They were pretty reliable ''in their day'' But it's 22 years old, ?? depends on wether it was a cared for van and maintained properly ?? All Mazda's since the early 70's have been pretty good IMHO
My younger brother had one in the late 90's - drove it around Australia with 6 on board and all their camping gear and it didn't miss a beat. The small tyres mean cruising speed is 80 -90 Kph but there are probably diff upgrades that can be done. It had a carby not fuel injected. I'd agree with dazren that they are generally pretty good vehicle. Spares are easily available and cheap. Nothing fancy or hi-tech about them.
I bought my son the same model four years ago($1800) when he turned eighteen. He is a musician and needed a van. It had done 300k and we had the advantage of knowing the person who serviced it, which was done every six months as it was a commercial vehcile. He has had it six years and now has done 360k and the only trouble it has had is a 1.blocked fuel filter 2.the carby reconditioned as it tended to stall($350).3. reco alternator.($200).
I drive it occasionaly and it still drives very well. Mazda made thousands of those vans and they proved very reliable as they are a very basic design, but with any second hand vehcile, it is how they have been serviced is the key. So try and find out the service history.
Any vehicle that is 14 years old will probaly have some issues that need addressing, but he has been very happy with his van.
-- Edited by Collo on Thursday 8th of August 2013 12:33:58 AM
-- Edited by Collo on Thursday 8th of August 2013 12:35:03 AM
I have just bought a 1991 Safari E2000 with 301k so l am interested. I had the same age Hiace Safari a few years back but it was petrol and LPG. So should l get 400km put of 61 litres?
I had the E1600 version, both as a work and play unit, loved it, Dual 13 inch wheels at the rear, big 19 inch front. The left wheel nuts tightened by left hand thread. It did 599,000km by the time, I took it to the wreckers as it rusted away whilst I was living at Byron Bay. Bought it when it was only a year old. As we lived up a 350 ft tall hill, I need 2 bags of chook feed in the back so the rear wheels wouldn't spin. If I could have one today I would get one. I got 25 mpg, s was happy with that.
