Delica?

Mark, what is the issue with your current close-to-dying van ?. If it's old, then it's easy to fix. These modern shtboxes are impossible. $2000 or so for a windscreen + plug to into dealer computer to program it or some BS like that.

I have a 2019 diesel iLoad, manual. Great car. Yes, it's a milk bottle at shopping centres, but it's an old fashioned engine that makes up for it. Easy to repair, although you need a double jointed wrist to change the head light bulbs. I've had to replace two chewed out idlers, but part prices are not bad, and easy to fix.

Current is a 98 Express that needs fuel pump. So what. But steering rack leak means $1000 plus soon, and it’s got small head gasket leak (combustion into coolant) and head was already done before. So it will pop in summer. Other electrical gremlins. Can’t risk it. Not worth spending $1500 now and maybe $2000 plus in six mths time on a vehicle worth maybe $2k in reasonable nick

Mark _australia said..
But why?

Definitely pondering but a lot of imports have spent a lot of time idling on a freeway in Japan so I need to think more
I do like that lots of parts are triton and Pajero so they’re easy enough to work on.


I’d rather have a true commercial tho, to avoid a lot of interior strip-out for racks n bed

They are getting ridiculously expensive, but some have only 40,000km... and they are a proper 4wd if that is useful for you.

My van was worth about $2.5 - $3K when I got it a couple of years ago from an old boy for $1000, so no complaints. It was very well maintained, its just at that age. So not economically sensible to keep propping it up but also every breakdown means missing work or even worse missing getting on the water!!!

I'm just pondering the logic of spending $7-8000 on something with almost the same km as my bloody thing.

So looking for some modern turbo diesel expert to reassure me I can do a grand of preventative maintenance when I get it and be golden. Or tell me nahhhh don't do it get a old Hiace.

I know but that is 1000 bucks over my budget. And 330,000 km it’s just as likely to chew out a major component soon as many other brands.
plus if it was fleet it’s been whipped mercilessly


I was hoping someone who knows modern euro diesels as it seems I get more for my $$ there.

I'll vote Toyota too. Mechanically like my 350 chev, and air conditioning, unlike my 350 Chev, Toyota are bomb proof

I've always been very close to buying at auction - but i need a registered driver really soon. Auction yes if i could spent a couple of months making it noice. Or rego'd and dinged. But yeah Im following them.

So I completely ignored iLoad, then see so many for sale. One has 650,000km 😲 so are they actually OK if well serviced to avoid the black death? Should I consider one if its say 250,000km and had a turbo done and injectors not leaking...?


Shocked at Delica BTW. mid 90's models with 300,000+ km for $10-$15k. Faark.

cisco said..
.... make a cash no trade offer of $7500...

Tell 'im he's dreaming.

Here's what you need to do, I call it "Carantoc's 4 step plan for a new van" :
1) Pop around to decrepit's on the way to the car yard with a couple spare ice cream containers
2) Grab a few of his larger huntsman spiders
3) Once at the car yard surreptitiously release them into the van
4) Then scream and demand a large discount from the salesman.

On another unhelpful note, I have a theory that older / higher milage / lower end vehicles in WA are quite expensive compared to other places, and this is because of the lack of an annual RWC. Not suggesting it is better to have one, or even that a system in WA would work very well, just a theory on one small effect of the lack of a RWC system. When you know somebody is going to certify your car every year it becomes less attractive to buy one that costs lots of money to pass, even though it doesn't need that money spent to actually run.

Yup I'm not putting this over the pits, nor can I see free transport on a $8K vehicle....?