I thought this might get a little more focused help here. Sorry for the lengthy thread. But you guys will listen and not roll your eyes like my chica's!
I'm starting a 2 year tour in Okinawa and I'm on a vehicle search. I just bought a 1998 Nissan R'ennasa automatic, AWD, ABS, Sunroof and GPS for the wife and kids. Seems like a really good car for the island. I especially like the AWD and ABS as the roads here are supposed to get really slick during the rain. Plus it's got a timing chain so I don't have to worry about the age of a timing belt.
Now for me, I'd been hoping for a Land Cruiser Prado or Hilux Surf. The Land Cruiser's here seem to demand a premium, especially anything with four doors. I've also heard there are potential problems with the headgasket of the Diesel Prado's. The Surf's are everywhere but really seem to draw a premium as well. They have both the 3L V6 and a Turbo Diesel as well. I know the V6's had problems with headgaskets. I have a 1990 V6 PU back home that had the headgaskets done under the toyota recall. There seems to be no head gasket recall done in Japan, and many are still asking $2-3K with a known blown head gasket.
Now the Nissan's here are much better priced. There's a Terrano (Pathfinder) with a 2.7L Diesel that's a 1994 model for only $1,900. Does anyone know about these? Most of the AU stuff I've seen is on the Patrol's and I've only seen one of those here so far.
So are they any other suggestion for other reliable 4x4 modles I can use to explore the island? I don't want to drop a lot of cash as I'll only need it for 2 years.
I'm starting a 2 year tour in Okinawa and I'm on a vehicle search. I just bought a 1998 Nissan R'ennasa automatic, AWD, ABS, Sunroof and GPS for the wife and kids. Seems like a really good car for the island. I especially like the AWD and ABS as the roads here are supposed to get really slick during the rain. Plus it's got a timing chain so I don't have to worry about the age of a timing belt.
Now for me, I'd been hoping for a Land Cruiser Prado or Hilux Surf. The Land Cruiser's here seem to demand a premium, especially anything with four doors. I've also heard there are potential problems with the headgasket of the Diesel Prado's. The Surf's are everywhere but really seem to draw a premium as well. They have both the 3L V6 and a Turbo Diesel as well. I know the V6's had problems with headgaskets. I have a 1990 V6 PU back home that had the headgaskets done under the toyota recall. There seems to be no head gasket recall done in Japan, and many are still asking $2-3K with a known blown head gasket.
Now the Nissan's here are much better priced. There's a Terrano (Pathfinder) with a 2.7L Diesel that's a 1994 model for only $1,900. Does anyone know about these? Most of the AU stuff I've seen is on the Patrol's and I've only seen one of those here so far.
So are they any other suggestion for other reliable 4x4 modles I can use to explore the island? I don't want to drop a lot of cash as I'll only need it for 2 years.