Cars for SUPs and Life

Suzuki Swift.

i,ve got the new outback in diesel

during the week i stuffed in it the following: 9'5" mana, 8'6"w psh, 2x paddle, two surfboards, kiteboard, two kites, rolled up 2.5m inflatable boat and a big bag of junk.

then drove from port stevens to sydney and averaged 5.2l/100kms

hope this helps

to add some facts about toyota.....

#1, they are the most profitable car company.....this does not mean they make the best cars (design/quality/performance) what it does mean is they are the best at running an automotive business.

#2 Toyota return more % of $$$ from new car sales back into marketing than any other auto company.

#3 what companies and governments run has no barring on reality...fleet deals etc arnt what single purchase consumers get....plus the governments and business have/had used most common bands and models not just Toyota

Here's another fact, they own half of Subaru.

Every car company does fleet pricing, the surprising thing is that is not that much cheaper. A hilux for example is about 6 or 7 Grand cheaper than retail. If you make a good deal you can get within 2 or 3 grand of that just buying 1 not 100 per year.

Ask a mechanic what to buy. Most will say Toyota.

Most bigger companies and Govt departments like Uni's, councils, hospitals etc will have a Fleet manager. They work out what to buy on suitability for the task at hand and then decide between brands based on a cents per kilometer basis. That is the total cost to own it for the term of their changeover policy. This is where Toyota wins the business.

I love Subaru and have owned about 10 commodores, the Foreseter is one of my favorite cars. My wife drives a Mazda which are also great. After working in the Auto trade for a while the things I seen and learnt make me believe that from a cost perspective if the car suits your need that a Toyota is the best car. It is my opinion and one shared by more car buyers than any other brand as is evidenced by selling more cars in Australia than any other.

A good friend of mine worked in WA for a rental company doing long term rentals to the mines. He said with the Hilux and Cruisers they got a service and a clean and were sold. When they had to buy Nissan they were basically prepared to write it off upon return. Ever seen those episodes on Top Gear where they try to kill a Hilux?

Anyway. Rant over, you can tell I like Toyotas the best 2 teams in the league are sponsored by them as well.

We've had a Forrester since 2002 and it has been great. Just starting to have a few minor dramas with it. Easy to put boards, skis, kayaks and roof boxes on and off. We've driven it to Kakadu, Litchfield, Uluru, Great Ocean Road, Hotham in winter on ice and snow with kids in the back. It's been beach camping, left at trail heads in the snow, wailed with rain in the Topend and lots of food/drinks/vomit spilled from the children. We keep looking at what will be our next car in a couple of years, but what we gain in some areas like economy cargo carriage in the back, we lose from height and length.

We'll probably end up getting another one.

has anyone got the merc sprinter ??

i think they would be a great sup/camper

but i can't seem to find much info other than the normal dealer/road test garbage

you can pay extra for the 4x4 and its still cheaper than a landcruiser

I really like the look of these, but unfortunatly I havent heard great things about them.....mostly niggling things

Well I am also looking at starting my own business towards the end of the year so was after something just to get me by for the next 2 years and then I'll get a brand new vehicle once I have the business up and running. Which, after reading what everyone has posted, will probably be a toyota.

But in the mean time just picked up a VX commodore wagon, with FSH and 170k on the clock. All for the nice some of $4000 pretty happy with that. Now I have enough coin left over to pick my board up off layby, buy all my new tools for my business and throw some at the mrs in return for sexual favours

Nice Cruiser hilly. How hot does it get in the sun? Turbo diesel or petrol? I like the 80 in front. I will be sad to sell mine.

hey DJ does your car ever feel like its going to fly of into the sky like herbie? That is my fear, feels like the car wants to start hang gliding

This my new rig , Defender 110 wagon 6 speed manual diesel , aluminium body and you can just squeesze in a 10 footer inside.

Great on fuel fantastic in the sand , my kids and dogs love the bullet proof interior. The wide racks lets me get on even the fattest Sups side by side.

Crummydore, plastic fantastic, at least 450kms to a tank. Great except for all the sensors that go on the blink including the in tank fuel pump, don't let it dry out and if it won't start get underneath and give the it a belt.