>Let's see now:
>  Izuzu Fargo, I'm guessing Australia saw it as the Holden Shuttle.  If so
>P.O.S

RUST RUST RUST... and the tailgate's dual catches all break.

>  > Mazda Bongo (=Ford Econovan/Spectron), The 4wd version is a joke really.
>Nice try though.  The LWB versions sit barley 1" higher though!

RUST again. And Mazda's diesels are notorioously unreliable.

>  > Mitsubishi Delica/L300/Express, No offence guys but this is the one that
>really started the 4wd van craze.  1983/84 was the first one with real off
>road ability.  Crap on the road and tinny as hell though.  We owned one back
>in 1990-1994.

I didn't think them tinny, but the poor tailgate catch design lets
dust billow in on dirt roads. I have driven both the 80s & 90s types
extensively.

>  > Nissan Vanette, Urvan/Homy/Caravan, the ones I've seen are dogs.
>>  Toyota Liteace/Townace/Masterace, Hiace, Estima (=Previa), the 1980's
>Liteace and previa/tarago

The 84-89 Townace version of the Liteace was sold in Oz with "Tarago"
badges; when the Estima (Previa) came out it got the Tarago badge in
Oz too. Go figure. Bad a name as "Vanagon".

>was like the Mazda, playing catchup to Mitsu and
>the L300.  Limited offroad ability.  Not sure about the Hiace but then it is
>a big bugger really.

The 4WD Hiaces are really designed for rough roads and tracks rather
than crosscountry... but I bet they'd make a good go of offroading.
Just need to watch getting hung-up on humps in the LWB versions, as
with a Hummer. Hiaces are VERY solid vehicles.

>Apart from the Izuzu and the Nissan we got all the 4wd vans at one point or
>another.  FYI, the L300 4wd was available between 1983/84 and 1999/2000,

Actually they are still current... 2 versions... the 1989 model is
still made, and also the front-engined "van" with the same name too.
Hyundai also makes the former now, with H100 badges.

>the
>Toyotas 1986/1989,

IO don't know what year 4WD Hiaces came out, but mine is an 86 and
they are still in production.

>the Mazda/Fords about 1986/1988

Haven't seen a really recent 4WD Mazda van, but the 2WD is still
made, and I doubt the 4WD has ceased production. In fact they sell
well enough that all the Japanese 4WDs wills till be made; in fact
most Japanese vehicles (cars included) are made in 4WD for the
Japanese market.

--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
64 (3) 473-8863
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut