kiwi van driver

**WINJA** · 20th June 2005, 19:27

Originally Posted by Jackrat

Get a ute mate,vans scare the hell out of me.
In any thing getting close to a real impact your very likely to lose your legs in the things.The L300 inparticular has a steering arm support just under the dash that will cut em' off neat as a neat thing.Have a look,it's bloody scary.

THATS WHY I LIKED THE LOOK OF THE L400

**Jackrat** · 20th June 2005, 19:34

Originally Posted by WINJA

THATS WHY I LIKED THE LOOK OF THE L400

Hmmm,never towed one of them.
Good luck either way.

**k14** · 20th June 2005, 19:45

Yeah I've got a 1986 hiace lwb 2l petrol with 175000 on the clock. Have not had a problem with it in the 5 months or so I've had it, only cost me $1400 aswell. Would quite easily fit 3 bikes in there and 4 at a squeeze. Don't have anything bad to say about it. But yeah jackrat hate thinking about what would happen in a crash, I see the new hiaces look really ugly but I can see they have safety in mind when designing it.

**Motu** · 20th June 2005, 19:48

The Hi Ace has a pretty good reputation,I don't know why,but they do seem to do the kms.Stay clear off Bongo's and Econovans,the worst of the worst,total and utter crap.L300s are nasty pieces of shit and don't go near them,the L400 seems a better bet because the motor is out the front,the diesel is still the grenade 4D56,but hey,I've got one in my Pajero and I reckon double the maintenance and they'll do the job.Previa - NO,NO,NO,NO,do I make myself clear?

I like Nissan vans - my old C22 Vanette diesel has done over 300,000km,and over the last couple of weeks shifting 3 house holds the little bugger worked night and day - I had it full to the roof towing a trailer with flattened springs...I shoulda filled the roof rack too because it didn't even notice it.I can turn it from people carrier to bike transporter in 5mins - pull out the rear seat and fit my bike rack,push the bike in and I'm gone.It's a low roof and my trials bike is not far from the roof,dirt bikes don't go in,but race bikes would cause they are low.Twin doors are a bonus too.

The Serena is a bit plush and maybe shorter in load space than the Vanette,I think the Vanette is the smallest van you can fit a bike in.The bigger Caravans are pretty good,the TD27 diesel is the best,although least high tech diesel,but that's why it's so good - chain drive push rod cast iron head,just like a REAL diesel.Isuzu is not a good choice either,not common enough for parts.

I have a dead 1988 C22 Vanette diesel for sale if you like - hurry,because parts are fast ending up on mine.Motor has a big knock,not sure what....

**sAsLEX** · 20th June 2005, 19:59

Originally Posted by Motu

Previa - NO,NO,NO,NO,do I make myself clear?

they go like snot though! seen high side of $1.50 in one of them with a decent load

**N4CR** · 20th June 2005, 20:29

GET ONE OF THOSE BONGO VAN THINGS WITH THE CURTAINS AND PUT HEAPS OF AFRICANS IN IT.

L300's go well, we had one when I was little.. my mum hates large cars but she said the L300 was awesome...

I ahh.. also fell out of the L300 when I was 2. Front passenger seat > concrete on my head. That might be why I'm so stupid now

**DingDong** · 20th June 2005, 21:09

Originally Posted by Jackrat

Get a ute mate,vans scare the hell out of me.
In any thing getting close to a real impact your very likely to lose your legs in the things.The L300 inparticular has a steering arm support just under the dash that will cut em' off neat as a neat thing.Have a look,it's bloody scary.

Get a ute WINJA, those is tougha...

Hey Jackrat, I like Waiuku... for Beachracing and drinking beer.
Next time your at the Hotel look for my cup... it's the big one above the bar, thats mine, beachracing champ. (toooot, toooot)

**What?** · 21st June 2005, 07:05

Not unknown for the fifth gear to go walkabout in L300's - rattles loudly for a little while, then, if you don't fix it QUICK, total lock-up.

**sels1** · 21st June 2005, 09:00

Where I work we use vans to go all over the country. Over many years we have found the Hi Ace to be the best all round performer - lowest maintenance, longest lasting, higher load capacity, takes more abuse etc easy (if boring) to drive. The odd Mitzi we have had seem to be designed for the vertically challenged, low windscreen, door entrys etc. Small things broke on them, doorlocks etc, they used oil from very early on in life, but were peppier to drive. Agree with Motu's comments on Econovan/Mazda

**MSTRS:Me** · 21st June 2005, 09:09

Jackrat is right. L300's are lethal in a frontal.
What is this L400 - 2 Mitzi utes welded together?

**WINJA** · 21st June 2005, 17:58

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Jackrat is right. L300's are lethal in a frontal.
What is this L400 - 2 Mitzi utes welded together?

L400 IS THE ONE WITH THE MOTOR IN FRONT THEY ALSO COME AS 4WD.
MITSI L400 , AUTO , AC, ABS, CD, ENGINE IN FRONT 5 YEAR FACTORY WARRANTY $25,000 NEW.
HIACE NO EXTRAS 3 YEAR WARRANTY $42,000 AC EXTRA $2500.
I DONT KNOW HOW TOYOTA CAN COMPETE MITSI OFFER A FLEET DISCOUNT ON THAT PRICE AS WELL.
IF TOYOTA ARE SO GOOD WHY DO THEY ONLY OFFER A 3 YEAR WARRANTY OPPOSED TO MITSI 5 YEAR COMERCIAL WARRANTY?

**Rainbow Wizard** · 21st June 2005, 18:53

Originally Posted by Jackrat

vans scare the hell out of me. In any thing getting close to a real impact your very likely to lose your legs in the things.The L300 inparticular has a steering arm support just under the dash that will cut em' off neat as a neat thing.Have a look,it's bloody scary.

Dunno what you're refering to but it won't be a steering arm support if it's under the dash. Do you mean the floor perhaps?

**marty** · 21st June 2005, 18:56

Originally Posted by What?

Not unknown for the fifth gear to go walkabout in L300's - rattles loudly for a little while, then, if you don't fix it QUICK, total lock-up.

mine did that - $600 for new synchros and main bearings. other than theat the 2.4i petrol with 3" pipe and extractors went well - note the exhaust pipe exiting just fwd of the RH rear wheel. no rust at all. not as big as a hiace though

**Rainbow Wizard** · 21st June 2005, 19:00

Originally Posted by What?

Not unknown for the fifth gear to go walkabout in L300's - rattles loudly for a little while, then, if you don't fix it QUICK, total lock-up.

I have driven cumulatively hundreds of thousands of ks in L300s, from 1984 until about 2000 when I bought my first L400 (and I'm now on my 3rd or 4th one of them). And darn you What? I was going to with-hold all comment about L400s until WINJA actually asked me nicely (IN LOWER CASE WRITING) for my opinion on them! How about it WINJA? It won't hurt a bit.