relieable 4wd for surfing, beach/sand access under 4m ?

[wade456]

Hey all, 
Iv been reading and going through the forums here for a while. 
I appreciate all the useful information that Iv come across so far. 

Im an expat in sri lanka. I dont have good knowledge on maintainece/repair/parts of vehicles. Quite bad with it be to honest.
I had a wagon r here for the past year, but it hasnt been a fun journey.

I surf a ton, so my primary focus is to get to the beaches - park on the beach, drive through the beach instead of the main roads for better access to more remote surf spots ( venture out an explore new spots as well).

Occasionally I do a longer distance trips ( coast to coast) , but its primarily surfing on a daily basis.
With the wagon r, I have to park usually quite far away from the spots im trying to access.
Iv been doing some research and read through a lot of the past posts on the forum as well. 

At this point, I have summed down to these options ( but open to more)
1. 1999 suzuki escudo for around 4 m

2. 1982 isuzu trooper for 3.5 million ( this just got sold, but im still looking for more of these)
3. 1985 nissan patrol kr 160 for 3.6 million. 
4. 2006 gypsy for 3 m ( this looks well maintained and is newest of the lot; but not the most comfortable drive) ( its an english number so asking 3m, im finding cheaper non english numbers) ( i also dont understand the difference between english and non english numbers)

I considered a jimny as well. But I carry a few boards with me inside the car, and a lot of times its a group of us hitting the surf. So a bigger car would be ideal

I need a vehicle that would be easy to maintain and manage. Since the trooper and patrol are really really old, im not too sure if its a wise idea. 
The escudo is really old too :p, but I guess its still comparatievley newer and I was thinking maybe maintaining/finding parts would be easier. 

Im also trying to opt for a manual instead of auto , since iv read that they are easier to maintain, easier as a 4wd and give a better mileage. Do correct me if im wrong on this

From what I had read, for going to the beach the nissan patrol would be the best option, followed by the trooper, followed by the vitara. 
My concern with the patrol is , basically not understanding anything about vehicles. 
I could take it to car checks and get an evaluation. 
But would that be enough to sort me out ?

Sorry for the super long post, just wanted to put out more information so it makes more sense.
I would apprecaite any input or suggestions for the above. 
Also my budget is 4m, but i would gladly try and save some money. If its possible to find a car that fits my requirements for under 3 m, or if possible lower.
 

Edited May 14 by wade456

[iRage]

20 hours ago, wade456 said:

At this point, I have summed down to these options ( but open to more)
1. 1999 suzuki escudo for around 4 m

2. 1982 isuzu trooper for 3.5 million ( this just got sold, but im still looking for more of these)
3. 1985 nissan patrol kr 160 for 3.6 million. 
4. 2006 gypsy for 3 m ( this looks well maintained and is newest of the lot; but not the most comfortable drive) ( its an english number so asking 3m, im finding cheaper non english numbers) ( i also dont understand the difference between english and non english numbers)

Welcome to the forum...

For your budget you are going to be limited to vehicles that are 25+ years old. I am sure you are quite aware by now that cars in Sri Lanka are mostly rubbish. A car is only as reliable as how well its last owner and subsequently owners before that took care of the car. So, finding a car that has the potential to give you reliable transportation is going to be tough.

For all the cars on your list, mechanical parts will be accessible, as all these cars are very basic "analog" cars with nothing fancy. What is going to be the issue are body parts (i.e. lights, glasses/windows, etc...). 

Trooper and Patrol: These are proper off-roaders so they will get you right up to the water line if need be. However, these two cars were popular for body swaps. Some were done legally, most were not. So you would need to be very careful about buying one of these.  Considering these are 40-year-old cars, the diesel engines would have had several overhauls or even a complete replacement or two. Old diesel engines can be a bit harder to maintain than a petrol engine of the same vintage. Again, it all depends on prior maintenance.
There probably won't be any way to check how well this work was done, so you need to be prepared to fix the engine. There are really good Patrols around (owned/used by enthusiasts), and in the past those have traded hands for significantly more than 4 mil.

Gypsy: Very utilitarian. It is very simple to run and own. Consumables (brake pads, etc..) are known to wear out quite easily. 

Escudo/Vitara : Probably the most balanced vehicle on your list. Has a proper old-school 4WD system rather than the real-time/on-demand or full--time AWD systems its competitors had.

You might want to look into

- 1st generation RAV4s

- Montero iOs (i.e. the non GDI Pajero iO) 

- 1st gen Daihatsu Terios (and sister models Toyota Cami and Perodua K something)

- (if you are lucky enough to find one) a 4WD Delica StarWagon or something like a 4WD Toyota TownAce/LiteAce
 

Are you sure a Jimny will not work? Plenty of parts from the manufacturer, oem suppliers and specialist shops. Yes, space is tight, but can a lockable roof shell/canopy or something of the sort solve that problem?

[matroska]

On 5/14/2025 at 3:09 PM, wade456 said:

1. 1999 suzuki escudo for around 4 m

2. 1982 isuzu trooper for 3.5 million ( this just got sold, but im still looking for more of these)
3. 1985 nissan patrol kr 160 for 3.6 million. 
4. 2006 gypsy for 3 m ( this looks well maintained and is newest of the lot; but not the most comfortable drive) ( its an english number so asking 3m, im finding cheaper non english numbers) ( i also dont understand the difference between english and non english numbers)

Just adding my two cents on these models. 

1. Parts for the Escudo are getting harder to find - that might be something worth considering. 

2. Troopers/Patrols are mostly in sorry state. The good ones are usually dodgy units with questionable paperwork. 

4. Seems to be the 'safer' option.

Just a left field thought - will not a 4X4 Truck (Double Cab) fit the bill? 

[wade456]

Hey,
I really appreciate your inputs
im sure the jimny wouldnt work size wise, otherwise it would be my perfect fit. 
Im into a sport known as foil surfing, so the gear/rig is pretty big and expensive ( needs to fit inside the car when i change boards) . with the jimny , the scope of any passenger would out of the equation, since i would have to fold up the front seat as well. Iv attached a picture of a foil board so you can understand better. I also carry a few more surfboards, ideally would want to fit everything inside the vehicle.

I feel then maybe troopers, patrols might be out of the equation. 

When you say parts of the escudo are hard to find, is it correct to assume that parts for the vitara would be hard to find as well ? I found a few vitaras around the 4m price.

Ravs4, montero, diahatsu, town ace, im open to all options , what would you lean more towards from these options?

the delica, town ace, lifeace look really really spacious as well.
Would these go well on sand?
I also saw a nice looking( well done up) mitsubishi p25 for 4.9 m, po45 for 4.5m .. i havent done much research on these yet. would the mitsuishi p25 is a good option too?
I had tried exploring a delica in the past, but couldnt figure a lot about it. Some people around where im staying have told me theyarent the most reliable. But more than happy to explore.

Would a 4x4 truck(double cab) be a better option than the above ? from a parking up at the beach, to maintaince/parts persepective? are they more realiable ?

I saw some nissan 720's and d21's on the facebook marketplace. Maybe i should be looking at 4x4 trucks instead. I could maybe later cover the tray with some kind of hardtop

Also, iv been told by a lot of people here that I should be opting for an english number and avoid certain numbers, is this a point of concern?
I have seen a lot of english numbers being even double the cost as similar non english numbered vehicles.

Edited May 15 by wade456

[fiat fan]

*Peaking* Did someone say Star Wagon? 

They are excellent vans,but the ones you buy for 4 mil often need more work. A mint example goes for around 6.

If you can find one for 3-3.5 and spend a mil on a mild restore-mostly mechanical, because lankan van drivers are cheap bastards. That is the best option. 

Capabilities are often matched with the big boy suvs. YouTube for videos of overlanding.

Or get a non GDI Montero io. Very capable.

Patrols/Pajero and the likes are still very capable provided you either restore one or buy a restored example. Both options cost more than 4 mil.

Or you could get a double cab for cheap and restore around 4 mil (careful you might overspend)

 

Read my thread on the Delica if you like to know more.

[john cooper]

Welcome to AL @wade456

By the looks of it, it's a 5' 2" Carbon board, aye, I am sure you can have tons of fun in Sri Lanka with Surfing

All of the below suggestions are considering your budget and parts availability in SL.

4wd LiteAce(CM41 model)/ TownAce (CR36) - Prices starts from 2mil and goes up to 4 mil
Plenty of parts are still available in SL and around the world, and the majority of the grease monkeys know how to fix them.

They are not heavy fitted with a proper low range with a transfer case, so they float on the Sand. Install 205/70/15 tires on the original rims, put some Air down, and they will be like a mountain goat.
You can carry a few passengers if needed. Installed a kitchen at the back, and you can sleep on it. (Only if you are into Van life)

The flip side to any Van's: You need to drive them carefully in Sri Lanka, you sit up front, very thin A pillar and Crumple Zone (non-existence), so not much protection.

Nissan D21/ Mitsubishi L200

 

I am sure you can pick a reasonable Ute from close to the 3 mil mark, and a good one goes to 4 - 5+ mil

Body Parts for those Utes are not as common as compared to the vans mentioned above, but I can't complain. Both models were fitted with a proper chassis on body construction.
Under the body, they share some common parts with other vehicle models (ie Van, SUV and sometimes light Trucks)

You might be able to install a lockable canopy or a cover to secure your goods at the back of the Ute, also you can also install a tent at the back of the Ute if needed.
If you wanted to have extra traction, install a diff lock kit on the rear diffs (Some may have the factory LSD)

The sand in SL beaches or the parts of the National parks they are not as soft as other sides of the world I have been to, so you won't get bogged down to your chassis rails unless you are doing something really wrong.

The picture is just for fun

Regards,

JC

 

Edited May 16 by john cooper

[matroska]

1 hour ago, john cooper said:

I am sure you can pick a reasonable Ute

off topic but could not help notice:  the nomenclature strongly suggested you live down under. Just noticed your location mentioned under your avatar. Do the Kiwi's also use the word UTE? 

[wade456]

11 hours ago, fiat fan said:

*Peaking* Did someone say Star Wagon? 

They are excellent vans,but the ones you buy for 4 mil often need more work. A mint example goes for around 6.

If you can find one for 3-3.5 and spend a mil on a mild restore-mostly mechanical, because lankan van drivers are cheap bastards. That is the best option. 

Capabilities are often matched with the big boy suvs. YouTube for videos of overlanding.

Or get a non GDI Montero io. Very capable.

Patrols/Pajero and the likes are still very capable provided you either restore one or buy a restored example. Both options cost more than 4 mil.

Or you could get a double cab for cheap and restore around 4 mil (careful you might overspend)

 

Read my thread on the Delica if you like to know more.

The p25 that I found online for 4.9 million looks actually great. ( colour, interiors, rack everything; looks like its been taken care of)

Am i allowed to post links from facebook/riyawasena here? I could post it here and you could give me your input maybe?

The problem with restoration and getting work done, is that I do not consider consider myself capable of doing a good job with it. Apart from that, im currently based in arugam bay. I dont know of any good mechanics here. The last time my car had issues, I had to get it sent to akkaraipattu for reapair. 

I havent found a montero io so far, will look into these. Would you consider these to be more trouble free vehicles?

I actally went through your thread on a delica quite a while back, it got me quite interested in a vehicle like it. 

To be realistic, what I am looking for the most is a vehicle that would be trouble free for the coming years, that I wouldnt have to repair/restore. 

Having said that, if i can get a p25 in good condition, and not expect too much work on it, it fits the bill perfectly.

Edited May 16 by wade456

[wade456]

3 hours ago, john cooper said:

Welcome to AL @wade456

By the looks of it, it's a 5' 2" Carbon board, aye, I am sure you can have tons of fun in Sri Lanka with Surfing

All of the below suggestions are considering your budget and parts availability in SL.

4wd LiteAce(CM41 model)/ TownAce (CR36) - Prices starts from 2mil and goes up to 4 mil
Plenty of parts are still available in SL and around the world, and the majority of the grease monkeys know how to fix them.

They are not heavy fitted with a proper low range with a transfer case, so they float on the Sand. Install 205/70/15 tires on the original rims, put some Air down, and they will be like a mountain goat.
You can carry a few passengers if needed. Installed a kitchen at the back, and you can sleep on it. (Only if you are into Van life)

The flip side to any Van's: You need to drive them carefully in Sri Lanka, you sit up front, very thin A pillar and Crumple Zone (non-existence), so not much protection.

Nissan D21/ Mitsubishi L200

 

I am sure you can pick a reasonable Ute from close to the 3 mil mark, and a good one goes to 4 - 5+ mil

Body Parts for those Utes are not as common as compared to the vans mentioned above, but I can't complain. Both models were fitted with a proper chassis on body construction.
Under the body, they share some common parts with other vehicle models (ie Van, SUV and sometimes light Truc
You might be able to install a lockable canopy or a cover to secure your goods at the back of the Ute, also you can also install a tent at the back of the Ute if needed.
If you wanted to have extra traction, install a diff lock kit on the rear diffs (Some may have the factory LSD)

The sand in SL beaches or the parts of the National parks they are not as soft as other sides of the world I have been to, so you won't get bogged down to your chassis rails unless you are doing something really wrong.

The picture is just for fun

Regards,

JC

 

Its a 4'11 carbon board :). I also carry some surfboards with me, if the waves are better for surfing. 
I want to build a rack on the inside so I dont have to keep the boards on the top of car, since I feel its safer when I switch boards. 

I really like how the p25 looks personally, would the p25 have a similar reliabilty or a would be a good option as the liceace/townace? 

If not, between the lightace/town ace, what would I be opting more for ?

I found a really nice looking nissan d21 for 3.5 m, a few for 1.5 m. 

I dont understand how the price difference can vary so much though. For all the vehicles. Its kind of hard to navigate at this point 😛 
I saw a few l200's as well. Any preference between the nissan or mitsubishi?

My primary objective is a trouble free vehicle that I dont have to restore or do much work on.
considering this, amongst these options, what would be your number 1 pick ? 

Edited May 16 by wade456

[john cooper]

1 hour ago, matroska said:

off topic but could not help notice:  the nomenclature strongly suggested you live down under. Just noticed your location mentioned under your avatar. Do the Kiwi's also use the word UTE? 

Yes, for some reason, we call them Ute here in the Kiwi land

[wade456]

Im also really confused on the number system here.
People locally tell me I should only be opting for english numbers ( though they seem to a lot more expensive that non english)

For example- 
Im looking at two nissans right now, one starts with 50 is asking for 3.5m
one starts with 40 , asking for 2.8 m. Is there any disadvantage of going for a 40 over a 50 number plate?
Im seeing quite a few english number ones too, but they are a lot more expensive.

In these also, i have read that people prefer certain digit number vehicles over the other.
Is there any article or source through which I could understand this system better?

[Gummybr]

Hey welcome to the forums. Hope you find the information you are looking for and we will be able to help you find the correct vehicle for you.

On the registration numbers Sri Lanka used letters from the alphabet in the early days and moved to letters from the word Ceylon and then in the 1950s it was changed to numbers and shri which ultimately became -.

In 2000/2001 the system changed to have numbers starting from GA for all types of vehicles and it was short lived as then it was decided that cars should have one series, buses another, bikes another and so on and so forth. So in 2004/2005 cars got numbers starting from KA, buses from NA, motorbike from TA etc and when they ran out at KZ-9999 ABA replaced the car numbers.

 

The whole English number vehicles attract a better market is a local market thing. If a vehicle has three English letters they think it will have better market as they are newer.

 

Do your due studying in what you want and then purchase.

 

I would have said to look at the Freelander the first gen but they are laden with issues but would have been the ideal partner for you.

 

Not in the country right now and I have honestly not been paying attention to the market these last few months so I am not sure of the market right now.

[iRage]

22 hours ago, wade456 said:

When you say parts of the escudo are hard to find, is it correct to assume that parts for the vitara would be hard to find as well ? I found a few vitaras around the 4m price.

This will mainly be applicable for body parts and will be common for almost all old cars. 

22 hours ago, wade456 said:

Ravs4, montero, diahatsu, town ace, im open to all options , what would you lean more towards from these options?

I would lean more towards whichever car is the most honest and is in the best shape for its age.

22 hours ago, wade456 said:

the delica, town ace, lifeace look really really spacious as well.
Would these go well on sand?

The 4WD variants will. They have old-school 4WD systems that were common to proper off-roaders (on a smaller scale).

22 hours ago, wade456 said:

Would a 4x4 truck(double cab) be a better option than the above ? from a parking up at the beach, to maintaince/parts persepective? are they more realiable ?

Where reliability is concerned, it won't be any different than any of the other cars. It totally and solely depends on how well the car has been looked after in its past. The only thing that changes is you have a larger pool of cars to select from. The other advantage is that for vehicles like Hiluxes there are plenty of aftermarket parts (mechanical and exterior/interior).

6 hours ago, wade456 said:

Am i allowed to post links from facebook/riyawasena here? I could post it here and you could give me your input maybe?

No but feel free to DM the links directly over (to me atleast..I am sure the other's wouldn't mind as well).

6 hours ago, wade456 said:

I havent found a montero io so far, will look into these. Would you consider these to be more trouble free vehicles?

Montero iOs are actually somewhat rare. Most are Pajero iOs imported from Japan which have the GDI engine. Back in the day these GDI engines gave issues due to the poor fuel quality in SL. Since the local mechanics back then had no idea about the technology they completely messed up these engines. Thus, you want to find a Montero iO, the export model of the Pajero iO which came with a non GDI engine. Again...trouble-free/reliability will depend on the car's history. Body parts will be harder to come by than a Vitara/Escudo.

6 hours ago, wade456 said:

To be realistic, what I am looking for the most is a vehicle that would be trouble free for the coming years, that I wouldnt have to repair/restore. 

Sadly quite hard in Sri Lanka. Get the car is best possible shape. Then be prepared to do some preemptive maintenance before you start using it on a daily basis. If you pick a car in good shape and fix all the niggles and attend to the pre-emptive maintenance requirements at start the car will give you plenty of decent motoring.

6 hours ago, wade456 said:

Im also really confused on the number system here.
People locally tell me I should only be opting for english numbers ( though they seem to a lot more expensive that non english)

It is one of those Sri Lankan things that make no sense what-so-ever. Sri Lankans have some falls myths that they like to live by with the hope of trying to increase value of the car and show-off the car to be newer than what it is. So yes... English-numbered cars are more expensive just because they (were imported in to the country later..or registered later and) have English numbers  For the kind of cars you are looking at you are going will find the same model with both non-English and English plates. I would say forget about all the Sri Lankan myths/beliefs and just go with the best car you can get for your money.

6 hours ago, wade456 said:

In these also, i have read that people prefer certain digit number vehicles over the other.
Is there any article or source through which I could understand this system better?

Nope...these are society's myths and beliefs...like some numbers are lucky..some numbers being unlucky...etc...

[fiat fan]

Send me the link for the Delica. 
 

forget English number plate arguments. Thats for dumb people. Specially since you are not a local,aint nobody gonna care.

Keep an open mind, if you see something decent in the budget then go for it.

Actually SL is the cheapest place to own a Delica. In the west it's much higher. Even Japan is running dry thanks to being imported there.

 

[wade456]

Thank you for all the inputs so far. 
So from what I understand, more than the model/brand of the car, I need to be looking into the condition. 

What would you suggest to be the best way to figure this ?
I read through some forums that car checks is one way to do the same.

would car checks be reliable enough to give me a good enough understanding of what drawbacks the vehicle has , and if any work needs to be done. If they give me a thumbs up, can I consider the vehicle to be relatively stress free? 

So far I havent found any montero io non gdi

I found quite a few daihatsu terios, . Would spare parts/maintainence be easy for this vehicle ?
I found few rav 4's as well. Would the terios and rav4's do okay on the beach ? parking on sand etc? any idea what kind of mileage would they give?

Also, any preference for an automatic or a manual with these vehicles? Considering 4x4, mileage and scope of problems
 

Edited May 17 by wade456

[Gummybr]

2 hours ago, wade456 said:

I found quite a few daihatsu terios, . Would spare parts/maintainence be easy for this vehicle ?
I found few rav 4's as well. Would the terios and rav4's do okay on the beach ? parking on sand etc? any idea what kind of mileage would they give?

Also, any preference for an automatic or a manual with these vehicles? Considering 4x4, mileage and scope of problems
 

Parts wise, generally Toyota parts should be plenty, but having owned a gen1 RAV4 I can say it's not that easy to find parts. 

As long as the car is properly maintained you won't have big issues to worry about.

They will be ok on the beach as they are light weight. Make sure not to throttle hard then you won't get bogged down. Also air down a bit for better traction on sand.

Auto to manual is dependent on the user. The RAV4 gen 1 manual you could lock the diffs to have 4wd. Where as on the auto there is no switch as such.

Fuel consumption wise there won't be a massive difference. 

But for sure make sure the condition is good specially with the automatic gearboxes

[iRage]

6 hours ago, wade456 said:

So from what I understand, more than the model/brand of the car, I need to be looking into the condition.

Yes..decide the models you are okay with but don't keep a huge laundry list of models as well. Pick which ever is the best you can find from that list of models.

6 hours ago, wade456 said:

I read through some forums that car checks is one way to do the same.

They have somewhat of a more accepted reputation. Yes..they can give you a comprehensive report. I would also take it to a specialist garage or agent after the car checks inspection. See below.
 

6 hours ago, wade456 said:

f they give me a thumbs up, can I consider the vehicle to be relatively stress free? 

Personally, once I am "more" interested in the car after the car checks "thumbs up"; I might take it to the agent for a somewhat technical deep dive as well as to get an idea of how much it would cost to get all the issues found between car checks and the agent. 30-40 year old car. There will be issues. Plus you will have to do some preemptive maintenance no matter what (see the thread on buying a car in SL). Although this estimate would be somewhat exaggerated, it does give you an idea of what the upper limit of the costs could be. Considering the age of the car a follow up inspection/assessment at the agent might not be viable. So you may might be better off taking it to a specialist garage for this. The seller might get tired of going up and down but so far my friends and I have been lucky. Honest sellers will not have anything to hide so they would be open to the inspections (albeit you might have to pay a bit for gas money, etc..). The inspections are an extra cost for you but would be worth it to protect your investment.

6 hours ago, wade456 said:

Would spare parts/maintainence be easy for this vehicle ?

Yes but no. Some parts would be easy to find as they are parts common to a lot of popular Toyota models that were in production until recently. Some parts, again mostly exterior and interior components, will be hard to find.

6 hours ago, wade456 said:

Would the terios and rav4's do okay on the beach ? parking on sand etc?

Yes...I have had a 1st gen RAV4 in East Timor and drove it on the sand quite a lot. To be fair, the CRV did quite well as well but the RAV4 was a bit better. Like Gummybear mentioned, the manual has a center diff lock, but the auto will be fine. Both cars will do well on sand as long as it is not too deep. As for parking in the sand...parking in soft sand is not the ideal for any 4WD (trying to take off can potentially dig the wheels in). So as long as you are sensible about airing down the tires and park in the hardest/least-deep sandy area you will be fine. If you deflate the tires you will have to get yourself a tire inflator as well to pump the air back up when its tie to go home. To be honest i don't see you deflating the tire just to drive down a few meters down the beach. So be mindful about the track you take. I have never had to deflate my tires as I kept away from the loose-sand and kept my momentum. This applies to any 4WD you buy (albeit a proper old-school 4WD will make things easier).

6 hours ago, wade456 said:

any idea what kind of mileage would they give?

When new my 1st gen RAV4 gave about 8-9 kmpl (avg). After many years of use the fuel efficiency will depend on the condition of the car (how much the engine and transmission has worn out, wheel tracking, fuel system cleanliness, etc..)

6 hours ago, wade456 said:

any preference for an automatic or a manual with these vehicles?

Finding a manual for most of these models is going to be tough. Nothing wrong with a plain old fashioned automatic if that is the best you come up with. There are transmission repair specialists who can sort out these old automatic gearboxes. 

Also, when looking in to cars like RAV4s and Terios, make sure it is (still) AWD/4WD and the system has not been messed around with. Back in the day a lot of people disconnected the rear wheels from the 4WD system in some misguided attempt to increase fuel efficiency. It does not work that way and all it does is mess up the car.

 

[john cooper]

On 5/16/2025 at 4:11 PM, wade456 said:

Its a 4'11 carbon board :). I also carry some surfboards with me, if the waves are better for surfing. 
I want to build a rack on the inside so I dont have to keep the boards on the top of car, since I feel its safer when I switch boards. 

I really like how the p25 looks personally, would the p25 have a similar reliabilty or a would be a good option as the liceace/townace? 

If not, between the lightace/town ace, what would I be opting more for ?

I found a really nice looking nissan d21 for 3.5 m, a few for 1.5 m. 

I dont understand how the price difference can vary so much though. For all the vehicles. Its kind of hard to navigate at this point 😛 
I saw a few l200's as well. Any preference between the nissan or mitsubishi?

My primary objective is a trouble free vehicle that I dont have to restore or do much work on.
considering this, amongst these options, what would be your number 1 pick ? 

Sorry for the late reply, good to see the conversation is going in a steady phase.

The Delica P25 is a great Van, looks great and is one of the most capable Van's made for offroad trips (I believe)
I have spotted a White P25 Van posted not long ago 53 - xxxx, and I know the history of that Van probably better than the current owner. 😅

The Vans on the Island are old and not many maintained well. Again, this could be the same for any of the old vehicles due to several reasons.

 

On 5/16/2025 at 4:11 PM, wade456 said:

I really like how the p25 looks personally, would the p25 have a similar reliabilty or a would be a good option as the liceace/townace? 
 

I would go with the Liteace or the Townace due to my personal experience with the Delica and the Townace 4WD we had.

 

On 5/16/2025 at 4:11 PM, wade456 said:

If not, between the lightace/town ace, what would I be opting more for ?
 

Up until 1992 - 1993 the Townace and Liteace used to be two different body shapes, which they later shared the same body but with minor cosmetic differences. So you have two different models to choose from, and Townace of that era seems more roomy than the Liteace

I don't think you can reach out to the later model with your budget, but you might be lucky.

 

On 5/16/2025 at 4:11 PM, wade456 said:

I found a really nice looking nissan d21 for 3.5 m, a few for 1.5 m. 

I dont understand how the price difference can vary so much though. For all the vehicles. Its kind of hard to navigate at this point 😛 
I saw a few l200's as well. Any preference between the nissan or mitsubishi?

My primary objective is a trouble free vehicle that I dont have to restore or do much work on.
considering this, amongst these options, what would be your number 1 pick ? 

The D21 is a great Ute, I have had a one in the Island, but not a L200 in the island, I have had a couple of L200's here in New Zealand.
If you need the reliability, I would go with the Nissan D21, but be mindful that there are a lot of tampered Nissan D21 in the market on the Island, so you need to be very careful.

If you are buying any 4WD vehicle, please make sure the 4WD is working or at least the prop shaft and the front diff haven't been removed (This is specially valid for the vans as people on the Island used to think 4WD is unnecessary for Van's)


Feel free to DM any car sale posts that you would like to check.

Regards,

JC

[wade456]

Hey everyone, 
just some updates on what iv closed down on , and some questions as well. 

First of all, would like to thank iRage and JC being kind enough to help me on the personal chats. Definitely gave me a lot more clairty. 

I decided to stay away from the double cabs, patrols etc. due to my lack of knowledge of vehicles. 

1. From what iv come to understand, the hilux is the easiet to maintain and most reliable. I found one that is a second owner for 4.5m. I am consdering this at this point. 

2. I found a rexton here locally, its from 2008, auto. The owner is asking for 5.5m. I could potentially take it on lease and work something out. This looks quite good. I couldnt find too much on these forums. Found two threads where seemed like its a decent family car. Would anyone by any chance own one, and know how it would do on the sand. ( I  could get recovery boards to keep in the car if gets bogged )

3. I am still consdering that 2006 gypsy for 3m, just due to aspect of the simplicity of the vehicle, and potentially being able to maintain/repair it without spending money. 

At this point this is what i have summed down too. Still open to other ideas, but these seem like the safest bet for me.

On a side note, I spoke to a 4wd specialist, who told me that being on the coast is going to rust the vehicle in no time what ever i get. 

Does anyone have experience with maintaining a vehicle that goes everyday on sand/beach.
would I be able to take some precautions to maintain the vehicle better ?

Edited May 22 by wade456

[iRage]

11 hours ago, wade456 said:

Does anyone have experience with maintaining a vehicle that goes everyday on sand/beach.
would I be able to take some precautions to maintain the vehicle better ?

Yes..sea side air is going to eventually rust out the car no matter what. Even the smallest of scratches on the paint will eventually turn into rust (surface rust at first and then actual full- out corrosion)

All you can do is do things that will slow down the process:

Wash down the car every time after a beach run and every time in between. and I mean WASH it extensively. Invest in a pressure washer or something and wash the undercarriage, body, in between door sills, etc...

There are various undercarriage coatings you can get done.

If you are really crazy you can get the body fully prep'd by touching up any paint chips/scratches and even get the inner frame prepped and coated as well (this requires all the body panels being taken off and every little sign of paint damage, etc..fixed, touched up and coated with anti-corrosive.

You will have to glass coat it or regularly wax it.

Try to get a water-proof car cover as well, this will reduce the moist salty air build up.

Preventing the car from rusting is going to be a hard job. All you can do is prolong the inevitable.

Considering all this, maybe the simplicity of the Gypsy or the ratty-ness of the Patrol might be a good thing (although the latter will need some work to get it all nice and tidy - or not)