Thread: Cheap 4WD opinions

So it's getting time to retire the old bighorn. Been a capable truck, but life is getting too busy to maintain a 30yo vehicle.
I'm not in the market yet, I'll be selling a few things to fund it, but I want to figure out exactly what I want to buy so I know what I need to aim for $$$ wise. Going to sell the old truck and my old caravan.
I'm guessing budget will be somewhere around $10k to $12k

I've always been into the suv style surf/prado/bighorn etc for sleeping in the back of, but with most options being 30 years old (what I'm trying to upgrade away from) or out of the potential budget I'm starting to consider a ute and possibly a roof top tent down the track.
Needs to be capable and reliable, and fuel consumption would be a consideration.
I've had a look around, and navara, triton, bt50/bounty seems to be doable. What I want to know is what I should be looking at in terms of reliability, common issues and what to avoid for heavy fuel consumption.
The bighorn is thirsty enough, especially towing!

well don't buy a petrol 80 series then she drinks but I love how capable and relatively simple it is .......a bit like me

Yes the 2000,s on has been somewhat sucky as for suvs...90s was were the best in my opinion.

Would suggest something like extracab ford courier for the dollars in low maintenance.

My old bt50 was thirsty and crap turning circle,

Ford courier could be a good option, cheers. I'll do some research. What are they like on fuel?
I haven't heard great things about the more modern pajeros, and not a big fan of the j120 prados. Everything else is utes or oddball models. Or not true 4wd.
I drove a new hilux for a work truck for the last few years and I there's definitely a few drawbacks for my uses. But with drawers, canopy and rooftop tent I could cover a lot of ground.

Courier had a few issues, mainly heads and injectors. Glow plugs weren't great either. Rust is your main issue now if the mechanical side is good, they were a really capable ute being lighter than other options. The High Country spec was pretty good, slightly taller. I think 05 onwards year had the pretensioning seat belts and airbags etc across the range, earlier years it was only the xlx double cab if I have the right memory lurking.

Had two couriers as farm trucks.did the heads on both and gearbox in one of them.

I’d say Pajero, had plenty of them in a few different models. Great vehicles. 3.2 diesel is a good engine but dunno if you’ll get one in your price range.

https://youtu.be/WMRZUljZfv8?si=KWRGLlZfr8MGtOJ5

In similar boat...under 20k and under 25 years old = 250-300kms on clock....

In wagons, 3.2L Pajero and 120 Prado’s with D4D motors. Avoid Toyotas that have gone a lot of towing if you can. Kills the D4D motors (pistons).

Similar set up’s in tritons and Hilux are safe bets. Early Isuzu/Colarado’s with 3.0 l TD Isuzu motor.


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I have a 120 prado with the 1kz. Its been very reliable and there is an absolute plethora of material on the internet for fixing it yourself if need be. Parts super easy to get and being such a common vehicle everything is just easy to sort. 390k on the clock and uses no oil or water good times. Wouldn’t describe it as cheap to run though. The D4D version would be better for that.

had a 2005 courier 4x4 2.5 td. Definitely check radiator and cooling system. we were told to do radiator flush every 100K. Even though it was bathed in Hyd oil we still had some rust in the tube. Think it had 280K km when we sold it.
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There is a well-equipped 3 litre TD manual Surf on TradeMe, 202000 K's for $14K that would be worth looking at. I have had one for the last 21 years and can't fault it. It goes everywhere I point it, and it will do me for many more years yet.

Any opinions on the MN triton? Diesel, around 2010-2015.
Seen a few tidy ones around the $12k mark.

Originally Posted by BushChook

Any opinions on the MN triton? Diesel, around 2010-2015.
Seen a few tidy ones around the $12k mark.

in manual they suffer a downshift issue from 4-3 or maybe it was 3-2.
egr system is crap (but i do have a remedy for it)