Best Dual Cab under 25k

[OUTAtheBloo]

GDay all

Just after some feedback from people who have been there and done that. Im considering getting out of the LS1 scene and looking at getting a 4wd dual cab second hand. Looking at doing some weekends away, maybe beach work.

Im after some opinions on what utes to look for, and any down sides to any particular models out there.

Also wouldnt mind some opinions on what my ute would be worth, its a 2002 vu ss cam only (224/228 112lsa) all the usual bolt ons, with a tex and rip shifter, with 85 000 km on the clock. The max red book value is 21k or so, would i be lucky to get any more for it ?

Looking forward to some interesting replys :thumbsup:

Dan

[VooDoo]

dont be soft Bloo, there is no life after LS1's.

[michaels1v8]

GDay all

Just after some feedback from people who have been there and done that. Im considering getting out of the LS1 scene and looking at getting a 4wd dual cab second hand. Looking at doing some weekends away, maybe beach work.

Im after some opinions on what utes to look for, and any down sides to any particular models out there.

Also wouldnt mind some opinions on what my ute would be worth, its a 2002 vu ss cam only (224/228 112lsa) all the usual bolt ons, with a tex and rip shifter, with 85 000 km on the clock. The max red book value is 21k or so, would i be lucky to get any more for it ?

Looking forward to some interesting replys :thumbsup:

Dan

Hey Dan being in WA I think you will get a bit more for it than than. My brother just sold his ute about a month or so ago. 02 VU SS with 60 000kms. Only had dual exhaust, extractors and GTS rims. Sold his for 27.5k

Id say you should get 25 easy. Being modded it might be harder to sell unless you took some bits off it some parts like the CAM so people dont really see it as 'modded' more 'with extras'...


Should be able to pick up a pretty decent Navara diesel for that kind of money. Good off road. Reliable as too! and cheap to run :thumbsup:

[moose]

My missus has a 2000 model ford courier (same as mazda bravo) turbo diesel, it's been fantastic on the reliability stakes, and not too bad on fuel either. Done several trips vic - qld in it, towing horse floats, mild 4x4ing. Highly recommended in general.
The navara's are a good looking unit too. Don't know anything else about them though.

[R Dirty 3]

Dont get the V6 Petrol Navara.....

I meant to say the V6 petrol Navara is great. In fact, i have one i wouldnt mind selling. just sign here :deal:

Seriously tho, great car just quite heavy on fuel for round town driving. Even country runs is not that great. My mate has exactly the same except diesel 3lt i think and he gets HEAPS better economy. Get a diesel!

[BruteSS]

I dont think it matters Dan as long as you can fit a baby seat in the back :stick:

[moose]

Get a diesel!

Do that whatever it is. Rodeo V6 petrol are horrid on fuel too. We wouldn't go back to petrol now, love the diesel.

[theVman]

Im in exactly the same boat.

There seems to be 2 options - Hilux 3L TD or Navara 3L TD. Both seem to be super reliable and very good on fuel. Havent looked at exact figures but everyone raves on about how the Narvara Turbo Diesels have awsome fule economy.

The Bravo/Courier doesnt seem to be too bad either and they dont hold their value as well so you can get a bit better for less cash but not a huge fan of them personally.

Only problem with Hilux's is they hold their value way to well. Even for 25K you are pushing to get a decent SR5 which you will probably want. Navara seems to be the pick for value, economy etc. Mind you get rid of the crappy 4 spoke wheels if you get one and it has them - they are just :spew:

[OUTAtheBloo]

Thanks for the info so far guys, from what i can see the hilux's have the best fuel economy. I would prefur a diesel, they maybe slower but that doesnt bother me.

Ive driven a Bravo diesel dual cab, and i just wouldnt bother with one i called it the "slug" it struggled to go up hills. Maybe because of it being a older model too.

Apreciate the info, im still giving the idea some thought..

Dan

[12 inch man]

mate i have a 2004 v6 sr5 hilux dual cab and the thing is shooking on fuel
i can only get 350klms to a tank and thats on the hwy and they dont go to good either
ive had the v6 rodeos before and they may be thirsty but they go like a bat out of hell
a deisel would have to be the choice

[azzss]

Mate, I have a 99 rodeo turbo diesel duel cab. Has been a fantastic ute 250000ks and have only replaced water pump and battrey (both in last 12 months) is good on fuel too about 9.5-10l/100km being the norm driven pretty hard. For 25k i'd be looking at a ra rodeo 3.0td as they have more room than alot of the others around that age (2-4year old). Plenty of them around here and everyone seems to be happy with them.
Hope this helps.

[sven]

i drive a 2005 rodeo twin cab t/d for work. they are a great car. it has all the mod cons, is comfortable and it goes ok. the only thing is it sucks juice more than my v8. bout 400km per tank! glad its on the work fuel card!!

[theVman]

I wouldn't have thought the Rodeo TD's would have chewed fuel but they are way too noisy for my liking.

I have taken a few 2.8 diesel hilux's for test drives and while they dont seem to be as bad a people say they do seem to lack guts going up hills etc.

I still say a turbo diesel is the way to go. A lot of people warned me away from the 3.0 TD Nissan motor but it seems the problems are related to the Patrol models and not the Navaras should you wnat to look into them. FYI

Also consider the fact that the tray on dual cab utes are pretty much useless. They are soo short you really cant fit much in them.

[DaveHAT]

Dan :wave:

In this order:

If you can afford it Hilux 3.0TD
Rodeo sport or LT 3.0TD
Nissan Navara STR-TD


If performance is any consideration ... stay away from any N/A dual cab diesel ute (esp the Hilux). The Hilux is incredibly reliable but the 2.8 N/A wouldn't pull the skin off a rice custard --> Gutless.

The V6 petties in any of the above mentioned utes are woeful on fuel consumption. I had a 99V6LT Rodeo prior to the SS and I ended up putting a 120lt long range tank in it to try and get further than 300km out of a tank AND THAT WAS HIGHWAY CRUISING ... :shock: From the factory these things (T/D and V6) have a piddling small tank.

If you're not interested in things like power windows and so forth then look at the lower spec models (DX, LX, etc) but the versions I've mentioned above are nice rigs with plenty of appointments.

Dave ... :thumbsup:

[michaels1v8]

Yeah the Navara 3lt TD did have some heat issues but I think they sorted those out. Have been told most were caused from people turning boost up too high and improper tuning by amatuers.. Judging by the mods on your ute I would say you will want to source some extra power out of it :lmao: so an intercooler would be a must

A front mount intercooler, Exhaust and extractors and a DPChip(I think they are called that) are a very good combination. I would recommend a tune rather than a chip but not sure of many who do tunes on these cars in Perth. Maybe ask a 4wd community? These chips Im thinking of do show awesome results on many cars (Made by Piranha or something I believe) and people with 4wds rave about them.

The intercooler will pretty much gurantee your cars not going to cook and add power to your set up...

I think some guy on here had an intercooler and DPchip fitted and torque increased by something like 40% and power was up 40-50kw to about 150 at the wheels or something like that :O To some this might not sound like much but driving a stock one of these around they dont seem that slow and already go great in sand. I can just imagine what all that extra grunt will do to it

Plus they look smick!:thumbsup:

[Haroc]

Im bias but ive been very happy with my Navara STR 3.0TD, I drove it accross Australia (Gladstone QLD to Bunbury WA) and it never faulted, great fuel economy to has handled the little bit of sand it got given also :)

[vecommo]

I would personally go an RA Rodeo TD, followed by the Hilux. I have been in a few Navara ST-R's and wasn't impressed at all... questionable styling, horrid looking dash, akward seating position, terrible rear seat access/comfort (makes a crewman feel like a limousine) truck like ride and handling, and a general feeling of cheapness all around. The rodeo just felt light years ahead to me.
Having said that, I really do like the new model ST-X Navaras, they are a huge improvement, although obviously out of your price range.

[theVman]

Ive always been a bit sus on the styling of the ST-R Navaras also - been in a few and dont mind them too much inside. I hate the front lights and those wheels. My missus loves them so we might have a closer look as I have been hearing a lot of good things about them.

Most people say the Rodeos ride like a truck but cant comment on that one. The Hilux is definately the pick of the bunch but value wise the Navara seems to tip it on the used market as you can pick up the ST-R which is comparable to the SR5 for the price of a base use Hilux.

While I am at it - do Rodeos have low range? All the ones I have looked dont have the second stick which I find a bit dissapointing. I also didnt realise a lot look like the 4x4 models but are actually rear wheel only - same goes for the Triton.

[moose]

Newer rodeo models have an electronically selected transfer case. Just buttons on the dash rather than a stick. Also don't forget they make rodeo's in 2WD which are visually the same as 4WD.

BTW, Hilux's are way overpriced IMO

[theVman]

Newer rodeo models have an electronically selected transfer case. Just buttons on the dash rather than a stick. Also don't forget they make rodeo's in 2WD which are visually the same as 4WD.

BTW, Hilux's are way overpriced IMO

Thats good to know - again I havent paid much attention to rodeos as the diesel is too noisy for my liking and the v6's are too heavy on juice. Personally I preffer the look of them though.

Edit: And I agree Hilux's are too overpriced for what they are - especially the SR5 models. If only the old Commodores had resale values like them!!

[HSV Listy]

I say the 2000 onwards ford Courier XL turbo diesel 4 x 4 duel cab. Great car and vertially zero good old diesel rattle from the engine. I have heard many of the other brands so listen for that when you go shopping. All you need to do is put a snorkel and maybe a bigger intercooler and you are done. I had one for 4 years and it never let me down. Great on fuel and as you can put mazda spares in it cheap to service for a diesel. Some diesels can cost $700 onwards for a major service without andy major changes. They got some go off the line (once again for a diesel)
I sold mine 18 months ago to get the my HSV Avalanche and got 20k for it.

[azzss]

The rodeo's only have diesel clatter at idle. The reason for this is they had mechanical direct injection where the others had indrect injection (precombustion chamber) this includes hilux,triton,narava and the courier/bravo before the current models as they all now have common rail injection (including rodeo). Direct injection is noiser at idle but was more efficent/power than an indirect engine of the same size (in theroy anyway) as fuel was delivered directly to the piston insted of into the chamber. I've had both types and when the revs are above idle or crusing down the hwy,the noise difference is very minimal.
My 2 cents;)
Cheers

[OUTAtheBloo]

I'll dig up one of my old threads here.

Any opinions on the 3.0l v6 Mk Tritons, the 2001 models ? Im looking at one at the moment. 140k on the clock manual and the Space cab model.

Dan