Thread: New second hand 4wd ideas

hey guys have had to move my 2014 Hilux on due to needling to free up some cash for some unforeseen family matters that have orison. so now looking for a truck that will still get me back into middle of nowhere and also tow my work trailer and deliver kids around. we have another suv for longer family trips. budget be around 25k. love the 80 series cruisers hard to find a tidy one tho but they are something im keen on, then theres the prado or an older hilux. ideally like another Toyota as thats just what i like. any ideas and info about what to stay away from, from guys more mechanically in know that i am would me appreciated. has to be 4 door too. Cheers

I’ve had Suzuki, Hilux and now Isuzu. Family all have Toyota. Grand Vitara Suzi was very thirsty being awd with centre diff lock, Hilux was too firm for my liking. Love our MU-x. That said, one son uses his Prado awd diesel and takes it places I would never consider. Think the Crump advert “Aaaaaah, Barry!” Moment on steroids. I’d suggest Prado from what I’ve seen. My vehicle is still under wty and too shiny for serious off-road work

Pajero
Can't beat the bang for buck
I'm a 70 series fan , bought a pajero just for getting me around here while traveling SI bloody impressed with it offroad as well, factory diff locks etc
Won't beat the value

Ever since catching the disease I've been biased towards the green oval, but for under 25k is there anything Japanese that isn't either 30 years old or rough as guts?

If I had 25k to spend I'd buy a Discovery 2, you can find low(ish) kms and today of or around 10-15k which leaves a healthy budget for repairs which you might not even need. The biggest issues you are likely to face would be the rear air suspension (which isn't actually ha unreliable and is quite handy) or ABS faults which are somewhat common but I've never run into issues. That's if you get a TD5, the V8s can have a few engine issues (mostly just head gaskets).

A Discovery 3 would be an even better vehicle comfort, family, towing wise, but they definitely have more things to go wrong and if you don't do the work yourself are a complete ripoff.
If you could find a decent V8 (petrol) one for around 15k and then spent 10k on preventative maintenance with the suspension you could have a very nice soccer mum car that also does well off road.

The D2 would be a safer bet but between my D3 and D2 the D3 is the far nicer vehicle.

Originally Posted by Beetroot

Ever since catching the disease I've been biased towards the green oval, but for under 25k is there anything Japanese that isn't either 30 years old or rough as guts?

If I had 25k to spend I'd buy a Discovery 2, you can find low(ish) kms and today of or around 10-15k which leaves a healthy budget for repairs which you might not even need. The biggest issues you are likely to face would be the rear air suspension (which isn't actually ha unreliable and is quite handy) or ABS faults which are somewhat common but I've never run into issues. That's if you get a TD5, the V8s can have a few engine issues (mostly just head gaskets).

A Discovery 3 would be an even better vehicle comfort, family, towing wise, but they definitely have more things to go wrong and if you don't do the work yourself are a complete ripoff.
If you could find a decent V8 (petrol) one for around 15k and then spent 10k on preventative maintenance with the suspension you could have a very nice soccer mum car that also does well off road.

The D2 would be a safer bet but between my D3 and D2 the D3 is the far nicer vehicle.

well at least you’re honest.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

well at least you’re honest.

Honestly the Discovery 2 is a pretty awesome vehicle, which I feel hasn't aged a badly as many other 90s 4x4s.

My Discovery 3 have been pretty reliable considering the state I bought it in and the age/KMs (2006/360,000kms).
The issue with the D3 is there are more things to go wrong, the parts are expensive, and most people have no clue how to work on them.

The D2 is basically a D1 with a few more electronics and less rust.
The air suspension is the only major thing to give headaches but you can always downgrade to coils in the rear.

When compared to spending $30k plus for a 100 series LC I'd take a D3 any day of the week.
IMO the D3/D4 is the most practical SUV on the market with a few "quirks" that you need to live with.
For the money I paid (and have spent) I'm not sure what else I'd rather have for even close to the same price.

There's a nice V8 D3 on TM now, $13k with most of the major things to break having already been done.
Only thing left really is the suspension bushes which will wear out eventually and can get pricey to fix.

I think the Discos are the best value in the LR line up, Defenders are stupid expensive and even more agricultural than a 70 series LC.
The P38 RR doesn't have a great reputation for reliability, the classic are expensive and/or rusted out, the L322 and new are expensive to fix like the D3 and not as practical.

Yeah, maybe, nah.

I agree that once the Disco 2 is properly debugged and modified to suit the intended purpose, it can be awesome vehicle. But to get to that point is a crazy expensive journey full of risks and pitfalls. To justify the ownership stress, you really have to be an expert in these vehicles to be able to find the one that has been fully refurbished, no expense spared, PROPERLY, to be able to justify the risk of taking one on.

At the age most of them are at now, 95% of them are either already lemons, or a lemon-in-waiting.

There is no bargepole long enough for me.

25k should get you into a very good Prado 120 or even a 150 I would have thought?


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Could sell you my 2000 nissan patrol tdi.But its been just too reliable n practical for the last 18yrs to sell for $25k.Could luck in yr search.

Originally Posted by Trout

Could sell you my 2000 nissan patrol tdi.But its been just too reliable n practical for the last 18yrs to sell for $25k.Could luck in yr search.

Wash your mouth out!!!! Those diamonds are not for sale

Originally Posted by Trout

Could sell you my 2000 nissan patrol tdi.But its been just too reliable n practical for the last 18yrs to sell for $25k.Could luck in yr search.

i will take it

cheers some good ideas there unsure about the discovery but thanks for the info. prado seems a good option, i now the 80s and Patrols/Safaris are getting on in age but they are just so cool tho, and solid front axel also, don't make em like that anymore, the odd tidy one comes up under for under 30k :| so will keep my eye out. cheers

Originally Posted by H.M

i will take it

Just getting run in now,600000ks by the new year.Doesnt burn a drop of oil or leck oil.

If you're not so worried about getting something a bit older you could look at something like a surf or terrano. Spend 10k on a tidy example of a late 90s or early 2000s model then you still have plenty of funds to replace worn parts (shocks, bushes, seals,etc) and do some modernizing upgrades (new stereo/speakers, new or reupholstered seats).

I haven't looked that closely but judging by what a few people I know have paid for 10ish year old 4wds recently doing up a 20 year old one makes sense to me.

Wrong end of the country, but nevertheless a good example of a million km capable machine.


https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/c...2?bof=lr8RQQ5g