I want a Delica. But could I stand it?

[pajerry]

Somewhat tongue in cheek, although if I couldn't do the maintenance myself, I would not own a 4x4. Motor Oil, Tranny, Transfer Case, Diffs etc is alot of $$$ in just fluids per year and not something you should have to worry about if you can't afford a $7k vehicle. Never mind being unable to keep up with the maintenance and having something seriously go wrong as a result.


Anyone that needs to finance a 20yr old vehicle cannot afford to maintain one or fix it if or when it breaks.

[thedjjack]

Safety features?

that is funny all just to make cars more $$$ to fix or write them off faster,

10 airbags? Originally designed for Americans who will not wear seat belts. Proper 4 point harness superior (how many airbags in Nascar cars?). I sit too close to them and they try to kill me.

But airbags cost $$$ to replace and even a small accident will either cost lots of money or require new cars...all good for the industry.

ABS -scares the crap out of me....
1 look at a schematic of the system ekkkk,
2 look at the cost of fixing it.
3 most studies show no reduction in accidents
4 money better sent on driving lessons
5 does not work in snow or gravel if you actually want to stop

Plastic integrated headlights and bumpers:

Designed to so if you just touch another car with a bumper it will cost 1000s of $$ to fix. in the 1970 bumpers were designed for a 10km/h accident with no body damage. Not good for business. Man those headlights suck compared to the old cheap glass lens.

Crumple zones are really the only useful feature in "modern" cars the rest is just designed to cost $ or write cars off faster.

[thedjjack]

Unless you truely need All-wheel drive or 4 wheel drive do not buy it.

2 times the maintenance and 2 times as much to go wrong. Modern transfer cases / transmissions cost serious money to fix (compared to a NP205 and a 4 speed).

[Einstein]

Just my two cents, I looked for the purrfect vehicle for a long time, thhe delica came top of the list, I live in very cold climate of saskabush, and opted for the gas model. itr has a four-cilinder motor that purrs.... It great on those cold starts, and should last along time with care.. I got an inline coolant heater which helps it stay warm on those chilly nites as well as its a quick warm-up even in minus 30....nice to have instant heat.. I bought mine with really low kms, and am lucky that there seems to be no leaks, or dried seals, the original owner must of used or ran it enough to keep things lubed.. Just came back from a 2500 km trip and the van was purfect... I payed a total of 10thousand big ones(CASH MONEY) and had saved for a while to do so... so no interest.. and if i have any problems in the future i have some more saved to pay cash for that too..... These are 15year or older cars so do your homework, They will always need maintenence of approx 1500-2000 per year and if if it didnt get it last year you can be sure to add that to this years budget: simple cost of having the privlage of driving.... and if you cant afford one then keep on driving an escort till you can.. this will save you money in the long run.. This society of get now pay forever isnt a good one.. and you wont make it if you have to finance an old vehicle...good luck

[Chewy]

why not get a pajero 2.8, have the usual maintenance done upon arrival/purchase. Then if it breaks, just tell hoss c. mechanic that it's a montero, the 4m40 is pretty bulletproof as long as the cooling system is in good shape, so he shouldn't have to mess with it.