Cost effective 2nd vehicle options
Submitted: Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 13:06
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Member - Gavin B (NSW)
Hi All, hoping to receive some advice/comments if possible.
We currently have a 2000 model Jackaroo (~120k) as our only car. We aim to keep this car for the term of it's natural life for the purposes of trips etc. etc., and as a result don't want to trash it in the daily grind getting to work around
Sydney etc.
To this end, I have been getting PT to work (~90mins each way) but this is becoming tiring - I would therefore like to buy a cheap run around (sub $5k) for this purpose. I would like it to be relatively safe and reliable (kids down the track), and also be capable of handling our large labrador (see rig
pic) as
well as tow the tinnie to the ramp etc. etc. at a pinch. Reasonable fuel efficiency would be nice however I get subsidised fuel through my job so not a major issue.
Not asking much am I.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to go for? I have been thinking about mid-80's SWB Pajero's as a start, around 200k with the 2.6L engine. These seem to be in the $2k - $5k range depending on condition.
Any other idea's?
Thanks in advance.
Gav
Reply By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 16:12
Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 16:12
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
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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 17:21
Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 17:21
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!
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Reply By: Motherhen - Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 18:42
Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 18:42
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.
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Reply By: Martyn (WA) - Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 20:52
Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 20:52
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.
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Reply By: BennyGU - Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 21:40
Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 21:40
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
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