why delica??

[stef38]

hello guys
i'm new to this list, currently living in australia, but i'll be back in france shortly.
I was just wondering why you guys drive a delica, instead of one of those nice big US 4wd, or landcruiser?
Personnaly, i've just discovered the deli L300, because first they are cheap compared to a 4X4, and second because i carry along 4 kids and heaps of luggage!
would they fit in a land cruiser? no way!
I'm starting to like the deli, and think the guys that designed it were real smart guys. everything is fairly accessible, simple, easy to replace or maintain.
My first riggs where landcruiser HJ60, which i really appreciated for their toughness and ability of going forever, then came the vw syncro era, a surprisingly capable 4x4 with lots of space, just lacking a transfer box and, then came the deli.
a mix of syncro and cruiser, with his leafs and transfer, but much more comfortable then the cruiser, a bit smaller then the syncro.
but the deli lacks top speed, behaves like a shit in the wind, doesn't drive fast, drinks a lot.
i'm attached now to this funny little vehicle, even if i hate him in the wind. i like the face of the guys that watch you enter a beach thinking : his gonna get bogged, and the deli just drives away.
we've just done lots of gravel roads here in australia, somedays i really felt worried thinking that van is going to fall appart.
and surprisingly it didn't, it just came home the way it left, not a single wound.
so now i'm starting to look at it differently, not feeling ridiculous anymore when going along with other 4wd.
shall i put him on a boat for a trip back home?
i don't know yet!

[Schwa]

I feel you with the wind! It can be a little freaky on the highway when you get those sudden gusts from the side.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Sounds like you pretty much answered your own question.

With my Chamonix I can get to places that that big Chevy "built like a rock" Silverado cannot physically fit. She dances down a forest service road. She has a very low centre of gravity and I have seen pictures of the van's inclinometer at 45 degrees (although I have only had her at 25 degrees, but she was solid). I just love looking at the faces of quad riders when I meet them in the bush with their drop jaw expressions.

Falco.

[delicat]

Actually, I have no issues with side wind. I leased a little Toyota Echo a while back and that little car was way more susceptible to side wind. With the Delica, you need to make sure your front suspension bushings are new and you should be fine. Put larger tires and you're laughing.

I've driven L300's in Australia and wasn't too impressed (from a few car dealer lots) they simply weren't maintained properly and didn't performed well. Once I got mine and got her finely tuned then I was happy, very happy. Still slow but so is my heart pressure now...
David

[jessef]

Actually, I have no issues with side wind. I leased a little Toyota Echo a while back and that little car was way more susceptible to side wind. With the Delica, you need to make sure your front suspension bushings are new and you should be fine. Put larger tires and you're laughing.

x2

If your suspension (shocks/bushings/leafs) are all in good working order, then your Delica should be quite stable when in blows.