Offroad-Express

Hello guys, I am in hunt of a 4wd. I have read lots of threads on this site and most of the guys n girls on here seem to imply that Nissan Sarfi/patrols or Toyota landcruisers are the way to go, But the problem for me is i can not afford one that is in good enough condition to use as a daily runner i need something with space to carry as well.

The only 4wd's in my price range are

-Toyota Surf around the 1990 mark and in 2.4ltr (a manual 3ltr one is very expensive) Ive heard they have problems with cracking heads and they are probably very slow but as long as it will get me from A to B im not too worried about speed.

-Nissian Terrano or Navara

-Mitsi pajero earlier model

-Isuzu big horn earlier model

Any advice would be great, or if you have any different 4wd's i haven't mentioned please speak up

Help us budget folk out

Thanks!

whats your budget and where are ya?

Yeah, what he said ^^^^^^^

You could try a lada, but then again you dont jave heaps of carrying capability.

However good ones come up for around 1-2k mark.

I would say pajero but I am biased. Good reliable trucks for daily use and dont mind heavy loads every now and then.

what you need to be carrying?

oh and welcome along too

What about a Landrover or a Lada .... they seem to be trendy at the moment

Im guessing his budget is around 3-4k?

I have a 2.4 surf its not that slow but I wouldnt say no to a 2.8t upgrade thats for sure.

My mate has a SWB Bighorn it has the factory diff locks and is very capable for what it is.

Just go test drive a few different ones then go for the one that feels right/ looks best.

We all know I'm bias toward Terranos.
Cheap, easy to fix (damage that is), and common as dog turds
Oh ......... welcome
Cheers,
Simon.

Sounds like about 4k to me.

Only advice I would have is if it is your first one, buy something simple like the ones you mentioned and make sure you dont care about the body work.

My picks would be Surf or Terrano diesel. Bighorns are ok but heavy, Pajeros in diesels at that budget are getting high in the k's and are probably a hand grenade by now.

Find someone to go with, and have a play, learn in a 4wd that you dont mind doing some panel damage to.

Once the bug has bitten, somehow you find the cash to modify or buy something pre-modified.

Speedy replys!!

Budget is about $4,500
Would be towing a trailer occasionally and id have a go at putting my mountain bike it the back if i could

And thanks for the welcomes!

Terrano 2.7 diesel would be my suggestion for those purposes. Strong engine, not too heavy, relatively capable.

Surf 2.4 diesel might be a bit gutless, whats the expression "Couldnt pull the skin off a cowpat"

dont forget they are nissans i would rather push my nissan than drive a isuzu

LOL Thought I do own a 3L Diesel Surf, so I am not Nissan biased, owned one of those as well Ha Ha

mate i would go toymotor or nissan try and the 2.4 toy is ok just dont get them hot and dont wind up the boost nissan is pretty much bullit prof dont get a auto nissan they cant build a auto like the boys over the fence at toymotor

Have seen Safari's around the 4k mark, good for towing etc

Actually TD you are right there.

Love the Nissan engine, not so keen on the gearbox, never seems to know what gear to be in and always chooses the one that results in no power.

man terranos have weak berrings in the gear box but its all how u drive them i rebuilt my terrano gbox once and rebuilt it with neddle roller berrings now it strong as

i think the bug might of already bitten either that or they are crawling all over me

Is there any checks i should do before i purchase something,
like in a surf is there any way to check what condition the head is in? or in a Terrano i guess it is just drive it and judge what condition the gear box is in by that?

Thanks for the replys!!

Jerry wrote:whats your budget and where are ya?

Oh and i live in Chch

give me a ring mate i could help you out 0211162853

Whisperer wrote:Speedy replys!!

Budget is about $4,500
Would be towing a trailer occasionally and id have a go at putting my mountain bike it the back if i could

And thanks for the welcomes!

You could buy two Ladas and stick them together (to give you that carrying space) for that money!

if you want comfort go for the Pajero. Nothing can beat the old square shape pajero for comfort. And then you can whack some mudders on it and take it in to the bush. driveline is strong as farrrk. only thing that lets them down a bit is the 2.5L turbo diesel. but in saying that i never had a problem. like any mitsi it will leak oil everywhere but the only time you have to worry about that is when it STOPS leaking oil

Buy my 91 terrano for 2.5k =] it just towed a transporter from amberley to dunedin and then back with another terrano on the trailer, Cant down the reliability. got a wee issue with too much fuel. but easy fix, just get new injector pump.

Jeep Cherokee?

Good out of the box 4wd, strong engine, good gearbox (if looked after) and I believe they don't rust and tend to go pretty good offroad with little to no mods.

Downside, petrol bill,handle like crap on road and roll really well off road, used parts not so common, not so sure if the diffs can handle too much punishment if you're doing rock crawling, but that's the same with most 4wds.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 428570.htm

if ur thinking about a jeep ur gona have 2 buy a gas shtion i use to have one for the wife it was a $120 a week just running around west auck and that was 1 year ago but on the open road it was good on gas shit loads of grunt good for going up the beach

I have considered them, but i currently own a car with a 4 cylinder 2liter motor and the petrol bill is ridiculous! so im gonna try avoid any gas gobblers

u13turbo wrote:Buy my 91 terrano for 2.5k =] it just towed a transporter from amberley to dunedin and then back with another terrano on the trailer, Cant down the reliability. got a wee issue with too much fuel. but easy fix, just get new injector pump.

Are injector pumps very expensive?

I wouldnt be to quick to rule out isuzus, i have a 4JB1 2.8 turbo diesel, good economy, powers my 35s sweet, currently running 17psi and goes hard. Faster than any terrano,
plus the room inside a isuzu is better terrano and hilux are tight and too laid back for real 4x4ing ahahaha

id go with the safari/patrol..

or a older ln65 hilux, unfortunately 2.4 non turbo but will go forever and some my experience reliable as! wasn't doing extreme wheeling back then tho..