Cheap commercial jeep...

fonecrusher1

colm_mcm wrote: »

Never saw it.
TBH I'm looking for a manual - will be doing a fair bit of towing, also have mpg concerns.

plenty autos in the UK too. Won't completely rule it out though.

Thanks for the link.

Would you not be tempted to get yourself a cheap commercial Isuzu Trooper here. There meant to be excellent for towing & bulletproof. I mean the earlier 3.1td (92-99) Not the later 3.0 td its meant to be problematic.
Its going to cost you a few euros to go accross to the UK.

As for mpg, the 3.0 ltr td surf has better mpg than the Paj.
As for towing, the pajero/trooper are better for this purpose. The surf has a lower tow limit; 2200kg i think. Paj has a 2600kg limit i think.

colm_mcm

A few reasons:

I'm planning on keeping it for about a year and selling it, the Paj will be easier to sell. I know a few people who'd buy it off me straight away.

I'm hugely fussy about the condition of it so importing form the UK is about the only way I'll get a clean one. that's why I'm getting a passenger one and converting it. A lot of the Troopers in the UK are automatic, and the diesels tend to be bought by farmers over there.

My neighbour has a few Pajeros and has a lot of knowledge (and parts)

I prefer the look of the Pajero too (shouldn't be a huge consideration I know)

I really dislike the interior of the Trooper and find the driving position uncomfortable.

If the trip to the UK proves fruitless I may chase that Surf up, but a manual would be preferable TBH. Are you selling it yourself?

fonecrusher1

colm_mcm wrote: »

A few reasons:

I'm planning on keeping it for about a year and selling it, the Paj will be easier to sell. I know a few people who'd buy it off me straight away.

I'm hugely fussy about the condition of it so importing form the UK is about the only way I'll get a clean one. that's why I'm getting a passenger one and converting it. A lot of the Troopers in the UK are automatic, and the diesels tend to be bought by farmers over there.

My neighbour has a few Pajeros and has a lot of knowledge (and parts)

I prefer the look of the Pajero too (shouldn't be a huge consideration I know)

I really dislike the interior of the Trooper and find the driving position uncomfortable.

If the trip to the UK proves fruitless I may chase that Surf up, but a manual would be preferable TBH. Are you selling it yourself?

No im not selling it but if i had the cash i would buy it in a heartbeat but not at that price, i would insist on getting a few hundred off. Looks like a clean low mileage surf? Very rare & i'd be surprised if its still for sale.

I have a 3rd gen surf 3.0td (96 to 2002) & all i can say is its a very good car, ive been off road a few times & its been amazing, it gets good mpg 25 to 32, its comfortable & it looks nice. I would not sell it.
Ive had a couple of cars in the last few years (including a pajero) but ive never held on to anything for more that a 9/10 months except the surf.

If you get the chance to test drive a 3rd gen surf i guarantee you will like it.

colm_mcm

One of the lads has 2 surfs. one manual and one auto. No doubt they're a good machine, but I'm holding out for a manual in whatever I buy.

mossfort

colm_mcm wrote: »

I've been looking for a decent 3.0 manual surf for months, and none have come up for reasonable money.

Re: VRT, it's a LWB so VRT should be €50.

Re choice to go Pajero: Think it'll be easier to sell on than other options for the money (Trooper, MU, 2.4 Surf, Terrano, Frontera etc)

i was looking at importing a surf 2.4 last year but decided not to because of engine reputation .
when i enquired about the vrt they told me it would be classed as a short wheel base because of the size of the load area so the vrt would be around 15% of the open market selling price which according to them was 4500 euros for a 1991 surf so about 700 euros vrt.
it would be difficult to commercialise one of these because of the shape of the side windows and you would have to weld in a floor etc.
plenty of good clean pajeros for sale in the uk.

fonecrusher1

mossfort wrote: »

i was looking at importing a surf 2.4 last year but decided not to because of engine reputation .
when i enquired about the vrt they told me it would be classed as a short wheel base because of the size of the load area so the vrt would be around 15% of the open market selling price which according to them was 4500 euros for a 1991 surf so about 700 euros vrt.
it would be difficult to commercialise one of these because of the shape of the side windows and you would have to weld in a floor etc.
plenty of good clean pajeros for sale in the uk.

I wouldnt go near a 2.4 surf, there a bit underpowered & they are well known for the cylinder head cracking when they're pushed too hard. Rad problems can also lead to insufficient cooling of the engine & bang up she goes.

Theres a lot of mystery associated with commercializing a vehicle so if i was going to bring a 4x4 over here from the UK i would be damn sure i knew all the facts.
VRT annoys the sh1t out of me, its designed to make things as awkward as possible for people importing. Ive looked into importing before but i eventually gave up due to the various expenses that were going to be imposed upon me.:mad:

colm_mcm

I picked up a mint condition Shogun 2.8 LWB 7 seater yesterday evening. Drove it back from the East Coast of England to the west coast of Ireland - Averaged 26mpg with a bit of town driving in there too.
There's good spec on it; cruise control, large sunroof, wood trim, alarm, CD changer etc.
It's all the same colour on the outside (not 2 tone like most Pajeros are) and has an A bar. Bodywork is very tidy.
Overall delighted with the purchase - will post pics if anyone's interested in what you can get in the UK for relatively small money.

PaddyBloggit

colm_mcm wrote: »

I picked up a mint condition Shogun 2.8 LWB 7 seater yesterday evening. Drove it back from the East Coast of England to the west coast of Ireland - Averaged 26mpg with a bit of town driving in there too.
There's good spec on it; cruise control, large sunroof, wood trim, alarm, CD changer etc.
It's all the same colour on the outside (not 2 tone like most Pajeros are) and has an A bar. Bodywork is very tidy.
Overall delighted with the purchase - will post pics if anyone's interested in what you can get in the UK for relatively small money.

Post pics ... be great to see what you got!

Well done with the purchase ... safe driving.

fonecrusher1

colm_mcm wrote: »

I picked up a mint condition Shogun 2.8 LWB 7 seater yesterday evening. Drove it back from the East Coast of England to the west coast of Ireland - Averaged 26mpg with a bit of town driving in there too.
There's good spec on it; cruise control, large sunroof, wood trim, alarm, CD changer etc.
It's all the same colour on the outside (not 2 tone like most Pajeros are) and has an A bar. Bodywork is very tidy.
Overall delighted with the purchase - will post pics if anyone's interested in what you can get in the UK for relatively small money.

Good on you & yes post some pics, im interested. 26mpg? Not bad at all. There a good truck & i admit they definitely have a nicer interior than the surf.
I have air con but aint got no sunroof or cruise control.:mad:
Best of luck with the new purchase.:)

Slidey

Best of luck with the purchase.

Do put up a few pics if you get the chance

colm_mcm

Pics as promised. Got to put it through its paces today, tried out the central diff lock, the rear axle diff lock and the low ratio box. Everything is working great!

Slidey

That is a tasty job on the back.

Nice work

fonecrusher1

She's a fine looking beast.

Heres my own truck.