What 4WD for a second car?

[Kryton]

also with the Diesel Hilux's, grab a turbo system from a Surf (bolts stright on as they share the same head) and you have just improved power and economy for a relatively cheap outlay.
in all seriousness, for a dollar to dollar value, you cant look past the Hilux.
its cheap and has a bullet proof reputation for a reason.

[SeXC]

if you dont want a ute, look for a nissan terrano i used to have one, not as hard wearing as a hilux, but more comfortable, and you can get a manual one for less than 5k.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by chevypower

you can't go past the affordability, economy, on road cruising and off road ability and towing mix of a Discovery...go drive a few of them, as well as some of the others that have been suggested, then make your mind up.

I hope you're talking about the diesel as I had the V8 model and you'd need a bloody oil field to run the thing. Can't beat the V8 sound tho.
In comparison, I now have a 1990s Cherokee which, apart from not having a V8, seven seats and its 1970s styled interior, prefer it over the Disco everyway.
But I do agree a Disco is a great all rounder, specially compared to the over rated and expensive Jappas.

[Gammaboy]

70's Bronco + a $4000 Road train Bullbar?

[vanman_75]

gotta 97 gq 2.8 for 10 if you want it ,wish i could keep but its the fouth car ,spent 7 on her last year ,cant say enough about it great vehicle ,but you have had 1 before so you know the pros and cons ,good luck with your choice

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by smoo

I hope you're talking about the diesel as I had the V8 model and you'd need a bloody oil field to run the thing. Can't beat the V8 sound tho.
In comparison, I now have a 1990s Cherokee which, apart from not having a V8, seven seats and its 1970s styled interior, prefer it over the Disco everyway.
But I do agree a Disco is a great all rounder, specially compared to the over rated and expensive Jappas.

Well the OP said he wanted a diesel, but V8 on LPG would be ok too I guess. The Jeep Grand Cherokees are a nice car, but the QuadraTrac system, just sucks for even just flat mud... sure momentum is the key, but a Discovery will go a lot more places than a GC can... The Discovery will go anywhere, and a couple wheels off the ground won't cause the 4x4 system to just spin the wheels with no traction. Which is one of the reasons why I recommend the LR as a second vehicle, when a 4x4 is wanted.

[XR Martin]

Cant believe someone is recommending a Disco. Sure they will go anywhere, but usually on the back of a towtruck, they make an ex-cab look like a good buy.

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Cant believe someone is recommending a Disco. Sure they will go anywhere, but usually on the back of a towtruck, they make an ex-cab look like a good buy.

Funny. How about a serious response.

[Mont5.0]

I still say Prado FTW

[RAREV8]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Cant believe someone is recommending a Disco. Sure they will go anywhere, but usually on the back of a towtruck, they make an ex-cab look like a good buy.

Have you ever owned one?
Granted, with Disco's you are better off avoiding the early models due to some reliability issues which were a few electrical gremlins and some overheating under very hot conditions too but I put our diesel one through hell and it never ever had any problems at all.
The only time I had to be careful was on ice- even with snow tyres she was a little wayward but you probably won't find this to be too much of a problem!

What do you all think of the Navarra's? The earlier models fall well within the budget but i have only driven the late model and was very impressed at it off road ability....water crossing up to the windscreen and no problems at all- I was considering one to replace the XR6 next year but would like to do further research on similar cars like the Hilux etc.

[TUF_302]

Ive been looking at 95-00 Jeeps latey, now these are great mid sized 4wds! the 4ltr strait 6's have heaps of grunt and becasue of there light weight they are good on juice, also the 2.5T diesels are brilliant to!, atm im lookin at a 99 grand cherokee laredo!, beautiful 4wd!

[chevypower]

As I said before Jeeps are nice car, but the QuadraTrac 4x4 system wont keep driving the wheels with the most traction, I have seen them when they havent driven more than one or two wheels in tight situations. Kind of like when a Falcon with no LSD has one rear wheel with hardly any traction, the diff doesnt try to turn the wheel with the traction. Jeeps are like that.
Have a look at these. Disco vs Grand Cherokee off road. Notice the Disco, sitting on top of the hill, not using momentum to then go forward. Dispute the usual YouTube comments, it's not driver skill, it's not momentum advantage on the Disco, it's not tyres. I have driven both these 4x4s, and the Prado, and just about every other 4x4 out there.... a stock disco is more capable than a 100 Series LC (which isn't saying much, but some naive people seem to think they're the best)

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=1-ZjSg...eature=related
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=9VlU3j...eature=related
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=jLoswC...eature=related

[FJ20ET]

If you plan on buying parts for it later(you will probably need to),buy a Toyota as they have the biggest after market support for parts and are therefore cheaper.
If you need any parts for Toyota's and to a lessor extent any other 4wd's ring me at Don Kyatt spares spares sydney ask for Peter.We have branches in every state and primarily supply the mining industry.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by chevypower

As I said before Jeeps are nice car, but the QuadraTrac 4x4 system wont keep driving the wheels with the most traction, I have seen them when they havent driven more than one or two wheels in tight situations. Kind of like when a Falcon with no LSD has one rear wheel with hardly any traction, the diff doesnt try to turn the wheel with the traction. Jeeps are like that.
Have a look at these. Disco vs Grand Cherokee off road. Notice the Disco, sitting on top of the hill, not using momentum to then go forward. Dispute the usual YouTube comments, it's not driver skill, it's not momentum advantage on the Disco, it's not tyres. I have driven both these 4x4s, and the Prado, and just about every other 4x4 out there.... a stock disco is more capable than a 100 Series LC (which isn't saying much, but some naive people seem to think they're the best)

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=1-ZjSg...eature=related
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=9VlU3j...eature=related
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=jLoswC...eature=related

All 4wds with out an axle lock or LSD will drive the wheels with the least traction(Which is most of them including my old Series I Disco). Grand Cherokees are no less capable than any other big 4wd with centre diff and low range. Granted the traction control aided Discos and Range Rovers will probably s hit all over most things out there with the right tyres.

Heres a vid from a 4wd park about 50 kays from me...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBNVhv8Jyb8

[rob_liss_lms10]

Have you thought of a ford explorer...now before people say..oh an exploder ( which was a nick given because of the firestone tyres ) they are excepional value. Mine is a 97xlt, paid $10k , driver and pass airbag, auto, lsd, t/control, p/windows,auto diverts power to front wheels if rear wheels start spinning, p/seats etc. They are a little low, but for approx $500 add a leaf and shackles, wind up the torson bars and you can raise the body 2 inches. Put 31inch tyres for an additional 2 inch ground clearance. Also from 2 wheel to high 4wd on the fly from just turning a dial.This is my 2nd car for the wife and son, drives like a car, has much nicer and more modern inside and out than same year jap 4wd, parts are quite common, also is the largest selling suv in the world..so the yanks have a huge list of accessories/parts and with the dollar exchange atm is quite in expensive to import. I haven't had mine on the beach but do alot of bush work and have never had a problem. Just a thought, there will prob be alot of negatives about these 4wd, but dont simply rule them out...they are defiantly worth considering.
Rob

[Rural 351]

Originally Posted by Macca23

What type of 4WD? We have around 10-15 grand too use. Prefer a dieseal and safe for our baby we have on the way. Leaning towards a hilux or patrol. Any other ideas?

About 12 months ago I purchased a landrover discovery TD5 auto, it was a 2000 mod with 160000 ks, There great value for money we payed $15000 for it from Taree Subaru, We get about 9 litres per 100ks has dual air bags, plus heaps of options, and it drives like a car

[YOOT]

Originally Posted by davway

for 10-15k you can get something pretty decent.
im in the process of looking at a few myself but im buying solely for offroad use.
as much as i like the landcruiser, im leaning towards the Hilux at the moment.
dollar wise, you can get more Hilux than you can Landcruiser.
Diesel easily fits in this price range as well.

as for the 4WDs arent safe campaigners here, no car is safe.
4WDs only roll if you drive them outside of their limits - just like cars and trucks and motorbike and everything else.

No they don't, they roll when you have an accident either caused by you or someone else, where passenger cars wouldn't.

Safe is 5 star crash rating, unsafe is everything else.

You also forget older 4WD (and lots of enw ones) can't avoid crashes like passenger cars can.

[YOOT]

Originally Posted by Mont5.0

If as macca said it was for beach work and occasional camping/touring. Prado's can be a good investment.

I would have to recomend a Forester for that kind of work! BUt good luck finsing a good one for $10K.

Probably too small for this bloke.

[boss-290]

Safe for your baby..

Deadly for others.

Make sure the missus can park it. ROFL

[Falcon Coupe]

I'd look at a Prado or Pathfinder.

[waggaclint]

TOYOTA cant go wrong with one off those

[Sonik]

Originally Posted by waggaclint

TOYOTA cant go wrong with one off those

Corolla, prado, land cruiser, kuga, camry?

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by smoo

All 4wds with out an axle lock or LSD will drive the wheels with the least traction(Which is most of them including my old Series I Disco). Grand Cherokees are no less capable than any other big 4wd with centre diff and low range. Granted the traction control aided Discos and Range Rovers will probably s hit all over most things out there with the right tyres.

Heres a vid from a 4wd park about 50 kays from me...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBNVhv8Jyb8

Correct.. they will all do it to some extent...but my experience always showed that a stock Grand Cherokee is worse than just about any other stock 4x4 out there. They are the ones that need the help most on a 4x4 trip. There's ocassionally that guy that shows up in his shiny Grand Cherokee. Stock Toyotas are not that great either, we went into a creek one time, got stuck, an LC100 tried to come in and pull us out, the LC100 didn't even get IN to the creek. I have taken a 4L V6 Prado and 4L V6 Hilux off road too (I would take a Prado over a LC100 any day). I have found the Discoverys, although they are even better when you do add diff locks and muddies, they are really quite capable stock. Sure, you can add diff locks and good tyres to any 4x4, and have fun, but the LR has decent articulation, a good 4x4 system from the start - which the Jeep doesn't. I was pretty tight with the guys at Melbourne Land Rover. They took those same cars on the lot around their 4x4 course at least 5 times a day each. This involved flooring it, hitting the brakes hard over bumps on each run -not something many owners would do with their cars. No squeaks, rattles... the cars always felt and sounded tight, as if they were built for doing that from the start. I mean buy whatever vehicle suits your needs, but if you want to spend $10-15k on a used vehicle thats still holding together second hand, drives good on and off-road, not too bad on the fuel then get one of those. Second to that, I would say get a GQ/GU Patrol/Maverick but I don't think it's going to be as nice to live with. If your primary purchase is a luxury vehicle, which can tow and take some tough terrain (in that order) then get a Jeep GC.

[Tles]

Might as well buy an old Range Rover HSE 4.6V8 (add LPG) for the money you can't match them, std. The reputation for reliability has hurt the resale as has the rep of the Disco affecting current resale on Disco3 even though they are now more reliable than most. They will tow anything too.
Toyota has the reputation, yet I know plenty who have had their issues - Four Runners with coil springs on rear go OK. Troopie's are good too rugged.
5-10 should get you a good reliable truck, 9-15 will get you a good old lux 4x4.

[PALE ALE]

cant speak for V6 model hilux, but 4cyl diesel hilux drive train is weak. I've had to rebuild transfer case, replaced worn out gearbox(sing a nice tune to you as you were going along) with dyna truck gear box(for engine cnversion when motor dies) replace snapped axle and replace front axle seals twice (don't believe thier "unbreakable" advertising) Have a GQ patrol, 4.2 petrol/lpg with same mileage, cop,s some real abuse and takes it, all I have had to replace is a rear trailing arm which I bent. Hilux can only dream of going places where the 'troll goes

[YOOT]

Originally Posted by PALE ALE

cant speak for V6 model hilux, but 4cyl diesel hilux drive train is weak. I've had to rebuild transfer case, replaced worn out gearbox(sing a nice tune to you as you were going along) with dyna truck gear box(for engine cnversion when motor dies) replace snapped axle and replace front axle seals twice (don't believe thier "unbreakable" advertising) Have a GQ patrol, 4.2 petrol/lpg with same mileage, cop,s some real abuse and takes it, all I have had to replace is a rear trailing arm which I bent. Hilux can only dream of going places where the 'troll goes

Don't confuse the Hilux with truck like go anywhere vehical. The Hilux is purely a comercial vehical. Driven on the roads and building sites, towing a trailer, it will last for ever and reward well come to resale.

THe patrol is an entirely different car. We have both at work and for work I'd rather be in the new Hilux than my boses Patrol, but the patrol is two sizes bigger, heavier on fuel and impossible to park. But I'm sure if we drove it off a cliff it would survive, pitty that there aren't any cliffs near our office.