Thread: Best Dual cab Ute under $5000?

Rodeo V6.
I used mine for courier duties for years.
I got it with 100k on the clock and then converted it to LPG(but not an injected type).
Ended up with over 650k on the clock, and the only major issue I had to fix was the clutch.
After 550k driving mainly around town, I'd say that's not bad going.
Of course other things had to be changed and fixed, but they'd have been considered regular wear items anyhow(discs, drums and whatnot.
Engine was pretty much bulletproof, although the gas conversion did wear out the valves at about the 400k mark. (being a tightwad, I just kept driving on with less power and economy).

The only thing I'd recommend about such a setup is that if you do go with a petrol and then gas conversion, is to go with an injected conversion.
The difference was night and day between it and the Frontera I still have (sitting unloved, now that I have a D1 )
Frontera has the same motor.
Frontera is heavier than the Rodeo(dual cab) and is also auto whereas my Rodeo was manual and had lower gearing.
Frontera was far more economical around town on LPG.
I used to average about 6.5 - 7 km/l in the Frontera and struggled to get to 5.5 - 6km/l in the Rodeo .. basically same/similar driving style.
On the highway the Frontera would easily get about 8-8.5k/l where the Rodeo still struggled to get 6.5k/l and I did once get 7 sitting on 80km/h.

The only mod I'd do on a Rodeo if I still had one is to change the diff ratio. Off road the gearing was fine, but on the highway it was wayyy too low. Engine sat on 2300RPM at 100k/h, and that's with larger 31" tyres over the std 205's .. unless it'll regularly be used for heavy loads/towing.

Agree with the Rodeo, but I'd opt for a diesel rather than the V6.

The Isuzu diesel engine (even though it's a rattly bit of gear) is pretty much bullet proof - they just keep on going - and they are not a fuel guzzler. Compare well fuel wise with any of their competitors.

The V6 on the other hand - beautiful engine and goes like stink - but you need to be towing a fuel trailer behind the thing. Next door neighbour bought a top of the line Jackaroo with the V6 a while back. Was a beautiful car - I really liked it. But the fuel consumption of the thing made him sell it after only a couple of months. A few trips between Kalgoorlie & Perth nearly sent him broke. He traded it at the local Holden dealers on a Commodore wagon for his wife, and a Rodeo diesel twin cab ute for himself - and had that Rodeo for quite a few years before it was eventually stolen (he now has a new Colorado).

NO to the Rodeo diesel.
We have had 2 expire at 250000km at work.They break a spring in the injector that burns a hole in the piston,throw the motor in the bin after.
They are gutless,uncomfortable pieces of rubbish.My Colarado isn't much better,just a tad more grunt.
Andrew

I thought the Rodeo diesels were running an Isuzu heart ??

Another yes to the Rodeo here.. Friend had an old 2 litre petrol that was his dads and is now his brothers... Flogged from day 1. Awesome truck. Changing front shafts is a pig of a job tho! The other one I know is a work vehicle. Has a half tonne mechanics box in the back, the pump is wound out and the first half of its life it was a reps ute running on veg oil. Getting long in the tooth now but it still keeps going. My works vehicle is one of the first Colerado's and it has 250000 kms in it, has been a country vehicle from new and I too love it. You don't have much choice with $5000 but I'd think buyin a Rodeo would be a good decision. Just avoid the 3 litre diesel Jackeroo's. They had ECU/injector probs and were money pits!