Most affordable, capable 4X4 vehicle

Eish!!!
Economical in a 4x4? Never!
Landrover and reliable? Never!

Rather look at what you would like to do with it, how often you would use it, how much space you need.
Especially have a look where you will park it, as even a normal double cab will struggle to fit into a standard garage these day. Not even talking about a landy with a roofrack on it.

For your money you will find some good deals out there. Rather spend R100k and keep the rest for upgrades / repairs.
Normally 4x4 guys take good care of their stuff, but parts IS expencive.

There is soo many optinions regarding Diesel VS Petrol :(
Petrol is easier and cheaper to service and repair, but petrol cost is high.
Diesel is more economical than petrol, but parts and service is expencive.

Any newer type enigne with fuel injectors WILL have loads of electronics.
It is only the older type carb petrol engines that will/could be fully mechanical.

Best of luck!!!
 
Someone once told me, that it does not matter what 4x4 you buy, you'll spend at least R40-50k on accessories.
33" Tyres, steel front and rear bumpers, air compressor, 2" lift, snorkel, winches, etc. :D (These guys were doing seriously technical off-roading in the dunes.)

If you're going into the bundus:
Look for a N/A Engine with little electronics. Less that can break or get water in.
Diesel gives better km/l but has less power.

Also see what your 4x4 needs are. Approach and departure and break-over angles might be a issue if you go heavy off-roading.

Also remember that you are buying a 2nd hand vehicle. Stuff like 300 000km means nothing. You have to look at the specific vehicle condition, service history, etc. Also use Google to see what goes wrong/breaks on that specific model. With age something must break. (That's where service history and condition comes in.)
 
I'd say Jimny if it is your only car, if you have a run around car already then a nice old defender ;)
 
Colin62 said:
"Reliable" and "Landrover" in the same sentence???
Click to expand...

wetkit said:
Eish!!!
Economical in a 4x4? Never!
Landrover and reliable? Never!
Click to expand...

If you are going to buy a Land Rover makes sure you buy one that is pre-BMW takeover <1994.

The other option in my book is Toyota. get a old Landcruiser or a double cab end of story. This is where I would spend my money.

I still want one of these,
250px-Toyota_Land_Cruiser_yellow_vl.jpg



Edit:
Something else that is cool is a Mercedes Geländewagen but god help you if it breaks as you would have to sell your first born, wife & kidneys to replace a diff.

250px-Mercedes_Benz_G-Wagen_G320.jpg
 
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The old jimnys were called suzuki sumurai?could be wrong though.i remember a clip on youtube where a navara builds up speed and floors it to get up a steep little hill.so much drama.this jimny just rides up to it and rides up the hill like its not even there.no fuss.no drama. lol.

what about something like the isuzu kb250d? the ones without the 'compensator'. i know a guy who abuses his.has just over 300000km on and its running like a champ. was designed to not be very fast,but be super reliable.
 
I think the Jimny is a good choice, I have spoken to some people and apparently I will not get finance for such an old car if I chose the landy.
The Suzuki however is R192000 +/- brand new so it is a bit more than I was hoping for but I am sure in the long run it will be cheaper to run than the land rover.

I am going to go test drive the Jimny today or tomorrow.

Haha side note: Jimny makes me think of the cricket~!
 
I tested the Jimny yesterday, I have nothing good to say about it. I never took it off the road so I am most probably not seeing its full potential. But as a road car it is shockingly underpowered.

And it is too expensive.

I saw this on the way home though:

photo_m_get.php


Link

Any thoughts on this vehicle?
 
3.7l Jeep :)
How much money do you have for petrol cards?
Jeep is very good and extremely capable, while comfortable, but NOT know for good fuel consumption.
They just as bad as Nissan wrt fuel consumption.
 
Re83L said:
Why is Land Rovers so economical? Because you're pushing it... Go into Africa, you only ever find spares for Toyotas. In Botswana, there's nothing other than Land Cruisers.
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All those spares are from broken down Toyotas that have been abandoned ;)

In all fairness, one of the reasons you see LCs and Patrols all over Africa is because as part of its UN contribution, Japan gives them vehicles. These are then sold on to the locals.


I'd look for a second hand hilux 4x4. (Actually, that's my next vehicle)
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diesel one? Prepare to fork out close to R30K when your injectors pack up and Toyota tells you to bugger off
 
wetkit said:
3.7l Jeep :)
How much money do you have for petrol cards?
Jeep is very good and extremely capable, while comfortable, but NOT know for good fuel consumption.
They just as bad as Nissan wrt fuel consumption.
Click to expand...

The internet says the jeep can get 13l/100km
which I think is about 7km/l ?? not sure if I have that right!

I can live with that, I will not use it every day.
Sitting in that jeep feels really great, everything feels like quality, not like sitting in that jimny or in a hilux.

I would love a land cruiser pick up or that big one, even that nissan patrol, but they are insanely priced.
And I can just imagine even worse with fuel consumption!
 
StonerStuart said:
The internet says the jeep can get 13l/100km which I think is about 7km/l ?? not sure if I have that right!
I can live with that, I will not use it every day. Sitting in that jeep feels really great, everything feels like quality, not like sitting in that jimny or in a hilux. !
Click to expand...


13l/100km loaded or unloaded? Just work what a 6000km overlanding trip will cost you before you commit.

Also, have you considered maintenance and repair costs? If you break down in the middle of nowhere, will you be able to find someone to repair it? I know of someone who had to trek across the Richtersveld into Namibia when his Jeep refused to start due to an electronic fault.

If you are going to use the vehicle primarily for overlanding, the more simple the vehicle the better off you will be
 
Naks said:
13l/100km loaded or unloaded? Just work what a 6000km overlanding trip will cost you before you commit.

Also, have you considered maintenance and repair costs? If you break down in the middle of nowhere, will you be able to find someone to repair it? I know of someone who had to trek across the Richtersveld into Namibia when his Jeep refused to start due to an electronic fault.

If you are going to use the vehicle primarily for overlanding, the more simple the vehicle the better off you will be
Click to expand...

Unloaded, never thought of that...
I have considered the cost of repairs and maintenance, its just such a comfy and quality car.

The more simpler the car the better, but then a bit of comfort comes into play, not luxury but comfort.
I am short, 1.7 +- M, I heard you cannot move the landies seat forward of backwards? That would just be a problem.

Jimny is not an option as you cannot pack everything needed for two people for a 5 day camping trip!

I still have some time before I buy one so I will continue looking.

I just think that jeep is awesome but agreed with the ridiculous service/repair costs.
 
Hehehe.
According to Nissan I should get around 15l/100km.
According to Fuelly other users get between 13l and 16l/100km. (http://www.fuelly.com/car/nissan/frontier/gas v6/truck)
Guess what, I am stuck at 18l/100km with normal driving and around 25l/100km when going offroad.

Why not talk to the guys at www.4x4community.co.za
There is loads of guys there with Jeeps, Landrovers and anything else :)
 
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