Thread: How many k's are too many k's?

Very hard to speculate. Your end use should also have a significant impact on the decision. As a very broad example only, if you intend heavy duty towing daily, perhaps a newer vehicle would be better.

IMHO, if it has an immaculate service history, that would be a great start.

Since you mentioned County, I'm assuming that he's looking at older vehicles.
IMO once you're talking that sort of age the actual K's become a bit irrelevant. Most have had some sort of rebuild/replacement/upgrade work, and if they haven't they're probably due for it.

A well maintained vehicle at 500k's that's had a bit of work done may well be a better vehicle than a virgin one at 300k's that's only had the minimum oil changes and not much more.
Throw in a few high-cost accessories/upgrades such as bull bars, dual batteries, lockers, winch or new tyres and the decision gets less clear.

At 400k's the Isuzu engine should still be quite happy. My daughter bought her Isuzu County at over 500k's and the engine still starts instantly and runs perfectly.
In comparison, 400k's on a 300tdi is starting to get up there IMO (most don't make it that far in one piece), and I'd be planning on some engine work unless it had already had a freshen up.

Good luck!

Steve

If original at 400k you are probably up for gearbox and transfer case (single combined unit in County i believe), axles, suspension bushes, shocks, etc. The Isuzu would still be going well enough but getting a little tired compared to when it was new. Possible rust in chassis.

Cheers

My County still starts easily at almost 600k km. For the sort of purchase you are talking about, condition is much more important than mileage.

Properly maintained a 400k km Isuzu should be in good shape, but there should have been a lot of replacements on things like brake components, clutch, seals, springs, multiple bushes, probably the steering box, seats either have been reupholstered/replaced or need it. That sort of thing. Big thing to look for is rust, which, of course, has nothing to do with mileage.

John

Our 1999 Td5 110 Station Wagon came to us with 280 kkm on the odometer. Soon I had to change the head gasket. Then there was the overheating problem described in another post ("TD5 overhesting") which turned out to be a faulty rubber hose. The engine has not had a major rebuild. Recently it was the inlet manifold sensor giving faulty readings - fixed by cleaning. I expect to get an increasing number of such incindents as I approach 300 kkm. As for now - engine runs strong.

Long mileage engines means more maintenace.