Thread: Cheap 4WD opinions

Originally Posted by BushChook

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

I have a 2010 MN 2.5 diesel and have had no problems.
see this thread: https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....amarok-119347/

Originally Posted by gonetropo

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)

Good to know, cheers. I ripped the egr out of my bighorn, I'd be inclined to do the same in any diesel.
I'll look up the downshift issue.

I’ve got a ‘12 MN Triton. Done 211k without any problems. Deleted the egr early on in life. Regularly tows trailer with 1 cord of wet wood ok. Gets me everywhere I want to go so far but I’m not into hard core 4WD like some of the wankers around the place. Still don’t 100% trust the traction control but haven’t been stuck yet except with worn tyres and nothing would have got out of that situation. Mine is a double cab with canopy and I regularly sleep on deck, with a tent fly rigged of canopy door if it’s raining. Does me fine.

Originally Posted by woods223

I’ve got a ‘12 MN Triton. Done 211k without any problems. Deleted the egr early on in life. Regularly tows trailer with 1 cord of wet wood ok. Gets me everywhere I want to go so far but I’m not into hard core 4WD like some of the wankers around the place. Still don’t 100% trust the traction control but haven’t been stuck yet except with worn tyres and nothing would have got out of that situation. Mine is a double cab with canopy and I regularly sleep on deck, with a tent fly rigged of canopy door if it’s raining. Does me fine.

Cheers. What's it like on fuel? Did the mn triton ever have dpf?
Does yours have the super select 4wd system with 4HLc and 4LLc? I'm not sure which models had it as it seems some do and some don't

A TDI Touareg is worth a look, seriously. They punch much harder off-road than most people realize and the fuel economy is unbelievable. Mine is a 2016 with EGR and DPF delete, 280hp and 600nm and it still gets 1200km to a tank.

Yeah, fantastic wagon....till something goes wrong with it. Then they become unbelievably expensive to repair. Keep up on the regular maintenance and she should give you a few hundred thou of good motoring.

I've had my run with Euros, while they are in every way better cars for driving experience and economy, I'll stick with Jap brands for now.
I've been doing some research and I think I've narrowed it down to MN triton or challenger, or Holden colorado with 4j engine.
Looked at a triton yesterday and it seems like a solid option.

You can’t go wrong with an RC Colorado.

I’ve got a Pajero with 3.2 diesel engine thats done lots of towing and 350,000 kms - and still going great. I’ve had absolutely zero issues - but have serviced it really thoroughly the whole time ive had it - it’s been an amazing reliable truck. If you could get one at under 250ks thats been looked after - it would be worth looking at. Im selling my one atm cheap - but at its kms - it is getting towards end of life and i dont think probably suitable for daily driver - would be great truck for hunting trips and duck shooting etc -

Pajero are probably what to look for if your trying to find something in that 10-12k range.

And if you get lucky you’ll still find a good tidy stock one that hasn’t been thrashed! Inlike basically every Toyota surf and prado for the same $$
Hit if you can find an untouched surf/prado they are good wagons!

I had a 2005 ford courier.
It was good till it wasn’t. Which is it didn’t survive a 8 hour road trip home from a hunting trip.

I'm thinking I'll have to raise my budget a bit. There's a nice MN triton with 180k on the clock for $17k. Ticks all the boxes but I'll be a couple grand short for a cash sale.

Mate of mine recently bought a 2019 Triton. Pre purchase inspection came up good etc, then he had a look under it when he got home and the underside was totally covered in rust! Lucky he bought it from a dealer so he took it back the next day for his money back.

Originally Posted by Mintie

Mate of mine recently bought a 2019 Triton. Pre purchase inspection came up good etc, then he had a look under it when he got home and the underside was totally covered in rust! Lucky he bought it from a dealer so he took it back the next day for his money back.

Hope he got his money back from the Pre-Purchase Inspector as well, if not then name & shame them

Originally Posted by Mintie

Mate of mine recently bought a 2019 Triton. Pre purchase inspection came up good etc, then he had a look under it when he got home and the underside was totally covered in rust! Lucky he bought it from a dealer so he took it back the next day for his money back.

Wow, yeah that's no good! I had a look at a triton and there was rust underneath. Big nope from me.
Seems fairly common in these newer utes, I've heard of many reports lately.
Hopefully the 2010-2015 models are safe. Will be having a good look when it comes to it.
I've sold the caravan and might have a buyer lined up for the bighorn, so I'll be looking at a few soon.

I have a 2009 ML Triton (short deck), bought sight unseen nearly 10 years ago from a Northland dealer and shipped to Dunedin. On arrival it had substantial underbody rust and a couple underbody dings and sand in the wheel guard linings, obviously been driven extensively on wet rocky beaches and/or deep onto boat ramps. Dealer said this was common for Northland vehicles and gave me $1000 towards remediation. Got it rust treated / undersealed and all fixed up for about the $1000. Rust treatment has mostly been successful with only minor spot re-treatment needed, no problems with WOF. It’s a mighty truck, last of the 3.2TD’s and with Super Select like the Pajeros. No regrets.