First, after reading the last 6 months of posts (over 3 days) I have to say that you guys are the most polite bunch of posters I've ever seen! I can't recall a single nasty comment by anybody and somehow everbody for the most part stays on topic, WOW!
IÆve done multiple post searches and absorbed an excellent education (including what NOT to do <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />), IÆm surprised that the FAQ doesnÆt have this kind of info.
Anyway I'm about to purchase a 91 Montero LWB RS Automatic (non-LSD) from a used car dealer. Visibly itÆs in excellent shape, no rust at all and has 119K miles on it. They are asking $3,900 which seems about right according to KBB. ItÆs got a clean carfax and looks like one prior owner. I'll be using it for driving in snow and I'd also like to start trail riding. It won't really be a daily driver but I'd like to be able to go on longer trips to go camping so I want the reliability for those trips. Of course there may be better 4x4 options but IÆm addicted to the no-nonsense boxy style of this year Monty.... sound familiar.... am I hooked?
My question now is more about what I should look for as problem areas and how many more miles could I expect to get out of a truck this old. The engine looks very clean (of course the dealer would probably have steam cleaned it) but the temperature gauge didn't get past a quarter of the way up even after a 30 minute test drive (a 50 degree day). Is this normal? There are no service records but it looks garage kept, the paint isnÆt even faded on the hood or roof. I take that to mean that somebody cared for it properly and did the needed service. Of course that 119K would mean that the timing belt, water pump, and tensioner stuff would need done ASAP. The 2WD/4WD shift and indicators work just fine.
The other thing is a strange sensation that right hand turns are more stable (less body lean?) that left hand turns. There are two different brands of tires in the front (right one is brand new) and the left one had 6 lbs. less air, would that be enough to make a noticeable handling difference? The steering seemed to have a bit of slop, I had to make larger corrections than I expected to keep it centered in my lane when going about 70 MPH. I should say that I'm used to very flat handling, my daily driver is a 1998 BMW M3! The rear tires obviously had been on the front as they show some cupping, IÆll have to at least get the alignment checked.
ItÆs a 2.5 hour round trip to the dealer from where I live and IÆve been to look at it twice. ItÆs already received the state inspection (which IÆd have to do again since itÆs in another state) and I found a shop down the street from the dealer that will do a pre-inspection with a compression test for about $110, money well spent I expect.
The best part is thanks to you guys if I do buy it IÆve already got a whole list of wish list upgrades! Has that ôUpcoming Project: S-t-r-e-a-c-hö placeholder (teaser) been in the Mitsubishi Projects section for long? And lastly, what kind of rims can I fit on ità Just kidding! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I look forward to reading your advice and thanks for taking the time to read my post. Help me get on the trails!
Bob
P.S. The search function of the forums would be so much more useful if there was an option of only searching the subject lines rather than the entire text! [Crap, now I see that the Search funtionality is much better when I'm logged onto the board, I did all my searching before I registered!]
