new vehicle

Hi fossil10,

I'm not sure which 4wd you should get either!
But I am sure that if you are looking for a 4wd 2 or 3 years old you should look into the government auctions in your particular state, I just bought a nissan Patrol GU sept 2002 with 49,000km on it,4.2td cab chassis, St version, cruise control, air, steps, arb bullbar & towbar, new tray, etc. for $36000 incl. gst. Just check the service history & take your chances, after all this is where the trade buy their cars!

SA Gov Auctions

1st you have to decide how much your going to spend.
You also need to take into account its main duties/expected mileage.
Maintenance/fuel and general running costs are usually higher and must be considered.
If your getting a larger type it may not fit in the garage/carport (like mine after I fixed the suspension).
It really is worth spending the time thinking about your requirements.

Budget??

What do you want it for??

How many people will be travelling in it??

Towing??

Preferences??

Manual or Auto??

Petrol or DieseL??

Intend keeping for long time, or 4 year turnover??

Where are you located??

Fossil I can't offer any better advice than that coming from the three contributers Ross, Rowler and Truckster but add that a half day at the auctions is perhaps the best educator to values.

Rowler suggests the SA Govt auctions, I spent two half days at Fowles in Melbourne to get my values when looking to buy a ute. As in most cases the vehicles are maintained and manufactured to a standard +/- a bit you can drive down the highway afterwards putting values on a lot of vehicles at wholesale rates. I would not buy from a dealer after that for a no trade situation.

They will come with residual warranties too.

Fowles have auctions every fortnight for ex-government vehicles, 4bys and the like
Fowles site I never bought from them though either but another auction.
Regards

JohnR - Not enough of the right travelling, some here..... some over there.......

Truckster, details are available on the net and the below is the paste from their page

Commencing at 10:00AM
ON VIEW DAY PRIOR TO AUCTION: 8AM TO 5 PM
ENQUIRIES: BUYER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
A $250 (GST INCLUSIVE) BUYERS ADMINISTRATION FEE IS
PAYABLE ON ALL VEHICLES IN THE AUCTION.

They also also allow vehicles to be started on the morning of the auction but not in the day before. Vehicles may be passed in a number of times and come up a fortnight later time again though which is disconcerting.

10% is payable on the fall of the hammer too, the remainder on collection from memory - within the week (check the provisions not my memory). Cash or bank cheque. Registration of buyers required too you may imagine but it costs nothing to look.

You may notice some auctions are for the trade and most have some connections who can buy for you for a slab or two perhaps. My ute cost none of those was done for a favour return.Regards

JohnR - Not enough of the right travelling, some here..... some over there.......