's on the clock.

Its in a yard with an asking price of $7k (only a starting price of course)

Is it worth buying such an old vehicle? I am thinking of perhaps $5.5K as an offer.

It has bullbar, driving lights, aircon and sunraysia wheels with fairly standard rubber. Apart from that, she is stock-standard from what I can see.

Anything in particular to look for on a 60 series?

Any other recommended vehicles?

Its either the cheap fourby, or a little buzz-box barina or something as a commuter. (I am leaning heavily in favour of the 4WD of course)

Cheers, Ross

[blaze]

dont discount a mid 90 range rover, Why I got a rangie
89 model first sold in 90
3.5 l motor, ok, it may not have the power of the big 6's or diesels but driven with a bit of care not bad on fuel.
Cheap to buy compared to tojo's, nissian's etc, paid $7000 for mine years ago when an equivalent tojo or nissians were around double the price.
One of the highest tow weights 4000kg
Had it about 5 years and have fitted a clutch master cyc and slave cyc kit, set of exhaust manifold gaskets, 1 set of tyres at about 35% now. General services every 10 000km. It has close to 300 000km on the clock and is used daily as my work bus (contractor)
just my thoughts, I dont buy brands but look at what the vehicle can do for me and not what I can do for it. I have also owned tojo's, nissian, mitsibishi's etc
cheers
blaze
ps
they are cheap which of course means no resale, but I reckon mine will give me 5 more years before being buried, so that works out at $700 a year + running costs

[FNQCairns]

$700 per year! I do that too only way to separate the wheat from the chalf.

SD probably the toughest 4wd within your budget will be a GQ2 patrol 4.2 diesel, these vehicles are near bulletproof as vehicles go, 12k will see you find a relatively low Km LWB if you stick at it and are prepared to buy private.

They are tough but like every other car they will have the small things go like axel seals, wheel bearings, bushes, uni's, slave cylinders et etc. Sometimes the high KM cheaper vehicles can be the ones that are the cheapest to own for the next 7 years (say).

cheers fnq

PS if you buy a LP gas 4.2 patrol engine with high KM condider an extra $1800 to buy a new head casting and rebuild as a cracked head will be just around the corner.

[wags on the water]

I think it depends on the dollars you wan't to spend as to what vehicle or more to the point the age of the vehicle.

Wags

[Poodroo]

370k's is nothing for a diesel engine. Truck drivers use diesels because of distance and reliability. Very hard to kill them. Loads of good 4wd's available for those kinds of dollars. I have always said that most of them are good but their only limitations are the drivers. You will never look back once you have one. I traded in a 350 horsepower V8 worked Calais to get a slug 4wd and I have never regretted having done so. The enjoyment my whole family has had out of it has made it a very practical vehicle. I'm getting too old to be a rev head anyhow.
Toyotas, Nissans, Mitsubishi Pajero's are all good.

Poodroo

[snapperm8]

I have seen a very clean, straight and rust-free '84 60 series diesel Landcruiser.

It was almost perfect inside too - looked like they kept it in a glass case most of its life. It has 370K's on the clock.

Its in a yard with an asking price of $7k (only a starting price of course)

i would think that is a tad to much and you could get a very clean forby with much less k's on it then that 370km is getting up there most diesels would get around 500k before engine problems start. A few places ou could look in would be the trading post. carsales dot com .au ... carsguide dot com . au just a few places

[Sea-Dog]

So, what most seem to be saying is avoid the bandits (yards) and go privately.

Search online for priv sales.

Get any of the big names - esp GQ patrol or Rangie.

Nobody recommending LPG power.

Go for lower K's as expected life of diesel is 500K+

Watch for suspension, driveline component wear.

I would assume go for stock standard to avoid problems with illegal/unroadworthy mods.

And I heard on the radio to be on the lookout for an upset wife selling hubbie's 4WD whilst he's off having an affair. Spiteful Bargains to be had.

Anyone out there thinking of upsetting the missus?

Thanks for the input one and all.

Keep the suggestions coming....

Oh, is it worthwhile getting an RACQ inspection on a used 4WD or wouldn't they know what they were looking at?

Cheers, Ross

[Lucky_Phill]

I may have a car for you.

2005 Nissan Navara 4 x 4. Diesel. low k's. asking about 12K.

pm me if you need more info.

Cheers Phill

[Kleyny]

LPG has its place.
IMO you have to build/tune your engine to suit LPG or fuel. Very hard to have both working correctly.
the vehcile you said before could be OK but it could also have a good jam job hidding nasties.
I personally would find someone with good vehicle knowledge with you to look at your 12k investment.
I always check to see if the 4X4 works. (find some lose dirt lock her in and give it a boot full) this will aslo check other things.

hope this helps
neil

PS dont forget the REVS check can also uncover oddities. (more ks than whats on the speedo)

[wamjam]

Mate if you are going to buy a diesel make sure if your not confident with engines get someone you trust to look at it before you buy because they last a long time but if they sh#t they cost a fortune to rebiuld or replace no matter what brand.Don't forget the bigger the 4wd usually the bigger the fuel bill.
wamjam

[sea raider]

Go for a Toyota, then if anything happens you know there will be parts readily available for it at reasonable prices.

My opinion only

Cheers

Geoff

[davez104]

Find yourself a good GQ Patrol, can't really go wrong with these and should get a good one for that money. We bought one last year, a 96 model 4.2 diesel, 230000kms, paid top dollar for it (18k) but it is very tidy and has quite a few accessories on it, Aftermarket turbo, winch bar, dual batteries, long range fuel tank, heavier suspension, snorkel etc. We also have a BA Falcon and the Nissan doesn't cost any more to run, fuel wise, than the falc. Servicing costs about 4 times as much as you need two oil filters, twice as much oil and the service intervals are only 5000kms as opposed to 10 000 for the falcon.

Dave.

[Sea-Dog]

Find yourself a good GQ Patrol, can't really go wrong with these and should get a good one for that money. We bought one last year, a 96 model 4.2 diesel, 230000kms, paid top dollar for it (18k) but it is very tidy and has quite a few accessories on it, Aftermarket turbo, winch bar, dual batteries, long range fuel tank, heavier suspension, snorkel etc. We also have a BA Falcon and the Nissan doesn't cost any more to run, fuel wise, than the falc. Servicing costs about 4 times as much as you need two oil filters, twice as much oil and the service intervals are only 5000kms as opposed to 10 000 for the falcon.

Dave.

I would probably do all the oil & filter changes myself, as I did when I ran a timberyard truck for a living. At least that would save a bit on servicing. Any fiddly hi-tech stuff, or heavy stuff I left to the mechanics.

Also bought oil in bulk, much cheaper that way.

BTW, where in southside Brissy can you take used engine oil for recycling?

I won't put it in the rubbish collection like some do.

[Roo]

the Diesel GQ Nissan is a solid truck whereas a Diesel 80 series Toyota Landcruiser is a much more refined vehicle. they are still tough enough.I had the toyo and my dad has a GQ and when you jump from one to the other you can really notice the refinement of the big Toyota. Much nicer drive. the running costs are a bit higher as the oil filters were about 40 bucks a pop but the Nissan (even though it had 2) was cheaper as they use a very common filter (same as 80's & 90's falcon and commodore type). I got mine with 230,000k on the clock for 20g's in about mid 90's and sold it a few years later with 340,000k for 16g (and that was a fire sale to buy some land). Have seen some getting down into your buget with all the fruit included although i had the base model and would get it again for its ease of cleaning out after a mud bath

[Sea-Dog]

I have discovered what I want.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxdX0au-BNA

Seems a capable little shopping trolley.