Abandoning ship!

[jwfchase]

Discussion topic if anyone's interested...

So, it seems to me the L400 has become the latest and greatest to many longtime "hardcore" L300 enthusiasts! Even Mardy, who just after the L400's started to arrive figured he still liked the L300 better due to it's simplicity- seems to have become a convert (right Mardy ?) to the L400! There's definitely quite a few of you that have unloaded your L300's and are now stylin' in the 400 (though the L300 will always look way cooler to me!)... So, all you "old-timers" out there... who's sticking with the L300, and who's going to (or has!) "modernize" with the SpaceGear- and if you've already switched: what are YOUR pros and cons between the 2 lines? Maintainance? Features? Durability/quality? Etc. Etc.?

I'm just starting to FINALLY do some improvements to my L300, but I'm getting this increasing nagging feeling I'm put my effort and $$ on the wrong horse , based on how many of you that I would call "worthy of your 2cents" are switching over... of course it could just be my irritating urge to keep up with the "latest and greatest" (in terms of 15+ yr old vehicles )...

So.... what is YOUR 2cents?...???

BTW, I know the thread Jesse started that ended up 6+ pages on this is out there, I'm just looking for more especially from those of you that made the jump.

[marsgal42]

I'll drive Gumdrop the L300 Super Exceed until she falls apart. Or I fall apart, whichever comes first.

...laura

[FalcoColumbarius]

MLB< to be sure... Huzzah, huzzah, huzzah!


Falco.

[after oil]

i havent yet driven an L400. i love the space antelope and i think the only thing i wish could be different would be the ability to pass from front to back with out climbing over a hump. i dont care for more power or higher speeds. i have considered importing an L400 to sell, then id have the chance to get to know it anyhow.

[Mr. Flibble]

I have not driven either - but I have been in a few L300s.

I was actually set on an L300, until I began lurking on this forum - and after asking some questions, I learned that the L400 has more top end speed than the L300, and I like the ability to walk to the back. Had the L400 not been available for another 2 years, I probably would be buying Loki's Delica. but then again, he probably would not be selling it if the L400 were not available. (My guess anyways).

To me, total engine power wins out, and the 4M40 with intercooler has me sold.

[jessef]

the horse

If you can afford the barn space and feed, I'd recommend to have two horses.

One L300 and one L400.

Ride both everyday or how you feel or what you need.

For me, I would have Turtle and a Royal with cheese.

We only have one stall, so we chose a compromise.

Kind of a Turtle a la Royal with flat bread.

[mararmeisto]

We've got the Moon Machine on the market primarily because we don't so much need a van any more. I did/do love the L300s over the L400s, mostly because I think the L400s look too much like the NAMPOS we had available here - unless they're lifted and then they look cool. Nicer trim, better features, sure, but I'm shallow and go for looks.

As for performance, yes, the L300s are a bit of a dog, which is why the Pajero we chose has the 4M40 in it instead of the 4D56. Even with the extra weight of the beefier suspension and heavier transmission, although our 2-door Pajero weighs about the same as the L300 it's definitely got much better get-up-and-go. But the '94 SWB still has that retro-esque look to it, in a similar fashion to the Toyota FJ Cruisers (I like them too, but don't have that much coin to pay out for new-new).

And while I've changed platforms, some of the same duties are being performed (or are going to be once I get a tow package sorted out) by the new vessel. I've already started to sketch out the camp kitchen for behind the rear seats (more to follow on that in another thread).

Don't lose hope jwfchase, we're still there with you, some of us are just riding horses of a different colour.

[Green1]

I had to replace my L300 either way, it was dying. I decided on the L400 after a lot of thought, basically though it boiled down to the extra power.
I was sick of slogging up mountain passes on the trans canada at 70 kph or less, I was sick of having trouble maintaining 110 on the relatively flat queen elizabeth highway in Alberta, I wanted to be able to DRIVE.

Now balancing that out was the realization that I don't really need the hardcore offroad features (I like them, but I don't need them) so the extra length wasn't going to be a huge deal breaker off-road, and in the city, even an LWB L400 isn't as long as most of the vehicles in this city (what do ya mean you don't drive a pickup truck???) And it has improved ground clearance and approach angles over what I was used to, so the offroading didn't seem to loose too much.

Now I have been a bit disappointed to note the worse fuel economy on the L400 so far (though that could simply be something on my particular vehicle) and I'll admit I miss the cab-over design. But I am enjoying all the new "bells and whistles" that the L400 has.

[delicat]

If you do try a 400, don't just drive it. Sit in the front passenger and try to stretch your legs, you'll have a surprise... not much room as your feet get squeezed against the heater duct. Also less headroom at the back as the top curves in compare to the squarish top of the 300.

But this is all been debated before. There's nothing wrong with either, it's more a personal choice and for me the 400 hasn't convinced me. Maybe because I did find some hidden horsepower in my 300? Nah, it's all about the look!

[Green1]

If you do try a 400, don't just drive it. Sit in the front passenger and try to stretch your legs, you'll have a surprise... not much room as your feet get squeezed against the heater duct. Also less headroom at the back as the top curves in compare to the squarish top of the 300.

I have heard the complaint about the foot room on the passenger side, but the GF doesn't mind, and I don't sit over there... As for the headroom... I had heard about how much narrower and lower these vehicles were inside in the back, and I can say that now that I've tried both, I can't find any difference to interior headroom inside. In fact, due to the seat positioning, I actually find the headroom BETTER in the back of the L400 (one of the standard ways I set up in the Delica for radio events is for me to sit in the middle row driver's side captains chair facing the sliding door, on the L300 my head was constantly hitting the wall/ceiling and it was a bit uncomfortable, in the L400 I don't have that problem.)

[konadog]

No interest in giving up on the 300's AT ALL! If there were no 300's about I would get a 400, but as long as there is a choice the 300's win hands down for me..

[FalcoColumbarius]

No interest in giving up on the 300's AT ALL! If there were no 300's about I would get a 400, but as long as there is a choice the 300's win hands down for me..

Woof!

[impalator]

I will definitively stick with the 300... For four reasons:

We went through a lot of cr.p to have our 300 turn into a reliable and dependable vehicle... don't want to go anywhere near that again (neither with a "new/different" 300 nor a 400).

The 300 clearly is the cooler looking vehicle... the 400 may be better, faster, stronger.. but I would envy every 300 I'd pass if I had a 400

Since the arrival of the 400's the 300's appear to have dropped in value ... I wouldn't be able to recover anywhere near the cash I poured into the 300 (that's true with any vehicle - but I'd regret giving it away for $ 7K or so after all the cash that went into it)

I have a soft spot for "odd" things (when I grew up in Switzerland, most kids had regular rear wheel drive mopeds and scooters... I had a Velo-Solex, when I upgraded to Motorbikes, all my buddies had sleek Japanese street- or dirt bikes - I had a loud, notoriously unreliable and rough 1973 Harley Sportster, when I bought my first car, all my friends had newer model, conventional cars - I bought a 1969 Ford Cortina MK2...: The Velo Solex and the Cortina are still with me - the Harley had to go as it was too much of a bottomless pitt)...

The 400 is just too conventional - although in the lower mainland you certainly don't stand out anymore with a 300, the 300 remains the more "odd" and unconventional item in comparison with the 400...

Anyway - as long as the 300 keeps rolling alright, I'll keep it (and maybe - like David mentioned - one day I'll manage to tickle a few extra horses out of the old 2.5)

Cheers,
Chris

[bryanc]

It's simple really , keep your L300 and convince your wife she needs an L400 and get the best of both worlds

[Jester]

I like the engine and extra pep of L400, but quite frankly, it simply looks too much like a mini-van to me...I'll stick to my L300 Mars Rover thank you very much :)