Discussion
Having never liked 4x4's, er, i think i'm going to buy one. 
I fancy going greenlaning, esp now i've discovered greenlaning in France. And i facy a bit of easy trialling.
The obvious choice would be a chap Landy 90 series, or a Disco. But i've owned brit cars for most of my life, and i just can't face anymore dire build quality, crap engineering and unreliability. I've spent some time reading the Landy and Disco forums, and no, i can't face it any more of the 'water in, oil out' syndrome.
I do recognise though that the Landy's are superior off road, but i'll live with that.
I've had a scout around at whats available Jap-wise but always end up more confused than knowledgable. There seems to be a plethora of models in all sorts of different guises, and then there's the grey imports. Can anyone recommend a cheap (under £5k) Jap 4x4 that won't get beached on the first pebble and which you can buy bits and parts for? I really would prefer diesel, and would prefer an auto box, tbh. (My desire is to always be warm and comfortable when out in the wilds, you understand
). And i'm not averse to grey imports either, so long as there is some back-up for them.
I fancy going greenlaning, esp now i've discovered greenlaning in France. And i facy a bit of easy trialling.
The obvious choice would be a chap Landy 90 series, or a Disco. But i've owned brit cars for most of my life, and i just can't face anymore dire build quality, crap engineering and unreliability. I've spent some time reading the Landy and Disco forums, and no, i can't face it any more of the 'water in, oil out' syndrome.
I do recognise though that the Landy's are superior off road, but i'll live with that.
I've had a scout around at whats available Jap-wise but always end up more confused than knowledgable. There seems to be a plethora of models in all sorts of different guises, and then there's the grey imports. Can anyone recommend a cheap (under £5k) Jap 4x4 that won't get beached on the first pebble and which you can buy bits and parts for? I really would prefer diesel, and would prefer an auto box, tbh. (My desire is to always be warm and comfortable when out in the wilds, you understand
). And i'm not averse to grey imports either, so long as there is some back-up for them.I found it far more expensive maintaining a Jap 4x4 than I did a classic Range Rover but I could have been unlucky. The Isuzu Trooper is probably the most Defender Like Jap 4X4 and you should be able to get a very decent one for 5k. It dosent have permanent 4WD though and neither does the Shogun.
Jeeps are quite good but only the petrol ones in that price range.
Jeeps are quite good but only the petrol ones in that price range.
cptsideways said:
Avoid 2.4TD's Surf's they are troublesome & Pajero's are ok but get the 2.8td not the 2.5td.
Good point - 2.4td Toyotas struggle to get rid of heat and tend to cook themselves, a bigger exhaust helps but best to just avoid.As for Mitsubishis, well I was taught never buy a Jap diesel starting with 'M'. I've heard far too many horror stories (often from mechanics, owners, etc) about them blowing up in various ways to even consider owning one myself. (Like a Pajero dropping an exhaust valve which bounced around on top of the piston for a while before shredding the turbo on the way out
)Nothing wrong with Shoguns / Pajeros if you use common sense when buying as you would any other car (milage, servicing and so on). Having spent quite a lot of time abusing them offroad I've yet to encounter a major component failure.
I can understand you're weariness towards landies, they have knocked out their fair share of friday afternoon cars, I never had any real problems with my discovery V8 upon getting shot of it at 150-160k miles, aside of a fuel pump giving up and a couple of bushes getting worn. Thirst isn't the word though.
Land cruisers around that price range tend to be pretty high milage, the 4.2 engine is an absolute cracker though.
Have you considered a Nissan Patrol? Still revered as an excellent piece of kit offroad, massive aftermarket scene thanks to the crazy folks up in iceland, and in the middle east, bulletproof and a good offroader should you fancy some real mudplugging. The LWB's are a bit on the bohemoth side along with the LC Amazons, but they're fantastically capable. The SWB's are bloody rugged little beasts too.
To be honest, for some fairly easy going greenlaning, most half decent 4x4's will be more than capable. Some might need a bit of a body lift to free up some ground clearance, but that and some appropriate tyres, coupled with a quick check over on the maintenance side of things, and you should be good to go.
I'd definately recommend the patrol though, an absolute abundance of aftermarket bits too should you get hooked, mudplugging can be very addictive.
I can understand you're weariness towards landies, they have knocked out their fair share of friday afternoon cars, I never had any real problems with my discovery V8 upon getting shot of it at 150-160k miles, aside of a fuel pump giving up and a couple of bushes getting worn. Thirst isn't the word though.
Land cruisers around that price range tend to be pretty high milage, the 4.2 engine is an absolute cracker though.
Have you considered a Nissan Patrol? Still revered as an excellent piece of kit offroad, massive aftermarket scene thanks to the crazy folks up in iceland, and in the middle east, bulletproof and a good offroader should you fancy some real mudplugging. The LWB's are a bit on the bohemoth side along with the LC Amazons, but they're fantastically capable. The SWB's are bloody rugged little beasts too.
To be honest, for some fairly easy going greenlaning, most half decent 4x4's will be more than capable. Some might need a bit of a body lift to free up some ground clearance, but that and some appropriate tyres, coupled with a quick check over on the maintenance side of things, and you should be good to go.
I'd definately recommend the patrol though, an absolute abundance of aftermarket bits too should you get hooked, mudplugging can be very addictive.
Generally for patrols you have to look overseas for parts. Find the right places though and they're actually pretty cheap to upgrade. I know a couple of places over in Dubai and the surrounding areas that can get pretty much anything for them.
I'd still opt for a landy all day long, but some of the stuff I've seen done to patrols is incredible.
Not the best for mudplugging and green laning, but I've seen an RB30DET (inline 6 skyline petrol engine fitted with an RB30 3.0 litre bottom end instead of the 2.6) complete with massive turbo making a mockery of everything else as it ripped across the dunes like they were flatland
I'd still opt for a landy all day long, but some of the stuff I've seen done to patrols is incredible.
Not the best for mudplugging and green laning, but I've seen an RB30DET (inline 6 skyline petrol engine fitted with an RB30 3.0 litre bottom end instead of the 2.6) complete with massive turbo making a mockery of everything else as it ripped across the dunes like they were flatland
I've been looking at 1996/97/98 2.5lt Diesel Jeep Cherokee's. They run either 2 or 4 wheel drive modes thereby saving tyres, have good heaters and aircon, electric leather seats (heated), sunroof, the usual low/high range gearbox and a simple but useable stereo. I see plenty around with high mileages, still going strong, and there isn't a heck of a lot goes wrong with them. Pop some decent tyres on and they have reasonable off-road ability, but they aren't as good as Landy's or landcruisers by any stretch but then 'you get for what you pays'.
If you're only greenlaning and won't be up to the axles in deep crap or wading huge rivers one of these might not be a bad idea, and they are cheap at £1000 - £2000. That leaves plenty of budget to make sure the jeep stays mechanically bullet proof, replace a few cruicial parts, and lets you add some nice touches like a winch, spot lights, decent wheels/tyres, roll bar, snorkel, sounds etc....
I've seen one modified to go proper off-roading (like the wrangler rock climbing conversions) and it was pretty awesome.
Just a thought....
If you're only greenlaning and won't be up to the axles in deep crap or wading huge rivers one of these might not be a bad idea, and they are cheap at £1000 - £2000. That leaves plenty of budget to make sure the jeep stays mechanically bullet proof, replace a few cruicial parts, and lets you add some nice touches like a winch, spot lights, decent wheels/tyres, roll bar, snorkel, sounds etc....
I've seen one modified to go proper off-roading (like the wrangler rock climbing conversions) and it was pretty awesome.
Just a thought....
ScoobieWRX said:
I've been looking at 1996/97/98 2.5lt Diesel Jeep Cherokee's. They run either 2 or 4 wheel drive modes thereby saving tyres, have good heaters and aircon, electric leather seats (heated), sunroof, the usual low/high range gearbox and a simple but useable stereo. I see plenty around with high mileages, still going strong, and there isn't a heck of a lot goes wrong with them. Pop some decent tyres on and they have reasonable off-road ability, but they aren't as good as Landy's or landcruisers by any stretch but then 'you get for what you pays'.
Err the 2.5 Jeep diesel is shite. They are horrible gutless engines. The only Jeep woth having at that age is the 4ltr petrol. Get a gas converted one and you will be paying less than if you had the diseasel.plasticpig said:
ScoobieWRX said:
I've been looking at 1996/97/98 2.5lt Diesel Jeep Cherokee's. They run either 2 or 4 wheel drive modes thereby saving tyres, have good heaters and aircon, electric leather seats (heated), sunroof, the usual low/high range gearbox and a simple but useable stereo. I see plenty around with high mileages, still going strong, and there isn't a heck of a lot goes wrong with them. Pop some decent tyres on and they have reasonable off-road ability, but they aren't as good as Landy's or landcruisers by any stretch but then 'you get for what you pays'.
Err the 2.5 Jeep diesel is shite. They are horrible gutless engines. The only Jeep woth having at that age is the 4ltr petrol. Get a gas converted one and you will be paying less than if you had the diseasel.Also i am going to start making my own biodiesel so actually it won't cost me anything to run. For short journeys into town and around northants it will be a damn site cheaper to run that than my Scooby, which sucks petrol like an alchy sucks booze!! And i'd like to take my scoob off the road for some much desired mods, and i've always fancied a cheap 4x4 to knock about in.
Win Win situation.
I had an early 4.0 Cherokee, and loved it. For sure, not the ultimate off road machine, but I still had a lot of fun in it, and it was far nicer to live with on road than my mates green oval ( of similar age and value ).
Lovely engine, but a bit thirsty, but I only did a low milage in it, so it did not matter. Nothing ever went wrong with it either.
Lovely engine, but a bit thirsty, but I only did a low milage in it, so it did not matter. Nothing ever went wrong with it either.
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