New Member - Hopefully Delica Owner Soon

[CanadaNZMum]

Hi there,

Your Club site is fantastic. Great to see so much enthusiasm and helping each other out.

I am newly separated with an 8 year old girl. We live in the Kootenays so I want to have a vehicle that can handle going off road for skiing, camping and berry picking etc. I often have to ferry extra kids around and the extra seats would help with boosters etc. The Delica offers the versatility I need plus the 4x4.

I have read posts here extensively and have found a bunch of the sites selling Delicas (dealers and privately).

Any advice from you all would be fantastic. Not experienced in the maintenance of vehicles but very handy and willing to learn (have been known to take laptops apart, order parts and put them back together when techies told me they could not be fixed for example!). Interested to hear from people living in remote areas and how they handle maintenance issues.

Any thoughts on the Sunroof vs Chrystallite roof (or none)? Any problems with sunroof workings, leaks etc?

What are the main questions I should be asking when buying?

Recommendations for a good mechanic in Nelson or close by?

Insurance coverage tips (saw post on possible issues there)?

Thanks in advance!
Claire

[Lapprentis]

Hi Claire ! Are you looking for a L300 or L400 ? In both cases, being in BC, your are on the Kingdom of Delicas in Canada, how lucky you are....
Being older technology, I would say it is probably easyer to work on a L300 compare to L400 ??? Anywhay, my advice for you would be this one: if you buy from private seller, just have the vehicle inspected at a garage where they do know these Vans :) Keep us in touch !

Lapprentis

[lrp374]

3 - L300's are for sale on Kijiji in Nelson - may be worth a look. At least they are close! Lots of members from Nelson should be able to help you with info.

[Big-Bird]

ask where the owner of any used Deli where has the service been done. Finding a Mitsubishi tech that knows these units and is local to you will be valuable.

I myself prefer the L400...bigger motor and more power compared to its L300 little brother.

[CanadaNZer]

Thanks so much for your replies. I will look again at private sales close by.

I might be able to go to Vancouver over Easter. Do you think it is worth the trip and buying through a dealer for more selection etc? Or would you say that buying privately from someone who has had one for a while (and ironed out any kinks as compared to buying fresh off the boat) would be better?

I was just trying to google the difference between a L300 and L400. Is it just the engine size? Maybe towing at some point so possibly the L400 then?

Thanks again

Claire

[CanadaNZer]

If I was to go to Vancouver:

Velocity has quite a few available. Rising Sun and Amazing Auto Imports do too. There is quite a price difference between what RSI and AAI are charging and what Velocity is charging. Anyone know why? Do RSI and AAI do a lot more service work, checks etc than Velocity pre-sale?

I know there is generally very positive feedback for RSI and AAI and they are active on this forum so some people like that and want to support it. Velocity however does have a good rating from reviews on Google Plus.

Any feedback appreciated. Thanks!
Claire

[CanadaNZer]

Last question for a while sorry - are the one year warranties that you get through a dealer worth a difference in price/trip to Vancouver.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Thanks so much for your replies. I will look again at private sales close by.

I might be able to go to Vancouver over Easter. Do you think it is worth the trip and buying through a dealer for more selection etc? Or would you say that buying privately from someone who has had one for a while (and ironed out any kinks as compared to buying fresh off the boat) would be better?

I was just trying to google the difference between a L300 and L400. Is it just the engine size? Maybe towing at some point so possibly the L400 then?

Thanks again

Claire

Regarding differences between the L400 and L300 types, both have their virtues: Yes, the L400 (Space Gear), as Big-Bird points out has a more powerful engine (2.8 litre + intercooler) and would be a faster, smoother drive on the highways and hills. The Standard Wheel Base (SWB) of the Space Gear is one hundred and ten inches but will not hold a flat four by eight foot sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed.

The L300 (Starwagon) has a smaller engine (2.5 litre, no intercooler) but will cruise comfortably at 110 KPH on the Highway with the best fuel economy but will struggle some on the steeper hills. The Starwagon will also cruise well at 120 KPH but the fuel economy will not be as good. The Standard Wheel Base (SWB) of the Starwagon is eighty-eight inches and will hold a flat four by eight foot sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed.

In my opinion, I prefer the low roof Starwagon (P25W) for going into the toolies because of her shorter wheel base (you can drive around a tree) and the lower roof because it's also about getting under things as well as getting over them. Depending on what you mean by "off-road" ~ all of the Starwagon's major weight is between the axles, that is ~ the engine, the transmission and the transfer case ~ the propeller shaft to the rear axle is fourteen inches long (approx), therefore a very stable carriage. I've driven mine at a lateral forty degrees and I've seen them go to fifty degrees and fall back to forty-five. Another thing I like about my '92 Starwagon is there are no real computers on board apart from the glow plug control unit and that can be circumvented in an emergency. The Starwagon is pretty much mechanical and to my mind less complex if you need to fix her in the bush. Awesome looking chassis, as well. By modifying the suspension (adding a leaf in the rear packs and re-indexing the torsion bars) I gave her a 2" lift.

I tow a small trailer (4'x4'x20" box) with my Starwagon and once filled it to the brim with paper in the way of brochures &c.(roughly 600 lbs in all), driving from Vancouver to Kamloops but if you are considering towing a boat, for instance, you'd be better off with a Space Gear.




The first image demonstrates some off road articulation (with both stabilizers still part of the suspension) and the second image shows the trailer, as well as my wee shower set-up. As a member of DC (Marsgal) once noted from comparing the two types ~ the L400 drives more like a car where the L300 drives more like a truck and as some others have suggested ~ perhaps more like a buggy. In any case, you can do a lot of things with either of these machines. I would recommend to you a serious perusal of the Delica Modifications forum if you haven't already. Good luck with your purchase.

Falco.

[CanadaNZer]

Thanks FalcoColumbarius.

[CanadaNZer]

Does anyone know if I need a winter block for Nelson BC? Is it cold enough? What do I need to do in the winter to make sure it can start and to take care of it? Sorry for my ignorance - I came from sub-tropical Auckland, NZ!

[islander20]

Check out the L400 long wheel base too...bit more of an over hang than the standard but tons of room. Not really a big deal in the bush unless you are going throug some serious (4'+) cross ditches. More stable on the highway with the longer wheelbase too, and it looks so beastly!

[CanadaNZer]

Thx islalnder 20. Many things to consider...

[CanadaNZer]

Thank you too lrp374 and Big Bird for your replies. Much appreciated!

[CanadaNZer]

If the L400 is longer than the L300 why does it hold the smaller sheet? I would have thought the longer one would give more space in total? I saw a YouTube video of an Aussie Surfbus adaptation on a LWB (getting the lingo!) - she said a queen mattress would fit in? That's 60 inches by 80 inches - 5'0" x 6'8" (60"x 80").

[CanadaNZer]

I think I've answered part of my own question there - The L300 & L400 is related to engine size, but within that the LWB is an option (only for the L400?). So with a SWB - the L400 is slightly shorter in capacity (for what reason?) than a L300). The LWB provides a little extra length for the mattress/cartage etc (eg secure storage of boards etc). Right?