LAZ 1 signs in ....

[LAZ 1]

Well,
I don't have a Delica van ....
yet!
So I guess this makes me a "newbie".
BUT,
previously,
I have had some experience with vans, 4X4s, and 4X4 vans, both on road and off road.

I have owned/modified/built/camperised/
in roughly chronological order:

[1] VW based fiberglass body Dune Buggy [ yes, it is true, dune buggies DO float ]

[1] VW Baja Bug [ way more practical than a dune buggy ... roof and heater are definitely nice]

[14] VW Vans [ at the time, the MOST practical vehicle ever built. Capable of climbing the same hills that gave my duner and baja clutch failures, and capable of doing it with a pretty girl, a bed in the back, a cooler full of yummie food, and a 12 pack. And yes. it is true VW vans DO float ]

The last VW van I owned was turned into a Mini (MICRO?) motorhome, complete with a KEVLAR reinforced fiberglass shell, hand rubbed oil finish oak panel interior, stove, sink, cooler, etc. Painted Red, Yellow, and Black, it was affectionaltely known as "The Clown Wagen". It is still sorely missed, but time marches on, and better vans eventually became available.

[3] CP RAIL surplus 1 ton DODGE 4X4 Crewcab Big Ugly Yellow trucks [ almost a van? ]

[1] Chevy Blazer [ 350 HP, 4 spd with posi ]

[1] DODGE 1 Ton 4X4 Van [ EX-BC Forest Products ambulance, from up around Tahsis. It came complete with all that great ambulancxe stuff ... including a "Vomit Sucker". Solid front axle on coils, with BIG lift ]

[1] Toyota Diesel Land Crusher

[1] Chev 4X4 "BURB" with diesel and aftermarket (BANKS?) turbo.

[1] FORD E-350 4X4 Van [ Probably a Clydsdale conversion ...
IFS with the Ford scissors front end ]

[1] Toyota Van camper conversion ... AKA The Barbi Doll Camper

[5] Toyota 4X4 Vans .... [2] 5 spds, and [3] autos. The 5 spd Toy 4X4 Van, with the two speed transfer, was a very good match for my lifestyle, and I have taken one down roads that were labeled "Mountain Bike trail only", as well as floated one across a stream when I miscalculated the depth of a ford. And did so with passengers, BIG dogs, camping gear, mountain bikes, folding kayak, stereo blaring, power windows, and air conditioning. Roughing it doesn't have to be all that rough, if you choose the right 4X4 van.

I started looking at the Delica a few years ago, when my trusty/rusty 89 LHD GAS Toy 4X4 LE van decided to blow a head gasket. This was the third time one of my Toy vans had blown a head gasket, so I began to take the hint.

Just last month the tow man come to take it away, both my 89 4X4 Toy van and my spare parts 87 4X4 Toy Van, both too rusty for the road.

So, it was definitely time to find something different. After a LOT of research, I narroed it down to a Delica, or the Daihatsu Mud Master.

A great deal on an already Canuckisized 92 DaihatsuHijet 4X4 pickup [ Gesundheit], came along, so I pounced on it. Gesundheit definitely has potential, and has already inpressed me with 108 KPH top speed [ as checked by Sannich police radar], and with 35 - 40 MPG fuel sipping. It also has crawled into [ and more importantly, out off ] a 2' Deep mud hole ... I left the mud on the front bumper as proof. Made it up my driveway in snow and sleet [ no east trick ], and has impressed the Significant Other as a "Powered Wheelbarrow" around our acreage. We have had hay stacked up until the bump stops are touching, and meadered home with the load around twisty turnt Finlayson Arm Road, at the speed limit, and still under control.

What more could anyone ask for?

Welllllll ...
it seems we can't take both the 110 lb German Shepherd and the SI out together/at the same time, without one of them being tied down securely in the bed.

Tough call ...
but I either cut the back out of the cab, to make it into a sort of King Cab, swap it for one of the four door Daihatsu Crew cabs [ RARE ? ], get a Daihatsu 4X4 VAN [even rarer], or move up to a Delica.

So far, I am leaning towards the Delica, but I am only interested in the STANDARD Delica [ agin, rare].

So,
If I show up at one of the Delica Club meetings in a Daihatsu, hopefully you will still make me feel welcome. I am a delica owner in waiting .... maybe!
[;{)
Larry Z
aka
LAZ 1

[delicat]

Welcome to our site!

Well, you're asking a Delica fanatic crowd what they'd chose??? I don't think we can be very objective! So the choice is a Delica of course!
But we are all curious and since you didn't post any pictures I had to go look at you Kei van, pretty good...

Is this similar to what you have or are looking for? (not sure if this one has 4x4?)
http://www.4x4minitruckimports.com/imag ... ifted2.jpg

Kei van.jpg (56.44 KiB) Viewed 8275 times

Keep reading on this site and the Delica will become the apparent choice! Sounds like you had quite the collection of vehicles over time... still love VW but the Delica is a far step above.
Cheers!

[The Pinkfingers]

Welcome, Larry.

Looks like you've had some experience with vehicles. The first ever car I bought was an old 67 VW Bug that had been turned into a Baja. Loved it.

The standard Delica are not too rare. There are a few listed on different dealers / importers websites, including on the delica for sale section of this forum. But if you're looking for better mileage, you should go with an automatic. I know that's different from other vehicles (depending on how you drive), but I'm told in the case of the Delica it's true.