So... what car do you guys drive when not flying?

[amaroo]

There goes (for the time being) the new weekend runner - RAM 2500.... the limit might change soon.

 

[tgh]

What would happen if the mower didn’t turn up and you rang the guy and he said it was delivered?

I would have lost my $9k…..but in my defence I have spent my whole life making judgment calls like that …seldom wrong...

 

[JohnM]

Well, with my overseas travel for this year evaporating and refunds in the pipe, I'm considering bringing forward my plans to purchase a 4WD. It looks like travel within Australia is going to be the go for quite some time. Might help the local economy a tiny touch.

I want something that will be cruisy as possible on the highway and good on dirt. I'm not necessarily wanting something super heavy-duty or kitted up for extreme off-road. I want to be able to get to the more remote part of the WA Goldfields where my son now currently has his business and the dirt roads can be a bit more stony that the sandier ones further south where he previously was, as smoothly as possible. And with capability to swing back through rougher, but not rock-crawling, areas. Plus the likelihood in the future of long, cruising drives, such as to the east, northern WA, the NT etc.

I was thinking a Prado but the engine/dpf problems have put me off. And Toyota seem to have rested on their laurels for too long and gone to sleep at the wheel.

My brother went for a Pajero Sport. Looks good value for money but they are bit ugly. And I wonder about their highway cruising driveability.

Now thinking a Ford Everest 2.0L TTD. The Sport, if there are any left, and from just browsing on Ford's website, looks fairly schmik.

All the European-type offerings are excluded on the basis that I don't want to part with that much coin, absolutely no space-saver spare tyres allowed, and I don't need the bling.

Probably best expressed as I want something at the upper end of 'practical'.

Opinions welcome.

 

[tgh]

Get a Jeep….

 

[Quickstatus]

I'm considering bringing forward my plans to purchase a 4WD

cruisy as possible on the highway and good on dirt
not something super heavy-duty or kitted up for extreme off-road

get to the more remote part of the WA Goldfields where my son now currently has his business and the dirt roads can be a bit more stony that the sandier ones further south where he previously was, as smoothly as possible.

capability to swing back through rougher, but not rock-crawling, areas.

likelihood in the future of long, cruising drives, such as to the east, northern WA, the NT etc.

I was thinking a Prado but the engine/dpf problems have put me off. And Toyota seem to have rested on their laurels for too long and gone to sleep at the wheel.

My brother went for a Pajero Sport. Looks good value for money but they are bit ugly. And I wonder about their highway cruising driveability.

Now thinking a Ford Everest 2.0L TTD. The Sport, if there are any left, and from just browsing on Ford's website, looks fairly schmik.

All the European-type offerings are excluded on the basis that I don't want to part with that much coin

Probably best expressed as I want something at the upper end of 'practical'.

Opinions welcome.

There is only one that fits all of that:

Toyota LC200 Diesel.

The DPF issue was only an issue because it was used for school drop offs the like. No issue for people who use them for what it was intended

Toyota parts are cheap and ubiquitous in this great land of OZ.

And importantly the spare wheel is a full-size one. Outback and space savers don’t go together.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Probably best expressed as I want something at the upper end of 'practical'.

Opinions welcome.

Friend has a new Subaro Forester and very happy with it. Also gets good reviews and won best of something last year.

 

[cove]

Jeep owners are generally despondent once they realise their mistake.

I have a second 600hl Lexus as a spare for the family. It drives beautifully. The chance of me wanting to go off road is zero unless I fall asleep at the wheel.

 

[Quickstatus]

Jeep owners are generally despondent once they realise...

I consider X5 to be Jeeps as they are made in the USA

 

[JohnM]

Thanks, all.

There is only one that fits all of that:

Toyota LC200 Diesel.

The DPF issue was only an issue because it was used for school drop offs the like. No issue for people who use them for what it was intended

Toyota parts are cheap and ubiquitous in this great land of OZ.

And importantly the spare wheel is a full-size one. Outback and space savers don’t go together.

The V8 TD in the 200 series is great, but the vehicle is too big and too exxy.

Friend has a new Subaro Forester and very happy with it. Also gets good reviews and won best of something last year.

I once had a Subaru Liberty GT with the 2.5 turbo engine - and a proper gearbox. Subarus are good but they are gutless these days since they dropped the 2.5T, the thought of a CVT does my head in, and I want diesel.

 

[Quickstatus]

Then get the Hilux
The DPF is no longer an issue

Even the 70 series is worth a look

 

[JohnM]

Then get the Hilux
The DPF is no longer an issue

Even the 70 series is worth a look

I don't want a ute/dual cab. And the SUV equivalent of the Hilux, the Fortuner, doesn't seem to get very good reviews - and really doesn't seem to have caught on in Australia (unlike places like Namibia, for example).

As for the 70 Series, again the 4.5L TD is great, but it's really a whole different dimension. Certainly the goods if doing heaps of heavy-duty off-road, but not so good for long highway cruising and a bit too clunky around town.

Life was meant to be a compromise, I think. But finding the sweet spot is hard .

Appreciate the inputs.

Does anyone have a particular opinion of the Everest/Prado comparison?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Thanks, all.



The V8 TD in the 200 series is great, but the vehicle is too big and too exxy.



I once had a Subaru Liberty GT with the 2.5 turbo engine - and a proper gearbox. Subarus are good but they are gutless these days since they dropped the 2.5T, the thought of a CVT does my head in, and I want diesel.

of course, I’d buy a Jag!

 

[Quickstatus]

Does anyone have a particular opinion of the Everest/Prado comparison?

Everest is better on the blacktop than Prado. But Prado is better than Everest on non blacktop.

Parts wise is a no brainer in non metropolitan areas : Prado

 

[tgh]

Prado !!!…
I thought you wanted a 4x4 wagon.. but if it's a tractor you want then go for it.. excellent tractors prado's

A friend is on his second toyo tractor, it is his wife's daily driver and is used to pull a big van on weekends
He still winces at the (well used) tractor tag.. but they have both been typical Toyota's …..boringly reliable.

A jeep would be an adventure…...

 

[Quickstatus]

A jeep would be an adventure…...

In the dealer service department

 

[cove]

Yes I heard Jeeps love going to the repair shop.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes I heard Jeeps love going to the repair shop.

They like going in style on the back of flatbeds

 

[TheRealTMA]

Yes I heard Jeeps love going to the repair shop.

Or the tip!

But let’s stop the a Jeep bashing. This fellow does a better job.

 

[tgh]

Aksherley they have lifted their act.. from a laughing stock to a genuine prospect.
Tough enough trucks but build quality has always been the problem.
A 5 year warranty now but that doesn't mean it won't spend half it's first year in the shop waiting for parts.
Of course a similar outcome for my mates C63 Benz ($200k)… he dumped it after 6 months as he never saw it.. and bought an SQ7...

 

[ausfox]

I was driving a Jeep across Texas along the Highway when it shut down. After searching the net it appears that this is not unusual as the vehicles sense a bit of work and have a precautionary shut down feature. Great if you want to keep touring. We changed vehicle type. Never again a Jeep