Offroad-Express

Hi Folks,

I'll be in the market for a new 4wd. I'm stuck with the dilema of either buying a ~300,000 km, just about 30 year old toyota or a near new freelander with very little k's.

My question is, if purchasing, i do understand that the offroad ability wont be anywhere close to par but would you recommend one based on the following criteria:
[*]reliability
[*]economy
[*]ability to tow a small medium sized boat (4 meter inflatable)
[*]spares
[*]moding parts, lifts - i know; coild only , bull bars, etc
[*]servicing

What do you think, yes and why, or if not, why not and what would you recommend?

my budget will be about 10k so pretty decent..

Thanks heaps
George

Got my answer, they are cheap for a reason - mostly reliability.

george.ene wrote:What do you think, yes and why, or if not, why not and what would you recommend?

my budget will be about 10k so pretty decent..

If you've got $10k in the kitty you should have a pretty good selection of options on your list rather than a worn out old yota and a shiney landy unless thats what you have already narrowed it down to?

its a buyers market out there

george.ene wrote:Hi Folks,

I'll be in the market for a new 4wd. I'm stuck with the dilema of either buying a ~300,000 km, just about 30 year old toyota or a near new freelander with very little k's.

My question is, if purchasing, i do understand that the offroad ability wont be anywhere close to par but would you recommend one based on the following criteria:
[*]reliability
[*]economy
[*]ability to tow a small medium sized boat (4 meter inflatable)
[*]spares
[*]moding parts, lifts - i know; coild only , bull bars, etc
[*]servicing

What do you think, yes and why, or if not, why not and what would you recommend?

my budget will be about 10k so pretty decent..

Thanks heaps
George

I wouldn't have thought you would get a near new Freelander for $10K. The Freelander 2 has been around for a while now and is still holding prices well.

Its hard to understand what your requirements are. Do you need a vehicle with low range or one without?

If you want to modifiy a vehicle for off road with lifted suspension, larger tyres, bull bars and winches then you need one with low range and these vehicles can never be classed as economical.
However if its just to tow the little dingy and be economical and reliable then a soft roader would probably suit.

All vehicles need servicing so no matter what vehicle you will have to servcie it, especially if you want it to be reliable and to last.

A particular type of vehicle is down to the individuals personal preferences. We are all different and look for different things in a vehicle. Look around and buy what suits your needs and what you like the best, not what other people say you should have.

Thanks for the reply guys.
By a near new vehicle, I meant to say that a 2000 + can be purchased for the budget versus an old hilux that would be borderline ~25 years old.

I guess what I'm asking is should I go for an old dinger bearing in mind mods are possible, parts available and it can tow or should I go for a new-ish "4wd" because it is newer. That; and avoiding mechanical flops - ie the 2nd get terrano. Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Yaka, yes I would like low range or I wouldnt come and ask here. The same for the mods as well. Suppose that answers my question.

So moving forwards, I also invertigated a 1st gen terranos but will probably look towards a Bighorn (bigger engine). The reviews are brilliant, cheap, pretty capable towing vehicles & offroad (for a lwb) and have a chassis. If I remember correctly they also have a lsd on the rear?