Having doubts a Deli is right for me. Pls tell me I'm wrong

[surfhunter]

agreed - I get all my parts from Coombs Country Auto, great prices and very quick shipping to Kingston, probably faster to Toronto. I'd take the advice of the other guys here, look around out West on the net for more options. Its great the Delicas are slowly showing up here but they are very high priced here because they are so rare. Make a trip out West if you can, fly out, pick up a conditioned one and drive er back. ( I know, easier said then done ). The safety is very easy here so as long as its been through the process out there it will pass with flying colors here.

Just do a search on Vancouver's Kijiji and look at the Delica's, hell, look on this sites classified adds as well - loads of em out there.

[Mbryant]

I have a question for you, how much do you like vehicle tinkering or just regular circle check kind of stuff? Because I agree with other posts about regular maintenance but I would add that given the uniqueness and rareness of these vehicles in Ontario that we have to be prepared to do some basic stuff on our own. If you love that stuff and are competent with basic diesel upkeep then I would be more inclined to recommend getting one.

To give you context: I live in Bracebridge (2 hours north of Toronto), I own a 93 L300 which I have had for about a year and a half. I love it and it has not let me down and the mechanic that services it regularly comments on how mechanically sound it is. I use it sparingly in the winter, because it can be difficult to start, (good advice on upgrades in this thread that I will look more at) I hate driving it in nasty Ontario salty roads and it takes a long time to warm up the interior. I have no experience with an L400 and I am very much a novice mechanic so take everything I say with a grain of salt.

If your mechanical ability is more like mine then I would be concerned about it being your main vehicle. I think it is fair to say that given their age that there is a higher chance of a breakdown and and the fact that they are unique (in Ontario) you could wait longer for parts. Again the focus of my comments are on this as your main vehicle.

I would also worry about theft as it is a rare vehicle being parked on the side of the road in Toronto. No stats to back that comment up just my rural paranoia about the big city coming out.

Keep us posted and if you do decide to get one I look forward to seeing it.

[mrdueck]

There have been a couple comments on this thread about heat and winter starting with these vehicles. I've had mine only since Dec. 10, but it has seen minus 35C a number of times already. This is hands down the best starting AND heating diesel I have had. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best)
My diesel history:
Heating Starting
86 Jetta 9 7
97 Eurovan 8 8
99 Suburban 6 5
95 Delica 9 9
Rudy