[fuzzybabybunny]

I want to do a Big Lap around Australia. I currently have a very reliable Toyota Yaris in great condition, but I think having a 4x4 or a very capable AWD would be best for seeing more of what Aus had to offer.

Budget is only around $5k and it needs to be able to allow me to sleep inside. I'm only 1.65m and the Yaris with rear seats down is surprisingly perfect.

The only cars in my price range seem to be a Suzuki Jimny or Holden Cruze YG (Suzuki Ignis right?) or Suzuki SX4. Are there any other options for me?

How capable is the AWD Cruze YG? I've seen some really bad AWD systems in my day (one car was on a inclined driveway and the front wheels were on wet leaves with the rears on dry pavement and it wasn't going anywhere). The Subaru systems are quite capable from personal experience, but require expensive four-tire replacements should you lose a tire.

Also looking at a 2007 SX4 and I'm a bit confused on the AWD system used. My Subaru has a full-time AWD with a center clutch pack with varying amounts of slip. I believe that under normal conditions the torque split is 60:40 or something similar. This means I'm burning up fuel unnecessarily when I'm just cruising on the highway.

Does the SX4 have the ability for me to manually switch between modes? Like front wheel drive for the highway to get better fuel economy, and a 50:50 lock mode when I'm offroading? Having driven around the United States in my Subaru I really appreciated being able to hill climb up severely rutted forest roads and camp along rocky river beds (max safe speed probably 5-10 kph). But I hated burning up fuel driving all four wheels when it wasn't necessary.

So...

- can the SX4 manually switch between 2WD and 4WD modes?
- I shouldn't have to replace all four tires on the SX4 at the same time like with a Subaru with full-time AWD?
- as far as offroading ability, it should be Jimny first, then SX4, then Cruze YG somewhat far away, right?
- can the SX4 rear seats fold flat for sleeping?
- SX4 should have more interior space than the Jimny or the Cruze YG, right?
- Would the SX4 be capable of 7L / 100km cruising on the highway?

[alien]

Have a watch of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ile94sQK5s

Then think about exactly where you're planning on driving around AU.

If that $500 Hyundai could handle all that thrashing and still keep kicking, I think you'll find there's HEAPS of cars within a $5k budget. In fact, I'd be looking at $3k budget with a $2k kitty for repairs and spares.

Previously suggested Falcon or Commodore wagon is still the best way to go IMO:
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/det ... 8159/?Cr=0
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/det ... 6652/?Cr=3

[fuzzybabybunny]

Thanks. Back when I was in my late teens I took my FWD Toyota Echo offroading a few times.

It got stuck. A lot. Anything that was slippery (mud, snow, sand) really kill it quickly. Rutted hard stuff isn't too bad.

The Falcon or Commodore are still two wheel drive, right? I'd prefer not to be limited too much to where I can explore on my big road trip.

[alien]

That's what I'm saying though - do some research to plan out where you'd like to go. I'll bet that for the 3-4 instances where you need a 4WD to get access there is a tour company or similar doing shuttle runs =)

[Gwagensteve]

You’re not really listening.

The remoteness of areas that require 4WD preclude solo travel. People die frequently when their 4wd’s get stuck and they’re alone. Unless you work out how to travel as part of a group, stick to 2wd roads.

None of the cars you mention have sufficient fuel range, durability or payload for remote travel, even on roads that are suitable for 2wd’s

You’re selecting vehicles that are already pretty much already worn out, are uncommon/unheard of in remote areas and unsuited to the task. I suggest you buy a cheap and common RWD ultiliy or wagon, and adjust your itinerary to suit, increase your budget, hire an appropriate vehicle, or look at tour options for remote access.

[Gwagensteve]

As for sleeping inside, the issue will be removing the stuff you already have in it in order to sleep in it. With small interior volume (like a Cruze) you’ll be unloading the car to get enough space to sleep.

Rooftop tents are popular for good reason.

[greyghost]

fuzzybabybunny I think your not sure how remote some of Australia can be.
I've seen road signs warning you that the next fuel is 1500km (that's close to 1000 miles), the reality is that fuel can be gained but its not from a servo.

the distances in this "wide brown land" are vast and almost unfathomable, and there is no-one in it.
I've driven roads that I'm sure I'm the only car thats used it for a month or more. and there are guy's on here (like Shep) that live in this remoteness

get a hire car or the most common Aussie built wagon and use that.

[Eddy]

The previously mentioned Falcon (RTV) ute will go further than any of these cars, and most other AWDs, with the jimny loaded on the back.

This I know because I've driven earlier equivalents for hundreds of thousands of kms, including the Simpson Desert, Parts of the Gawler Ranges, lots of the Flinders ranges and the Border Track 25 - 30 times.

[Gwagensteve]

Falcon RTV's are awesome. However, the AU falcon in general is dirt cheap and bombproof. Google "AU falcon to the cape" They're everywhere in the outback.

I actually think the XG outback was probably better engineered, (cyclonic air filter!) but it's lower and no match for a Barra/locking rear diff.

fuzzybabybunny , I know this is a Suzuki site, but it's all about getting right tool for the job. A suzuki is the right tool for some jobs, just not the one you're describing.

Steve.

[fuzzybabybunny]

The Falcon RTV is a bit hard to find for me for a reasonable price without being 300k+ km.

What do you guys think of a Jeep Patriot? Or are parts for Jeeps too hard to come by?

[Marko_SJ]

Check out the AU Falcon Appreciation page on FB. Lots of great tech.



Jokes aside something like that would work fine, actually be able to over take stuff and use little fuel compared to even a small 4x4.

[Gwagensteve]

Just buy a stock ute then (non- RTV)

Don’t buy a patriot. The objective is common, durable and simple. Falcons and commodores were engineered for this country, there are parts in every town. They don’t use macpherson struts. AU on can even be driven without coolant. They selectively cut ignition to cylinders to cool them and you can keep trucking (within reason)

Closest US equivalent is a crown vic- taxi/police cruiser issue.

Buy and AU wagon, put a rooftop tent on it, throw a second spare in the back and hit the road. Happy times.

[Eddy]

XF wagon will take 235/75 x 15 all round on 7 inch rims, also fit 31s on the back, or all round with a bit of suspension tweaking.
getting long in the tooth, but dirt cheap.

[fuzzybabybunny]

Gwagensteve wrote:

You’re not really listening.

The remoteness of areas that require 4WD preclude solo travel. People die frequently when their 4wd’s get stuck and they’re alone. Unless you work out how to travel as part of a group, stick to 2wd roads.

None of the cars you mention have sufficient fuel range, durability or payload for remote travel, even on roads that are suitable for 2wd’s

You’re selecting vehicles that are already pretty much already worn out, are uncommon/unheard of in remote areas and unsuited to the task. I suggest you buy a cheap and common RWD ultiliy or wagon, and adjust your itinerary to suit, increase your budget, hire an appropriate vehicle, or look at tour options for remote access.

There are roads like in Kakadu National Park that are 4WD only that still go to fairly popular places. Those are the kinds of places that I want to get to, not some remote wilderness where the closest car is months away. I think it would be a shame to miss these places.

I've driven and lived inside of cars all around the USA, Canada, NZ, and parts of Aus as well. I've lived maybe 2-3 years in a Subaru. The Jimny is definitely too small on the storage space, but I've been making a 2-door Yaris work for me in Aus. I've now got a paramotor, so need something a bit bigger for my light aircraft. I was happy with my Subaru Crosstrek with freediving, skiing, and paragliding equipment, but it's in the USA unfortunately.

Having looked at the roads in Kakadu, there's nothing that I haven't taken my Subaru on. Definitely not good for 2WD, but a competent AWD like a Subaru or SX4 will have plenty of oomph and clearance to get through them.

[fuzzybabybunny]

Gwagensteve wrote:

Just buy a stock ute then (non- RTV)

Don’t buy a patriot. The objective is common, durable and simple. Falcons and commodores were engineered for this country, there are parts in every town. They don’t use macpherson struts. AU on can even be driven without coolant. They selectively cut ignition to cylinders to cool them and you can keep trucking (within reason)

Closest US equivalent is a crown vic- taxi/police cruiser issue.

Buy and AU wagon, put a rooftop tent on it, throw a second spare in the back and hit the road. Happy times.

A RWD Ute seems like it would have big problems negotiating off-road conditions? Without the locking rear diff, when one side spins freely the opposing side not longer has torque, so 2WD turns into zero-wheel drive instantly.

[Eddy]

fuzzybabybunny wrote:

A RWD Ute seems like it would have big problems negotiating off-road conditions?

Eddy wrote:

The previously mentioned Falcon (RTV) ute will go further than any of these cars, and most other AWDs, with the jimny loaded on the back.

This I know because I've driven earlier equivalents for hundreds of thousands of kms, including the Simpson Desert, Parts of the Gawler Ranges, lots of the Flinders ranges and the Border Track 25 - 30 times.

LSD readily available.
My first few forays I used old fashioned "fiddle brake" .. Rear brakes individually operated by splitting handbrake cable into two separate cables.

[fuzzybabybunny]

Eddy wrote:

fuzzybabybunny wrote:

A RWD Ute seems like it would have big problems negotiating off-road conditions?

Eddy wrote:

The previously mentioned Falcon (RTV) ute will go further than any of these cars, and most other AWDs, with the jimny loaded on the back.

This I know because I've driven earlier equivalents for hundreds of thousands of kms, including the Simpson Desert, Parts of the Gawler Ranges, lots of the Flinders ranges and the Border Track 25 - 30 times.

LSD readily available.
My first few forays I used old fashioned "fiddle brake" .. Rear brakes individually operated by splitting handbrake cable into two separate cables.

Oh man fiddle brake is genius.

[Gwagensteve]

You’ve asked is and we’re telling you from a position of experience. Every aboriginal community is full of old falcons they spend the whole time driving everywhere city folk think they need a 4wd for. Your budget will probably stretch to a Falcon with traction control.

Go ahead though. Buy an SX4. We tried to tell you.

[Marko_SJ]

Gwagensteve wrote:

You’ve asked is and we’re telling you from a position of experience. Every aboriginal community is full of old falcons they spend the whole time driving everywhere city folk think they need a 4wd for. Your budget will probably stretch to a Falcon with traction control.

Go ahead though. Buy an SX4. We tried to tell you.

[shep]

People think you need a landcruiser for outback travel but the outback is already full of ex taxi shit boxes.
Reminds me of the time ball and I were almost washed of a causeway on the roper highway. I thought it was a bit deep
but a AU wagon with about 50 people drove through it without issue. We got spun 90deg by the water half way across, proper
shit ya self time being croc infested etc. that was in a hard top sierra

[Eddy]

shep wrote:

People think you need a landcruiser for outback travel

six stud wheels does not a tourer make ..

[shep]

Eddy wrote:

shep wrote:

People think you need a landcruiser for outback travel

six stud wheels does not a tourer make ..

A landcruiser with 6 stud wheels is to old to be used for solo trips. They have been 5 stud for at least 20 years

[Eddy]

shep wrote:

Eddy wrote:

shep wrote:

People think you need a landcruiser for outback travel

six stud wheels does not a tourer make ..

A landcruiser with 6 stud wheels is to old to be used for solo trips. They have been 5 stud for at least 20 years

shows how much interest I take in lardbruisers ...

[shep]

Actually another point is what time of the year are you traveling?

[ZUZUKI]

A Land Cruiser Prado is still six stud, but then plenty of people think the Land Cruiser name in front of Prado is only more of those silly marketing people cashing in.
Rgs, Michael

[shep]

ZUZUKI wrote:

A Land Cruiser Prado is still six stud, but then plenty of people think the Land Cruiser name in front of Prado is only more of those silly marketing people cashing in.
Rgs, Michael

Had 4 pardos at work and not one of them made it to 80000km without a motor replacement, amazes me that people
think toyotas are reliable.

[Eddy]

shep wrote:

... amazes me that people think toyotas are reliable.

Simply believing toyota's marketing hype.

" they said it on TV, it must be right"

[bumstein]

shep wrote:

Had 4 pardos at work.. , amazes me that people
think toyotas are reliable.

The problem is ‘prado’.. my landcruisers (and IMO prado’s are not Landcruisers) have never failed me. Never failed any of the station guys either with the exclusion of the occasional gearbox, even then it’s very seldom a problem.

Edit: oh and I’m not fond of the 200 series cruisers either, never had one so won’t comment of their reliability.

[shep]

bumstein wrote:

shep wrote:

Had 4 pardos at work.. , amazes me that people
think toyotas are reliable.

The problem is ‘prado’.. my landcruisers (and IMO prado’s are not Landcruisers) have never failed me. Never failed any of the station guys either with the exclusion of the occasional gearbox, even then it’s very seldom a problem.

Edit: oh and I’m not fond of the 200 series cruisers either, never had one so won’t comment of their reliability.

My work 79 series is on its third ecu in 70000km. Can't do the speed limit without cel turning on.

[vet 180]

shep wrote:

ZUZUKI wrote:

A Land Cruiser Prado is still six stud, but then plenty of people think the Land Cruiser name in front of Prado is only more of those silly marketing people cashing in.
Rgs, Michael

Had 4 pardos at work and not one of them made it to 80000km without a motor replacement, amazes me that people
think toyotas are reliable.

Out of interest which engine and what went on them?


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