So what if 150,000 on the clock is reasonable for a secondhand petrol engine...what would be the equivalent for a non-abused diesel?
Any love for the Rodeos? Heaps of them about, Thinking of looking at a 2002 TF turbodiesel.

Dont buy a RA rodeo, piece of crap, fuel guzzler, turning circle like the QE2, cheap interior, #OOPS# brakes, i hate it.

Buy a Hiace van, they dominate.

I don't have a problem buying a diesel that has over 200k on the clock. If looked after they will clock up half a million easy. I had a tf rodeo for a while, mine however was a 98 model 2.8td. Loved it... But under powered compared to my courier.

So far its the Couriers and Rodeos that seem the most available in the style that I'm looking for: (flat tray with optional super/space cab), Leaning more towards 2wd with high clearance now if only to keep the costs/unnecessary maintenance down... any others worth looking at?

Datsunbloke saw a Mazda ute having problems doing a u-turn at a major intersection yesterday and i was thinking "scrap that off the potentials list :)"...could have been driver error but turning circles also a good thing to take into consideration now you mention it.

If 2wd is suitable, then you cant go past a hilux IMO.

The 2.8, 3.0l diesel engines are unkillable.
I have driven most models of hilux and landcruiser thats been available for the last 10 years, and owned a 77 2.0l diesel hilux.
The 77 (2wd), well unkillable. and trust me i tried. It wouldnt do nuts in second on the gravel but realiable and cheap to run.
The 2.8 and 3.0 litre diesels are great, cheap to run, reasonably powered, and also unkillable.
The later model hilux turbo (4x4) (common rail?) stuff. I cant comment on how long they last, but that have some awsome go.

The two couriers that i have driven (of friends) were nice to drive, went alright and dont seem to die. (they are mazdas afterall). One was a late 90s turbo diesel (4x4) and that pulled really hard. A non turbo version,(4x4) well at last check its got 300k on it and it still goes great. (all of those on the farm)

My dad has a 93 rodeo petrol. It has just recetnly died after bieng overheated for 4th and final time. (I found a combination of bulldust, oil, coolant and fuel in the intake runners, coolant in No1 & 2, and coolant coming out the exhaust)

As a general rule, if a car can survive my dad, then its pretty good. When he got it about 5 years ago, it went pretty damn hard. (2.6l petrol extra cab 4x4). Drove well, good cab space, plenty of tray space, performed good enough offroad (not brillant), drove well enough. Overall, a good reasonable performer. No prize winner, but good enough.

My answer in a few words
Rodeos - reasonable, but expensive to fix if broken
Hilux - unkillable, but later models are pricey, and Im not sold on common rail yet.
Courier - generally pretty good. ( I hate to admit a ford is any good...)
Navaras - If i ditch my nissan bias, Im netural on these. havent heard much bad/good about them.
Tritions - later model stuff is good. Drive well, go like the clappers, nice inside, plenty of options. Look ugly as sin. and its a mitsubishi. No resale value as a result.

Id just go 2wd hilux for cheap, economical unkillable motoring. 4x4 if you need it.

If you want something to last, hold it's value, tow awesome and be ultra reliable the HIlux will probably always win hands down. The 2.8L/3L diesel ones can go forever, quite often I see ones with half a million k's still fetching just as much as Couriers, Bravos, Patrols etc with half as many k's. The Couriers are ripper utes though, my mates got a 2003 diesel one, and it goes amazing. But of course because HIlux's known to never die they're still worth a fair bit, this one for example has high k's compared to other utes of it's age

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/p ... e=15&__Dx=mode%20matchany

But that said it could last forever. I say this cos I look at the ute market everrrrryyy dayyyy, I don't know why, haha obssessive compulsive I guess! I just bought a VS 2000 ute, great ute, but might sell it for a HIlux as i'm moving to Karratha soon and have always wanted a diesel Hilux. My uncle's got a 1988 Hilux he's had since new, he's done over 500,000 k's now and has had to do bugger all engine work. That said, there's always things to look for with second hand cars!

Haha spot on man!

Thanks for all the info fellas
Yeah Hiluxs of course!
Speaking of which(well its its predecessor), damn I'm missing my old stout more than ever, If another I would come along today, I couldn't guarantee I'd listen to the rational voices in my head...the ones that sound suspiciously like my father saying "the last thing I need is another bloody old car!"
The mighty Yoda and Bruny Island in the background:


Bulletproof...it even had bulletholes to prove it :)

Yeh hilux's are a definate option! Generally very reliable and go well in turbo form.. But are WAY over prices imo.

To be honest

Toyota in general are overpriced, in particular the landcruiser and the late model hilux.
I mean 40K for a new midrange 4x4 hilux!! and 75K for a povo spec landcruiser.

Im not sold yet on the value for money stuff toyota has offered in last few years, but before around 2005, i reckon they are reasonable-ish.