We have decided to update the old girl and would love some input from anyone who may have suggestions. We want something like mazda bt50, ford courier or ford ranger, We want turbo desiel, single or king cab with an alloy canopy, i cant have anything too high because of my dissability and we dont need 4x4, if a 4x2 cant drive somewhere theres no chance i could walk there .Cheers   Colsa

G'day Colsa if thats your rig in your profile pic then what an old clasic, and a hard decision to part with her i expect, she should fetch a good price those old girls are getting as rare as hens teeth. Let me know what your asking for the old girl on PM (if thats alowed)? As far as your Q i have had a 2006 4x4 Courier (suicide doors) and nothing but issues, blew turbo intercooler, snaped gearbox xmember, droped 4th and 5th gear, frount end collapsed and this was in the 1st 50 000k's. The Mazda that vintage is a courier with a badge change, not sure about current models. Mate has a holden Rodeo 4x4 last year mod, Auto goes well but he said he'd never buy another fuel consumption getting worse as ages and keeps throwing CV boots ($300+ a go). I have a new Nissan LN40 4x4 duel cab (work vehicle) and its a joke of 4x4, suspension sagged to 2wd height, 4x4 selection fails most the time and now won't work, turbo lag take a cut lunch, and drive by wire failed 1st week so idle home and yes it's only done 41 289km. I put 300kg load in tray and bottems out constantly so towing a van forget it without a sus upgrage. Sorry for the negative reply but i to am struggeling to find a small 4x4 thats worth its salt, I have a hilux 96 mod Deisel non turbo and other then the tired cylender spiders its a much better truck then the new stuff comming out. Whats a boy to do? No idea about 2wd in the above as havent owned one.

Just another thing i forgot to say the 1st hilux 4x4 in the new yank style have had issues with the clutch failures and gearbox probs, also have had patrols 2006 mod had issues with splitting rims and diff issues and for big loads suspension upgrade required new/older cruser traybacks been champions if your not needing a tray then the new crusier wagons v8 D work a treet. One last winge is with the rovers we have,(duel cab) if you buy one then buy 2 as you will need the 2nd one for parts, gearbox, clutch, diff, door handels, window winder, all had issues with and not just in 1 vehicle but common accross fleet. Yes all above not my personal vehicles but work fleet vehicles and they do it tough i must addmit.

Hi just gorn, thanks for all that info looks like it is back to the drawing board. We are in 2 minds about getting rid of the statesman as shes been a good car we left townsville in sept '06 and been to w.a. via adelaide , back again now back in sth qld for a 3 month house sit, we have had to do a fair bit of work on her the last year luckily col does all his own maintainence, we were in portland last month and my mum passed away in mackay we  took 3 days to get all that way and she didint miss a beat , we've got time to look round and see what we can come up with.

The statsmen might be an old girl but if it still does the job then why change , as you said you do most of your own work, this wont be so easy with a new one.
The mid range vehicles you mentioned are all become to light for the job at hand with vans getting bigger.Like just gone stated , cv boots are a pain, 1st gear in hilux & navara etc are to tall for towing , no neede to repeat any more of the probs as they have all gone to soft for the job.

If the body is good on the old girl then the thousands to replace will rebuild her many times over.I,m still driving a 24yr old job, just keep fixing the bits as needed.

Cheers,

well, we bit the bullet and shot the old commodore...it was really a kindness... got a 06 rodeo turbo diesel auto, happy with that. i did though get up each morning at 5, log on and search through carpoint for 5 months until i found what i wanted. just a suggestion

Colsa, we've been carrying our 5th-wheeler on a Mazda BT-50 for eighteen months and it hasn't missed a beat. The Mazda has just had its 40,000 km service, the techs reckon it's in great condition and it's certainly purring beautifully. So don't write off the newer Mazdas -- ours is a 2008 3 L Freestyle (cab-and-a-half with 'suicide' door) turbo diesel, intercooled, common rail, etc. It was also $10,000 cheaper than the equivalent Nissan! ;) Andrea

Colsa, like Andrea stated. We have been towing our 19' Galaxy for 2 years with a 3.0lt turbo Nissan Patrol (auto) and not had a skerrick of trouble. We had a Ford Fairmont before we changed to the Patrol. Wish we had done it sooner. Jump in, make your choice on your own evaluations on the job the vehicle has to do then enjoy.

Terry

Hi Andrea, thanks for all that info we went to pitsworth yesterday and now that i have seen a bt50 i know what col is talking about i loved it, not too high for me to get in & the seats seem high off the floor which i need with my leg problems, this one had the 2 door king cab we're going to brisbane in a week or so to have a look there, got 3 months house sitiing here so plenty of time to look around. Thanks also Terro will check out the nissan as well.

-- Edited by colsa on Thursday 17th of June 2010 03:52:25 PM

-- Edited by colsa on Thursday 17th of June 2010 03:53:32 PM

Hi there
I have a brand new BT50 4x4 td and I love it. It is only 4weeks old so I haven't had it that long. I am a farmer and a lot of my neighbours have got the BT and they are all happy, it works well.