Cost effective 2nd vehicle options

why not just buy a ef or el falcon wagon. Do you really need 2 4bys?

2.6 pajs with 200ks are usually due for a engine rebuild if this has not already been done. I would go for a 4runner petrol engine. brand new 4y petrol motors in a crate are available for about $1500.00 and they usually do big ks anyway also the last of the old jacks with the efi 2.6 are better vehicles than the early pajs from this era. The motors do huge ks as I believe they are a chrome bvore motor the same as trucks. These are available for less than 5 grand especially in swb
Cheers Pete

Why not try Subaru Liberty wagon early to mid nineties 150 to 200k's should be in your bracket.

All the people that I've spoken to have raved about them. They seem a pretty solid car. Lot's around so parts should be available.

This may not be an issue for you but they have kept their looks pretty well (ie not dated)

Back in October I bought a 1993 Camry with 12mths rego for $3000. My daughter is running this up and down to Wollongong on a daily basis (5 days per week) it costs about $65 per week for fuel.

We had to put some tyres on it and a timing belt but apart from that it is reliable and cheap.

There are Camry wagons available. No it is not the most exciting car available but it is practical, reliable and cheap.

Duncs

Hi Gavin B, Hubby and I retired a few years ago and gave our car (my special car, was a mothers day present in 1993) to our son who needed another car at the time. We thought that we would only need one vehicle but with all the running around we do we are clocking up the Ks on the Patrol which like you, we want to keep for 4WD until we need it no more, so was looking around for say maybe a camry or the llikes, however, as luck would have it our son now needs a bigger car because of an increase in family so they have bought a people mover and guess what, we have my car back again albeit an ED falcon which we are finding is much cheaper to run than the Patrol.

To answer your question, I personally would go into something like the camry (which are cheaper to run than your falcons/ commodores) or that size vehicle and not worry about another 4wd.

Chees

D

My favourite old cars are the 86-90 Nissan R31 Skylines. They have a brilliant 6 cyl motor that doesn't wear out, and everything thing else is reliable or easily fixed.

If fuel was an issue, I go for the N14 (1991-94) and N15 (1995-2000) Nissan Pulsars. Nothing much ever goes wrong with them, and the 1.6 motor was ahead of its time. If you want something fast, buy an N14 Pulsar with the 2 litre motor either on the SSS or Q models.

My son's had a couple of Skylines and my daughters all drive N15 pulsars!

Go for something in 2wd, and keep capital expenditure low. What you spend will go in depreciation, so if you buy something cheap but solid, you won't lose much. I drive a 1979 Commodore sedan to work; not brilliant on fuel economy, but i don't use it for long trips. Solid and safe. Old enough that it doesn't matter if the dog travels on the back seat. Cheap enough to replace the motor if needed (it had a recent recon in it when i bought it, so shouldn't need replacing again). I could probably sell it for not much less than i paid for it a few years ago.

We also have a Camry 1990 sedan (daughter drives it). Very economical but the motor was not cheap to replace.

If your fuel is subsidised then anything is possible !!!

A solid holden or ford wagon with air (not commondore) would fit the bill.

Gavin,
Not sure how much help I'm going to be to you, I did the same thing I bought a 2000 Patrol about four years ago now, used it for everythng and realised that I really wanted a bush hack for just the running around.
I bought a 1985 Range Rover you can see in my rig pix, had great fun, looked after it and the only thing I had to replace in that I had to replace in four years where the starter motor and radiator, couldn't of asked for a better "hack". I sold this recently and bought a 1989 Range Rover sub $5k, supposed to be the best year to buy, for me it was a money tin, I spent a lot on it an ammount I won't own up to to get this vehicle to where I had my old one, with the added electronic wizardry, no chance. Someone over East now owns a top rangie, just wasn't the one for me.
Depends what you want and also I suppose your mechanical competence, if you can fix these things yourself go for it, I've now purchased a LR Discovery 1998 2.5 tubo diesel, bought it in Adelaide and drove it back. So far overjoyed with it, had on small water leak which I've now fixed, has a slight oil leak ( which is quite normal for LR's) I'll get to one day. If you want a run about then the advice above fits if you want a fourby to have a play with and not risk the good vehicle then something like this should fit. I'm not sure where you are at with this, I like my fourbys, not really that keen on driving a Camry, not that there is anything wrong with the vehicle it's just not what I want to drive.
Good luck with the choice.

The 2.6 Paj is thirsty around town and not too flash on the highway....and shows nothing for it. Had a LWB one for a year as a carryover vechile in 94, was worse than my EH with a 253 auto jobbie shoe horned in it around town around 16l + with a min of 12's on the highway.

I would reccomend the Feroza that someone put forward before. A mate has one that is now being used as a learner for his brats: the 1.6 is a late eighties corolla motor and is just like a corolla: bulletproof and goes hard. It does rev it tits off on the highway (3300rpm at 100km/hr) but this is going to be fixed with bigger tyres he's been saying ...... for a while. Just dont expect too much comfort in it, fore-aft rocking is worse than a tinny in a seaway, but to date its been a good little truck. Has pulled a 17 foot centre console with a 115 Yamaha when every other buggers truck was otherwise occupied, low range was selected as soon as a boat ramp was in sight though. Another thing you may learn is something suzuki owners have a doctorate in: stuff the zook, not too much room once a couple of cartons get put in the back.

Ben

Look at finding a PEUGEOT diesel good car and great m.p.g