need a new 4wd, any suggestions?

mr_splodge · Post by **mr_splodge** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:44 pm

Hello folks, I'm new here..

I've found my way here while trying to find what 4wd to get next. here's my story..

I used to have an 88 surf (ln61) which was alright for what I need a 4wd for. I spend the ski seasons in canterbury so it's primarialy for driving uphill on dirt roads. That's the reason I originally got a 4wd but I found myself getting into having a bit of fun in it when the ski fields are closed. I also used to have a lada niva in the uk that I used for ski seasons in france, and I loved that car because it had a diff lock and was great fun on byways in england. anyway, that's sold because I no longer live in the uk and my hilux is also gone because I (stupidly) let my housemate drive it up a ski field access road without me and he laboured the engine to death.

now i'm in the position of needing a new 4wd, but I won't buy another surf because ...

it was underpowered
the seat made my back hurt
no lockable diff or lsd
plus a few other annoyances.

so. i'm looking for a new off roader that's nice and powerful for getting up those ski roads, has a comfortable driver's seat and works well on the highway, where it'll spend the most time. it also needs to have good ground clearance, a lockable rear diff or lsd at least on the back and be reliable (important, I earn a low wage)

I don't have the time, money or skills required to customise a car. I'll (hopefully!) have about $5k to spend in june.

what options are available... i'd buy another niva if they weren't such a money drain. do many of the japanese 4wds have diff lock?

thanks for your help.

gomulletgo · Post by **gomulletgo** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:16 am

Welcome Mr splodge.

Sorry I can't help with what vehicle to get (I'm new too).

One thing I can tell you though is that unless your niva had an aftermarket diff lock then the diff lock that it did have was for the "center diff" seeing as nivas are full time 4wd. the nivas have a differential in the transfer case essentially this means that when the "center diff" is unlocked only one driveshaft (front or rear) is being driven, when locked the front and rear driveshafts rotate at the same speed.

That is the same as the surf when it is put in 4wd, Both the front and rear driveshafts turn at the same speed.

I hope that helps explain it. If your niva was more capable offroad than your surf it probably had more to do with it being lower weight, having better approach and departure angles, and the fact it was SWB. Nothing to do with the 4wd system as such, because they essentially have the same amount of positive traction offroad.

If you are dead set on getting a vehicle with full time 4wd and a "center diff" lock. I think the following vehicles fall into that category: Jeep Cherokee, some landrovers and rangerovers, lada niva, some late model Toyota landcruisers.

MULLET

SMOKEY · Post by **SMOKEY** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:47 am

Well answered mr_ MULLET. To add my bit,. 5k and reliability in a 4wd that you are talking about don't go together.
The vehicle that comes to mind but will need to spend more than 9k is the 2.8 diesel Pajero ( I know ---- get off my back ) . Comfortable on road good off road, center diff lock, and some come with factory rear diff lock.
GOOD LUCK,
FITZY.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:04 am

How about a nice red Landcruiser? :mrgreen:

niblik · Post by **niblik** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 2:12 pm

or at least a 70 series? seem to be a lot of them poppin up around the place.. :wink:

welcome..

i own landcruiser 40's and a lwb s2a ragtop landy, so i'm not much use.. :lol:

good luck shoppin!!

Moriarty · Post by **Moriarty** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 2:53 pm

elcome and sit down, take aload off, I am (ralatively) new to here, thjough I am quite comforatable at being an old fart!!

5K and reliable, the man said it right, the terms are mutually exclusive. THAT is a generalisation, of course. you can find the bargain out there at times.

Wonder about Lada Cossack? maybe one built on a tuesday, wednesday or thursday?

Landrover with recaro seats and new axles gearbox and engine made by somebody else?

Why do we only see toyoda utes? Whats wrong with a nissan ute?

go back to the Cossack idea, Wen I was in Huntly, a workmate bought one brandnew, Sure, he DID have to have it pretty much rewired, but it went like crazy.

OHHH, I how bout a Blizzard? Rugger? smallish, diesels, part time 4wd.
with hi-lo etc etc.

Now I am gonna get shot down..... :lol:

Petemcc · Post by **Petemcc** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:03 pm

You might be able to pick up a newer 3L turbo diesel surf. the newer ones are much more comfortable, the 3L turbo has lost of power and they usually come with a rear lsd...

Pete

PR · Post by PR » Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:14 pm

SMOKEY wrote:Well answered mr_ MULLET. To add my bit,. 5k and reliability in a 4wd that you are talking about don't go together.
The vehicle that comes to mind but will need to spend more than 9k is the 2.8 diesel Pajero ( I know ---- get off my back ) . Comfortable on road good off road, center diff lock, and some come with factory rear diff lock.
GOOD LUCK,
FITZY.

I picked up my 2.4TD Pajero for $6000.00, it already had winch, bullbars, snorkle and 33x12.5x15 on it. :twisted:

Just look around and you'll find some thing that fits your budjet????

I wont hold you liking Pajeros against you smokey :lol:

mudchuka · Post by **mudchuka** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:07 pm

we just bought a 3.5v6 pajero for a second car for $3500 .1994 150 000kms
has factory lsd, button operated body lift and 153kw. car sales dont want these things so they are cheap.
they llike to drink though, bit like me on sat night,.

mr_splodge · Post by **mr_splodge** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 7:53 pm

thanks for the sugesstions. my niva did definitely have a rear axle diff lock. it may well have been after market though, it was a former police car used undercover in south wales to bust clandestine shipments on the beach. 98 model hussar

callum007 · Post by **callum007** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 8:45 pm

or this one is for sale.. the owners a bit of a tosser though...http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=78599646&ed=true

Mortisha · Post by **Mortisha** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 8:55 pm

Hey Moriarty - you're fast becoming my mate. Absolutely nothing wrong with a Rugger

Mine cost $3500 for a '91 intercooled turbo diesel 2.8. Only major thing I've had to do so far on it is replace the battery. No probs offroad so far and haven't done any mods to it yet ! Good power to weight ratio for getting up those steep bits. Reasonably cheap to run too (does about 10km/litre.
One drawback though is you can feel every lump and bump on tarmac.

mudchuka · Post by **mudchuka** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:56 pm

callum007 wrote:or this one is for sale.. the owners a bit of a tosser though...[url]http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=78599646&
ed=true[/url]

why does it have a body lift?

Moriarty · Post by **Moriarty** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 10:14 am

Mortisha wrote:Hey Moriarty - you're fast becoming my mate. Absolutely nothing wrong with a Rugger

Mine cost $3500 for a '91 intercooled turbo diesel 2.8. Only major thing I've had to do so far on it is replace the battery. No probs offroad so far and haven't done any mods to it yet ! Good power to weight ratio for getting up those steep bits. Reasonably cheap to run too (does about 10km/litre.
One drawback though is you can feel every lump and bump on tarmac.

Good stuff, Morty, my Bro had one for years, it's only fault happened in th egearbox, tried to pump all th eoiul up the speedo cable!! What a fekking MESS!

In all other respects, it perfomed great. We used to play with it on the Auckland west coast, in the mud where Zena was filmed. Only once we need to get a tractor to do a recovery, silly bugger threw it in the creek thinking it would float.

fish · Post by **fish** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 12:36 am

i have a daihatsu rocky, its real good and would fit your requirments well i think. its about the size of a niva (a bit bigger) and cheep. i use it for ski roads all winter in queens town and its perfect for it. ive pulled land rovers out of the snow with it three times now :oops:

ha haa.
they are open diffs though and thats all i can fault it on, that and its a bit stiff on the high way. i know its only a daihatsu but i highly recomend it.