Jackaroo

Hi Cary

I can highly recommend the Kia Sorento. We had an 05 model V6 petrol but it was an absolute pearler!! I used to cringe when i first bought it and people asked what i drove. Not now. They are also available in diesel as well if your set on that with a 5 sp tiptronic gearbox. Mine towed our tandem poptop about 2t all day loaded to the eyeballs, aircon on full in 40c+ temps. They are rated for 2.4t from memory and mine with the van on loaded did about 15l/100km sitting on 90/95. it would do 100 no probs but started getting pretty thirsty. They are hi and low range with shift on the move ( no stopping to engage hubs) handle really well and a pleasure to drive day to day. I paid 20k in 08 with 45k on the clock, i sold it late last year with just over a hundred for 16k. Check them out their great!!

regards
Phil

Gary Jacks are a good thing, unfortunalty the 4jxi motor along with the 3lt patrols one of less reliable motors. The petrols on the other hand are very reliable. Also the cost of expensive filters and servicing make it no cheaper to run then the petrols. Also some parts are supposed to be hard to get for this motor. Lots and lots of info on this motor at the Australia 4wd forum. Then go to the jack section.
by the way we have three Jacks, but the more reliable v6. In fact my wife has a Nullarbor, we picked it up a few years ago with 77k for $14000, has not missed a beat.
Cheers Pete

Carry W, as you will be ware a Jackaroo is an Izusu. A Kia of any type is not in the same category. The 30l TD is a very efficient tow vehicle and I find mine a pleasure to drive on the open road and around suburbia. I would have bought a Nullarbor but I couldn't find one at the time. 10 l/100 highway, 11 l/100 around town and 15 l/100 towing a Coromal 535 pop top. Mine has done 153,000 and the only problem I have had in 53,000 km is a leaking tappet cover gasket.
Cheers,
Kevin

The 4JX1 engine is well known for reliability issues.. It is not un common for turbos to fail, glow plugs to fail, heads to crack and even oil pressure issues. Having repaired my fair share of them i'd happily recommend anyone to steer clear of them.

DAN

We have close to 300,000k on our 1998 4jx1 jack and it had been a fantastic vehicle.
Have had a few minor problems with the motor, couple of sensors and a harness replaced which is think is fair enough for the age and distance covered.
The main engine problem is with those who cannot read the plaque in the engine bay which specifies the correct weight and spec oil to use.
I change my own oil as the moron mechanics always and i mean always just use what ever oil they happen to have rather then the correct grade.

Part of the problem with the reputation of the 3.0 L TD motor is that it has been around for a long time and every bad luck story has been retold so often that it has become folklore. Correct oil and professional servicing seems to be the key to me.

And people do love to share misery. The other day when I was stopped for morning tea in Morven a bloke walked all the way across the highway and a park to ask how my Jackaroo was going and to tell me a tale of woe about one that he used to own. I don't know what he drives now. I couldn't be bothered asking.
Kevin

Personally I would advise against a Jackaroo

As it is a discontinued car, the parts for it may be excessive

In fact the parts for the Jacks when it was indeed a cureent model was excessive

Serviceing and maintaining by Jack was twice as much as the two other 4wd I owned

CJ

Get a petrol 3.5l Jackaroo. Easily strong enough to tow your pop-top. Beautiful to drive, easy to maintain and parts not a problem so far - not that you'll need them in my experience. I have a 98 SE Jack.

DONT GO THERE.

The Jack Diesel is a disaster

Cheers
Wayne B

I'm not going near the Diesel argument, except to say that when I bought my 2000
3.5 V6 there was enough anecdotal noise around to steer me clear. I wasnt too
confident about the V6, but after 70k of trouble free motoring I sing its praises. Now
has 140k. Nearly all those k's were towing a C/t & returns 15L/100 constantly when
kept under 100 kph. Still around for $10/12k with under 150k...no better value
real 4wd on the market. Best I can get,local country driving is 12/13L per 100k.
cheers....oldbaz.

Well Guys after all that and other forums I have looked at the Jack TD is a scratching.

Will look at other options.


Thanks to all who offered advise.

Much appreciated.

Caz