To ute or not to ute...
Submitted: Thursday, Mar 18, 2004 at 13:29
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Cruza
G'day all,
Its time to upgrade my 60 series diesel (which is a great vehicle by the way) to a newer, better model Landcruiser. I am looking to spend between $20000 - $35000, and I want a diesel to a put a turbo on, or one with a factory turbo. I am trying to choose between an 80 series GXL, a 75/79 series Ute or scrapping together just enough for a cheap 100 series standard diesel.
I would like a Ute, but I don't know if they are practical if you are not a tradesman, loading them up every day. I would just be using my fourby for commuting to work and playing in the mud/sand on weekends. Also, I'm not sure whether the leaf springs would become a pain in the butt.
Should I go ute or wagon? I'm a
young, single(ish) guy so I don't need alot of seats, though I have really enjoyed my 60 series so I don't mind driving a wagon at all.
Any advice or opinions or any kind of help at all with this desicion would really be appreciated.
Reply By: biscuits - Thursday, Mar 18, 2004 at 13:40
Thursday, Mar 18, 2004 at 13:40
Gday Cruza,
Don't know where you are in Aus, but I was around the auctions in
Perth last night and saw a bunch of ex-mining 100 series landcruiser 4 door utes getting ready for auction. I dont know if they are a factory toyota job or an aftermarket conversion - but there were a few of them going for auction. Maybe this would be an ideal compromise between ute and full cab that your looking for?
If you havent seen them before, they are basically a 4 door 100 series with the cab ending after the rear doors with an aluminium tray fitted after that. Tray isnt huge but I reckon you could *just* manage to fit a dirtbike in the back (diagonally) tied down (if that gives you a rough idea).
Pretty basic inside and out - its the heavy duty vinyl interior, no fruit, not constant 4WD like the regular 100 series either i dont think - old school part time 4WD with manual locking hubs - but then thats not far off a 70 series ute in spec that you said you were looking at. But for a newish car you should be able to pick one up for under 35k hopefully (i think?? not sure what they would go for?)
Anyway, hope this helps,
Dave.
AnswerID:
50855
Follow Up By: Cruza - Thursday, Mar 18, 2004 at 13:58
Thursday, Mar 18, 2004 at 13:58
Cheers Dave,
I'm in QLD so that knocks that idea on the head. I have seen these dual cab Cruisers, they are an aftermarket conversion I believe. They look very practical but I'm not sure how good they would be off road on narrow tracks etc, as they are quite long with the tray.
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Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Thursday, Mar 18, 2004 at 22:49
Thursday, Mar 18, 2004 at 22:49
IMHO dont touch ex-mining vehicles with a barge pole!
FollowupID:
312749
Follow Up By: Rob from Cairns Offroad Training & Tours - Friday, Mar 19, 2004 at 09:28
Friday, Mar 19, 2004 at 09:28
I am about to update to a new turbo 100 Series so my 2000 GXL 100 Series diesel is for sale. 0402 329 372 for details if you are interested.
Cheers Rob
FollowupID:
312783
Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Thursday, Mar 18, 2004 at 22:53
Thursday, Mar 18, 2004 at 22:53
Utes, amazing how many mates are MOVING or need bleep picked up etc...
Had a rodeo ute for just under 10 years, wouldnt have another ute.. As others have said, even with canopy, no security.. None. No room inside, if things change and you have kids, or woman with kids or want to take friends away our out with you, your FUBAR...
any 100 series you get for $30k will be crap.
Also
check rego and insurance, I think you will find they are more on utes, they used to be..
AnswerID:
50987
Reply By: Justin - Thursday, Mar 18, 2004 at 23:04
Thursday, Mar 18, 2004 at 23:04
Cruza,
I have a 80 series diesel 1997 dual cab, ex hire (probably ex mine). I too was very concerned about the rust/treatment of them but I paid $23000 for it two years ago with 130k on the clock. The going price back then was about $34k for a butchered cruiser, so I thought that gives me 10k I can spend on it. The 1HZs are bloody slow but will always get you there. I now have 180k on it and have had no major dramas, but the gearbox whines, and always has. Every mechanic says thats just how they are. As for off road performance they are great. The spare wheel is tucked up higher than the wagon, the tray doesn't hit and they have heavy duty coils on the rear (about a 50mm lift front and rear). As for all the hang over the back it's true but you can fold the back
seat up and put heavy stuff in the cab. 1 day after I bought it I loaded it up with 42 cartons of XXXX, heaps of gear and towed a 4.5m challenger tinny loaded up and drove 3000k to
Borroloola from Bne and back again. It went great, but I had minimal steering, this year I am putting airbags in the rear coils before I go again. They are a poverty pack but I quite like the 6 seats, and the air con is great. The one I bought had its lifes service history, average 6k
services and max was 13k. I got it from Four Wheel Drive hire service at Newmarket
Brisbane, they sell them every few months.
The mining worried me as I have also been told that the water and soil can contain salt and other corrosive materials. The one I got had a Body Guard rust system on it. about 2 months after I bought it I was cleaning it and found the chassis full of red soil, it took about 4hrs to flush it all out.
AnswerID:
50988