[30ONA]

Hi all. I know I'll get unfiltered opinions here, but please be constructive.

Currently I have a tired 2004 GV 2.0L manual 300,000ks, spare engine and spare gearbox owned outright and minimal insurance as no market value.
Option 1
Rebuild drivetrain and keep on trucking. Guesstimate 15k. But still have an old car with faded paint.
Option 2
Get a post 2014 GV with about 130k on it as that's what I can afford. These are about 15k. Nice newer car and still reasonably versatile, but still some question I've jb24 and v6 impossible to find in this price range.
Option 3
Abandon the flexibility of a small 4x4 and compromise on basically everything my current vehicle offers to get something like a CX5 or Honda civic 2016 ish 15k. And join the disposable car market.

For all options I would need to use mortgage redraw as this offers the lowest interest. A newer car should really be insured so this will increase annual costs. But possibly offset by less fuel costs.
I think the battle in my head is that I've had this zook for 10 years and it has a lot of bolt ons. People comment on the good condition of the interior but parts are getting harder to find. I know the history and condition which is always a risk when getting a used car.

Thoughts and ideas please. Other cars, hybrid ideas I haven't thought of?

Max

[Gwagensteve]

Why is your only 4WD option a NGV? Why is a CX-5 or Honda civic more disposable than a NGV or what you have now? If what you have now is clapped at 300k Honda reliability is going to look amazing.

Putting $15k into a $5k car doesn’t make any sense. If you’re madly in love with your current car find an $8k one with 100k on it and swap your parts over.

[30ONA]

NGV was considered as I can't think of another small 4x4 in my price range.

When I said disposable cars, I mean cars that are nothing more than a to b cars. No soul and nothing interesting about them. Not versatile.

[Gwagensteve]

If you thing a GV has soul more power to you, but in my opinion it’s generic Japanese blandness. That’s why we’re all different. I don’t think a civic has less soul than a GV. Especially if it’s a more interesting civic like something with VTEC. I might not be the best judge though, I find lots of cars people think are charismatic bland or terrible.

What is too big? My Discovery is more manoeuvrable than a LWB sierra and easier to park than the cars I own with parking sensors and cameras. (It also has bucketloads of “soul”, is the most reliable car I’ve owned and cost me $2.5k)

There are lots of options out there you’re not considering. Cast a wider net.

[30ONA]

2015
150k
Under 20k
4x4
5 door
The only other things coming up are Jeeps, Suzuki's, 2 challenges (engine blow) and one Colorado 7. If anyone has other ones I've missed point them out please.

[Gwagensteve]

Why 2015?

[Andygoodbloke]

Price up the cost of working on your GV, if the motor is needing hoops and shells, and a paint job, find a place and a price, or maybe 2 places. If it costs less than what you would spend on a new GV then there is your answer.

My Suzuki is a second car so do not need to worry about using it to get to work type thing, so would you upgrade and keep it as a project vehicle then you can take your time about making it want you want to make it, as it is done with time and money and when you have one you usually don't have the other.

Another option would be to sell your GV after taking all the parts off it buy another vanilla car and keep looking for a Suzuki toy if that is what you want to do.

[Brenno]

Pajero 3.2 DID?

[MightGetDirty]

30ONA wrote:

2015
150k
Under 20k
4x4
5 door
The only other things coming up are Jeeps, Suzuki's, 2 challenges (engine blow) and one Colorado 7. If anyone has other ones I've missed point them out please.

Gwagensteve wrote:

Why 2015?

Correct me if I'm wrong 30ONA, but I think you are taking 2015 as a general starting point, as at around 10yrs the cars usually have most of modern tech niceties which basic new cars have, while still having parts around, especially if its a popular model, and not break the bank?

I came down with similar criteria when I was buying my NGV a few months ago, but my total budget was a tad higher at $20k all-in after what mods and repairs I was thinking I'd need/want to get (so no latest model jimny for me ).

I do agree with Gwagen though that you should cast the net out slightly more by loosening these criteria every fortnight or so until you find a car that suits. My suggestion is to consider car models that was sold in or after 2015, rather than strictly cars built after 2015. I found this opens potential listings in your budget a fair amount and shouldn't hit the ability to get spare parts too hard. Then next, try to be patient and consistent in your search as a lot of FB marketplace cars are priced a bit too high, and the reasonably priced ones get snapped relatively quickly. Get that final little beat down of the price across the line by offering to pay in cash.. Oh and being really approachable and finding common interest to talk with the seller helps a long way with a favourable haggling process (I'm an introvert, so I took the missus with me who did wonders . I dont think I'd have broken under $10k if it wasn't for her being there)

For info, after a little haggling I got my 2011 NGV (J24B 5dr) with ~135kkm on the clock for $9.5k. It took about a month of searching to find. It does/did have a couple issues which has already exceeded the cost of my haggling buffer and as such the mods budget needed some revising... so pricing up the cost of working on it per Andy's post if you haven't considered that yet is something you should think of doing.

[30ONA]

MightGetDirty I mean 2015 or newer.

Currently considering 2015+ CRV with the 2.4 petrol.

I think I'll get something and keep the GV for Few months before deciding. Do I miss the GV or not or is it just emotional attachment.

[shakes]

Brenno wrote:

Pajero 3.2 DID?

every time

[30ONA]

Pajero is about 20k with minimum 200,000ks. I'm looking for something that's less used. I know the drivetrain are reliable, but it's travelled 100,000 k more than what I'm looking for. So all the suspension and interior have had 2x the ware.

[Brenno]

They are twice the car than anything you've mentioned and a proper 4wd at least.
I'd just keep an eye out at least

[UBZ]

Just been through this exercise for the wife’s replacement car .
We had a long discussion about the need for Low Range , and came to the conclusion that selectable 4wd or good AWD was sufficient for gravel , bit imud and light snow .
We looked for ages and finally settled on a VW Tiguan , Touareg was an option too .

In slick terrain the VW AWD out drives my LSD Terrano in 4wd . And there are some excellent examples on YouTube of the capabilities of the Tiguan and Touareg .
Regardless of what people say in regards to service costs , as long as you are doing the work , parts are compatible to most .
2016 Tiguan , 90,000km 2 litre turbo diesel , and was only 16k nz

[shakes]

Brenno wrote:

They are twice the car than anything you've mentioned and a proper 4wd at least.
I'd just keep an eye out at least

Exactly this.

A Pajero is 'good for' 500k+ How many NGV's have actually made it much past 300-350k?

Mine has just hit 320k and is starting to get a few niggles in terms of bushes etc. But it is a dedicated family camping car that spent its last 100k of ownership at GVM in the vic high country. And then sits for months again.
It will almost certainly be replaced with another Pajero. The build quality between that and an NGV is night and day.

[30ONA]

shakes wrote:

Brenno wrote:

They are twice the car than anything you've mentioned and a proper 4wd at least.
I'd just keep an eye out at least

Exactly this.

A Pajero is 'good for' 500k+ How many NGV's have actually made it much past 300-350k?

Mine has just hit 320k and is starting to get a few niggles in terms of bushes etc. But it is a dedicated family camping car that spent its last 100k of ownership at GVM in the vic high country. And then sits for months again.
It will almost certainly be replaced with another Pajero. The build quality between that and an NGV is night and day.

This is in my price range and a few like it. Are these NWs a good model? https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/detail ... -18907277/

[Brenno]

They are all very similar. Later NX models get the DPF and lower final drive.

Some have diff lock, however I find that the traction control works better as when you put the diff lock in, the front traction control stops.

[MightGetDirty]

@30ONA It's been a few months now and yups, just saw your ad.

What did you end up getting as a replacement? Did it end up being a Paj?