Delica ownership realistically

[deserter]

Hi

I have been lurking for a few weeks and now its time to start asking

I moved to Calgary about a year ago from the UK where Delica's are pretty popular, I am an avid mountain biker and snowboarder and I'm looking for a vehicle that can fit my gear etc in for roadtrips to the mountains and stuff and the Delica is starting to look like a great tool.

My question is what is ownership like really, does it have enough power for our mountain climate? is it workable as an everyday vehicle{ I commute by bicycle a lot}? I'm a mechanic so not so worried about the mechanical side of things but also don't want a vehicle that regularly lets me down. Is it realistic to sleep in it on roadtrips?

what I'm trying to say is talk to me people, let me know an honest story even if it has faults let me know so I can bear them in mind rather than them be a suprise.

thanks a lot

Lee

[thelazybrownfox]

Deserter
Read the L300 vs L400 comments. "Search" for other posts too.

My L300's great to sleep in, quiet, secure (what bears?), roomy with seats removed and with my propane direct vent convection heater, a good year round camper. The high non crystal roof gives extra headroom (3" more) and is warmer to sleep in (than a crystal roof). With my wrap around curtains closed it's downright toasty at any temperature. It's amazing how much warmth curtains give .

I installed a trailer hitch to hold a heavy duty bike rack for 2 outboards and various bicycles. My roof rack carries my inflatable or my pontoon boat. I have a safari basket too but never use it.

The downside is overheight fees on the ferries unless I stuff my boats inside. Delis are great mountain vehicles too, L300s are narrow and take on many ATV tracks.

Enjoy the snow in Calgary and wish you had a delica.
good luck
Wayne

[gtexjunkie]

Welcome to Calgary and to the club.
Your first step is done, finding this place. There are tons of postings on every type of topic you could imagine. Reading though will answer lots of questions and give you cause for several more. If your interested there are quite a few Delis in the city that we organize a meet so you can see for yourself.
Since they are a turbo altitude is not an issue. Climbing big long hills can be a problem with overheating, lots of people install a pyrometer to keep an eye on things. You will not find another (van) that can go offroading like what a deli can do. You will not break any land speed records.
You can easily sleep two people in the van over night with no modification, although lots of people are working on their own designs to increase the comfort factor. Roof racks are available for bikes/boards on the roof. Trailer hitches can be fab'd in Calgary to accept bike racks. Bikes even fit inside with no prob.
A large network of parts in BC. Very knowledge people willing to share said knowledge. Engines are good if they were not abused. These are a 20year old vehicle +/- , have any work on the engine done in BC (there are some really good places on the island and in Vancouver) before driving it to Calgary.
Great in the snow.
The weather can be cold for them but you can/have a block heater installed and battery blanket etc.
These vehicles do require a certain degree of preventive maintenance but nothing unusual. Being a mechanic this should be nothing for you.


Jason
Pandora's Box

A "foolish man" (not Pandora) opened the jar, and most of the blessings were lost forever and had unleashed many terrible things on mankind – ills, toils and sickness. Only hope remained, "to promise each of us the good things that fled."

[deserter]

Bikes even fit inside with no prob.

this is the main reason I'm looking at a delica over a suv or pickup

forgot to mention I fancied the L400

[after oil]

i sleep in mine often. been to mexico, been to the rockies, i go deep into the coast mountains on logging and ATV roads, in the snow. i put bikes in it. i rarely need to work on it. after 60,000km. moslty on veggie oil, i can say the answer to all your questions is: yes, if youre not in a huge hurry...

[Spearo]

These are great vehicles for all you mentioned. We camp and travel in ours lots, and use it as a daily driver too.
The only thing to be concerned about is that here in Alberta it gets brass-monkey cold, so make sure you've got a way to keep it warm in the winter.
Welcome to Canada,
Erik

[deserter]

so make sure you've got a way to keep it warm in the winter.
Welcome to Canada,
Erik

yeah thats a slight worry as I have to park it outside at work and the plug ins only come on 20 mins every hour after -16{cost cutting}

I really wanted a diesel but are the gas ones a better bet for Calgary maybe?
and thanks for the welcome

[thelazybrownfox]

Deserter
Check out a neighbbour of yours with gas, Moolay, he's in Calgary too. http://www.delica.ca/forum/the-elite-58 ... ght=gasser There's not many gassers but do a search occassionally for more info.

I just picked up a gasser L400 last Friday but other than driving it home can't say to much. The L400 seemed a bit boring to drive after my L300 diesel but that was just a first impression.

Wayne

[Firesong]

I would simply have to say, your looking at a 15 or older yearold
vehicle. You can get a lemon if you let your heart lead your pocket
book around with any vehicle make and model.

I love mine. It does take a bit of cash from time to time.
And time ;)

FS

[Spearo]

I got through the winter with a crappy inline heater and a battery warmer. As long as it's plugged in you'll be fine- even that 20 minute cycled plug should be no prob. Other guys out here have got smarter than me and put better things like block heaters in and have no problems at all. I'll be doing the same if I keep this one another year.
Cheers,
Erik

[jessef]

Bikes even fit inside with no prob.

this is the main reason I'm looking at a delica over a suv or pickup

forgot to mention I fancied the L400

I have a low roof L400 and full size mountain bikes can fit in in the upright position. Interior height is good.

L400's are great. L300's are great. They are all great rigs. Personal pick

[konadog]

I use my L-300 (I like em HEAPS more than the L-400's - HEEEEEEEEEAPS more!) for working my gardening business hauling a trailer everyday. It is my only vehicle so takes me and dogs and bikes mtn. biking regularly and on longer trips on the hwy and on the mtn. logging roads back in the bush. I'm very pleased with it - I was happy to get a block heater though, even through the mild winter we had here on the coast it made morning start up much smoother. A must in the real cold I'd say.

[jessef]

If you wonder off in the interior/colder climates, the L400 'cold start' is comparable to an L300 with a block heater and oil pan heater plugged in.

It's that good below zero. Another consideration between the two.

But it's really personal preference.

Stock L300 has it's unique look.

Stock L400 blends in with local NA vehicles.

Modified L300/L400's can look aggressive and drive/feel very different than stock one's.

Better tires/suspension components/tighter suspension can make both L300/L400 feel firmly planted on the road compared a stock one.

[Manitoba deli]

For the extreme cold I intalled a webasto coolant heater on mine, I stopped plugging it in after that, they are very efficient to run, and your vehicle is at operating temperature when you start it, no warm up required. Espar makes a similar heater, equally good. Excellent for Manitoba winters.

Jason

[deserter]

For the extreme cold I intalled a webasto coolant heater on mine, I stopped plugging it in after that, they are very efficient to run, and your vehicle is at operating temperature when you start it, no warm up required. Espar makes a similar heater, equally good. Excellent for Manitoba winters.

Jason

do you mind if I ask how much it cost? I was told by a friend who had an espar fitted it was $1700 plus fitting