Friend Wants An Off-roader

[Rekin]

Hey,

My friend is after his first car and is looking at getting an off-roader which can pretty much driver over anything(anyone)

I wouldnt have a clue what kind of options there are available and wanted to see what responses SAU can deliver

He wants a car similar to the old jeep wranglers. A small off-roader which isnt a fake like rav4's etc.

Is there any car similar to the one above, or does Jeep have the market share for a compact offroader?

Restrictions are around $10k, availabilty of parts in Australia, auto and smallish (not a 8 seater lancruiser)

Thanks

[FrangaR33]

There isnt many real offroaders that are that small, well I cant think of any besides the wrangler I would recommend the Land Rover Defender although that may be a bit big for his liking, a late 80's early 90's Range Rover might be the go too there freaking tough, although size is still a bit of an issue.

Edited January 6, 2009 by FrangaR33

[Beelzebub89]

Suzuki Sierra. Best compact 4WD you will find. There are plenty around with mods all done just have a look in the trading post/ carsales etc. Or tell him to buy a normal car and go to www.edge.com.au and buy a piranha or baracuda kit and make yourself a lethal buggy

[FrangaR33]

Suzuki Sierra. Best compact 4WD you will find. There are plenty around with mods all done just have a look in the trading post/ carsales etc. Or tell him to buy a normal car and go to www.edge.com.au and buy a piranha or baracuda kit and make yourself a lethal buggy

That Suzuki is a mad little car, I have now official seen a cool suzuki that isnt a rally car

[Beelzebub89]

Yea who'd of thought Suzuki could make a decent 4WD If I was going to go off roading I'd definetly have a Sierra

[Rekin]

Suzuki Sierra. Best compact 4WD you will find. There are plenty around with mods all done just have a look in the trading post/ carsales etc. Or tell him to buy a normal car and go to www.edge.com.au and buy a piranha or baracuda kit and make yourself a lethal buggy

haha thanks for that! the suzuki would probably be cheaper to maintain than the jeep.

Now he can drive over bins

Keep the suggestions coming!

Cant go past the Lada Niva either

[mr-r33]

here is some pics

My old 60

my first 60

one of my mates old 60's

my old hilux

a mates zook

mates hilux

[Ten Four]

^^ insane...

consider a older land rover short wheel base, get an old one for cheapies and do it up? 10k will get a pretty sick one..... all manuals though....

[mr-r33]

here you go guys i know it my not anyones cuo of tea tere but thought i would post it up (at lest here the turbo on it)

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=JDrRE5SrGW4&...re=channel_page

[bloodzkull]

the real question is how much work can he do himself?

i reckon 4wd's are easier to work on. for instance i do almost all the work on my old hilux but not much except the basics on my gtr.

if he can do a bit himself then i would recomend an old hilux (ln65) if you look around you can find them cheapish sometimes even with the v6 commo motors in them. (i bought mine for 2000g)

go here http://www.locktup4x4.com.au and order the front and rear lift kits (trailgear classic) get some cheapish diff locks and some good tires.should all come under 10000. and it will be a weapon.

plus being a bit older truck you won't be worried about scratches and dints and shit.

[GTS4WD]

Short Wheel Base S2 or 3 Landy FTMFW!

[Count Grantleyish]

I'd go for GQ SWB personally, Having owned RB30ET powered GQ (for pics, look up my earliest topics).

Plentiful of parts available, robust, very common base for modifications, and it's real offroader (ticking one boxes already!). Can be bought for under 10 grand easily as long your friend doesn't like black over grey (this particular colour often command higher price over other colours - don't ask why).

I suggest he go to dealers and test drive what he want to buy then go from there.

Also, look up 4x4 forums and so a research there. My choice for 4x4 forums is www.outerlimits4x4.com

Happy hunting.

Cheers

Grant

[mr-r33]

the real question is how much work can he do himself?

i reckon 4wd's are easier to work on. for instance i do almost all the work on my old hilux but not much except the basics on my gtr.

if he can do a bit himself then i would recomend an old hilux (ln65) if you look around you can find them cheapish sometimes even with the v6 commo motors in them. (i bought mine for 2000g)

go here http://www.locktup4x4.com.au and order the front and rear lift kits (trailgear classic) get some cheapish diff locks and some good tires.should all come under 10000. and it will be a weapon.

plus being a bit older truck you won't be worried about scratches and dints and shit.

yep X2 the blue 60 ^^^ up in my last post would of cost me about 6500-7000 to build up

[sneakey pete]

Serria's (or Holden drovers, which are just re-baged serria's) are a pretty dam easy car to work on. We've replaced all all of the rubbers in the suspension, new springs, new shockers, new seats, new fuel tank, all ourselves. The only complaint i have about it is the oiling points, which are hard to get to or nonexistent, and the handbrake, which acts on a disc mounted on the rear drive shaft instead of on the brake drums.

[Bond]

Just get a gq patrol.

I have had mine for 4 years now and i havent had to spend a cent on it yet!!!!

So dam strong, cheap to run on gas and goes everywhere with only 33" mud tyres!!!

For 10g u could pick a highly moded one or just get one for 6k and spend the rest on a small lift kit, tyres and a winch.....endless fun!!!!!

Edited January 7, 2009 by Bond

[noisia]

keep the insane 4wd pics coming people, this thread is delivering hard

[mr-r33]

Me and the old man my one is the blue one the other one is the old man FJ62 6.5 Chev

[bloodzkull]

here's a pic of my lux not to long after i bought it. cost me $2500. has a modplated commodore v6 in it and no rust on in the chassis or body. well a little bit in the bottom of the door and guard that i ground out. but almost none.

due to a tight budget with it i'm only going to put some decent tires on it for now (well after roadyworthy) but plans include front an rear lockers a winch and that trailgear lift kit, probably only 3-4 inches. then and airbag system for when i need to carry a load in the back.

now if i had 10g straight up it'd already be running around with all that and probably a chopped rear tray for better departure angle.

[Rekin]

haha thanks all for the comments, great work!

As for my friend, it will be his first owned car so it will take a bit of time until he learns how to fix/repair/scale massive cliff faces haha

So he is more after an easy maintenance off-roader which can tackle any obstructions.

Most likely it wont see any serious off-roading for a couple of years and will be used more-so as a daily.

The wrangler and the sierra seem the best choice to start off with i reckon. Unless he picks up some modded hilux as mentioned above for around $10k

Cheers

[mr-r33]

haha thanks all for the comments, great work!

As for my friend, it will be his first owned car so it will take a bit of time until he learns how to fix/repair/scale massive cliff faces haha

So he is more after an easy maintenance off-roader which can tackle any obstructions.

Most likely it wont see any serious off-roading for a couple of years and will be used more-so as a daily.

The wrangler and the sierra seem the best choice to start off with i reckon. Unless he picks up some modded hilux as mentioned above for around $10k

Cheers

go the Zook. parts for a zook are cheaper then jeep parts

here is a pic of my little bros car