Looking at buying a perentie

[danny_]

Hi guys,
I have sold my 2014 90 Defender and i have been test driving a few perenties but i am unsure of what they are really worth and if i am paying too much.
I know maybe its not the best move selling my 90 but for the past 6 years i have been driving 45-50 year old cars as dailys so a perentie is not really any different.

What are the usual things to check for?
Private or auctions? I know there is currently a lot being auctioned off at greys
Are there any alternatives to the KLR turbo kit?
Are they fairly easy to get certified to be a 4 or 6 seater in NSW?

The one i am currently looking at is a 1989 cargo / MC2 with a PTO winch, Current milage is 179XXX and the GM120 is up to date and the milage matches.
The underside is very clean with no leaks (car was on a hoist)
Dash / seats are in good condition and has a brand new full length canopy,
Bodywork and rear cargo floor are in good condition and the engine bay is clean with no obvious signs of leaks
And comes with 6 months rego.
So what is it worth?

[Limehouse]

Hi guys,
I have sold my 2014 90 Defender and i have been test driving a few perenties but i am unsure of what they are really worth and if i am paying too much.
I know maybe its not the best move selling my 90 but for the past 6 years i have been driving 45-50 year old cars as dailys so a perentie is not really any different.

What are the usual things to check for?
Private or auctions? I know there is currently a lot being auctioned off at greys
Are there any alternatives to the KLR turbo kit?
Are they fairly easy to get certified to be a 4 or 6 seater in NSW?

The one i am currently looking at is a 1989 cargo / MC2 with a PTO winch, Current milage is 179XXX and the GM120 is up to date and the milage matches.
The underside is very clean with no leaks (car was on a hoist)
Dash / seats are in good condition and has a brand new full length canopy,
Bodywork and rear cargo floor are in good condition and the engine bay is clean with no obvious signs of leaks
And comes with 6 months rego.
So what is it worth?

There is a pretty nice looking 1987 one on Carsales not cammo but says it had all the upgrades that need to be done ?

[danny_]

There is a pretty nice looking 1987 one on Carsales not cammo but says it had all the upgrades that need to be done ?

Is it the dark green one?
If it is i am not a fan of dark green as i have written off 2x British Racing Green cars so i take it as a sign.

[87County]

From your description it sounds good, and the winch may be an advantage.

I know of no other turbo "kits" as such but some owners with knowledge have cobbled heir own conversions.

If it has not got power steering already you may find that you appreciate that more than a turbo.

MC2 is just a service terrain ability classification - all Perenties are MC2. The kms may be meaningless as speedos were often replaced in service - a 4BD1 in good nick will generally do well over 500k km if looked after.

What is the asking price ?

To gauge it you can take a look at what the present Grays auction bids culminate at on Wednesday. Add about 20-25% to allow for both buyers' costs (16%) and rego expenses.

At least you can drive one that is available for resale.

[Gordie]

Is it the dark green one?
If it is i am not a fan of dark green as i have written off 2x British Racing Green cars so i take it as a sign.Drive it very carefully home, and paint it another colour.

[danny_]

From your description it sounds good, and the winch may be an advantage.

I know of no other turbo "kits" as such but some owners with knowledge have cobbled heir own conversions.

MC2 is just a service terrain ability classification - all Perenties are MC2. The kms may be meaningless as speedos were often replaced in service - a 4BD1 in good nick will generally do well over 500k km if looked after.

What is the asking price ?

To gauge it you can take a look at what the present Grays auction bids culminate at on Wednesday. Add about 20-25% to allow for both buyers' costs (16%) and rego expenses.


I drove a perentie with the KLR turbo kit and its a nice bit of kit but the power band is still very small but i assume it does improve fuel economy.
The motor seems in good condition and the GM120 is accurate in relation to the speedo so i believe it is orig miles and it has had no red/ heavy repairs done.
Asking price is $18k, I have seen anywhere from 13k-25k

I have never purchased from greys before but i have been told you cant drive or start the cars so they might not even be a runner.

Edit:
What is a perenties cooling system like? Do they cope while sitting in typical sydney traffic or is a thermo fan suggested?

[Limehouse]

I drove a perentie with the KLR turbo kit and its a nice bit of kit but the power band is still very small but i assume it does improve fuel economy.
The motor seems in good condition and the GM120 is accurate in relation to the speedo so i believe it is orig miles and it has had no red/ heavy repairs done.
Asking price is $18k, I have seen anywhere from 13k-25k

I have never purchased from greys before but i have been told you cant drive or start the cars so they might not even be a runner.

Edit:
What is a perenties cooling system like? Do they cope while sitting in typical sydney traffic or is a thermo fan suggested?
My one sits on 80 degs all day long .....no thermo fan needed. It’s hard as nails and recently taken it for runs Sydney to Singleton and down to Bermagui and seems to love the long run. Amazing for a 30 yr old LR

[Limehouse]

Is it the dark green one?
If it is i am not a fan of dark green as i have written off 2x British Racing Green cars so i take it as a sign.
It’s the gun metal grey one with the sand coloured canopy

[rar110]

I drove a perentie with the KLR turbo kit and its a nice bit of kit but the power band is still very small but i assume it does improve fuel economy.

....

Edit:
What is a perenties cooling system like? Do they cope while sitting in typical sydney traffic or is a thermo fan suggested?

Don’t expect much change in fuel economy. Gear changes are quicker as there is more power.

The cooling system is ok as is. I’ve read about people removing the belt driven fan and fitting en electrical fan for less noise, better fuel economy, more power and the ability to turn off the fan for deep water crossings.

[mick88]

We have driven our FFR some long distances on some stinking hot days of over 40C and it just loves it, purrs like a kitten.
The motor won't overheat, but it's a far different story for the cabin crew. ;)
The biggest concern on hot days is probably having tubed tyres.

Cheers, Mick.

[Mick_Marsh]

We have driven our FFR some long distances on some stinking hot days of over 40C and it just loves it, purrs like a kitten.
The motor won't overheat, but it's a far different story for the cabin crew. ;)
The biggest concern on hot days is probably having tubed tyres.

Cheers, Mick.

Ah, yes. The tubed tyre thing.
I don't think it's just a hot day issue but I am still persisting. I'm glad I had tubes the day my sidewall split.
For further information, there is much discussion in other threads on this forum and REMLR.

[mick88]

Ah, yes. The tubed tyre thing.
I don't think it's just a hot day issue but I am still persisting. I'm glad I had tubes the day my sidewall split.
For further information, there is much discussion in other threads on this forum and REMLR.

Yes we have had two tubes chafe through and deflate, one a steer tyre just after we arrived home from Melrose this
year, the second several weeks back was a rear tyre, whilst on our way home from Port Campbell. Both occasions
have been after several hours of running on the tar. Now I only cruise around the 85-90 kph mark as a precaution.
Well at least replacement tubes are only about $21 each.

Cheers, Mick.

[Mick_Marsh]

Yes we have had two tubes chafe through and deflate, one a steer tyre just after we arrived home from Melrose this
year, the second several weeks back was a rear tyre, whilst on our way home from Port Campbell. Both occasions
have been after several hours of running on the tar. Now I only cruise around the 85-90 kph mark as a precaution.
Well at least replacement tubes are only about $21 each.

Cheers, Mick.
What pressures are you running?
I had one that deflated regularly. I bout a couple of trailers and used a wheel from them. No problems since.

[danny_]

Thanks for all the feedback guys,
I am just waiting for finance to go through and i should hopefully be the new owner of a perentie.
I am used to driving cars with no power steering and aircon (classic minis) gotta love 40c days in traffic with no aircon, When i do purchase it i plan on putting wolf rims or sunraysas on it as i am not a fan of tubes.

[wpalmo]

I drove a perentie with the KLR turbo kit and its a nice bit of kit but the power band is still very small but i assume it does improve fuel economy.
The motor seems in good condition and the GM120 is accurate in relation to the speedo so i believe it is orig miles and it has had no red/ heavy repairs done.
Asking price is $18k, I have seen anywhere from 13k-25k

I have never purchased from greys before but i have been told you cant drive or start the cars so they might not even be a runner.

Edit:
What is a perenties cooling system like? Do they cope while sitting in typical sydney traffic or is a thermo fan suggested?

Hi Danny,

18k sounds too high for a stock standard 1989 Cargo in my opinion. If it had power steer and a turbo, 18k would be a good buy. Have a crack at buying one at auction would be my advice.

You should be able to pick up a cargo with that sort of mileage under 10k plus the buyers premium if you are in no hurry. Of course you then have to licence it too but that should still end up under 14k all up.

My daughter picked up an awesome FFR with 150k on the clock for 10k from the lot that was sold off by Grays on behalf of a company that set up a heap of them for a backpacker style adventure company that went broke. She took it to KLR and they fitted power steering for around 3k. It is a great vehicle for 13k.

Be patient! Best of luck.

Regards Warrick.

[danny_]

My only worries with an auction car is that you can't start it or take it for a test drive and just don't want to buy a dud. I might also look at them privately.
I am not super fussed on power steering but a turbo would be great.
I missed the inspection day (monday) on the lot that are currently on greys so I am not sure when the next auction is.

[Gordie]

I missed the inspection day (monday) on the lot that are currently on greys so I am not sure when the next auction is.Usually an auction every month mate.

[mick88]

What pressures are you running?<br>
I had one that deflated regularly. I bout a couple of trailers and used a wheel from them. No problems since.


When we got it I started running about 35psi up front and 40-45 psi on the rear.
Then one day I decided to try the pressures stipulated by the Army, that are painted on the wheel flares.
From memory about 50psi front, and 65psi in the rear.
I assume that having such a large fleet of Perenties the Military would have based these figures on some sort of sensible experience, findings, recommendations, etc..
So I now run the military stipulated pressures in them.
The ride is a bit rough for the first couple of kays until the tyres warm up, especially in the winter.

Cheers, Mick.

[Mick_Marsh]

When we got it I started running about 35psi up front and 40-45 psi on the rear.
Then one day I decided to try the pressures stipulated by the Army, that are painted on the wheel flares.
From memory about 50psi front, and 65psi in the rear.
I assume that having such a large fleet of Perenties the Military would have based these figures on some sort of sensible experience, findings, recommendations, etc..
So I now run the military stipulated pressures in them.
The ride is a bit rough for the first couple of kays until the tyres warm up, especially in the winter.

Cheers, Mick.
When I took my Commodore in for a wheel alignment, the fellow asked "What pressure do you run?"
"28" I said.
He gave me a look and said "You should be running a minimum of 40."
So I did and had little trouble.

When I took the 100" in to him, he asked "What pressure do you run?"
"35" I said.
He gave me that look and walked away shaking his head. I got the hint.
I now run 45. Probably should run higher.