Forum:
I hope you guys will be able to help me decide which model I should seek out. I'm looking for a small 4-wheel drive to teach my boys to drive, occasionally tow a dinghy, and general trips to the tip at weekends etc, etc.
I'd assumed I'd buy a Land-Rover, but Defenders seem to be way too expensive (in my opinion) and I prefer the thought of a car that doesn't brake down too often!
I've read that the Fourtrak would be great off-road (if I decided to take it off-road) Would the Sportrak be as good?
How do they compare cost-wise.
All thoughts/opinions gratefully received.
Many thanks,
Martyn.
personally i wouldnt touch a
personally i wouldnt touch a sportrak , purely because it has virtually no bootspace with the 2nd row of seats in place.
Fourtrak everytime
Having had two Sportraks and two Fourtraks I would not buy a sportrak, the fourtrak beats them hands down, just don't get one with too much rust.
fourtrak all the way
the sportrak is a funny kinda pointless vehicle from my way of thinking, small, no room, can't tow/ pull massive loads, thirsty on petrol, but each to there own.....
Full of ideas but no time to do them!!
www.bloodredoffroad.com
www.milneroffroad.com
eval(unescape('%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%6d%75%64%6e%75%74%72%75%63%6b%40%67%6f%6f%67%6c%65%6d%61%69%6c%2e%63%6f%6d%22%3e%6d%75%64%6e%75%74%72%75%63%6b%40%67%6f%6f%67%6c%65%6d%61%69%6c%2e%63%6f%6d%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b'))
youtube: Redfourtrack
The Fourtrak was the original
The Fourtrak was the original vehicle which sold in droves to farmers and others who need a pure working vehicle. It was cheaper than a Land Rover, considerably more reliable, and just as durable bodily. Mechanically it was much superior, the engine was not powerful, just full of torque which made it great off road, and as time has proven, it is a very robust and reliable unit.
Sportrak's came along as a lighter and less durable vehicle, but capitalised on the success of the Fourtrak. It was made available to meet the leisure market of the time, it is itself a durable vehicle, but still a lighter variant of the Fourtrak.
For reliability and durability as well as heavy towing go for a Fourtrak, particularly for off road work, it is much cheaper on diesel then a sporty is on petrol. Fourtrak's are much cheaper to service, being diesel means a filter kit comprosing oil, air, and fuel is only
Thanks for the responses guys.....
they've been really helpful, and definitely give me a flavour of the differences between the two.
Cheers,
Martyn.
Insurance
Just one point ...... In the days of old it was easy to get insurance for young people to drive old landies because they didn't go all that fast.
Unfortunately the insurance companies have got all twitchy about the damage a heavy (and now not so slow) 4wd could do in the wrong hands. For example, NFU mutual won't even quote for anyone below 25 years old on my 4trak.
Because sporties are only 1.6 litre, you might get a better insurance deal for your boys.
Otherwise, I can't comment about the better of the two vehicles. I'm a dyed in the wool trakkie !
For teaching the kids I'd go
For teaching the kids I'd go for the Sporti. Going to the tip would be a LWB 4trak (unless you have a trailer). Towing a dingy, any of them would do.
Off road performance. Horses for courses. The Deisel 4trak is better at wading. The 4 trak in general is better at deeper ruts (in standard form) than the standard Sporti. The Sporti is smaller and more menooverable in tight woodland etc. The Petrol 4 trak will climb steep hills from a stand still, which the Diesel might strugle to get started on without spinning wheels. Once wheels are spinning of course the Petrol 4 trak or Sporti will rev much higher, reducing the need to change gear ( and lose momentum).
On road fun. My Sporti will corner in a controlible manour at speed in most conditions, on AT tyres, and under acceliraation. Even when the back steps out of line it is still under control. I never felt as safe in my old F78 (Indipendent LWB Diesel 4trak), or F80 (SWB Petrol 4trak) or F50 (Diesel SWB precursor to the 4trak). The only other that was as safe was an F55 (Diesel LWB pick up) I had. And that was becouse it just didn't do more than 55mph.
The best all rounder I ever had for fun (off road mostly) and work (inc pulling trailers loaded up to 2 tonns) was the F80. And yes it's petrol. Which actually makes them cheeper to bye (as no one wants them). And actually I found the performance and pulling power to be only slightly worse than the 2.8 terbo Diesel version. And fuel ecconemy was actually better than the F78 when driving with the accelerater welded to the floor pan at all times (as mine tends to be).
For towing heavy loads I would guess the F75 would be best, but I've never owned one to be sure. However my F78 (same length and engine) was the best tower for power. But the F80 was better for stabillity on it's leaf springs.
The only mod I had to do to my Sporti to make it sivilised for my 6 foot frame was to cut the drivers seat mounts off the floor and move them back about 3 inches. The more vertically challenged individual would of course not need to worry.
My current needs are a car which is reasonibley cumfortable on longer juernies, can tow a tonn and a half once a month, is fun to drive on road, and can do the less challenging green lanes we have around here, with all 3 kids along for the ride, I would not swap my Sporti for any of the 4trakes I have had befor. I would add an F50 back to my collection though if I could find one worth having, that wouldn't break the bank to bye!
Any veiws expresed in this thread by me are purely from my own experience, and (sometimes) falible memory. Hope my comments help, but please don't take them as gospel.
fourtrak all the way
We've been through two fourtraks in our time... the first an F Reg, old style TDX and the second (and still current) an S-Reg 2.7 TDX Independent. Have to say know little about the Sportrak, but could rave on about the Fourtrak forever. You only have to look around the West Country and see how many farmers use them to see what great vehicles they make. They are a 'proper' off roader as I would put it. Ours regularly tows horse-boxes, has happily eaten up off-road milage and doubles up as a road-going kennel when the dog comes with us (which is often). It tows effortlessly, and were it not for the rearview mirror, and the careful thought you have to give when reversing, you could easily forget you have anything on there. In terms of reliability, it's a Daihatsu, and therefore Japanese... it will last forever.
Get a Fourtak!!!
Keith Kingham
Kinghams of Croydon
UK Golden Garage of the Year
Choose Fourtrak
Hi Martyn,
Little sharing of experiences about Fourtrak, in my country, Indonesia, the car was named Rocky (F75/F78) and Taft (F70/F73). Comes in two versions, which use leaf springs are F70 and F75 series, while the use of independent suspension and coil is a series F73 and F78.
Daihatsu Indonesia has never issued a turbo diesel engine. Until the termination of production in the year 2007, we still use the 2765 cc diesel engine N / A.
Here Rocky and Taft mostly used by mining companies, plantations, timber and oil and gas. This car is very powerful, full of torque and easy to maintain. Even now the selling price becomes very high return.
For Sportrak type, here are never sold. Ever been here is the vehicle named Feroza, use the cabin and chassis of the F70/F75. This car is 2wd and having a 1600 cc gasoline engine carburetors. Unfortunately this car is very wasteful of fuel and not forceful.
My advice, you should select Fourtrak.
Sportrak or Fourtrak?
Fourtrak every time, it's a much tougher machine thats reliable and will do all you want it to and more. They are reliable, economical (I get 30 /35mpg out of mine without trying) and you will be able to give driving lessons in the winter. Even though the Sportrak looks similsr it's a completely different beast. The carburettor versions have problems with flat sports and most haven't stood the test of time too well - they were aimed more at the 'trendy' market than people who wanted a serious 4x4. The Fourtrak is best described as being like a reliable Landrover - but better!
As far as price is concerned, vehicles of this age tend to go on the condition of the individual vehicle and how much the owner thinks it is worth. You could pick up a decent Fourtrak for less than two and a half thousand pounds.
Senoval