Need help deciding on year / reliability

[Roroca]

Hi Delica owners,

My wife owned a Delica a few years ago and had to sell it when she moved.
We're now in the market for a Delica. Looking for something reliable that won't break the bank.

My question is regarding cost vs. reliability of older Delicas (e.g. 1992 L300) versus a newer L400 (e.g. 98). Can I go with an older Delica and have the same reliability as a newer Delica? Are the newer L400s more reliable?

Here are three ads:
92 L300 $5800 - http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/rch/cto/5137608437.html
95 L400 $7000 - http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/van/cto/5090594603.html
98 L400 $7990 - http://www.delica.ca/trader/index.php?l ... D_1YR_WRNT

What are people's suggestions and opinions? In my mind, I would buy a clean-ish version and take it down to Coombs Country Auto or another mechanic to fix what needs fixing and maintain it correctly. Good? Bad? Ugly?

Thank you,

Ro

[islander20]

I wouldnt want the one with 312,000 km. You can get them with much lower mileage for the same price. I much prefer the L400 though so im a bit biased. Of the L400's I like the older one better, assuming the mechanicals are good. I also think you get a much better price with a private sale, and in my eyes its a bit safer since the vehicle has been running in Canada for a bit and any major flaws should have already shown themselves.

If you go L400 go with the LWB. Looks way more baddass, more like a full sive van vs minivan. More stable then the SWB too. They are harder to find but worth it.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Got a '92 Chamonix Starwagon. After seven and an half years I really dig 'er. Very simple to fix that even a painter like me can wrap his head around it. No computers. They're diesels so drive accordingly.

One thing I like about the L300 wagons is the amount of space in them, i.e.; you can stack plywood sheets in them. Also they have an 88" wheel base, which is awesome for driving off road and they fit in "small car" parking spaces. I like the '92 as they are new enough that they have the dimples beneath the rear windscreen in the tail gate that allows any condensation to escape (so less likely to rust) but still old enough to have the manual hand throttle. I think the automatic is better than the manual transmission for two reasons: One, when I'm off road I don't have to worry about clutching when I'm at an odd angle, nice to have a foot to steady on. Two, when I'm driving on the highway at one hundred kilometres per hour, my RPM is reading at 2,600. In a manual it reads at 3,000 RPM ~ so fuel economy.

I prefer the P25W (low roof) for purposes of getting into places, like underground car parks or under branches. I don't feel the need to walk around in them, I'm comfortable bending over or crawling in them, as I'm doing that anyway when I go through the door and it's not like I'm going a long distance. I opted for no moon roofs or skylights because I think it's more likely to attract rust and less things to break.

The one in the picture may have 312k on her, but she's a diesel and she's has a service history with CVI, which is a good thing. Depending on how she was driven, which is the acid test ~ take her for a test drive, try her on. Then go out to CVI and talk to Butch about her. The P35W (high roof) is five inches higher than the P25W but for $5800, at a glance, I think it's a good deal.

This is my experience and opinion, I hope you find it useful. :D

Falco.

[Roroca]

Great input, guys. Thank you.

The issue of dealer vs. owner is a tough one, as the selection in the dealerships is so much greater. Some also do additional inspection and maintenance (e.g. Coombs), though the price factor is a tough one.

Any more opinions are appreciated. Happy to have found this community.

[FalcoColumbarius]

What I did was look for what I wanted.

I got a call from a guy I knew who told me that I had to see this van that was in his driveway. I did, it was a white P35W. I was quite taken by it. So much so that I started looking into these vehicles, I started learning what models, what options &c., to a point that I knew what I wanted and I looked for a black over silver Chamonix P25W (low roof) Winter package with the green decals down the side and green pearl in the clear coat. I was looking for one with sixty thousand-ish kliks and that is what came to me.

Got a call from my brother one day saying that he met this guy whilst paying his phone bill whom had "one of those wagons you've been obsessing over" and gave me his card. The guy lived in the upper Lonsdale area and was importing the odd Delica for beer money. I called him ~ he had a Chamonix, black over silver P25W with green pearl in the clear coat. It was love at first sight.

I guess I would suggest you decide what you want then look for it. Have your heart set on it.

Falco.