Buying a second hand 4wd...things I am learning.

[Paul (SA)]

I am in the market for a new rig and looking around the web I have discovered the following.....

Men never drive 4wd. They are only driven by ladies to pick up kids from schools.

4wd only ever have one owner....ever.

Even though it has a tow bar and electric brakes fitted, it has never towed.

Most people hardly ever drive their 4wd and it spends most days in the garage.

WA has craploads of 4wd. And for some reason they have all never been off road........much.

Will update as I learn more.....

[Top.ender]

I am in the market for a new rig and looking around the web I have discovered the following.....

Men never drive 4wd. They are only driven by ladies to pick up kids from schools.

4wd only ever have one owner....ever.

Even though it has a tow bar and electric brakes fitted, it has never towed.

Most people hardly ever drive their 4wd and it spends most days in the garage.

WA has craploads of 4wd. And for some reason they have all never been off road........much.

Will update as I learn more.....

[britts]

Do you know what you're looking for?

[markymark]

I am in the market for a new rig and looking around the web I have discovered the following.....

Men never drive 4wd. They are only driven by ladies to pick up kids from schools.

4wd only ever have one owner....ever.

Even though it has a tow bar and electric brakes fitted, it has never towed.

Most people hardly ever drive their 4wd and it spends most days in the garage.

WA has craploads of 4wd. And for some reason they have all never been off road........much.

Will update as I learn more.....

and lots of kms are "highway/country" kms!

[Nomad]

ANd most ave never been on the beach until you rub all the sand out from under the front mudguard.   

[briann532]

I'm selling mine...................

One lady owner. ALWAYS been off road.

Yes its actually the wifes car, but the beast has seen its fair share of tracks around the country.
It will be sad to see her go, but she's 9 years old now and of course right when I've got her just the way I like, its time to sell and start all over again

Mines seen plenty of off road and a hell of a lot of dirt, but whoever buys it will be onto a winner.

(I'm not selling it here so don't accuse me of trying to upsell of the like!!! )

Its been serviced every 10,000k's, oil dropped every 5,000.
It has it scars, but its been well maintained and runs like a dream. I've been meticulous about everything on it and it has just about everything you could ask for.

Now as I said, I'm not trying to sell it here. (trade in allready all worked out and its more than fair.)
I'm just trying to make a point that just because a cars been off road or set up for 4wdíng doesn't mean its been thrashed.
I depend on mine to get me to where I want and back safely. Usually quite remote and occasionally alone, so reliability was paramount.

Just look for the right one and make sure you meet the owner. You usually get a feel for the person.
If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.

In regards to your original post, I must admit, its quite hilarious what lengths people will BS to.
And as far as women only driving them....................
My missus is the only person who can reach 5th gear before the end of my street (small cul de sac) and when asked about "that noise"Oh that...........It goes away when you turn the radio up.......
 
Sorry ladies, just having having a cheap shot, while I can get away with it.

Cheers
Brian

[Paul (SA)]

Do you know what you're looking for?

I am looking for a Prado or Pajero around $30k to $40k.

[Kalebjarrod]

A dedicated 4wd owner has far more respect for his rig than a "company car" or a fleet vehicle etc etc

[GeoffA]

......"well looked after".......

......"regularly serviced"......

......"my pride and joy"......

.....all mean nothing, but seem to get a good run in the ads......

 

[shakey55]

If your ape minding that money you will pick up a good one.

I'm not sure were you live but you'll even pick up a good patrol with 4.2 turbo diesel.

This is an example and they are are one of the best off road.

No it's not mine, but I do own one. Happy hunting.

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/NISSAN-PATROL-13557152


'shakey'

[Paul (SA)]

Thanks shakey....

I am finding it amusing reading through all the comments on the various websites.....

[kylarama]

I'd hold out until you find one that looks like an ARB showroom, owned by an old lady who only drove it to church on Sundays....

Plenty around, they're usally the ones shod with 35" mud tyres.

Good luck sorting the chaff from the wheat.

[prodigyrf]

I am looking for a Prado or Pajero around $30k to $40k.

Well given your intro comments I know my bookkeeper wanted to sell/trade his 09 Pajero to get a new Toorak tractor because he can. It's a top of the line diesel Paj he bought new for $75k I think and wanted $45k to trade it in with 45k on the clock recently.

Now it is one that would only have been on the dirt at the boat ramps over Yorke Peninsula where he takes his boat fishing a handful of times a year and that's the reason he owns one. He'll get the ally bull bar, towbar, 12V socket in the back and whatever's going when he buys a new one and if it so much as squeaks he'll be back worrying the life out of the dealer service centre. He's also a JP and a drug test witness for the AFL, Tour Down Under (and the Olympics), etc so he can't tell you any fibs even if he wanted to 

It's the old story, you say you only wanted to spend $40k but if I'm any judge his used 4WDs would have you digging in your pocket that bit harder for the obvious. I've got to see him again for the quarterly BAS and if you're interested give me a buzz and I'll put you in touch with him if it's still for sale, but only if you're serious.

[Paul (SA)]

Took the wifey out to a Toyota and Mitsubishi dealer today to test drive a new prado and Pajero.

I did this so I have a good baseline on what the latest features are and what I will be compromising on a second hand rig.

I loved the prado, the wife preferred the Pajero.....groan!

In sum, The Pajero felt like a true off road 4wd and didn't make any apologies for it. The prado felt like it was trying to appease city drivers as much as those heading off road. Both had their pluses and minuses.

Anyway these are my views, I.e. I am not trying to start a war between owners. I will add more later, kinda as a blog for my own reference as well as the fact it may help someone else too later on.

Cheers, Paul.

[GUEY]

Must also add...

First to see will buy
Best in town
Hurry won't last
Rare as hens teeth
One of a kind
Best we've seen
Immaculate condition

[Paul (SA)]

Must also add...

First to see will buy
Best in town
Hurry won't last
Rare as hens teeth
One of a kind
Best we've seen
Immaculate condition

Also, for some strange reason I have learned that a lot of sellers need to go overseas urgently.

As well as this for many people, the sale of their 4wd is most reluctant.

[02-SR5]

Took the wifey out to a Toyota and Mitsubishi dealer today to test drive a new prado and Pajero.

I did this so I have a good baseline on what the latest features are and what I will be compromising on a second hand rig.

I loved the prado, the wife preferred the Pajero.....groan!

In sum, The Pajero felt like a true off road 4wd and didn't make any apologies for it. The prado felt like it was trying to appease city drivers as much as those heading off road. Both had their pluses and minuses.

Anyway these are my views, I.e. I am not trying to start a war between owners. I will add more later, kinda as a blog for my own reference as well as the fact it may help someone else too later on.

Cheers, Paul.

Mate,

You can't go wrong with either.

I would with the one that will give you the best deal. Remember, Toyota will have better resale value.

[crackacoldie]

Mate,

You can't go wrong with either.

I would with the one that will give you the best deal. Remember, Toyota will have better resale value.

I'd agree with this Paul,  Heiny on the forum has a Pajero that he loves.  I had previously given them very little credability as a 4wd, from past experiences, however the newer ones seem to have picked up the game again.

  Cracka

[brickiematt]

We've just started the same thing Paul. There is a lot of crap to wade through out there!
Found one car today, listed on two separate sites.
One site, the seller claims it is his vehicle, bought to tour Australia, but is selling as he now wants a ute. Fair enough.
The other site, he claims it is his fathers car who is going O/S, needs to sell quickly as dad needs the cash blah blah blah....
This is the same car, same seller, same location.
Doesn't make the job of finding a decent used car any easier when half of what you read is bull, and the other half's all sh1t!

[Bird]

The other site, he claims it is his fathers car who is going O/S,

Im surprised theres anyone left in aussie with all the owners going overseas these days...

[evolution]

Im surprised theres anyone left in aussie with all the owners going overseas these days...

Didn't you hear the latest news mate?
It's now legislation to send two Aussies overseas for every boat person that comes into Australian territory, irrespective of whether they get status or not.

Cheers
Evo

[dazzler]

Didn't you hear the latest news mate?
It's now legislation to send two Aussies overseas for every boat person that comes into Australian territory, irrespective of whether they get status or not.

Cheers
Evo

Just bogans hopefully. 

[prodigyrf]

Then there's the ad on Carsales for a hot price and poor single mum must sell to pay the mortgage. Car is pictured from different angles in the street with pics of the inside and under the bonnet, etc and when you make email contact only, it's an even cheaper cash offer to pay a sum to the official looking Carsales invoice attached and they'll deliver it to you on appro with 10 days to change your mind and get your money back that Carsales hold in trust.

Huh! I didn't know Carsales acted like Paypal nowadays but a quick check of the website shows it's a scam and if it's too good to be true it is dummy. So I report it and the ad disappears, only to bob up a couple of days later. Exactly the same ad and pics but different suburb, only this time the owner is one of our finest off for a tour of Afghanistan and must sell. How could any true Aussie resist? Just beware of the Taliban and their IEDs-
http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/288383/fromItemId/815972/quickLinkId/815426/whichType/org

[prodigyrf]

Just bogans hopefully. 

Nah, put me down for Greens, lawyers and other sundry bleeding hearts 

[lilstookie]

We are also in the market for a Better 4wd than our Current Holden Jackaroo. We are travelling at the moment and the Jackaroo is now had enough of towing. Its not set up for real offroad and we would like something a bit more off road orientated so we can get to those places we see in the magazines.

We have been looking at a Landcruiser 80 series,100 series or 105 series in a petrol.
I see alot of cars with 33" muddies and a 3" lift but never been offroad, which has alot to say for the state of our roads......
As much as a car with diff locks,liftkits,snorkel and all the good stuff then I would anticipate its been used for the purpose intended.
We have decided to buy a car in our pricerange as close to stock as possible. We will then upgrade it the way we want and hopefully it will be flogged within in inch of its life by us.

We have a smaller price range and would prefer petrol.
Longer service intervals, cheaper to service ( I can do most things petrol).

Its a bit tricky buying second hand.
Our Jackaroo was purchased 5 years ago with 270,000 as a 2nd car runabout, it became our main car and has served us VERY VERY well with no mechanical issues (other than when we let HOLDEN do a major service) and for $8000 at the time we have certainly got our pound of flesh from it.

I wanted a Pajero DiD but the wife says its too small and you dont see many in the desert........

Good luck with your search.