"MONEY MATTERS" ARTICLE
PUBLISHED IN '4WD ACCESSORIES' ISSUE NO. 11
TURBO DIESEL 'CRUISER
FOR UNDER $55,000!
By Marc Hanna
Come
again? What did that say? 'Build an $80,000, 80 series turbo-diesel for
under $50,000'? It did, it did. Oooh, how I love spending money on the
right gear and then appearing like I'm worth a shitload more. Fact of
the matter is though, if you're prepared to smart buy, you, too, can own
a turbo-powered 80 Series diesel, fitted out with all the right gear,
for a hell of a lot less than the cost of a mid- to top-of-the-range model.
How'd
he do it?
Originally this 'Cruiser was enjoying the easy life. It was bought
new by Hornsby Council and, like all government and council vehicles,
it was auctioned-off after reaching a certain number of kays. This 'Cruiser
travelled a mere 50,000 kilometres before Ed Mulligan bought it for 35
grand. About the only extra was air conditioning, a must, so they say,
in an age of ozone holes and higher than average temperatures. But apart
from aircon, the late '93 DX base model was bog stock with standard rims,
an untouched interior, a 4.2 litre diesel, a five-speed box and disc brakes
all 'round. The car was white. Apparently Ed couldn't find a red one,
but a quick spray job took care of that.
So
how much for the bolt-ons?
| Total cost of accessories: | $17,665 |
| Cost of vehicle: | $35,000 |
| Total cost : | $52,665 |
From the driver's seat
Ed let us have the 'Cruiser overnight, and, living at Wamberal on
the NSW Central Coast, we found the trip home provided a useful mix of
road conditions; through city traffic then a combination of freeways and
winding roads, just what the editor ordered for a good test run.
I
have to say after driving a base model 4.2 litre diesel powered 'Cruiser
that the first job I'd have done if I owned one would be to install a
turbo. Man, what a difference that makes. For around town the 'Cruiser
has excellent take-off from standing start (well, for a 4WD, anyway) and
the humungous amount of torque means you can cruise town in fourth and
use the box like an auto. Ed's 'Cruiser had no troubles keeping up with
city traffic, either. The improved power and torque mean that freeway
speeds are easily achieved and maintained. On the hilly climb to the Central
Coast there wasn't much downshifting. The ability of the 'Cruiser to maintain
revs and torque in fifth gear was a welcomed relief for long trips. We
didn't do any tow tests but there's ample torque for easy towing.
Kariong Hill, a steep and winding descent into Gosford, is a great place to test out the 'Cruiser's handling. A bit of sway was evident through the wheel and tyre combo, but after that was corrected with stiffer spring and heavy-duty shocks, the 'Cruiser handled very well and pulled in nicely around tight corners.
Overall, changes to the power output and suspension have narrowed the gap between the once-standard 'Cruiser and its mid- to top-of-the-range brothers.
The Bolt-Ons:
- Alloy 6ft roof rack. Cost $800
- Add a set of factory-copy flares and rear mudflaps. Cost $900 (fitted and painted)
- The Schwitzer turbocharger kit is designed in Australia by Australian Turbo & Diesel specialists for Australian conditions. The setup increases output by 30 percent. On a standard diesel the output is 94kW at 3400rpm and 271Nm of torque at 2000rpm. The Schwitzer turbocharger ups this to 120kW at 3200rpm and 390Nm of torque at 1600rpm. Cost $3,500 (includes oil cooler, turbo timer and Uni-filter).
- 16 x 8" wheels/tyres. Cost $200.
- Milford cargo barrier is designed to fit in more than one position, depending on the seating arrangement. When the rear seats are folded down for more load space, the cargo barrier is shifted forward and positioned directly behind the front seats. Cost $400.
- Space case for all that recovery gear. Cost $220.
- Airflow snorkel allows your engine to breath easier by drawing clean air from above the windscreen, ideal during river crossings and through desert dust. Cost $440.
- Map pockets. Cost $60.
- Cibie Oscar SC racing lights. Including covers and lock-nuts. Cost $520.
- Cibie headlight inserts (high/low and high beam). Cost $350.
- Commercial front seats feature an improved squab with greater lateral support for the upper body and a specially shaped base for ease of entry and exit. Other features include a double locking recliner mechanism, adjustable lumbar support card and padded headrest. Cost $1,800 (pair).
N.B. This article was originally published early in 1996. Most prices have risen since then.
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