Buying a Delica..... I think...

[Slurpee]

Hello out there,
I have a line a good 1992 Delica Starwagon, Auto transmission. It would be my first Delica.
I have a few questions about it.
I have heard that the Auto transmissions are VERY SLOW. I don't mind losing a bit of power to get the gas mileage and the 4x4 but I live in the mountains and don't want to be stuck going 50km/hr up every hill. What can you Delica drivers with the Automatic trannies tell me about your vans?
Also, How hard has it been for you to get parts for your vans? I live in a small town with only a Lordco and a Napa for parts. How much of an issue is this going to become?????
Any other advice or testimonials would be muchly appreciated.
Thanks
Jair

[sigurross]

I've only owned my 91 for around 3 months so i'm probably not the best person to respond to this. But I have found my van pretty slow going up hills, though, I live in Victoria so it really isn't a huge issue for me.

As for parts. Most of the consumables on the van can be picked up at napa or lordo. Since owning mine I've replaced the front brake pads, fuel/air/oil/transmission filter. I got all the parts for this over the counter at napa. Both lordco and napa maintain part lists for delica, I'll attach the lordco list. I poached it from a thread on this forum.

The parts that can't be supplied off the shelf at a generic auto shop can easily be purchased and shipped to you via the various suppliers on the forum. I've only dealt with Rising Sun Imports and I have nothing but good things to say about them. I'm sure the other folks on the forum are just as impressive to deal with.

Overall my first 3 months of owning a delica have been great! And I feel quite confident that parts will be available for a long while yet. But you may want to wait for somebody to chime in about the vans performance on hills, perhaps somebody that lives in a similar terrain as you.

http://www.jasonsrobertson.com/lordcol300list.jpg

- Jason

[thedjjack]

Parts not a problem everything but the motor is Montaro parts and the dealers on here are really good and overnight parts as needed...

Uphill How steep and how long is the real question but long steep climbs are 60-70km/h in both the automatic or the 5 speed (I have the 5 speed)....It is a diesel so once it stops accelerating pressing the "go" peddle only makes heat and will blow the motor....

Take a L300 for a spin...they are not fast...I have no problem driving mine everywhere but I am not in a hurry...

[FalcoColumbarius]

I have heard that the Auto transmissions are VERY SLOW.

What do you mean by slow? That's a subjective statement. The L300 is not a Skyline, if that's what you mean...

I have a '92 Chamonix GLX with automatic transmission, powered by the Mitsubishi 4D56T Astron Diesel:

• The Cut in North Van; 80 in third,
• The Coq at the steep drag; 70 in third,
• The Duffy Lake hill towing a 300kg trailer; 50 in second.

These are tractors more than race cars and they need to be driven in an appropriate fashion, so long as you understand that you should be fine. Having said that I have had her on the dead straight and level going 131.5 and with momentum I got her going 145.

Very easy to cruise at 120 but very costly. Ideal sweet spot is between 105 & 110 on the dial on the open highway, best economy, as well ~ about 11.5 KPL. It all depends on how you talk to her and how you treat her... smiles.

On the other hand...



Falco.

[jessef]

Speed is irrelevant up the hills.

What is relevant is your momentum, rpm and EGT's. Keep up the momentum, keep up the RPM's and keep down the EGT's.

With those three working together as above, you can go as fast as the Delica can go.

Also comparing one to another is like apples to oranges. I've owned four different L300's and all four behaved differently up the same hill, same conditions.

The general rule of thumb is to allow enough speed before you begin the ascent up a hill to keep the momentum going with RPM's floating around the 3-3,500 mark and your EGT's between 9-1,100*.

If you don't have a pyrometer, you will not be able to use the EGT as a guide to hill driving/overheating indicator.

[yojimbo]

You won't be able to go up mountain roads fast in an L300.

Nor will you want to!

[psilosin]

Faster than a VW Bus. Slower than a Ford E150. Better gas mileage than both.

[konadog]

I've been motoring in my L-300 for 3 1/2 years and 80,000 km and have never felt like it lacked power - it is what it is - a heavy vehicle with a little motor...