New & used 4WD wagons: a bargain hunter's guide
Mitsubishi Pajero
Mitsubishi enjoys an enviable reputation for building stylish and good value 4WD wagons. The Pajero is now one of the most established workhorse-cum-pleasure vehicles in the market and has come an enormous distance since its Australian debut in January 1983 as a short-wheelbase, two-door wagon of better than average competence. To give some idea of this history, Glass's Guide requires almost five full pages to list all the models and values for the Pajeros sold in Australia in these 26-plus years.
The Pajero range is now very well supported by the aptly named Outlander, which is a stylish and highly drivable compact all-wheel drive. It won't take you to the ends of the earth like the Pajero will if you want it to, but it does have quite good off-road ability and is probably superior to most rivals when it comes to departing roads in favour of bush tracks or the beach.
You can specify the Outlander as a seven-seater and in LS trim with the impressively refined Constantly Variable transmission, it is priced at a modest $37,440, making it great value for money.
Nissan 4WD range
Nissan is another car company which has 4WDs in its blood. Patrols were on sale in the 1950s. Back then, no-one had thought that a rugged, go-almost-anywhere machine might ever be seen as the ideal family vehicle. Like its perennial Land Cruiser rival, the Patrol has always been fabulously rugged but (again, like the Toyota), it has in recent decades added lots of refinement, performance and even luxury to its skill set.
The Patrol does business at the upper end of the market but two sibling models offer a measure of off-roadability for those with smaller budgets. It is fair to say that the X-Trail is an established champion in the $33-45K sector. This compact wagon's appeal has been enhanced recently by the availability of a 110 kW turbodiesel engine which gives even thriftier fuel economy. Less expensive again is the Dualis which can drive all four wheels for as little as $28,990. Just recently, Nissan Australia introduced the front-drive Dualis for those who appreciate the packaging but don't require all-wheel drive. It should do well, in the fashion of the rear-drive Ford Territory and the front-drive Hyundai Tucson (both of which sell alongside all-wheel drive variants).
Used car bargains
Although the car market is showing signs of recovery, it is still the case that used car prices remain staggeringly low. Whether you wish to spend $10K or more than $50K there are great bargains on offer.
Vehicles under $10K
Let's start with $10K and all the usual caveats. Arguably, the less you have in your budget, the more careful you have to be. Nevertheless $10K can secure you a very good older style vehicle, such as a late 1980s Land Cruiser, Nissan Patrol or Range Rover. All of these are capable of very high mileages but professional inspection is recommended before you part with your money. One surprising advantage of the British car is the low cost of an engine overhaul. Because the little Rover 3.5-litre V8 is so common it is also commonly available. A changeover secondhand engine in good nick can replace your existing worn one for an all-up cost of about $5000, but to spend this sort of money on an ‘80s Rangey, you would need to make sure the rest of the vehicle was in good nick.
Land Cruiser and Patrol wagons are generally more reliable than a Range Rover, but, are less enjoyable to drive and cannot match the overall comfort and feeling of class you get from the RR. If you not an enthusiast, you are probably better off with a Toyota, Nissan or perhaps a Mitsubishi Pajero. Indeed, the very early Pajeros are still good to drive.
What you get for $20K
While $10K is okay, obviously $20K is better. With this sum you can really get among some good equipment. Staying with the models discussed above, for $20K you can get a 1997-1999 Range Rover HSE 4.6, a 2000-2001 Pajero, a 1998-2000 Land Cruiser wagon, a 2000-2002 Nissan Patrol or a 2002-2003 top of the line Pajero Exceed. In general, Toyotas still retain their value best. For example, if you are spending $20K, you will probably have to settle for a high mileage Cruiser. Again, the Range Rover gives you the most car and luxury for your money but also potentially the biggest maintenance costs.
Used 4WD bargains around $40K
Move into the $40K range and you can start to consider such up-spec models as the BMW X5, Audi Offroad, and an almost new top of the line Holden Adventra or Ford Territory. The BMW will go further off the road than any of the others, although the Adventra comes a close second, belying its wagon styling. BMW running costs can be high and electrical problems afflict the X5. But any of these wagons gives you a great deal of style and comfort for your money.
Find 4WDs in
