Hi all,
So as I move to my new job in the Middle East, I’m starting to look to realise something I’ve wanted to do for a really long time - get an 80 series. I have a daily driver that keeps me happy, so this would literally be to go off-roading, dune bashing and reaching places that are otherwise hard to access.
I’m looking for a bit of advice on what to get. As it’s a “hobby” car, I can’t spend too much on it; but I’d like to get something I won’t regret having cheaped out on. Here are the observations I have gathered so far, hopefully get some thoughts on these.
- If i filter by 1995-1998 (airbags are a must, and OBD is preferred), there are only about 20 cars for sale.
- Most have 200-300K kms, some over 500.
- Most are either V6 petrols; there are no diesels I can see (and anyway, I can’t think of where I’ve seen diesel for sale where I am). Some are advertised as V8, but that can’t be right, can it? I don’t think the 80 ever had a V8? (I doubt anyone swapped them in here)
- I’m thinking I want the VXR and not the GXR? In which case I’m down to 8 cars.
- I think I know how to tell the locking differential model (on the left side of the dash, where the mirror adjustment is, I’m looking for a switch you can turn) - only some cars have that so probably even less than 8. Is there a separate option for center diff, or was that standard across all?
- prices are basically all over the place - from $6K to $30K.
Overall - am I crazy looking for a car that likely has over 300K and has likely been dune bashing all its life by non caring locals, or is it more of a “it has survived this long, now it will outlive you” mentality? If I’m crazy, then should I be looking at the 100 or something? Those can be had with lower mileage, but I don’t like them as much.
Thanks for any thoughts on this!
So as I move to my new job in the Middle East, I’m starting to look to realise something I’ve wanted to do for a really long time - get an 80 series. I have a daily driver that keeps me happy, so this would literally be to go off-roading, dune bashing and reaching places that are otherwise hard to access.
I’m looking for a bit of advice on what to get. As it’s a “hobby” car, I can’t spend too much on it; but I’d like to get something I won’t regret having cheaped out on. Here are the observations I have gathered so far, hopefully get some thoughts on these.
- If i filter by 1995-1998 (airbags are a must, and OBD is preferred), there are only about 20 cars for sale.
- Most have 200-300K kms, some over 500.
- Most are either V6 petrols; there are no diesels I can see (and anyway, I can’t think of where I’ve seen diesel for sale where I am). Some are advertised as V8, but that can’t be right, can it? I don’t think the 80 ever had a V8? (I doubt anyone swapped them in here)
- I’m thinking I want the VXR and not the GXR? In which case I’m down to 8 cars.
- I think I know how to tell the locking differential model (on the left side of the dash, where the mirror adjustment is, I’m looking for a switch you can turn) - only some cars have that so probably even less than 8. Is there a separate option for center diff, or was that standard across all?
- prices are basically all over the place - from $6K to $30K.
Overall - am I crazy looking for a car that likely has over 300K and has likely been dune bashing all its life by non caring locals, or is it more of a “it has survived this long, now it will outlive you” mentality? If I’m crazy, then should I be looking at the 100 or something? Those can be had with lower mileage, but I don’t like them as much.
Thanks for any thoughts on this!
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