Hi, we are new members

[jaderain]

We are a family or 6 from Lake Cowichan, Vancouver Island. Presently shopping for our first Delica. I have been researching for the past few weeks. This site, along with a very helpful Delica mechanic here on the Island, have been a huge help and eye opener to what I should be looking for. We can't wait to finally get one and the adventures the Delica will help take us on. I was born into vans (vw's) and had lots when I was younger (vw's never again). I can't wait to have a van that actually starts, goes up hills, 4x'4's, has heat, etc, etc. Anyways, I'll post some pics when I finally narrow it down to the one I decide to buy.

Blair

[jessef]

Welcome

[The Pinkfingers]

Welcome to the forum! Glad to have another Deli family on board (we are a family of seven!)

[FalcoColumbarius]

Welcome to the club! You will find a few members here that used to drive Micro Buses. I hope you find this site useful. What kind of Delica are you looking for?

Falco.

[delicatessen]

You will find a few members here that used to drive Micro Buses.

Correction : I still drive my VW bus ... But as soon as I get my Delica, I'll sell my old bus . Not that I'll be glad to get rid of it, au contraire. It's just that with four kids also, I'll have enough of one mechanically inclined vehicle ...

[jaderain]

Thanks everyone.

We are looking for mainly a 92-93 Jasper/chamonix, or a super exceed crystal lite with no rust. But mostly we just want the best condition within our budget, regardless of model. I keep hearing nightmares about the roof rust/leakes on the crystal lites...and keep finding that with the few that I have seen. So I guess my first choice would be a nice high roof Jasper, so the 4 kids aren't open/closing the crystal lite covers all day. I also want the LSD, that the Jasper/Chamonix's and I think the super exceed's have also.

[The Pinkfingers]

I keep hearing nightmares about the roof rust/leakes on the crystal lites...and keep finding that with the few that I have seen. So I guess my first choice would be a nice high roof Jasper, so the 4 kids aren't open/closing the crystal lite covers all day.

Don't know where you've heard all the nightmares from (unless a non-Crystalite Roof owner trying to sell you theirs). To be sure, there are some, but the majority of Crystalites I've seen, including our own, are fine. Some folks have bubbling paint, but I don't know if that would classify as a nightmare.

The kids love the windows, and they don't play with them at all, because they're not allowed to.

[jaderain]

I don't think bubbling paint is a "nightmare" just another job down the line that cost $ and time, and from what I have heard the high roof, non crystal lite's have less chance of those problems for some reason. I would consider a leak a nightmare. Not saying they all have them by any means.
My kids know there boundaries, but making there friends respect your boundaries without seeming like an angry dad sometimes can be impossible. I just know that non working covers would bug me, and once again $ and time.
If I had unlimited funds I would go for a really nice crystal lite super exceed, with low km's and the full service pack...who wouldn't. My budget allows for a decent crystal lite or a nicer jasper it seems.
So i'll rephrase my earlier post "most crystal lites in my price range, that have been recently serviced, seem to have some roof rust, hence the lower price." Or I could buy one with a really nice body, but who knows when the timing belt, fuel pump etc was serviced last. In my price range it leaves me thinking the Jasper is a better choice, but it all depends on the deal. I won't discount any model.

[konadog]

If I had unlimited funds I would go for a really nice crystal lite super exceed, with low km's and the full service pack...who wouldn't.

Welcome! But hey, don't let low kms on the odo lure you into a false sense of newness - it may simply mean the bus has been sitting idling in traffic, for years Or worse, just rotting in someone's driveway When I'm ready to add another deli to our fleet, I'm going to be aiming for one with at least 100,000km. The full 'off-the-boat' refit too, of course. And with all due respect to all those cyrstal lite and sun-roof drivers out there, for my money its a solid, low roof all the way... Happy hunting!

[loki]

If I had unlimited funds I would go for a really nice crystal lite super exceed, with low km's and the full service pack...who wouldn't.

Well it depends on what you mean by low km, I wouldn't want to get one with less than 80-90k unless there was some way to know for sure that it was just driven a little bit evenly throughout every year. if they sit for to long not being driven the seal and stuff in the engine start to dry up and crack and can end up causing major headaches.

As for the roof windows, I have them, I friend of mine has them, and lots of people on here have them with no problems, I think the # of them that that any issues what so ever is probably a lot lower than people think (I could be wrong) as people generally don't talk about the things that aren't broken. That of course is not including the power blinds, lots of them have issues with those but I also think that the fix for most of them is not $$ but just time, but that is often harder to come by, for me anyways as I too have kids.

I'm not pushing you either way, it seems like you are pretty sold on no crystalite and that is cool, just wanted to get that off my chest :). Both have ups and downs and each person will weigh each of those differently.

[jaderain]

I agree...90,000km's ish would be ideal. There is one for sale 5 minutes away from me with 28,000km's, and it seems new, but i would rather a 90,000km with all the servicing done.

[wookie]

I'd still take one even over 200,000km. You got to give it the same tune up whether it's high or low mileage.

[FalcoColumbarius]

... don't let low kms on the odo lure you into a false sense of newness - it may simply mean the bus has been sitting idling in traffic, for years Or worse, just rotting in someone's driveway

Something you might want to look into for yourself, I had heard somewhere that diesels had been banned from the big cities in Japan, not sure but may be worth finding out. Although as Konadog has pointed out it is not so much about kilometres as it is about hours on a diesel.

First, establish how much the Delica that has 28,000 kliks on it is selling for. Have the Delica inspected by a mechanic that you trust or, depending where you live, CC Autos in Coombs on the Island or CVI in Richmond will have an intimate understanding of the van (and hey ~ you might have an absolute jewel on your hands). This should cost you roughly $200.00 but you will know what needs to be done.
Click on this link: http://wikrad.com/delica/index.cgi?to_d ... red_delica ~ it is a list to give yourself an idea of what you may need to spend on your new van.

For example: When I purchased the "Miss Lil' Bitchi" (my van) I spent that $200 and discovered that although there was a new timing belt in her, her seals had dried out because she was sitting idle in some yard in Yokohama for a long time ~ when the engine fired up the oil leaked out of the dried up seals and onto the new timing belt, which is not good, so I had the seals & timing belt replaced.

You probably won't need to do every thing on that list, at least not right away ~ but it will give you an idea of what to look for. If the van has few kilometres on her the rubber is still going to be old and the older rubber gets the more brittle it becomes.

One issue I have with my van at the moment is the radiator, of which I am using about 70% of (because of scale), which means that when I go up steep hills for a long period of time (Duffy Lake Road or the Coquihalla comes to mind), the engine begins to get very hot. The thermostat is located right beside the first cylinder, which is right behind the fan. Most blown heads tend to happen in cylinder #4, which will be hotter than #1.

Another thing, Jade ~ I am no mechanical genius, as a matter of fact: I'm a painter ~ what I am trying to say is don't feel intimidated by a lot of the technical stuff ~ just be practical. The way I looked at it was I was paying $10k for a really robust machine that had 61,000 kilometres on her, 4WD, &c. and to get anything like her in a North American built machine I would be paying a great deal more. So even if I spent another $5,000 on the van I would still be ahead ~ weigh it out for yourself.

The benefits? I can go places that many North American trucks cannot. I have put another 25,000 kilometres on the Miss Lil' Bitchi this past year... it has been awesome! Once you have gotten to know the van they are very easy to manipulate and are built for modifications, but you have to look after them, i.e.; change the oil every 5,000 kilometres &c..

Good Luck!
Falco.

[jessef]

I bought my last one with 215,000 documented km's on the clock. You can eat off the engine and it runs great and something important to me, the drivetrain, is solid as a rock.

So long as you can get actual documentation for a JDM diesel under 100,000km or so, then you should be fine.

Like Falco said, if you're buying one with 20-60 k's, then I would have a reputable mechanic do a very thorough go-over the engine AND the drivetrain (which many skip) to check for seals, bearings, shaft(play), CV's, etc...

Personal preference with crystalite or non. I prefer the non-crystalite Chamonix models because of the paint job/LSD/thick carpet, seats and 2-way rear center bench seat.

My significant other loves the crystalite roofs.

All up to you which you'd like. I know passengers in the rear 100% love the crystalite's.

Good luck on the search. There are many mechanically inclined Delica owners who can help you on your search, me included.

[jaderain]

great advice. Getting things checked is always a good idea.

I'm with you jfarsang. The first Delica I ever "noticed" was a jasper with all the accessories. Since then I have always been partial towards the Jaspers/Chamonix's. I do like the 8 seater set-up, mostly for a more comfortable bed. I would like the hot/cool box though as I will be using this van for work also.

I really just want to find the perfect one, getting sick of checking the online classified's/email every 10 minutes. It like I have a fever...and the only cure is a delica!