Offroad-Express

Hi
after blowing the engine on my old 1989 2.8 Bighorn, I am after something smaller. With the kids now of the age to leave home soon, I just want something small I can use as a fishing wagon in summer, and tow a small boat. Chuck the rugby jerseys and gear in the back and maybe get coal from Kai point in winter. I just want the ability to do some minor offroad stuff (nothing serious), just crossing a few creeks and going up rough tracks to get to huts and so one.

I have seen an old Daihatsu rocky for sale with 160 000 on the clock, and have heard they are pretty tough and should still have a few miles left in them. Any ideas? I am open to suggestions, though my wife says rav4s are too girly.

suzuki vitara jimmy, early escudo(can't really beat them.)
, pajero jnr, (If you dont want to feed the 3 litre v6 engine this is for you) diahatsu feroza, Have seen one of these with a subaru wrx engine in it...the drive line is surprisingly strong
isuzu MU, (try for a later model one. still a 4jb1 though...)
nissan mistral/terrano II(stong little wagon still has ladder chassi unlike the mid nineties terrano's)
early landcruisers, they type ole crumpy used to bash around the bush in

that about rounds up the top small suv/ 4x4's that are quite off road cpable in road trim.

there are others like a rav 4 but i look under them and there suspension looks like it would snap if you hit a speed bump with too much shopping on the back seat.

honda crv...pffft they should stick to making atv's

Grand vitara /grand escudois a bit soft but most likely capable

I'd recommend a swb pajero. Very capable little trucks if you need it to be, otherwise very good on the road and parts are readily available. I love mine!

Lots of mid 90's 2.7 terranos around at about 180000 km for $5000.

It has been suggested getting an Escudo and putting a lift kit on it would do the trick. Something like this be okay?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 415900.htm

Thanks for all the suggestions and PMs.

teach wrote:Lots of mid 90's 2.7 terranos around at about 180000 km for $5000.

It has been suggested getting an Escudo and putting a lift kit on it would do the trick. Something like this be okay?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 415900.htm

Thanks for all the suggestions and PMs.

nothing wrong with that. some MT's would help too as being light they won't have huge traction in sticky areas

Found a 1991 terrano with 195000k for $5K.
Thinking seriously about it. It was sitting at the dealers covered in cobwebs.
Took it for a run.Automatic and changed gears smoothly.
Paintwork a bit crap, the clear coat is coming off the roof but that is no concern.

Cheers for the advice. Will have a look on here for tips on how to look after it properly. If I can get 300000km out of it I will be happy enough.

The autos in terranos are extremely prone to shiting themselfs and bloody expensive at that , you can extend there life by adding coolers etc but there dimize is almost imenent , I have replaced more than i could count in the last ten years ,