New member from Dunedin

[Steveo]

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum, my name is Steve and I'm looking at buying my first 4wd. I'm a keen outdoors man and enjoy hunting, fishing, tramping and boating, the typical kiwi stuff.
I've never owned a 4wd before and to be honest know buggar all about them. What I have learnt in the last few days is they cost a heck of a lot more than I was thought
I brought a boat a couple of years back and have been towing it round Otago behind my 2L Nissan Cerfiro but really need a little more power for towing it.
I'm not looking at getting into major off roading at all, just wanting to use it for towing the boat to central Otago and able to launch it off the lake side or off the beach occasionally when the surf is flat. I will also use it for towing fire wood short distances as well
It would be also handy for getting into valleys like the Ahuriri valley where the road can often be washed out and very difficult to access in a 2 wheel drive car.
I do a bit of hunting as well so it will be out of town on a regular basis.

I'm wanting to buy a double cab ute with a canopy and have a budget of $15000-$18000 and not sure of makes or models to look at. I have been looking on TM and there are a few tidy looking Mitsubishi Triton's on there with reasonable km's around the 2003-04 area, Nissan Navara's (I like the look of these) as well, a little older and higher km's in my price range. The Toyota hilux's seem to be a heck of a lot dearer around the early 2000 models with very high kms on most of them but I hear they last forever. Mazdas, Fords, Holdens....there are a few choices.

Petrol or diesel, auto or manual? Does one have an advantage over the other for the type of use I have mentioned?

Any advise would be greatly appreciated on what I should be looking for or what to avoid. As I said I'm a total newbie to the 4wd scene and there just seems to be so many choices its a bit over whelming where to start.
Cheers
Steve

[keithal]

welcome to the forum mate

a friend of mine is selling his vx landcruiser ute for 18k in dunedin if your interested

4.2 turbo diesel auto
not sure on k's

well looked after truck pm me if you want his number


cheers Alex

[Steveo]

Thanks for the welcome mate. I think 4.2l is going to be a little big for what I need, cheers anyway

[1kz_surf]

gidday mate firstly id like to say ( with out trying to take the wind out of your sails )

the tritons are trouble I work for mitsi and they are utter crap in my view they go good but they shit ecu's and roof wiring looms and that isn't cheap

the navaras seem to be ok tho ive worked on a few and nothing hugely weird has gone wrong on them

cheers

[zukmeista]

the navaras seem to be ok tho ive worked on a few and nothing hugely weird has gone wrong on them

Both the ZD30 and YD25 have a dodgy reputation, if you are keen on the navaras look at the ones with the 3.2L QD32 motor, they are near on indestructible.

[Steveo]

Cheers guys, that's exactly the sort of info I need. Still looking at navaras but good to know that. Looking at an 02 3l navara with 179000 on the clock but don't know what engine is.
Also looked at a few holden rodeo as well. Anyone with advice on those?
Thanks

[zukmeista]

3L=ZD30 2.5L=YD25

[Steveo]

Thanks zuk

[callum007]

I disagree with the comment re the Tritons. I would look for something post '05 but I know of many early 2000's models that have 300k on them with no more troubles than a similar ages Toyota.

All vehicles have problems mate, find something you like and have it checked out.

[1kz_surf]

I disagree with the comment re the Tritons. I would look for something post '05 but I know of many early 2000's models that have 300k on them with no more troubles than a similar ages Toyota.

All vehicles have problems mate, find something you like and have it checked out.

I disagree the amount of roof wiring harnesses ive done is silly they are crap apart from the factory locking rear diff they go ok rattly as heck and the front suspention travel is not up to much