Hi,

I have a 1996 Delica. Its a SWB diesel. I bought it 4 years ago. Its a real 4WD, with low range and dif locks. I've taken it off road on bush tracks and on my parent's farm. The farm is quite hilly and its handled driving up and down greasy grassy hills quite well, something that can defeat AWD vehicles. As its a very comfortable van its quite a sureal experience 4WDing in it. However 99.9% of its time on the road is spent on the bitumen.

The van had a bit of mechanical issues with a cracked head. This is a common issue with the diesel motor. I had the head replaced along with a fair bit of other mechanical work about two years ago and since then its been going fine. The other issue the diesels have is a failed fuel pump. The the older Series one of the L400 Delicas generally are affected by failing pumps. I've read it costs about $1500 to fix.

For windsurfing I'd recommend getting a LWB version. The SWB is okay but a fraction short.

Go to the Delica Club website for a lot of excellent information about the Delica. Its helped me out a few times, ie last weekend I cleaned the van out and saw some dead bugs in the interior light. I searched the forums and found out how to disassemble the passenger light housing.

Hi Chilla,

An outback will not fit your gear in without laying the front passenger seat flat.
It is long enough to sleep in though, but not whilst you have your gear in there.

LWB landcruiser is long enough. Had and 1985 HJ60 and it fit all the gear easily. And as far as 4wd capability, could go anywhere i cared to go.

Had my Delica (SWB) for 5 years now but it has developed the problem Pepe mentioned.

In that time Ive taken out 3 roos with it and done heaps of off roading but mostly on sand /desert.


Just ordered a new car (Forrester) but gonna get the old beast fixed (even if it's $1500) so I can continue to cut fully sick off road. (Don't want to scratch the new car)

You're considering an Outback or Delica , but "not sure how the Delica performs in the 4WD dept"

The Delica is no Landcruiser or Patrol, but it will crap all over an Outback offroad as at least it has a real 4WD platform.
There is no way you will sleep in an Outback with even one board in it unless it is a very short board (will have to go on a diagonal if over about 240cm)

So with the Delica you get - better 4WD ability, and can carry about 3x more windsurf gear, and can sleep in it at the same time. Hmmm hard choice

Mobydisc said...

Hi,

I have a 1996 Delica. Its a SWB diesel. I bought it 4 years ago. Its a real 4WD, with low range and dif locks. I've taken it off road on bush tracks and on my parent's farm. The farm is quite hilly and its handled driving up and down greasy grassy hills quite well, something that can defeat AWD vehicles. As its a very comfortable van its quite a sureal experience 4WDing in it. However 99.9% of its time on the road is spent on the bitumen.

The van had a bit of mechanical issues with a cracked head. This is a common issue with the diesel motor. I had the head replaced along with a fair bit of other mechanical work about two years ago and since then its been going fine. The other issue the diesels have is a failed fuel pump. The the older Series one of the L400 Delicas generally are affected by failing pumps. I've read it costs about $1500 to fix.

For windsurfing I'd recommend getting a LWB version. The SWB is okay but a fraction short.

Go to the Delica Club website for a lot of excellent information about the Delica. Its helped me out a few times, ie last weekend I cleaned the van out and saw some dead bugs in the interior light. I searched the forums and found out how to disassemble the passenger light housing.

Hey Moby, what sort of fuel eccon you gettin' with the Delica? I should have had a good look at it when you were here. They've got my attention now.

And Chilla, seem like a choice of van to me. And from what I just read from 98 onwards (series 2 model) they the fixed the fuel pump problem. Dunno about the diesel head issues...

Another Delica fan here.
Had my LWB (get one if you can) for 6 years now, done 120,000 Km in it.
Plenty of off road work (Not hard stuff, mainly beach/dune work) and untold trips on the Gnaraloo track.
I get 11l/100Km when fully loaded (gear for 2 people).
Bought it for $16k and could not be happier.
Check Delicaclub.com for more info and known gotchas. Fuel pump (Already mentioned), Radiator overflow bottle goes brittle after 10+ years and should be replaced.
The best windsurfing vehicle around (Also carries kites too ;)

Chilla said...

Mark _australia said...

You're considering an Outback or Delica , but "not sure how the Delica performs in the 4WD dept"

You'll just have to excuse my lack of encyclopedic knowledge of all vehicles I'm afraid!!

Well constant 4WD (for better on road handling) is not the same as a part time 4WD which is rear wheel drive with a proper transfer case to engage real 4WD when you need to go offroad.
No encylopaedic knowledge required - read up on 4WD systems, there is a big big difference between a WRX and a Landcruiser or Patrol