Looking for 4WD advice

[altair]

Hi all, hope I'm posting this in the right area, also postedin the tool shed.

Looking for a 4WD for occasional towing. Currently have a 4WD Nissan Vanette, but am getting bigger trailer so a diesel 4WD I feel will be safer to tow with, plus the petrol Vanette will struggle too much, so will sell that.

So, budget around 5-7K. Looking at Terrano/Surf/Mu/Wizard/Bighorn. MUST be diesel, won't have petrol.

Used for towing 3 cube of wet firewood rings occasionally, otherwise 90% of the time it will just be an everyday driver for the two of us, reasonable amount of hot trips.

Surfs seem expensive

Terranos look okay

Wizards are good value (and I like the look of them) but have read horror stories about the later 3 litre engines. But apparently the 3050cc ones are bulletproof?

So guys, appreciate hearing known facts, or from owners of the above. Plus most of them have done 2-300kms, are they shagged, or still have a few good years left at this point?

I'm really good with maintenance myself, but don't want something which will drop its trans etc, so which is the "stronger" vehicle mechanically?

Thanks for ideas, will hopefully make my search a little less confusing.
altair
Stropper

Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Jan 17, 2014 11:14 am

[BMC]

Nissan Safari could be had at upper end of your price range, but I note it's not in your list.

They can tow all day and are reliable as they come besides rust.

May not be the best thing to manouver around town but can mitigate with SWB Options.

Turbo Diesel would be ideal!

The k's you mentioned would be more than likely consider fair as i presume the vehicles your are considering are early to mid 90's examples.

If you find some low k Japanese examples i would add a 100k on as there is a small chance the speedo may have been tampered with pre arrival to NZ.

I looked quite hard a the Bighorns a while back, but found they were hard to find as I was particularly after the early model as the later models as had head issues or something to this effect. I'm sure someone will confirm this.

At.the end of the day service history is key in a diesel more so than amount of k's, so if there's no history make sure you allow for a good contingency fund.

Good luck.

[BlakeNZ]

No, the isuzu 3050cc diesel(3.1 litre) has its issues(or one fairly common one actually-google will reveal). The earlier 2.8 diesel is pretty bullet proof, available in early MUs and bighorns.
A KZN185 Surf (late 1995 onwards) will JUST fit in your budget, but run the risk of cracked heads. But have the most bullet proof automatic trans of all from what I've seen. The non intercooled ones will be within reach, but the intercooled ones still command higher prices(more power, and less chance of head cracking).

You can pick up a bottom end of the market 1997 onwards intercooled Mistral ETI(same chassis as the pre1996 Terrano) The TD27 Turbo ETi motor is pretty bullet proof, but they are reaching the age and KM that the injector pumps are on the verge of failing(symptoms vary from rough running to leaking diesel) and are V. expensive to repair being an electronic pump. Sure some dealers want 5-8 grand for them(for the whole vehicle,I mean,NOT the the diesel pump!), but they come up for $3-4K quite regularly(which leaves some budget for future repairs).
The 1996 onwards R50 Terrano shares this same intercooled motor, so the same applies to it(although you will find it harder to pick up a cheap one) Also the R50 terrano also comes with a 3.2 litre QD32, which is also a v good motor, but shares the same brand of Zexel covec electronic injector pump. The automatic trans in the terrano and mistral is not as strong as the Surf, but can have their life extended hugely by the addition of a extra or larger trans cooler, and a trans oil temp guage, when towing.
The 2.8 litre early Bighorn is pretty old now, so your list of choices( in my opinion) is as follows.. in no particular order...
1. a 2.8 MU.
eg http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 291052.htm
2. a KZN185 Surf (1996/1997)
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 120633.htm (note the brand new head)
3. a QD32 terrano R50.
eg http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 176920.htm
4. a 1997 Mistral ETi.
eg http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 120633.htm

Just be aware that at the age of these vehicles, their maintenance history and the way they have been used is much more important than the actual brand. So a pre purchase inspection is MOST VITAL. I had several Mistrals looked at before i found a good one that didn't have a poorly maintained cooling system. I saw rusty water, I saw clear water ie NO COOLANT!, I saw failed thermostats(stayed cold on temp Guage) and removed termostats).
The first thing you should do on all these vehicles is add a trans cooler, and a trans temp guage if you want peace of mind.
As a reference, I have owned a 185 series Surf, and a TD27 Eti Mistral.
(BTW. I have found the Surf was the most ergonomically easy to live with vehicle, but as you noted, probably not the best value for money.)

[altair]

Hi, thanks guys for the detailed replies, appreciated.

Yeah cracked heads worry me, I had planned to get the radiator replaced or rodded out as soon as I purchased, and get the cooling system flushed out well. The Surf head replacement must be a 3K job at a guess? Also will be doing a trans fluid/filter change and adding a trans ooler to whatever I get, unless its a manual.

Quite like the MU from Isuzu actually, would need to sit in one as I'm a big bugger, but I'm sure there wouldn't be a problem.

Mistrals to be honest would probably be my favourite, but have read about poor electrics, made in Spain? However I'd swap busted window reg etc any day, for a major mechanical prob.

Have heard the first model Terrano is a strong vehicle too, have looked at one in the past, but it had very rusty water all over the motor (from the radiator) so waked away from that.

Any advice about the 2997cc diesel Wizards? They seem cheap, but apparently the motors are terribly unreliable...pity as they are something I like.

Once again thanks for your time and input guys, appreciated from someone who is new to diesel 4wds. Had a Cherokee which was good, but fuel use is the issue with them. Cheers

[BlakeNZ]

Yes, budget $3K for a Toyota head, for the whole job, but bear in mind, that once done it will last another 250,000km or so, so can be money well spent if you like the vehicle and intend to keep it a long time. So I guess buying one that has alrady got a new head could be an option for you.
I quite like the 2.8 MU also, but can't comment on it in terms of interior size, as it has been years since I've been in one.
Also(again in regards to your size) in terms of available driving position,I found the Mistral smaller than the Surf( i like to stretch my legs out a bit) but got used to it, but I'm only around 1.82m tall, and 90kg, so likely not as big as you. Plenty of head room in the Surf, up to around 6'5" i estimate.
The earlier WD21 terrano (late 80s to 1994 ish) are fine for what you want, but the Mistral comments about maintenance and pre purchase inspection applies, as they are very very closely related in terms of drivetrain and chassis.(albeit the Mistral is a 7 seater v 5 seats in terrano, which can be a factor if you have a young family.) However, the motor in the WD21 is not factory intercooled.
Yes the window regulators in the mistrals are suspect, however they are now 17-18 years old, and the replacement ones ($160 -don't pay $290!) that are made in either Taiwan/thailand have had the nissan factory fault corrected, so should be fine once replaced.

[Mattman]

Nothing wrong with an Isuzu 3.1 motor. Pretty much all 3L sized motors from the 90s do heaps at some stage perhaps except for the TD27.

I would look at a mid 90s diesel Pajero. They are good tough well priced trucks.