Spotlighting vehicle advice

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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by bigfellascott » 30 Mar 2019, 9:03 am

Steve-0 wrote:
Chappo wrote:+1 for the 2.8l hilux if you can find a good one. They were pretty damn reliable and very good off-road being so lite.
Problem is they’re getting on now and finding a low km one that’s well looked after is tricky.
Sold mine for the best ute ever made (hj45) but those don’t come in a dual cab :(

The majority of the above mentioned hilux's are coming in at around a minimum of 10k on various car sale sites, what would you suggest a reasonable price would be?


10K for a clapped out Hilux - Tell em their dreamin! :wtf: Like any vehicle it's all about how well maintained they are and not the badge on the front of em, people just believe this crap that if it's this brand it's bulletproof and you can't go wrong, like f*** ya can't!

Nothing lasts forever and even less so if it's not maintained properly! :drinks:
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Steve-0 » 30 Mar 2019, 9:12 am

bigpete wrote:Not sure where you're looking but I just spent a minute doing a search and found a heap at around 3 to 6k ?

Have been looking on car sales, location Victoria.
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Chappo » 30 Mar 2019, 10:43 am

Steve-0 wrote:
Chappo wrote:+1 for the 2.8l hilux if you can find a good one. They were pretty damn reliable and very good off-road being so lite.
Problem is they’re getting on now and finding a low km one that’s well looked after is tricky.
Sold mine for the best ute ever made (hj45) but those don’t come in a dual cab :(

The majority of the above mentioned hilux's are coming in at around a minimum of 10k on various car sale sites, what would you suggest a reasonable price would be?


10k seems rich to me. The dual cabs are the most expensive but for reference I sold my hilux space cab for 8k about 5 years ago.
Have a look on red book or one of the other valuation sites.
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Bruiser64 » 30 Mar 2019, 11:09 am

My advice would be to get a Suzuki Grand Vitara for that price range. The reason being you are more likely to get more reliable transport that will be capable of doing the shooting you are after. Old larger four wheel drives are likely to have much higher km, with more risk of a necessity for very expensive repairs and maintenance than a Grand Vitara. If you don’t want to spend more than 7 grand l suspect you won’t want to spend thousands repairing a vehicle closer to the end of its service life than the beginning. I know people will chime in saying how great hiluxes, landcruisers, patrols are. This was certainly true. WHEN they were new. Not when they have had all the service life sucked out of them. For the same money you will buy a better Grand Vitara than you will a Patrol, Cruiser, Prado etc in your price range.

Having said all that, you wouldn’t have to try very hard to buy a brand new 2018 model Mitsubishi Triton 4wd Dual cab GLX for $28k drive away. It will come with a long warranty and capped price servicing. I know it is way over your budget, but you don’t need much to go wrong with an old 4wd, before the price of repairs really creeps up.
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Steve-0 » 30 Mar 2019, 11:14 am

Bruiser64 wrote:My advice would be to get a Suzuki Grand Vitara for that price range. The reason being you are more likely to get more reliable transport that will be capable of doing the shooting you are after. Old larger four wheel drives are likely to have much higher km, with more risk of a necessity for very expensive repairs and maintenance than a Grand Vitara. If you don’t want to spend more than 7 grand l suspect you won’t want to spend thousands repairing a vehicle closer to the end of its service life than the beginning. I know people will chime in saying how great hiluxes, landcruisers, patrols are. This was certainly true. WHEN they were new. Not when they have had all the service life sucked out of them. For the same money you will buy a better Grand Vitara than you will a Patrol, Cruiser, Prado etc in your price range.

Having said all that, you wouldn’t have to try very hard to buy a brand new 2018 model Mitsubishi Triton 4wd Dual cab GLX for $28k drive away. It will come with a long warranty and capped price servicing. I know it is way over your budget, but you don’t need much to go wrong with an old 4wd, before the price of repairs really creeps up.

The Vitara sounds like it could be worth a look. Definitely would only be used for the very lighter end of 4x4ing. Maybe once a month or so, driving around a couple of farms scouting foxes. The farms I'll be going on are mainly dairy, so between May and September will be calving and no doubt sneaky foxes looking for a quick tasty meal.
That Triton sounds like a great option, not long brought a new kia Sorento so a new vehicle will be a few years away.
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by bigfellascott » 30 Mar 2019, 12:08 pm

Bruiser64 wrote:My advice would be to get a Suzuki Grand Vitara for that price range. The reason being you are more likely to get more reliable transport that will be capable of doing the shooting you are after. Old larger four wheel drives are likely to have much higher km, with more risk of a necessity for very expensive repairs and maintenance than a Grand Vitara. If you don’t want to spend more than 7 grand l suspect you won’t want to spend thousands repairing a vehicle closer to the end of its service life than the beginning. I know people will chime in saying how great hiluxes, landcruisers, patrols are. This was certainly true. WHEN they were new. Not when they have had all the service life sucked out of them. For the same money you will buy a better Grand Vitara than you will a Patrol, Cruiser, Prado etc in your price range.

Having said all that, you wouldn’t have to try very hard to buy a brand new 2018 model Mitsubishi Triton 4wd Dual cab GLX for $28k drive away. It will come with a long warranty and capped price servicing. I know it is way over your budget, but you don’t need much to go wrong with an old 4wd, before the price of repairs really creeps up.


Spot on Bruiser, it's ok if you are mechanically minded and can fix your own vehicles etc but if not these older vehicles are usually at near the end of their reliable service and will require $$$ spent on them to keep em going as a rule and the other thing to remember is getting parts for them can also be a bit of a problem at times too.

Not an easy decision - let us know which direction you end up heading in mate. :thumbsup:
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Steve-0 » 30 Mar 2019, 12:29 pm

Anyone had any experience with an AWD off road? Ie ford territory? Throw some bigger chunkier tyres on hope for the best?
It am I pissing in the wind hahaha they seem plentiful and the 4l i6 are reliable
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Bruiser64 » 30 Mar 2019, 1:15 pm

Steve-0 wrote:Anyone had any experience with an AWD off road? Ie ford territory? Throw some bigger chunkier tyres on hope for the best?
It am I pissing in the wind hahaha they seem plentiful and the 4l i6 are reliable


One of the earlier model Honda CRV’s maybe ok. My wife owned the first and second models. She said the first model had a lower first gear than the second model. Both her CRVs were very very reliable. If you are able to buy a lowish km version, and stick some all terrain tyres that may work quite ok. On the slimy ground traction, more so than wheel articulation and ground clearance would be the key. Here are a couple of examples from car sales. The beauty of the CRV is they are unlikely to have been flogged by a young bloke. Unless the young bloke throws a light dart and rings his mum 9 times a day.

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/detail ... AD-5857057

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/detail ... AD-5892127
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by bigpete » 30 Mar 2019, 1:34 pm

I do all of my stuff these days in a Ford rtv, if you're smart you can get most places,but it's no 4x4.
As for older 4x4s,I'd rather one of them than a new one that I can't work on.
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by womble » 30 Mar 2019, 4:24 pm

+1, ford rtv on gas would be a top find. even if the milage was high.

op you need to consider the cost of ownership after your initial outlay.
i did have a 96 hilux that would not die despite so much neglect and mistreatment.
but servicing, parts, tyres, suspension etc not cheap.
i mean if that's what your heart wants, go for it. but something like that under 6 grand. easy to spend as much again getting it well sorted.
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by brinny » 01 Apr 2019, 12:37 pm

Pity you are after a twin cab....I have just set up a Polaris as a shooting unit and will more than likely sell my old 95 hilux as it sits for around the 5K...reg. but no road worthy...

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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advicee

Post by TassieTiger » 01 Apr 2019, 1:55 pm

I’ve a 2015 navara work vehicle and a 98 navara bush / wood / shoot / play 4b.
The 80,000klm service on the 2016 was $1180. It is on its 4th sets of tyres @ approx $4K and all up some $5k in servicing and parts. It cost $36k new and is pretty average in the 4wd department. It’s auto and has electronic everything. Traction cntl and ABS can be a saviour in the Bush for some, but a down right pain in the hindrance to others.

The 98 navara I’bought for $4300 and spent a grand fixing everything that needed fixing...and last service was $80. This thing has wide rubber, 2inch lift kit, 2 spare wheels, 140litre after market tank and climbs everywhere. It sucks on the highway and 90klms is max cruising speed but it carry’s 2 ton wood no trouble.

They are two completely different 4 wheel drives...work out exactly whAt YOU require...and start researching.
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Altay » 02 Apr 2019, 7:34 pm

Have a look at a Pajero. Very underrated and quite capable. Some of the petrol versions can be picked up in your budget with plenty of life left in them.

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/detail ... D-17000232
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Bruiser64 » 02 Apr 2019, 8:43 pm

Altay wrote:Have a look at a Pajero. Very underrated and quite capable. Some of the petrol versions can be picked up in your budget with plenty of life left in them.

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/detail ... D-17000232


I owned a 1998 model V6 petrol Pajero for about 10 years and it was very reliable. An issue with the petrol engine is the heads can go at around 220,000 to 250,000km. That will be an expensive fix. They are a capable off-road vehicle and would be a great shooting bus. I currently use my Pajero Sport as my shooting rig. It fills that role well.
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by magnum012 » 03 Apr 2019, 12:20 am

I had a 2003 Mitsubishi challenger and so far it was the best shooting/ family bus I’ve had. The shooting position from the driver’s seat was perfect compared to the two Hiluxes I’ve used since and it was so quiet that at idle no fox could hear it.
It was a manual so I could just sneak it around without having to rev it up, usually taking off at idle.
Something to consider, low maintenance and they made that model up to 2008.
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by TassieTiger » 03 Apr 2019, 1:15 am

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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Steve-0 » 03 Apr 2019, 6:09 pm

Altay wrote:Have a look at a Pajero. Very underrated and quite capable. Some of the petrol versions can be picked up in your budget with plenty of life left in them.

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/detail ... D-17000232

Will give them a look. They definitely fall within the budget. Hoping to get something in the next few months, just trying to gather as much info I can in the meantime.
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Steve-0 » 03 Apr 2019, 6:13 pm

Early 2000 Pathfinders seem to fall within my budget too, some I've seen with for 4-4500 private. Others at dealerships around the 6500-7000 range, most with some type of extended warranty.
Anyone know much about these Nissan's? Reliability? They look like they have half decent ground clearance, and obviously 4x4.
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Bruiser64 » 03 Apr 2019, 9:29 pm

An option you could consider is something like this:

http://www.cfmoto.com.au/u550

It is not a road vehicle but could be towed to your shooting destination. I have done spotlighting out of my mates Canam side by side and it was pretty good. For $10k you are getting a brand new vehicle with a warranty.
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Steve-0 » 05 Apr 2019, 7:14 pm

Possibly looking at an 05 courier dual cab 4x4, its a petrol v6 with 197,000km. 5k neg needs tyres for rwc.
Anyone have any knowledge of these Utes?
I would expect it to be fairly thirsty.
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Bruiser64 » 06 Apr 2019, 9:26 am

Steve-0 wrote:Possibly looking at an 05 courier dual cab 4x4, its a petrol v6 with 197,000km. 5k neg needs tyres for rwc.
Anyone have any knowledge of these Utes?
I would expect it to be fairly thirsty.
Cheers


I don’t know that “fairly thirsty” will adequately describe how much love the 4 litre v6 engine will have for drinking petrol. At 200,000 km it presents significant risk of expensive repairs and maintenance. I strongly recommended paying for a comprehensive pre-purchase inspection. At that mileage service and maintenance history are the most relevant factors rather than “reputation for reliability” in my experience.
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Bent Arrow » 06 Apr 2019, 1:15 pm

No experience with that model, but the petrol v6 pajero I had a few years back was a thirsty beast. Factory specs were 13 L per 100km. Suffice to say I never got even close to that level of "economy". Towing my 15 foot boat used to go well into the 20's. Might be cheap to buy, but I doubt it will be cheap to run.
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by flutch » 06 Apr 2019, 1:36 pm

Steve-0 wrote:Possibly looking at an 05 courier dual cab 4x4, its a petrol v6 with 197,000km. 5k neg needs tyres for rwc.
Anyone have any knowledge of these Utes?
I would expect it to be fairly thirsty.
Cheers



wouldn't touch the petrol myself, they are significantly underwhelming on performance and are thirsty as hell, also at that KMS I would be thinking that CV's and Clutch and Diff/Bearings, Shocks, Steering and rear Leaf suspension could all be in bad shape. also these things love to rust if left out in weather or chipped/scratched... the diesels are easy to fix and cheap, my one i used to have needed the head doing. cost me 750 bucks to do... and only 450 for a brand new turbo. heaps more torque than the petrol and could carry so much stuff and still rock along at 110kmh, fairly thirsty for a 2.5l however, but was great to shoot out from both the driver/passenger position and the back was really high up and great for spotlighting too. getting out and stress testing is a must before buying... that 5k could turn into a 12k car pretty quick with all the aforementioned issues, the petrol engine isnt as easy to fix either being a V6 and well, being a ford v6
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Bruiser64 » 07 Apr 2019, 3:31 pm

Have you considered a Kia Sportage? A mate of min owns a 2007 diesel and he is stoked with it. It has been reliable and economical. They are a four wheel drive with low range. Here is one that looks interesting.

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/detail ... AD-6009861
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Steve-0 » 07 Apr 2019, 6:04 pm

Bruiser64 wrote:Have you considered a Kia Sportage? A mate of min owns a 2007 diesel and he is stoked with it. It has been reliable and economical. They are a four wheel drive with low range. Here is one that looks interesting.

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/detail ... AD-6009861

Cheers for that. Definitely worth a look. Could very well fit the bill. We currently in a Kia Sorento and it's unreal, and had a Kia Rio before that, over 200k kms without skipping a beat.
I like the fact it has the low range.
Cheers
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Bruiser64 » 07 Apr 2019, 11:36 pm

Steve-0 wrote:
Bruiser64 wrote:Have you considered a Kia Sportage? A mate of min owns a 2007 diesel and he is stoked with it. It has been reliable and economical. They are a four wheel drive with low range. Here is one that looks interesting.

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/detail ... AD-6009861

Cheers for that. Definitely worth a look. Could very well fit the bill. We currently in a Kia Sorento and it's unreal, and had a Kia Rio before that, over 200k kms without skipping a beat.
I like the fact it has the low range.
Cheers


No problems. My mate loves his. He has a caravan and a trailer sailer that he tows at different times with it. He said it tows those well. So that would be a bonus.
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Steve-0 » 01 May 2019, 5:37 pm

So, I still haven't come to any decision on a vehicle to purchase. Thinking of possibly saving for a bit longer and extending the budget to allow for something decent.
One vehicle that has come up in the radar, was a Subaru Forester. Relatively inside the budget, can put decent rubber and has the ability for a little bit of lift.
Anyone on here have any experience with these vehicles? They aren't a "true" 4wd but have a low range in them.
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by duncan61 » 01 May 2019, 10:34 pm

They are a flat 4 and make a unique sound.Could be an issue.All the early holden rodeos which are izuzu fasters are a good rig I had an 86 petrol that just started and ran for years and it was left at the farm over winter and it still started and ran every time
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Jon79 » 01 May 2019, 10:45 pm

Steve-0 wrote:Possibly looking at an 05 courier dual cab 4x4, its a petrol v6 with 197,000km. 5k neg needs tyres for rwc.
Anyone have any knowledge of these Utes?
I would expect it to be fairly thirsty.
Cheers


Had one blew the engine the other side of Narromine, also the 4x4 is chain driven and they are really bad for the chain stretching and jumping cogs, mine also had that issue
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Re: Spotlighting vehicle advice

Post by Member-Deleted » 01 May 2019, 11:26 pm

Try and pick up a cheap Hi Lux mate can't kill them unless you break a timing belt make sure they have changed it every 100,000 the new ones are 150,000 parts are fairly cheap now I've had Hi Luxs for25yrs and land cruisers for 45yrs all good so far
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