your Delica so far?

[collector]

Hi all
Just curious as to how long people have owned their Delicas, mileage put on since purchase, and if there has been any issues (major or minor) with yours?
I am becoming interested in buying one-my '03 Corolla is ok in the snow (with good AS radials), but I sure miss "laughing through the snow" with a 4x4. (previous vehicle was an '88 'Yota 4x4 LWB pickup. Good truck, but high mileage and rust did her in). Delicas are about the coolest (and most versatile) vehicles I have seen on the road in the Lower Mainland, and they seem affordable too!

[marsgal42]

Took delivery in September 2007. Road trips to the Cariboo, Sunshine Coast, Seattle, Victoria. About 6,000 km: 97,000 at delivery, coming up on 103,000 now.

Issues so far:

DRLs quit (loose connection; fixed by importer)
Passenger side power window quit (loose connection; fixed by importer)
Hypersensitive horn button (foam deterioration; fixed by me)
Dead glowplug controller (dead capacitors and corroded traces; fixed by me)
Flat tire (nail; fixed by Kal Tire)
No 4WD indicator light, though 4WD works (current)
Questionable battery capacity on cold starts (current)

This looks like a lot, but this is a 15 year old used car. I'm still delighted with Gumdrop.

...laura

[docsavage]

Bought at 106 and now have 165,000ish km in 18 months.

Issues:

New alternator (custom install, $520)
Replaced glow plugs ($180)
Exhaust pipe ($200)


Extras:

Tires
Lift kit
Veg oil system in progress
Custom rear bumper

I've never owned a more reliable vehicle so far. I actually seek out back roads to travel as I am no longer concerned my vehicle won't get me home. An this is in the Northern climates of BC.

James

[BCDelica]

Ah, come on - you know your sold on a Delica already, you've been a part of the gang here for a long time.

• Between our 2 we've driven over 130,000kms.

• Purchase price for both was lower then our last two vehicles each, yet we are more on-top of maintenance then any vehicle we've owned. Eg, Rust checked 17 and 16 year old vehicles.

• Short of regular fluids and belts haven't touched the motor.

• Serviced or replaced power train wear parts.

• Super Duper dealers have appeared in the last 2 years that really go above and beyond.

• Could sell our Family Delica for what I bought it for years ago, maybe more since it converted to WVO (can you say that about a 15 year old domestic vehicle).

Yep, James put it best -

I've never owned a more reliable vehicle so far. I actually seek out back roads to travel as I am no longer concerned my vehicle won't get me home. An this is in the Northern climates of BC.

Edit - most importantly hasn't left me stranded on the side of the road. Well yes once, but it was my fault. The ride home after my first WVO install - after sleeping in the van (actually comfy; important point here, till the trucks started driving by at 5am) took less then 5 minutes to purge diesel with the pump on top of the diesel filter.

Kev

[maxpowers]

bought 18 months ago, at 67000kms now at 103000
alternator went at 100000
idiot father broke the dS mirror this morning clearing snow off it.
voltage regulator shorted against frame. fixed by me. in oct.
its been super reliable!

[patty]

bought in july with 69km and now there 85 something km,will be puttin some more on soon whne i live in prince george and gotta drive 2 hour to ski,GOTTA SKI!

[mattias]

My wife and I have put almost 10K on our Delica, and we've had zero problems. I have two complaints, and they are very minor:

Problem: It's hard to get into the driver's seat with a cup of coffee, and the cup holders are in a crazy location. Solution: buy cup holders from Canadian Tire.

Problem: The sliding door being on the traffic side of the vehicle is a pain in the ass. Loading kids this way can be dangerous. Solution: park on side streets and avoid parking on busy streets.

[rdub]

Bought mine about 7mths ago @96,000k now @120,000k and ive been here with no problems ,she stars first time all the time ,a little heavy on the black smoke at times,but that will been taken care of real soon.

[marsgal42]

You can add "dead alternator" to my list of issues. Grrr...I've been suspicious of the charging system for a while, and have been seeing far too much of the idiot light lately. Grrr...

Gumdrop is booked in to Japanoid for service. I know it takes a couple of days to get the alternator rebuilt, but I leave for Costa Rica tomorrow morning for a week of sun and star gazing, so I'm not overly concerned.

The Costa Rica gig is a more-or-less annual affair, and, yes, some day I'd like to drive down. Now that's a road trip!

...laura

[Erebus]

It passed the 6-month-old mark on Friday. Bought at 24,000 km, now has 33,000, i.e., done 8200 km in 6 months.

No significant problems. Had timing belt and water pump replaced as soon as I got it. Had 2.5" exhaust and pyrometer installed by importer. Had trailer hitch installed. Not too happy with the Bridgestone Dueler AT Revo tires I put on -- they don't seem to have the snow and ice traction I expected.

Batteries that came with it are phenomenal -- in August they ran the rear dome light (incl. fluorescent) for 18 hours and still started the engine!

Doesn't like starting below -5 or so, smokes lots on startup, smokes more than I like when warm.

The back end is pretty light, so doesn't take much to spin out. Much more sure-footed in 4WD.

Right now seem to be losing coolant. Not sure where/how. Too cold to diagnose.

Been too cold to do more mods that I intend.

Wonderful inside space, so much nicer than my previous ride.

Plan to drive to Inuvik next summer -- this is the perfect vehicle for it

[marsgal42]

You can add "dead alternator" to my list of issues. Grrr...I've been suspicious of the charging system for a while, and have been seeing far too much of the idiot light lately. Grrr...

I collected Gumdrop from Japanoid on Monday, and this morning was the first real test of the electrical system: stone cold, sitting for three days. She started right up, with the starter cranking the engine like it was warm. Yippee!!!

An alternator that actually alternates is A Good Thing.

...laura

[scott]

pretty much the same experience as everyone else. bought mine at 74k, now at 99k. lots of road trips, wheeling and carrying big loads, and so far the only work needed was a new sway bar bushing, new brake caliper, and 3 glow plugs.
that's it. love the beast.

[dmg]

I only have about 7,000km on mine but I use it as a commuter vehicle during the week and a camping vehicle on the weekends so it gets high miles and rough terrain. Biggest problem so far was were to put my coffee cup.

The dealer I got mine from either tuned or replaced anything that might go wrong before he would let me have it. I regulary venture a couple of hundred miles off the pavement with the family in tow without a worry.