Anyone got any info on a Coaster or similar, looking to change from a van, how thirsty are they and do they have the capacity to climb hills without upsetting the travellers behind, I have found it very hard to find an Automatic version, this tends to tell me that they lack a bit of power, any views from experience would be gratefully appreciated.
Depending on what year you are looking at, I have a 93 LWB with the Landcruiser 4.2 ltr diesel. Ave around 14 lt per 100 going at 100 kph. I tow either a terios or a 8x5 pantec trailer, neither really affect the performance on most roads. Hills, once the revs drop, will slow you down. Overall am very happy with it. I drive school buses at times ( all Coasters ) and the new 4 cyl diesels have more power, you would be looking at a 2000 and later I think for these.
The reason you don't find Autos is that they were not imported to Aus, only personal or gray imports.
I have no idea of the earlier Coasters except look for rust on these, different construction that the later ones. The body of the later series like mine right through to the new ones is identical, just new grills, lights etc, but the new ones are nice to drive!
I have a 93/94 coaster on the cusp of the body changes.. Better to get a 94 on.. or even the 2000 Plus model's..
- Most of the coaster have the City Gear box.. you need to see if you can get a Country bus as the Ratio are better, therefore saving you on fuel cost's..
-- yes you will have trouble going up hill's.. but then remember that you are talking about bus that is upwards of 4-4.45T of vehicle..
when you are talking of a tug and van depending on size you are looking at less weight...
and yes most auto's are Grey imports from Japan.. there are added cost if you go to import.... or even buy an import.. Also you have the added issue, is that Toyota might not sell you parts if the bus is an import...
Aus Vehicles have a Vin number that start's with a " J " while Japanese imports have an " A "..
So yes a Coaster is a nice bus to own..
Juergen
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Have 94 LWB Coaster. We tow a Terios - when it is on the back we seem to get about 1km less per litre of diesel. Depending on conditions, we get between 6.5 and 8kms per litre.
As to power - the acceleration rate will not set the world on fire. On a long hill, it comes down through the gears and chugs up. But eventually get there. We often go over the Divide between Yarra Glen and Yea and I know The Driver reckons the bus does that, with Terios on, much easier and faster than the Landrover used to with van on back.
We did get down to a real crawl on last year's trip, with Terios on - was a detour round a landslide near Mt Morgan - about a 17% gradient for about 5kms!!!! But we did it - in first gear by the end.
Try to get a late enough model for it to have an exhaust brake - love ours! Came down the mountain from Canberra to Batemans Bay with the Terios on the back - no worries at all.
As others have said - only manuals made in Aust. Can be issues with parts and getting work done on the imports.
we are different to most it seems , we have a 83 swb , suits the two of us just fine , met a chap in Swan hill a little while ago with a 89 import LWB coaster and that was auto .
It comes with getting older Blue, have a bit of a dicky knee, had to get rid of my 'cruiser as somedays I couldn't work the clutch, maybe the clutch is a bit lighter in the coasters then it wouldn't be so much of a problem.
My old Fuso is an import.. No issues with parts through Mitsubishi.. In this case 6.5 ton yes you feel it on the hills .. Cruises
90 /100 easy .. Depending on models ?? It will pay to check if engine / trans is used here ..
There's plenty of grey import companies out there these days.. We had to stand by for an injector rail for a Hino.. Took 6 weeks from Japan.. Truck was bought here..
I find the Coaster clutch is about the same as we had on the Landrover Defender. I wouldn't call it light!
Maybe you would have to go for an imported auto. But do a lot of very careful checking of the vehicle. Might be worth approaching local Toyota service centre/s and asking if they would be ok servicing an import?
