Life after the L300?

[TardisDeli]

We all must pray for The End of the World soon, while we still have L300s.

Even the new L300s ie 1997 have no bush bars up front, just a car bumper, ugh.

For interior space the Sprinter with its lovely high roof (ooohhh joy to stand up while cooking and camping). But they have such flimsy little tires, and no 4x4.

New vans have electronic buttons (I want my transmission to be basic and rebuildable, not some fartsy push button electronic relay to die on a logging road).

Christine.

[Jordan]

We all must pray for The End of the World soon, while we still have L300s.

Even the new L300s ie 1997 have no bush bars up front, just a car bumper, ugh.

For interior space the Sprinter with its lovely high roof (ooohhh joy to stand up while cooking and camping). But they have such flimsy little tires, and no 4x4.

New vans have electronic buttons (I want my transmission to be basic and rebuildable, not some fartsy push button electronic relay to die on a logging road).

Christine.

http://www.4x4offroads.com/mercedes-ben ... -inch.html

That said, I have been wire wheelin' and POR-15'n for the past couple days so hopefully I don't have to experience 'life after the L300"

[jessef]

Nissan still makes the Patrol in the GQ version (utilitarian) in many parts of the world with the same old tractor engine. It's one of those vehicles that just did not need any change, so they kept producing them year after year with little to no changes. Very few vehicles like that. A local favorite comes to mind, Jeep Cherokee (XJ). That is the best offroad capable stock vehicle and the 4L HO engine is a tank. The XJ is north america's hidden offroad gem. Another plus is that they did sell them in Canada with the 4cyl 2.1 Renault diesel. Too bad they didn't continue to sell that engine !

[glenn]

Anyone thought about one of these? They still make them in brazil - water cooled now. It's no offroad machine, but . . .

[glenn]

Maybe this is what I am looking for. Some nice Land rover defenders are available now - some in diesel too. This place has some nice inventory.

http://www.landroversuk.co.uk/details.aspx?id=482

[BCDelica]

Made an offer on this for a project car, a really really low offer. The monster is almost as old as I am, and so little rust on the underside.

Can you name this beast with it's 58 kilo motor?

[BCDelica]

Didn't get the car, it belongs to Dad who lives in Udon Thani and it's up to him. He's undecided until his next visit to town.

First rectangular headlights on a Japanese car and a 356 cc engine...... I still want it.

[glenn]

It's cool, but you have left us guessing - what is it? I like the grille.

[BCDelica]

oh, awfully late but that car is a 1967 Daihatsu Fellow.

500 kg car not counting body filler, and the owner weekly wanted to negotiate a price for it, but he wasn't serious.

[CREGAN]

This feels like the same debate I always get into on the VW forums. Vans in this genre peaked with the end of the T25 production run, and then they came out with the front mounted engine Eurovan. It was so radically different that it kind of sucked all the soul out of the VW van market. I kind of feel like I got my L400 at the same time as the end of the Delica was coming. The series 2 L400's are still very nice but they look tamer and more civilized. Where a series 1 L400 still has that odd kind of spaceship spectre to it that makes people stop and look, thinking "what the hell is that?", as I drive past them stuck in the ditch.

I really love my L400 and it is far and away the most interesting van I have ever driven, even more so than my VW. I kind of understand all you L300 trailblazers ragging on the L400 as it is essentially very different. Much like the end of the Bay window VW and the switch to the T25 Wedge, BUT is is still in line with a very cool family of vans. The D:5 is what happened to the VW. Watered down and refined to lose all of its soul and characteristics that made it so interesting.... the Misubishi Eurovan.

I truly love L300's and L400's alike. They both expose the obvious poor decisions made by the north american automobile makers, and how cool things could have been. That is my 7 cents.

P.S. I really am diggin the Pajeros. I have seen a couple amazing ones in Edmonton, but a crapload of cool ones around here on the island. I think I may look to invest in one of those somewhere down the road. Sorry for jumping in on this discussion so late but I just wanted to take a stance.

Craig

[jessef]

P.S. I really am diggin the Pajeros. I have seen a couple amazing ones in Edmonton, but a crapload of cool ones around here on the island. I think I may look to invest in one of those somewhere down the road. Sorry for jumping in on this discussion so late but I just wanted to take a stance.

Craig

I hear you. From a Mitsubishi standpoint, I like the production Pajero Evo compared to the production Pajero. It reminds me of the pre-production vehicles due to 'everything on it is for function' even down to the silly looking rear wings or 'ears'.

Stock white production Pajero and one in Dakar 1998/99 with minor mods (roll cage/fuel cells/rims/tires/uprated brakes)

[nxski]

Why move away from the flat fron 4X4 van...I'd like a Volvo C303! That or a nice shorty Patrol with a 4" lift on 37" tires but that's a different type of vehicle entirely.

http://www.collectorcarsforsale.com/140 ... ailse.html

[legionnair]

I think if the l300 goes it will be replaced by a safari/patrol or I will build a 4x4 van with a Cummings B4.

But the grass is still green on this side for now

Dustin

[dfnder]

I love my L300 but I think I will be going to a sports car after... I just dont use the 4x4 enough.

[almac]

personally, i'd rather spend 20 grand restoring my 91 L300 than buy any of the crap on the road today.
if i had to strip tessen down to her frame and POR-15 her in her entirety, i'd do it before i had to buy something crappy. Stainless steel frame, here i come!