Thanks everyone for their comments.
I'll do a test drive this week but finding a dummy load of 100kg might be a bit hard (canopy is approx. 50kg, a set of drawers to aid us "oldies" backs, etc, is another 50kg). Any 4WD without some form of load is rougher riding than a sedan.
For the Rover owners, I see no reason why I should change from the Patrol as most 4WD wagons can carry only around 600kg. As well it only has 461,000kms to do before it reaches the one million kms!!
I did consider the nice Amorock V6 but an extra $9-10,000 is a bit hard to part with & there's always the niggling thought - if I broke down at a small place how long would I be stuck there? We saw a F250 that was bailed up in Clermont (Central Qld) waiting for an oil filter to come from the US!
Yes spare parts are a concern but I'd hope to stock up on the usual here in Townsville before heading bush. I do know that Kia/Hyundai spares are limited (but there is always the $20 air postbag available to fly it up from Brisbane).
We found the front seats in the Isuzu to offer good support & much more legroom than the Patrol (I am 6'6" tall - with long legs). Granted the rear wasn't quite as good.
If we go ahead with the purchase, this will be my second new car in 54 years - the last was a 1980 Subaru Leone 4wd (three s/hand Nissans after that, a Singer Sports, Ford Consul, Ford Zephyr Mk3 & a '67 Landcruiser before).
I'll do a test drive this week but finding a dummy load of 100kg might be a bit hard (canopy is approx. 50kg, a set of drawers to aid us "oldies" backs, etc, is another 50kg). Any 4WD without some form of load is rougher riding than a sedan.
For the Rover owners, I see no reason why I should change from the Patrol as most 4WD wagons can carry only around 600kg. As well it only has 461,000kms to do before it reaches the one million kms!!
I did consider the nice Amorock V6 but an extra $9-10,000 is a bit hard to part with & there's always the niggling thought - if I broke down at a small place how long would I be stuck there? We saw a F250 that was bailed up in Clermont (Central Qld) waiting for an oil filter to come from the US!
Yes spare parts are a concern but I'd hope to stock up on the usual here in Townsville before heading bush. I do know that Kia/Hyundai spares are limited (but there is always the $20 air postbag available to fly it up from Brisbane).
We found the front seats in the Isuzu to offer good support & much more legroom than the Patrol (I am 6'6" tall - with long legs). Granted the rear wasn't quite as good.
If we go ahead with the purchase, this will be my second new car in 54 years - the last was a 1980 Subaru Leone 4wd (three s/hand Nissans after that, a Singer Sports, Ford Consul, Ford Zephyr Mk3 & a '67 Landcruiser before).
I'll let you now the results.