Older 4x4 buying advice/opinions wanted
Submitted by sstevee on Mon, 2012-07-23 10:38
Hi guys,
Currently looking at investing in an older diesel 4x4, something around the late 90's or 2000 age bracket with a budget of around 5-6k. Ideally i'd like it to be dual cab and ill be using it for uni/work as well as towing the dinghy for potential w'ends to mandurah etc....
As alot of you guys have owned 4x4's i was wondering if there are any particular models and engines to stay away from. At the moment i've been loking at navaras and hiluxs with thoughts of including the rodeos.
I wont be looking to buy for probaby a couple of months but wanted to do some research to hopefully prevent buying a bomb
Cheers, Steve
red dawn
Posts: 104
Date Joined: 29/11/10
early Navarras
have problems with their gearboxes. I had an "88 model and the gearbox just collapsed one day. It had not been mistreated ,but as I found out in the process of fixing it, it was common for both them and the earlier 720 nissan utes for the bearings to just fall apart in the box. Mine had only done some 120000 kays. This happened about 1995 and cost me $3000 at the time.
spinksy
Posts: 266
Date Joined: 06/10/10
Hilux
Had a mid 90's hilux great truck changed oil every 5000ks and filter every 10000ks. diff and gearbox oils every couple of years and it ran like a dream... Sad i had to let it go
quadfisher
Posts: 1146
Date Joined: 28/09/10
buy cond not kms
For your price range , I would have thought your pushing it for a good , reliable hilux maybe,
and early nissan navs did have there probs.
The old 2.8 4jxi or whatever isuzi t/d in the rodeos are good for nearly 500,000kms
if well maintained, and the isuzi diffs and uni,s etc are usually over engineered so they can last well.
Bought my gq last year 1995 model , it had 350,000kms on it , more than some I looked
at , but it was the best condition and best maintained, and so far its been great.
I would rather buy a t/d rodeo thats in good nick with slightly higher kms, than a low km
and hammered one.Also the higher the kms ,you will have a bigger bargaining chip.
Before I buy things I always search quokka , gumtree etc to see if lots of spares are avail
as this means a cheaper price for them normally.
good luck.
quadfisher
sstevee
Posts: 472
Date Joined: 15/11/11
Thanks for the info guys.I'm
Thanks for the info guys.
I'm in no rush at the moment so i'm just waiting around for something to pop up. I'm confident with some mechanical work such as wheel bearings etc, but big things like engine, gearbox, transfer are the important ones
Wes F
Posts: 1067
Date Joined: 07/01/12
GQ Diesel
For a good work horse and tough running gear cann't go wrong,Problem is not to many Dual cabs. If it looks beaten up, suspension hasn't been up graded/replaced bits & pieces broken steer clear shop around there's some good older 4 be's around good luck
Old fishermen never die they just smell that way.
sstevee
Posts: 472
Date Joined: 15/11/11
Hadnt thought of the GQ,
Hadnt thought of the GQ, maybe a little bulky for my liking.
Has anyone had much to do with the 3.2 diesel navaras around 99/00 era? Looking on some of the 4wd forums the 3.2 seems to get a pretty good wrap so any more info would be great
Cheers