97 replies to this topic

[LOUDnLOW]

Being so open minded towards cars is making it a hard choice to pick just 1... So im looking for feedback on a few im looking.

2005-07 Jeep Wrangler (4x4)
2008 Dodge Advenger (FWD)
2006+ Hilux Single or Space cab (RWD)
2009-10 D40 Navara (4x4)
20011-12 Ranger Single cab (RWD)

Any others you want to add?

Pretty much after something that would make a nice cruiser (even with a little bit of work), no more then $35,000 and is going to be my base for a SQ/L install. Oh and i plan to black it out even tho that will mean cleaning verey 2nd day...

So please give me feed back or other suggestions to what i can look at cause honestly im not really sure...

[Mr. Drifter]

later model toyots prado (Biggest bloody a-pillars you'll ever see.. Sooo much rooom D: )
ANY toyota land cruiser.. those things are beasts, and quite good for offroading and general driving

[LOUDnLOW]

Yea I do love the newish sort of shape Landcruiser wagons in black but they arnt really in my price range...

I don't go off roading much unless I gotta make a U turn in a tight street/road in my Magna...

But 4x4 although not important to me I would still use it depending on the vehicle. Like in a Wrangler id take it shooting on properties but still keep it nice and tidy for the street. So its not important but mabey handy.

[broadz]

Dont buy a Jeep/dodge! I think i'm qualified enough to be making this kind of call. Owned 3 of them: the most recent, an 08/09 patriot was the worst car i've ever had due to the terrible build quality it kept falling apart. My BRAND NEW patriot had lots of knocks, bumps, sweaks and rattles which put me off any potential chrysler ownership any time in the near future. The Wrangler might be better as it is possible a bit more heavy duty. Be prepared to enjoy the sea of cheap and nasty grey plastics that are used in most jeeps.

My brother owns a 2009 PK Ranger Wildtrak. While it is awesome value for money compared to the overpriced Hilux, it still feels a bit cheap and the turbo diesel engine needs more refinement as it is very rattly compared to newer more hi-tech designs. The auto isnt very good by different reports I've read they tend to overheat and sometimes have clutch pack issues causing them to slip constantly.

As much as I hate to say it, you cant go wrong with a Toyota: yes you do pay significantly more for less vehicle, but they seem to be stronger and more reliable and are based on a "tried and proven" / "if it aint broke don't fix" theory.

Prado would be my choice, such a great car apart from the lack of heavy duty towing ability of it's rivals

[Captn_Awesome]

Hilux, D40 navara or the Ranger would be my short list of that bunch.

Hilux is probably a bit old - but being a 'yota it'll retain value quite well. Tradies love 'em. Especially an SR5 on 22" rims.

Ranger is going to be the newest vehicle - but FoMoCo/Mazda arent really reknown for building exceptional tradie vehicles. Unless its a T or F truck I'd personally steer clear. Having said that they are a well apointed vehicle and you could probably pickup a demonstrator model for that kind of money.

D40 Navara is IMO quite a nice car and IMO best value for money. Its not going to retain value as well as the 'yota though and unless the previous owner has converted it to solid flywheel and heavy duty clutch then go the auto or be prepared to smoke a clutch. (Although same can be said about most dual mass flywheels in commercial vehicles from my understanding)
R51 pathy is probably a good alternative.

Why such large cars?
I drive a GU Patrol wagon and having driven both D40 twincabs and Hilux space cabs they make the Patrol feel small to drive.
Kluger is another decent option.
IMO go the auto. They're all bigger vehicles and better suited to autos (plus you'll break less). If you tow anything then an auto is the only way to go. I'm concidering converting my patrol to auto - but the $12,000 price tag scares me a little...

[LOUDnLOW]

I'd like the PX Wildtrack but $60k is a bit much for me... The basr model single cab is abit $27k so said the dealer...

[LOUDnLOW]

Well I originally wanted a F250 single cab and just like larger ute/pick ups.

Still don't know what I want but I think I might rule jeep out.

I do like the D40 but if I could find something a tad cheaper.

Doesn't have to be a 4x4. scouring carsales as we speak ha!

[Captn_Awesome]

'06-07 D40 ST-X 4x4 Auto 2.5L CRD - done deal.

You wont get an ST-X in an '09-10 for your money. You might get an ST but more likely an RX which only come in a manual AFAIK.

Remember every vehicle on your list has leaf rear suspension your not going to get a super comfortable ride and they're never going to handle like a sports car. Your FWD magna will out handle any of the cars on your list...
Food for thought.

[broadz]

Other alternatives are the Great Wall V200 for far less money but is a far lesser quality vehicle, Mitsubishi Triton which is on par with the build quality of the BT50/Ranger and has the cool option of an electric slider rear window (GLX-R), however was hit with the ugly stick far too many times.

The PK Wildtrak is good value for money as for ~$30,000, you get 3 tonne towing capacity, turbo diesel, < 3 year old, awesome 18 inch wheels, leather/alcentara iinterior, digital temp/compass/altimeter/inclinometer, bodykit and retractable sliding hardlid (unfortunately tailgate isnt lockable).

The 4x2 Navara kingcab with the 4.0 V6 is a good choice if you dont need 4x4. It has a class leading 200kw engine and in the lightweight (in compison) chassis they go VERY well.

[LOUDnLOW]

Handling isnt a biggy unless thats what i am expecting from it, like a jap/euro sport/performance car.

Hardest thing is finding something already black for the right price especially Navara's did find this tho:

http://www.carsales....,Max~1&__N=1216 1246 1247 1252 1282 4294963846 4294963186 4294963086 4294789961&vertical=Car&distance=25

Also hard to find one without a bull bar and roll bar!

looked at a Few PK Wildtraks and they dont look to bad and under $40k anyone know how much room is behind the rear seats?

Would like to stretch my budget to $50k as i dont mind the New shape FJ Cruiser in Black but its a bit to much...

Edited by LOUDnLOW, 24 February 2012 - 04:12 PM.

[Mr. Drifter]

if you get an older triton, they look pretty nice but they are low

I'd say prado or rav maybe.. both are decent, both are cheaper and nearly as good as cruisers, and in auto, should tow most things
My mums prado gli (i think) is really nice to drive. Not too bouncy, pretty decent on power, huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge space around a pillars (must stress this) Pretty tall, 6 stacker cd player (would be replaced, but it's not bad) 7 (or 8 ) seats, v6, towing... stuff like that...

I'd love a prado if i could afford one... but if i could afford one, i'd probably just go out and buy an eg civic and play with it :3

Edited by Ben-Drifter, 24 February 2012 - 04:03 PM.

[LOUDnLOW]

yea i like the sound of pillar space but I dont know, just not sold on the shape... Towing is not a concern, height well that depends on what i buy haha (if i ever make up my mind).

Think i need to win the lottery!

[Mr. Drifter]

how could you say no to this:

:3
that's the 08.. may be out of your range.. dunno... was the one i was talking about
And this isn't a great photo, but it kinda shows the pillars

May be smaller than i'm making them out to be... but they look huge in the car :|

[LOUDnLOW]

Haha!

errr still dont know, if the car was a nice black colour, and the grill was black, some 18" black 4x4 rims and nice tread, a bit of tint and get rid of the roof rack and then... mabey...

I guess its just not my car? Id have to get some one to do a photo chop... on the other hand if i had plenty of money to buy with id like a new Range Rover done up like the one off the Vossen Facebook page...

 402098_400834906598788_134339916581623_1873310_234850402_n.jpg   57.38K   3 downloads

Edited by LOUDnLOW, 24 February 2012 - 05:59 PM.

[Mr. Drifter]

that does look pretty decent


But I think it'd be easy enough to find a black one, and make it look how you wanted

[LOUDnLOW]

haha! ill have another look at them...

Had a look at the PK Wildtrak and the ones in black look pretty decent, i still think the new PX model looks better but id probably be happy with the PK Wildtrak.

[LOUDnLOW]

hopefully they release some sort of pricing for the FT86/BRZ soon

Dissapointed about the power out put and rear end tho...

[SHANE G !!]

have you thought of discovery's ? very comfy lots of offraod and road ability and great to drive d2 upwards..awesome v8 sound too factory tweeter mounts in pillars and made for 3 way fronts imo

Edited by sostok, 25 February 2012 - 12:39 PM.

[LOUDnLOW]

Yea the D3 comes into my Budget but would have to be a 6 cyl. Also what about reliability or when it comes to getting it fixed/service? id imagine there would be a bit of money involved similar to the Dodges/Jeep? I dont think id use it for off road unless i had to tho...

Im liking the PK Wildtrak in Black, how well would they hold there value? just something else i should keep in mind but not focus strongly on.

Just gonna throw it out there but what about X-Trails or Subaru Liberty (non Turbo)? peoples thoughts on them?

[ubernoob]

What about a D-Max? They aren't stupidly dear and the quality seems pretty good. I am not a huge fan of the Navara's a couple of friends have them and they really struggle off road and there is a lot of stuff underneath that isn't protected, one friend had a stick rip his ABS wiring apart they also have a pretty low sump that deforms very easily.

Liberties are pretty reliable but the seats are crap and the doors are pretty thin so they need to be deadened to stop drumming, seem to hold their value quite well too. Does anyone know if the Liberty is still made in Japan?

[LOUDnLOW]

I thought about a Colorado/D-Max and they do look alright.

I'm kind of keen about a Land Rover D3 but Insurance and service/parts make it questionable... found one forum were the D3 has had alot of people vouch for its reliability and base don a few reviews it seems it does well off road.

Edited by LOUDnLOW, 25 February 2012 - 03:05 PM.

[Mr. Drifter]

It's european made afaik, so parts would be expensive, and servicing the same (since the parts are expensive)
Liberty would be good, they handle well afaik, and are quite nice.
My friend has an 0..3? model i think.. last of the nice looking ones. Very nice car

[SHANE G !!]

if u can stretch to d3 then your on a winner awesome cars good on reliability simply because the only slight "issues" they have is when theyre pushed hard offroad continually which you wouldnt do ..but having said that a late d2 is an awesome car with great reliabilty and then you could get more for your money...tdv6 are a weapon and great vehicles,but ive always loved my v8's lol
xtrail great cars reliable japanese motoring interiors sometimes a little basic but nothing a few mods couldnt fix...my 2 cents anyway
apart from some sort of massive failure landy's are pretty basic and you can do quite a bit yourself if you can wield a spanner too

Edited by sostok, 25 February 2012 - 05:41 PM.

[LOUDnLOW]

with the D3 a 2005-06 model with the V6 4L petrol is in my budget but id rather the TDV6 just for that bit of fuel economy either way they would look sexy Blacked out.

Just thought mabey a Aurion? a newer model.

[SHANE G !!]

aurion is a nice car too..uhoh your in trouble to many likes lol
tdv6 plenty of go and can be tuned too chips available

[LOUDnLOW]

I know right i like alot of cars!!! like i said i need to win lottery... might get a ticket this week

wont be buying for another month or two hopefully not any longer so no doubt ill change my mind again, but i do really like the D3 and a few reveiws say its good of road but yea i wont be taking it shooting like i would with a Wrangler haha!

[ubernoob]

Come to the dark side, turbo, AWD, engine mounted NS, awesome dash for pods and you are encouraged not to slow down in school zones.

http://www.carpoint....id=135AC03C6419

[LOUDnLOW]

Unless its TD then its a no no for me... P player...

[SHANE G !!]

being 4wd is that still nogo turbo diesel...geez thats dumb

[LOUDnLOW]

Turbo diesel is still alright for P platers.