Another What 4wd thread

Tuatapere · Post by **Tuatapere** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:42 am

Hi all.

First, Happy Easter!

Expat Kiwi here returning home beginning of May. I’ve been lurking here for months now trying now to suss out which 4WD suits my needs best.

Basically I want something that drives well on-road and then can get me to one of my fishing or hunting spots without drama. And get me back again.

I’ve come to the conclusion that, for my budget the best options are probably either a Disco (either a 300TDi or TD5) or a Toyota Surf 3 litre TD.

Most of my friends advise me to buy a Prado, but the dosh needed to buy something half decent is beyond my resources.

However, all that said, any comments or alternative suggestions VERY welcome.

Here’s my criteria:

1. Max budget $15k
2. Reliable
3. Reasonably low km’s. Say 200k max?
4. Usage probably 80/20% on/off-road
5. Good comfortable runner on-road as well as a reasonable performer off-road
6. 4-5 seats
7. Most trips will be reasonably long with off-roading at end. For example, Palmy to McKenzie Country then 3-5 hours off-road
8. Reasonably economical, fuel-wise
9. I’ve no problem with a vehicle that already has some mods done (I’d probably do some myself?) but nothing extreme.

OK, I’m sure there’s something I’ve missed but at the moment that seems to about cover it.

Thanks in advance. Mike

ChurchurDan · Post by **ChurchurDan** » Mon Apr 21, 2014 1:30 pm

For 15k you have a lot of choice. Personally for hunting I prefer a ute. I did a 5 min search and found this, its cheap reliable and I wouldnt be bothered about some pin striping or the odd dent/bullet hole

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 284318.htm

Surfs are getting cheaper too and some high k prados are in your budget, I wouldn't personally buy a disco as they have too much electronics that crap out especially the later ones.

Tuatapere · Post by **Tuatapere** » Tue Apr 22, 2014 4:50 pm

Thanks for your reply. Yes I have also wondered about the extensive electrics on the Disco but they (the Discos) do seem to get glowing reviews on this and other forums. Confusing...

As for a ute, maybe I am out of touch but I have yet to see a Jap double cab that can accommodate 4 adults for anything longer than a quick trip to the pub?

So after one reply it's Surf-1, Disco-0...?

Thanks again

slidenyo · Post by **slidenyo** » Tue Apr 22, 2014 5:35 pm

out of the box with no mods a disco will make a surf look silly offroad,
surfs also fall behind with there potential for increased power and economy.
if it were my choice I'd go td5 disco as I've had a 2lte and a 3l surf and spent a fair amount of time in a 1kz one also and apart from being susceptible to being light in the arse in the wet, average offroad they are quite comfortable on the dry tarmac.

Tuatapere · Post by **Tuatapere** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 5:11 pm

slidenyo wrote:out of the box with no mods a disco will make a surf look silly offroad,
surfs also fall behind with there potential for increased power and economy.
if it were my choice I'd go td5 disco as I've had a 2lte and a 3l surf and spent a fair amount of time in a 1kz one also and apart from being susceptible to being light in the arse in the wet, average offroad they are quite comfortable on the dry tarmac.

Thanks mate. Your comments pretty-much mirror the pro-Disco brigade. OK, I'll admit to a strong Landy bias before posting here and you've confirmed my reasons for that.
My only concern is, as the first reply says, the electronics in the Disco 2. I do wonder if they really are a major issue and if that is the case, does it outweigh the stronger drive train?
Any comments?
Thanks again, Mike

Big · Post by **Big** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 6:53 pm

Go disco 1 300 tdi( no 3 amigos).. I just got one and its great, comfortable reliable and omg cheap on the gas.. can tow 3500kg..( not a hundy BUT from what I've been told a little more powa then the disco 2 td5) about to embark on this with my truck ( landcruiser) in tow.. so will see how it goes.. Price well affordable compared to lux's yota's etc.. you get a lot for your $$ so me being a 1st disco owner ever.. pretty happy..

noexitroad · Post by **noexitroad** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 7:21 pm

looking at a td5 myself but limited available under 200,000kms on the clock. good luck.

Tuatapere · Post by **Tuatapere** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 7:45 pm

Big wrote:Go disco 1 300 tdi( no 3 amigos).. I just got one and its great, comfortable reliable and omg cheap on the gas.. can tow 3500kg..( not a hundy BUT from what I've been told a little more powa then the disco 2 td5) about to embark on this with my truck ( landcruiser) in tow.. so will see how it goes.. Price well affordable compared to lux's yota's etc.. you get a lot for your $$ so me being a 1st disco owner ever.. pretty happy..

Thanks. Yeah I had considered the Disco 1's because their electronics are apparently a lot simpler, but the problem I see is finding one with reasonable km's, say max 200,000km or so?

Anyone out there have one for sale with km's as mentioned? Pref within collectible distance from Auckland?

Thanks, Mike

BlakeNZ · Post by **BlakeNZ** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:00 pm

well a disco with say 150km on it is probably equivalent to a 250km toyota,which broadens your choices heaps. with 15 grand to play with, you can get a very good truck.
there are discos out there that are about to fail and cost you mega to fix(hence the poor reputation) and there are also discos that have had their issues fixed (by knowledgable enthusiast owners with the right contacts for parts etc) and are lasting for years reliably.
You would never go wrong buying a land cruiser VX, but if you are a landy enthusiast you should go that way, but make sure you buy a good one, not a dog or lemon!

Tuatapere · Post by **Tuatapere** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 1:45 am

BlakeNZ wrote:well a disco with say 150km on it is probably equivalent to a 250km toyota,which broadens your choices heaps. with 15 grand to play with, you can get a very good truck.
there are discos out there that are about to fail and cost you mega to fix(hence the poor reputation) and there are also discos that have had their issues fixed (by knowledgable enthusiast owners with the right contacts for parts etc) and are lasting for years reliably.
You would never go wrong buying a land cruiser VX, but if you are a landy enthusiast you should go that way, but make sure you buy a good one, not a dog or lemon!

Yeah, you've hit the nail on the head - the trick is avoiding the dogs and finding a Disco that has been well looked after by an enthusiast.
I suspect I've been a little naive thinking I could return to NZ and find a good runner almost immediately upon stepping off the plane?
Hmmm...

BlakeNZ · Post by **BlakeNZ** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 7:07 am

there are masses of Surfs available, and they are easy to live with, and easy to find ones that will be reliable(i.e. most of them will be) so you could buy one of those (even have one meet you at the airport-it can be arranged!) and drive it till you find the right disco, then sell the Surf.

oldyella · Post by **oldyella** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 9:24 pm

BlakeNZ wrote:well a disco with say 150km on it is probably equivalent to a 250km toyota,which broadens your choices heaps. with 15 grand to play with, you can get a very good truck.
there are discos out there that are about to fail and cost you mega to fix(hence the poor reputation) and there are also discos that have had their issues fixed (by knowledgable enthusiast owners with the right contacts for parts etc) and are lasting for years reliably.
You would never go wrong buying a land cruiser VX, but if you are a landy enthusiast you should go that way, but make sure you buy a good one, not a dog or lemon!

Haha I reckon this is a b/s sandwich. First statement is bs. 1kz toyota cracking a head at 100km ring any bells? Second statement is spot on. And is true for any vehicle. Then your last statement of never going wrong with a VX is complete bs! Cracked crassis and run bottom end sound familiar? If your going to buy something as old as a 90s surf or disco, its going to come down to how it's maintained aye.

NJV6 · Post by **NJV6** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:42 pm

I think drive both and you will decide. LR drivers will not like the surf seating position and surf drivers will not like LR reputation.

For what its worth, would you consider a Pajero? You get alot of bang for your buck there.

BlakeNZ · Post by **BlakeNZ** » Thu Apr 24, 2014 11:13 pm

The methods to hugely reduce the incidences of 1kz motors cracking heads are well documented now.(large diameter down pipe and exhaust, EGT gauge, intercooling where practical)The intercooled models aren't having issues in this area(generalized statement).
Also, you are talking about motors, whereas I'm more talking about the whole truck. The toyotas at 250km will have suffered a lot less going wrong with them than a average disco. (Think electrics , and motor ancillaries etc)once again, this is a generalized statement.
When i say you can't go wrong buying a VX 'cruiser, I am in no way saying that you shouldn't have a thorough pre purchase inspection.
As for cracked chassis and run bottom ends in VX land cruisers, until today I haven't been made aware that those are 'common problems'. What is common is to see LCs with 350-500km on the clock still going strong.
Just an observation... I did a quick search on trade me, and it seems all the diesel discos have done high mileage(not saying that is bad, it sort of shows that people have had a good run out of them) whereas the low km ones were all petrol v8s, which suggested to me people found them expensive to run. Hard to find a TD5 under 200km. I totally agree about the importance of maintenance on all these aging 4wds.
As a general rule the IFS equipped trucks will drive better on the road(a requirement of the original poster) whereas the rigid front axle trucks will be more capable over undulating terrain. However, I've also found that tire choice plays a large part in how a truck feels/rides/handles on road.
NJV6, would it be fair to assume you could buy a pretty good Paj for $15k?eghttp://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/mitsubishi/auction-718450676.htm

Tuatapere · Post by **Tuatapere** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 1:27 am

BlakeNZ wrote:there are masses of Surfs available, and they are easy to live with, and easy to find ones that will be reliable(i.e. most of them will be) so you could buy one of those (even have one meet you at the airport-it can be arranged!) and drive it till you find the right disco, then sell the Surf.

Yep. pretty much what I had in mind. Thanks...

Tuatapere · Post by **Tuatapere** » Fri Apr 25, 2014 1:29 am

NJV6 wrote:I think drive both and you will decide. LR drivers will not like the surf seating position and surf drivers will not like LR reputation.

For what its worth, would you consider a Pajero? You get alot of bang for your buck there.

No, I've never seriously considered a Pajero. Sadly I speak Spanish...

Thanks, Mike

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