Best Buy out of these...please

[snowgoose]

1985 BJ73 LX - 300000KMS - 3.4LT DIESEL ENGINE NOT BEEN TOUCHED -$4500

1996 MAZDA BRAVO 250000KMS - 2.6LT PETROL - NEW HEAD and RADIATOR -$6000

1996 HOLDEN RODEO 250000KMS - 2.6LT PETROL - ENGINE NOT BEEN TOUCHED-$6000

All things being equal, what would be a better buy keeping in mind a priority on fuel economy, maintenance, reliability, durability and fun. My research so far indicates:

BJ73 - 26MPG

BRAVO 18-20MPG

RODEO 16-20 MPG

Any additional help truly appreciated

cheers

snowgoose

[crushers]

4500 for a BJ73 sounds good
96 Mazda is actually a ford, no?? if so then run
the Holden is actually Isuzu, no? if so then it should be good...

[Joe Egolf]

To Me ,BJ73 all the way

[prado t]

BJ73 of course

[CID 96]

Seems you will get a similar response from a Landcruiser board. I agree, get the BJ73. Wish I could have one for $4500.

[roscoFJ73]

Originally Posted by snowgoose

1985 BJ73 LX - 300000KMS - 3.4LT DIESEL ENGINE NOT BEEN TOUCHED -$4500

1996 MAZDA BRAVO 250000KMS - 2.6LT PETROL - NEW HEAD and RADIATOR -$6000

1996 HOLDEN RODEO 250000KMS - 2.6LT PETROL - ENGINE NOT BEEN TOUCHED-$6000

All things being equal, what would be a better buy keeping in mind a priority on fuel economy, maintenance, reliability, durability and fun. My research so far indicates:

BJ73 - 26MPG

BRAVO 18-20MPG

RODEO 16-20 MPG

Any additional help truly appreciated
cheers

snowgoose

I would wipe the Mazda.It lacks articulation and aftermarket accessories are almost non existent. Still,they ok if you paint houses for a living and dont want to get bogged on a building site

i So its a race between the Rodeo and the BJ and it all boils down to what you want to do with them.
Your stated purpose was to take the kids bikes out the bush for a days riding . For that the Rodeo will do fine,and be nicer to drive.

The Landcruiser is a very heavy duty offroader. They are leaf sprung and thus handle like a truck but you will never get a better blend of ruggedness with an "ok" drive feel.
But sometimes I am glad to get back behind the wheel of the Volvo
Even at 26 mpg,the other operating costs of a landcruiser besides fuel are not cheap.

If the BJ has rust in body parts that cant be unbolted and replaced,offer them $3500 or pay $6-7K and get a realy nice one.

You probably should be looking at Nissan Patrols also. They are the real bargains in the HD 4x4 segment.
If you dont need a rear seat,there are plenty of 84-90 HJ75 landcruisers for sale under $7. A bit faster than a BJ but they can have the same rust issues .

[roscoFJ73]

Originally Posted by crushers

4500 for a BJ73 sounds good
96 Mazda is actually a ford, no?? if so then run
the Holden is actually Isuzu, no? if so then it should be good...

1 Maybe

2 No its a Mazda. The Ranger is a Mazda. The only differnce is the current model Mazda has a choice of 2 diesels only while the Ranger has one engine choice of each.
I think the aussie Ranger is different to the NA model.

3 Yes and it does have strong following and is often compared to Hilux,its main competitor.
A friend just bought a late model turbo diesel dual cab for rural mail deliveries and he is very pleased with it.
The gas model shares the same 4 litre GM V6 as the Holden Commodore and is supposed to be quite fast

[crushers]

2
the reason i asked was cause here the Mazda pickups became rebadged fords in 1994 with the same (lacking) quality standards...

[snowgoose]

Many thanks gang, really appreciate such wisdom and insight, yeah I'm kinda leanin towards the landy as the personal favourite.

Seems the Mazda is out on consensus here, but the rodeo/isuzu still in.

I guess the Rodeo is more city dwelling friendly than the landy and would assume the landy would struggle at highway speeds being a non-turbo version, would that be right?

Yeah apparantly the landy needs a new windscreen frame as this one has a decent rust hole. Fibreglass replacements cost 550.00 and new heads cost 500.00. I mention head only coz this one has 300k on it, apparently is fine, but likely or due to go soon I spose. I guess with the savings on the Landy, I could easily get these things done and still have some change.

Any further thoughts appreciated

cheers

snowgoose

[roscoFJ73]

Originally Posted by snowgoose

Many thanks gang, really appreciate such wisdom and insight, yeah I'm kinda leanin towards the landy as the personal favourite.

Seems the Mazda is out on consensus here, but the rodeo/isuzu still in.

I guess the Rodeo is more city dwelling friendly than the landy and would assume the landy would struggle at highway speeds being a non-turbo version, would that be right?

Yeah apparantly the landy needs a new windscreen frame as this one has a decent rust hole. Fibreglass replacements cost 550.00 and new heads cost 500.00. I mention head only coz this one has 300k on it, apparently is fine, but likely or due to go soon I spose. I guess with the savings on the Landy, I could easily get these things done and still have some change.

Any further thoughts appreciated

cheers

snowgoose

The BJ will maintain 100 kph ,maybe 110 on the freeway but only just. I drove a 3B powered Toyota Dyna up Greenmount hill once and all I get was 50kph from a running start
You can get new steel frames from 4WD Parts in Star st Welshpool. They were $600 last time I asked 6 months ago.
An Australia company makes aftermarket heads for the 3B,well they have a kangaroo stamped on them Might be a chinese rat also

One of the pluses of the landcruiser is home maintenance is easy

[snowgoose]

Many thanks Rosco, really appreciate your help here, I'm guessing you're in Perth too, would that be right?

Gonna hav a good look at this beast today,so I will type up a bunch of questions to ask seller and put them past if I could Rosco, would that be okay.

Once again,thanksfor all the help, hope I can repay someday should anyone decide to buy a bike

cheers

snowgoose glenn

[roscoFJ73]

Originally Posted by snowgoose

Many thanks Rosco, really appreciate your help here, I'm guessing you're in Perth too, would that be right?

Gonna hav a good look at this beast today,so I will type up a bunch of questions to ask seller and put them past if I could Rosco, would that be okay.

Once again,thanksfor all the help, hope I can repay someday should anyone decide to buy a bike

cheers

snowgoose glenn

Cool, free bike would be niceMake mine a Yammy 250 ROAD TRAIL
In Perth ,nor

[snowgoose]

I'll see what I can do lol