Name my $25k Ultimate Vehicle

Hi Janders

I'd call it "Sally"

Most Sally's I know are very versatile, don't mind hard work and scrub up pretty good

The seats and age criteria I haven't addressed

Sorry Janders....couldn't resist

LOL


Ray

Good luck with that Janders. You may get a high KM base model Pajero or 3L Nissan for that money but 7 seats, less than 5 year old in diesel is a big ask. May pay to look for an older low KM vehicle instead which coincidently I have a 105 series at the moment for a touch more but that may be seen as innapropiate advertising & the Mods here often frown apon that sort of thing ;-)
Cheers Craig...........

Ditto in that you wont find a 7 seat diesel under 5yo for $25k. If you do, I'll take 3 please to re-sell locally. $25k would get you into a 2001 to 2005 Pajero DID with between 150,000 and 200,000km, or possibly a 2001 - 2002 120 series Prado with the older diesel motor and a few more km on board. You'd also be able to get into an early 3.0l diesel GU Patrol if you want to play russian roulette with the grenade motor. A decent 100 series Landcruiser is well above your budget.... It's a tall ask.

You might just be able to find one in petrol though.

Pat

Easy Jaders

All your requirements are in the 4800 Patrol Petrol GU made in manual as well till 2006.

Not diesel - which is probably a bonus cost wise - but if performance is what your after then this car has the lot and won't need the "Upgrades".

If I was you I would do some research before asking this question..... if you did some research you would of found what you want; being 7 seats, diesel and under 5 years old is near imposable..... I suppose you want it running for that price and in good mechanical condition?

..... But then again ain't the Great Wall V series dual cab ute around that price second hand... you made no mention of it being good.

Your best bet would be a wrecked mining vehicle!

What about a 2000 or slightly later 4.2 Patrol Diesel with say 250,000ks, It would take $25K of your hard earned from you. Also there are a heap of used add ons available now , due to the decade of vehicles produced. No electronics on this engine to speak of, a mechanical injector pump and super tough drive train. Don't buy a 3 litre Patrol due to the high number of engine failures. A highly strung piddly 4 cylinder with built in faults is not where you would take to "deeper and rougher".. Mine has 325k with nothing spent on it from new , other than normal servicing. My first 1999 4.2 is still in the family with over 400k and only a clutch and font auto hub housings replaced. You cant beat that!!! MIchael.

have to agree on the Patrol 4.2 td, except for the weak 5th gear as i've just discovered... what about an older Troopie..

We've got a Mitsubishi Delica (and 4 kids). 8 seater diesel. 4WD. Bought 2nd hand through a dealer who imports them from Japan where they are used to drive people back and forth to the snowfields, apparently. Excellent condition. I love it and think it looks gorgeous. Older than 5 years but in great nick. Seats all fold in a variety of ways so you can do it up as a camper if you wish - very versatile. Cost us $25k. 2WD, 4WD (high and low range), AWD. Again.... I love it!Image Could Not Be Found

2004 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER PRADO KZJ120R GXL$25,000*
private sellerEnquiry NSW White
4cyl 3.0L Manual
WAGON
253,500 kms
REDUCED from $26500to$25000 call me today. Great condition with Hyw kms. Won't last at this price

2004 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER PRADO KZJ120R GX$24,500*
private sellerEnquiry NSW White
4cyl 3.0L Manual
WAGON
176,000 kms
Dual tanks , turbo diesel, very well looked after, roof racks and bull bar. 2 yrs service records.

2 examples of what you will get in prado form for the money you want to spend, taking into account the second one is a GX so is only a 5 seater..


Pajero example.....

2006 MITSUBISHI PAJERO NP MY06 GLX$21,990*
private sellerEnquiry SA White
4cyl 3.2L Auto
WAGON
199,320 kms
REDUCED FOR QUICK SALETURBO DIESEL 5 SPEED TIPTRONIC AUTO, BULLBAR, WINCH, DRIVING LIGHTS, TOW BAR


You will be pushing to find what your after maybe at the auctins but even then I doubt it. Petrol will get you closer to what you want.............

A td5 land rover discovery?

Can anyone knock a GGN25R 2006 Prado. Petrol but manual? How do I start to review this build?

G'day Janders,
It might be a hard task trying to find a reasonable car of the type you want.
But it is definitely not impossible.
I tend to think that most of those requirements of yours would be very easily achieved if you just extended the age by a few years.
I sold my 1999 2.8l GU Patrol in exceptionally good condition with 180,000 k on the clock for $16,500 when it was 10 years old. Others advertised on the net in no better condition with no less k's were advertised at prices up to the mid 20's.
The main difference was that mine sold when I wanted it to sell.
It also sold for what I wanted to sell it for.
A lot of posters seem to have some unrealistic idea of what their pride & joy is worth & in order to support this will tend to believe the higher advertised prices as being correct market value.
It doesn't matter what price someone advertises a car for.
It is the sale price that counts.
Also not all seemingly lower priced cars are of a lower quality. It could just be someone like me who wants to sell & sets a price that he thinks is fair & is not prepared to negotiate with tyre kickers.
Happy hunting Janders

Not mine, just examples of what can be had if willing to get away from the majors - and these are at the top end of the market

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=11472637

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=11243807

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=11224406

I'm still pushing the Delica (Space gear)... We take it everywhere - Done all the roads at Karijini, Marble Bar, Carawine Gorge, Skull Springs Road to Nullagine, back roads through from Cue to Mullewa, Eighty Mile Beach (shocking road), sand, pebbles, corrugations, bitumen, gravel, dirt, bit of mud, been all over WA, North and South, mostly towing a trailer. Also good to drive around town.

Tough and under-rated (obviously). 2.8L Turbo Diesel, 2WD, AWD & 4WD (high and low and diff lock), automatic, power steering, 8 seater, airconditioning. Yeah, ok, so it's a van instead of a truck, but it's hasn't got that "vanny" look of the Tarago - looks much beefier and tougher than that.Image Could Not Be Found

Looks fantastic when it's covered with mud and dirt too. We bought it because we needed something rough and tough with at least 7 seats, 4WD and good clearance that wasn't going to look like any of the tractors dropping kids off at school.

But that's ok... you guys stick to your trucks.... (Maybe I'll make my own little fan club...)

Enjoy the search.

Mary-Teresa

How about a 2005 ST Pathfinder. Is diesel and has 7 seats, reliable, looks nice and nice to drive. Should be around the $25,000 mark.