Well, I've been a bad boy, at least as far as the bank account goes.
While we have been patiently waiting for the delivery of our Starcraft Outback 1758-1, my mind has wandered about towing it with our about to turn 10yo Rodeo 4x4 Dualcab. Although this has been a fantastic and ultra reliable beast over the last 8 years of ownership, little voices in the back of my mind have kept saying all the what if's, you know, what if we are in the middle of nowhere and the transmission craps out, what if when we are dragging 2+tons up that range and the engine overheats, what if ..................and so on
Now I have every confidence in nothing being unfixable for the price, but the destruction of valuable time away let alone having the what if's in the back of your mind every trip sort of takes the shine off it.
The other pressing reason is with a growing family of 5, two parents, 3 children ranging from 17 down to 6months and especially now the smallest has changed from a capsule to forward facing seat, the back seat real estate and general cabin space is, lets face it...............crap, at best we have a two and a half space rear seat and that's being generous.
So with a bit of research and looking at options for something to last the next 10 years that would perform all it is needed too, week day school taxi, shopping trolley, comfortable city car and minimal restricted access, easy access to the cabin and boot, capable tow tug with 2.5 tonne, capable outback tourer and 4wd (no more rock hopping and mud pits for me) reasonably economical and good range of aftermarket accessories and a following of enthusiasts for when you really need to know how to fix things.
In the end the choice became very simple, dual cab ute's although flexible and certainly up to the task had a few X's beside them, price to fit out and again the cabin space and second row access. Then came the two Toyota options, Prado certainly ticked alot of our requirements but a bit short on cargo space, pretty maxed out at our towing load and then the price. Lastly the mighty 200 series, yes for everything, but big in the shopping centers, thirsty, and ridiculous $$$$.
I also quickly thought about Nissans offerings, Y61 patrol solid and proven but low on power too truck like around town, the ugly as sin Y62, not sure what end should be the front, but again not really right for us, Pathfinder don't even go there I said 4wd remember.
So in the end we ended up choosing a MY16 Pajero GLX demo, got a great deal and it has so much for such a reasonable price, it's a proven platform although maybe not up to date with the latest technologies in engines and drive train it is still light years ahead of the old Deo.
We loved our old Rodeo and it will be sadly missed but we are looking forward to many great times in the new Paj.
So we are expecting a big couple of weeks shortly and I'm more excited than a teenager with two di&#*
The old bus
.
While we have been patiently waiting for the delivery of our Starcraft Outback 1758-1, my mind has wandered about towing it with our about to turn 10yo Rodeo 4x4 Dualcab. Although this has been a fantastic and ultra reliable beast over the last 8 years of ownership, little voices in the back of my mind have kept saying all the what if's, you know, what if we are in the middle of nowhere and the transmission craps out, what if when we are dragging 2+tons up that range and the engine overheats, what if ..................and so on
Now I have every confidence in nothing being unfixable for the price, but the destruction of valuable time away let alone having the what if's in the back of your mind every trip sort of takes the shine off it.
The other pressing reason is with a growing family of 5, two parents, 3 children ranging from 17 down to 6months and especially now the smallest has changed from a capsule to forward facing seat, the back seat real estate and general cabin space is, lets face it...............crap, at best we have a two and a half space rear seat and that's being generous.
So with a bit of research and looking at options for something to last the next 10 years that would perform all it is needed too, week day school taxi, shopping trolley, comfortable city car and minimal restricted access, easy access to the cabin and boot, capable tow tug with 2.5 tonne, capable outback tourer and 4wd (no more rock hopping and mud pits for me) reasonably economical and good range of aftermarket accessories and a following of enthusiasts for when you really need to know how to fix things.
In the end the choice became very simple, dual cab ute's although flexible and certainly up to the task had a few X's beside them, price to fit out and again the cabin space and second row access. Then came the two Toyota options, Prado certainly ticked alot of our requirements but a bit short on cargo space, pretty maxed out at our towing load and then the price. Lastly the mighty 200 series, yes for everything, but big in the shopping centers, thirsty, and ridiculous $$$$.
I also quickly thought about Nissans offerings, Y61 patrol solid and proven but low on power too truck like around town, the ugly as sin Y62, not sure what end should be the front, but again not really right for us, Pathfinder don't even go there I said 4wd remember.
So in the end we ended up choosing a MY16 Pajero GLX demo, got a great deal and it has so much for such a reasonable price, it's a proven platform although maybe not up to date with the latest technologies in engines and drive train it is still light years ahead of the old Deo.
We loved our old Rodeo and it will be sadly missed but we are looking forward to many great times in the new Paj.
So we are expecting a big couple of weeks shortly and I'm more excited than a teenager with two di&#*
The old bus
.
