mercedes VS toyota turbo diesels

[BlackSmoker]

whoah! a unimog dealer! nice! i met a dude and his g/f with a gas unimog (military radio truck version) and boy was that truck insane. they emptied the back and used it as their sleeping quarters, too bad it was gas cuz they were getting killed on mileage (even had a gun rack and shovels and stuff!) actually, i hear the 300 GD motor also powers these beasts...

kewl place to start reading more. thankya!

Mogs are great but are very rough in the suspension department and not the greatest on the highway unless high speed axles. Diesel 416 doko is the one for me.

 

[romey]

ah your in Toronto?

Wayne(crushers) has an import business he is moving to Southern Ontario. He has lots of vouches here for his character. Decent guy, and many are happy from buying from him.

He has verified rigs and they are all top of the line mint units. I suggest calling him. http://www.luxuryimports.ca/

yup, the big dirty smoke!

haha, funny, i already did! funny how small the world is, somehow i accidentally found a post that talked about mileage, he was on it about the hdj81, then i noticed "wayne" then i found threads that someone was leaving for ontario, so yeah, figured it was him. this is great news indeed. i wonder if he's bringing some rigs with him in january...i just noticed that there arent' too many cruisers on the site anymore....anwho, i told him i would try to hook up with him once he's settled, not too too far to visit a land cruiser guru.

we didn't talk too much about the hdj's but it was a nice and very honest chat . . . i look forward to meeting him.

btw, thank you all for the awesome feedback and wealth of knowledge....i'm hoping one day i'll be able to show pics of whatever i end up with...if all goes well... cars are overrated imho, and i can't justify paying for a brand new one, it's the risk of getting some jdm import that hopefully is good on the long haul that sorta makes things more interesting...guess i have to bank on the reliability of these rigs and the process of how they end up here...

 

[Tofudebeest]

No first hand info here but I have read that the diesel G is naturally aspirated and very underpowered for that particular application.

300gd vs BJ/HJ60 would probably be a more accurate comparison.

No, but you're getting there. An HJ60 or even a BJ60 would leave a 300GD in the dust. I came VERY close to buying one in the Atlanta area, but found out that it was gray-market and ran scared. Then I went and bought a gray-market HJ60 (I was dumb, but lied to).

 

[romey]

The JDM 80 series are very well built and don't have serious inherent problems. Once the rod bearings are done they are fine. The issues that I have seen though, are "low" km rigs coming in that are not as they claim- roll backs. That, and low km rigs that haven't been maintained and as a result are suffering. Some with expensive issues like warped heads and cracked blocks. So be cautious. It would be better to have higher mileage and a better maintained vehicle. For this reason it's a good idea to consider a reputable importer- someone who'll back up his product. Search here for that info.

Both of the rigs you're considering are going to be $$ to repair when things go wrong but I think the "G" will be more so. I also doubt the "G" is as well supported here by locals who actually wrench on their own trucks. Advise from guys like that can save you a heap of dough.

Lockers? Most don't need them. Even some hard core wheeler guys in the 80 section will tell you that they rarely engage them. They do help with resale though...

i hear ya mac...guess it's what worries me the most, the engine. i know how strict the rules are in japan with mandatory inspections and i know how thorough they generally are with getting the job done...another question then is what harm does not-so-frequent use do to an engine...if it's still maintained and inspected every 2 years? guess the fluids get "stagnant"? and if they are replaced diligently? also, they have very mild winters, no salt on the roads, perfect pavement, and very clean diesel fuel. generally, the culture there isn't into hardcore wheeling when people get these trucks which is why they stay soo mint, albeit they will still get lockers and bush bars and roof racks/ladders and winches...and the dang thing never leaves pavement! imagine if it was the other way around? 15 yr old n.american domestics shipping to japan?! lol! now that's scary huh! a 1990 ford explorer....yikes...

 

[romey]

last thing, before ya'll get sick and tired of this newb .... so who's owned a 90/91 jdm HDJ81 for the past year or so?? any concerns or issues so far? impressions? regrets?? 2008's coming up so that means 93 HDJ81's...any major changes?? from what i've read, the late 91's got some nicer touches and shoulder belts compared to the 90's which had lap belts only in the back....

here's one on route to canada. low mileage, front/rear lockers, pto winch

is this a type of rig you'd sorta get tired off?? i'm guessing no, if it get's the job done...

 

[romey]

oops

 

[Lantec]

last thing, before ya'll get sick and tired of this newb .... so who's owned a 90/91 jdm HDJ81 for the past year or so?? any concerns or issues so far? impressions? regrets?? 2008's coming up so that means 93 HDJ81's...any major changes?? from what i've read, the late 91's got some nicer touches and shoulder belts compared to the 90's which had lap belts only in the back....

here's one on route to canada. low mileage, front/rear lockers, pto winch

is this a type of rig you'd sorta get tired off?? i'm guessing no, if it get's the job done...

I would totally buy that if I had the money

 

[mac]

Be cautious. The Japanese culture may be known for honor but that doesn't mean there aren't individuals in that culture looking to take advantage of a fool and his $$ half way around the world. I have personally seen JDM LC's that could easily have an extra 100k kms on them as opposed to what the odo says and some guys that work on these things regularly here will tell you that they have seen evidence of odo tampering. Also, many of these things coming over with verified low K have not been maintained properly. I've noticed fluids that BADLY need changing, i.e. brake fluid, coolant, and REALLY dirty oil. I wonder if some Japanese just drive these things and don't bother with PM because they feel they don't put enough miles on them or they plan on just sending them to auction anyway. My US 1997 gasser with 216K MILES on it is in WAY WAY better condition than many of the 81's with 100K KMS and my HDJ81 with 265k kms looks better than many I have seen locally for sale with a claimed half mileage. It just proves the point of good maintenance. The point is- go slowly, be careful and if you have the $$ buy from a reputable importer like Wayne @ Luxury. It takes much of the risk out of it.

 

[romey]

all good points still mac. thanks! and believe me, i'm grilling these dealers here in ontario, asking for paperwork, warranties, test drives, etc. etc... but i gotta keep reminding myself "patience my little grasshopper...patience..."

 

[tntoyota]

No first hand info here but I have read that the diesel G is naturally aspirated and very underpowered for that particular application.

300gd vs BJ/HJ60 would probably be a more accurate comparison.

cant find it TOP GEAR Landcruiser (fj80), G Wagon, Range Rover old episode Jeremy says "you cannot fit a Turbo it interferes with the steering shaft" or something like that...


Yes I have seen turbo'd ones

 

[Tapage]

I would totally buy that if I had the money

rear tire carrier .. winch, turbo .. definatelly add sospension, 315 and locker for my christmas gift !

 

[T.Stanford]

I've owned my 90Hdj81 for almost two years now with NO regrets. Very solid vehicle with tremendous capabilities . I've been in very deep snow, sand , and mud,with (touch wood) no need for the winch for self rescue. I bought the truck with 105km on the clock (who knows if it's accurate) but it was very clean for a 16yo vehicle and ran great.Since getting it I've changed out the BE bearings and rebuilt the turbo (usually needed on fresh imports). Make sure that the engine doesn't need a timing belt(needed every 100km). As you can see in my signature I also have a Bj60 which I've had for 10 yrs , the 81 for most ordinary uses is a rather large step up with way more refinement, comfort and power. Don't get me wrong I love my 60 and it is my DD, but when I'm going any distance it's the 81. If you want any other input, PM me. Tony

last thing, before ya'll get sick and tired of this newb .... so who's owned a 90/91 jdm HDJ81 for the past year or so?? any concerns or issues so far? impressions? regrets?? 2008's coming up so that means 93 HDJ81's...any major changes?? from what i've read, the late 91's got some nicer touches and shoulder belts compared to the 90's which had lap belts only in the back....

here's one on route to canada. low mileage, front/rear lockers, pto winch

is this a type of rig you'd sorta get tired off?? i'm guessing no, if it get's the job done...

 

[gbcruiser]

Don't forget, lots of used vehicles in Japan are used for group suicide. They tape up the doors and windows from the inside, light a charcoal burner to use up all the oxygen, and drift off into the big empty. Those used cars are really cheap in Japan. Be sure to check for signs of duct tape on the inside, a funny smell, and perhaps finger nail scratches from the few who change their minds at the last minute.

 

[romey]

Don't forget, lots of used vehicles in Japan are used for group suicide. They tape up the doors and windows from the inside, light a charcoal burner to use up all the oxygen, and drift off into the big empty. Those used cars are really cheap in Japan. Be sure to check for signs of duct tape on the inside, a funny smell, and perhaps finger nail scratches from the few who change their minds at the last minute.

yikes! jebus dude, you watchin too much tv or what?! lol! but yeah, i've heard about the crazy suicides.

hmm, but okay, then what, i got ghosts in my rig then?!

 

[Christian]

I'd buy it!

 

[Chrishdj80]

I actually own both vehicles.

Both are rocksolid built.

The only difference is the Merc diesel loves and needs revs and the Toy has low down grunt.

My SWB G is my little runaround town these days.
Equiped with 31" AT tyres.
Although dad uses it to go fishing.

The LWB Toy is the offroad vehicle. winched, bumpered, lifted, bigger MT tyres.

I really like both and don't actually prefer one above the other.

 

[mac]

Ya, my 300td's that I've owned had 6000rpm tachs with no redline- they made their peak power quite high in the rev range. That was the OM617 engine.

 

[61ihc]

i'm on my second hdj81. love the truck and the only way i'll get rid of it is for another one. jdm's are really common here in BC and i've seen some suspect "low mileage" units. unless you have some way of verifying the mileage i'd stay away from anything with under 100000km, but that's just me. seems to be the magic number with regards to roll backs.

 

[Dougal]

i'm on my second hdj81. love the truck and the only way i'll get rid of it is for another one. jdm's are really common here in BC and i've seen some suspect "low mileage" units. unless you have some way of verifying the mileage i'd stay away from anything with under 100000km, but that's just me. seems to be the magic number with regards to roll backs.

About 15 years back when japan started exporting used vehicles to NZ, 70,000km was the magic number.

Funniest thing was when one slips through the cracks. Presales paperwork all says 78,000km, vehicle arrives with 210,000km.

 

[mac]

There's loads of optomists here in BC that don't believe there could possibly be rollbacks coming out of Japan... Compression and oil pressure #'s are more important to me than what's on the odo.