Looking to buy my first RV/SUV (first 4 wheeled vehicle)

[Brett]

A few years back I swapped a 2005 Audi S4 for a 1996 Toyota Prado diesel. I have been very happy with that decision. The Prado isn't too bad on fuel given it is near 3ton and a 3 litre turbo diesel (65ltrs gets me about 650kms around town). It also has great power for towing, going off road or whatever. It is a bullet proof piece of kit, with a strong body and incredibly reliable motor that, with good regular maintenance will just never ever give up. I have never had to replace anything other than maintenance items (tyres, oil, brake pads, cam belt)
I have taken it down some rather rough and wild tracks, including over rocks on the beach and it has never had trouble.(I got mine stuck in a 1m wide and deep drainage culvert andby simply locking the diffs, drove it right out without even a scratch!). It is never going to be a fast vehicle, although I seldom get overtaken on the open road but I still enjoy trucking along in it. The only reason I will sell it, will be to replace it with a new one.

[Shortie]

The toyotas are more expensive but worth it. I have the mistral 1995 and still going strong, but the electric windows crap out and parts are pricey. Bigger than the rav but drives smoother on the highway and never been stuck on sand or mud.

[mulletman]

Id steer clear from any V6 vitaras, hungry as and really exp to replace a cam chain which only last 100-120000 KMs.
The short wheel base vitaras and CRVs are wobbly as hell , go for four door versions.
My pick would be a 1600 manual vitara.

[Edbear]

Id steer clear from any V6 vitaras, hungry as and really exp to replace a cam chain which only last 100-120000 KMs.
The short wheel base vitaras and CRVs are wobbly as hell , go for four door versions.
My pick would be a 1600 manual vitara.

I agree with you there. Always get the longest wheelbase you can for road use. And the four cylinder's are the best.

[_Shrek_]

Suzuki Vitara 4clyn, Nissan Pathfinder

I would go for the Pathfinder (manual) but you'll need a lot more than 5k

& if 5k is your budget go for the Suzuki

[BMWST?]

A few years back I swapped a 2005 Audi S4 for a 1996 Toyota Prado diesel. I have been very happy with that decision. The Prado isn't too bad on fuel given it is near 3ton and a 3 litre turbo diesel (65ltrs gets me about 650kms around town). It also has great power for towing, going off road or whatever. It is a bullet proof piece of kit, with a strong body and incredibly reliable motor that, with good regular maintenance will just never ever give up. I have never had to replace anything other than maintenance items (tyres, oil, brake pads, cam belt)
I have taken it down some rather rough and wild tracks, including over rocks on the beach and it has never had trouble.(I got mine stuck in a 1m wide and deep drainage culvert andby simply locking the diffs, drove it right out without even a scratch!). It is never going to be a fast vehicle, although I seldom get overtaken on the open road but I still enjoy trucking along in it. The only reason I will sell it, will be to replace it with a new one.

sister has one they are a nice vehicle all right but a way way way more than 5 k.I have also heard some rumblings that its a question of if rather than When they will blow a head gasket...but i think that is a general rule of the new generation diesels.

[Road kill]

We have a 96 Isuzu Big Horn.
More for towing the horse float and boat than for it's off road capabilitys but I have taken it into the head waters of the Whanganui river and it performed very well out there.
It would of sold for $5-6000 at a car stealers but we paid $2600 for it off TM.
Was a Remuera tractor before we got it.
I have a friend that is a hunting and fishing guide and he uses the earlier Suzuki's,,,but he won't touch the later models because they don't hold up to the really hard conditions he puts them through.
I've spent many hours driving the Suzukis he does own and their bloody great off road.
They run circles around our Bighorn and damn near anything else out there.
Some of their really strong points is that they are very light and very short so they just drive around steep up hill corners you might need to take a double bite at in a larger vehicle,,,,,which is exactly where things start to turn pear shaped in bigger vehicles.
Ask me how I know that,,,,

[Matariki]

Lots of opinions and choices to choose from (which is a good thing). At least I have a start in terms of research, Japanese brands appear to be the most affordable. I probably should be more specific about what I intend to use the vehicle for (if it helps at all):

Driving over the Rimutaka hills on a daily basis to get to school (Petone), and maybe to travel around the country for other things. As I'm a student, I don't have a 9am to 5pm job (unless you call studying a job) that brings in a regular income. I'm dependant on you guys (the taxpayers - hopefully not for long), and having an economical vehicle means that not only can I save money, but I can save you money too (because I appreciate you guys and I want to put the money to good use, such as ensuring the future public services in this country through not taking too much money from the government - which in turn get their money from you).

Traveling to the beach (and on the beach - occasionally through small streams) for a spot of fishing (surfcasting) from time to time. A largish boot space or foldable back seats would be a huge bonus.
Driving on gravel roads (we have crappy roads where I live).

[huff3r]

Lots of opinions and choices to choose from (which is a good thing). At least I have a start in terms of research, Japanese brands appear to be the most affordable. I probably should be more specific about what I intend to use the vehicle for:

Driving over the Rimutaka hills on a daily basis to get to school (Petone), and maybe to travel around the country for other things.
Traveling to the beach (and on the beach - occasionally through small streams) for a spot of fishing (surfcasting) from time to time. A largish boot space or foldable back seats would be a huge bonus.
Driving on gravel roads.

If that's all you are using it for I'd consider an AWD station wagon. Something like an Impreza or Legacy, or there are a few others. You will get a nicer, more reliable car for the price range (if you shop around, and do your research), and it should handle most if not all of the situations described above. Otherwise, as others have said, go for the Vitara/Escudo 1600 manual long wheelbase.

[Edbear]

Lots of opinions and choices to choose from (which is a good thing). At least I have a start in terms of research, Japanese brands appear to be the most affordable. I probably should be more specific about what I intend to use the vehicle for (if it helps at all):

Driving over the Rimutaka hills on a daily basis to get to school (Petone), and maybe to travel around the country for other things. As I'm a student, I don't have a 9am to 5pm job (unless you call studying a job) that brings in a regular income. I'm dependant on you guys (the taxpayers - hopefully not for long), and having an economical vehicle means that not only can I save money, but I can save you money too (because I appreciate you guys and I want to put the money to good use, such as ensuring the future public services in this country through not taking too much money from the government - which in turn get their money from you).

Traveling to the beach (and on the beach - occasionally through small streams) for a spot of fishing (surfcasting) from time to time. A largish boot space or foldable back seats would be a huge bonus.
Driving on gravel roads (we have crappy roads where I live).

That pretty much sums up the 1600 Vitara to a 'T'. Get the four door though to get the best ride and room. Still not as comfy as a car, but apart from the Suzuki SX4 which is an amazingly capable off-roader, (trust me you wouldn't believe where people have taken them), I think the Subaru Forester is the only other one I could recommend, but they are both probably out of your price range.

[Brett]

sister has one they are a nice vehicle all right but a way way way more than 5 k.I have also heard some rumblings that its a question of if rather than When they will blow a head gasket...but i think that is a general rule of the new generation diesels.

Didn't read the bit about a $5k cap...my bad. Yeah, the head gasket issues were a problem on the model before hand. It's mainly due to guys towing heavy loads up long hills with their foot buried in the floor. The exhaust out of the turbo apparently runs right behind the head of the engine and so the heat differential can cause issues. The model of Prado that I chose (for this very reason) is reknown for being one tough, bullet proof machine. Incidentally, I came across a crash involving one late last year, it had just had a head on with a truck and rolled a few times. It held up much much better than I would have thought it would. (Driver ok, passenger injured and ended up dying at the scene, two babies in the back - one unscathed largely the other moderate injuries). Obviously still sad, but held up ok given it was a head on involving a truck in an 80kph zone.

[McFatty1000]

Yeah, for that sort of work, the vitara sounds like it fits the bill the best.
The rav or crv would also be a good choice if you spend a bit of time going over the hills (the petrol costs would be about the same as the engine in theory wouldn't be working as hard and so would be about the same as the 1600)

4wd station wagons etc would also work well, if you can find a good one in the price range, just be very cautious on the 4wd toyota caribs; while they're quite capable, they do drink petrol like its water. Not sure about what the other station wagons are like though

[carburator]

just to throw another in the mix, Isuzu Mu...

cheap as chips
lots kicking around
do make a good bush basher too..
and sub 5K market..

[Ender EnZed]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used...-587296510.htm

[Road kill]

Lots of opinions and choices to choose from (which is a good thing). At least I have a start in terms of research, Japanese brands appear to be the most affordable. I probably should be more specific about what I intend to use the vehicle for (if it helps at all):

Driving over the Rimutaka hills on a daily basis to get to school (Petone), and maybe to travel around the country for other things. As I'm a student, I don't have a 9am to 5pm job (unless you call studying a job) that brings in a regular income. I'm dependant on you guys (the taxpayers - hopefully not for long), and having an economical vehicle means that not only can I save money, but I can save you money too (because I appreciate you guys and I want to put the money to good use, such as ensuring the future public services in this country through not taking too much money from the government - which in turn get their money from you).

Traveling to the beach (and on the beach - occasionally through small streams) for a spot of fishing (surfcasting) from time to time. A largish boot space or foldable back seats would be a huge bonus.
Driving on gravel roads (we have crappy roads where I live).

I do a lot more than that with my old 2 wheel drive Navara flat deck.
You don't really need a 4x4 mate.