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I’ve lived and worked here for 18 years and have owned various vehicles over the years and have many friends who have had experiences, good and bad with vehicles here in the central valley and at the beaches. The best vehicle in my opinion for all terrains in CR is the older Range Rovers. They were manufactured for rough terrain and the suspension is superior to most with independent steel (not hydraulic) springs for all 4 wheels. prior to 1991)
I removed the gas engine from my 1988 Range Rover chassis and replaced it with a 2000, turbo charged Hyundai diesel that gets exceptional mileage and is very comfortable for full grown people. The parts are available everywhere, which means that based on supply and demand, the cost is lower. Almost all mechanics can work on these motors because there are so many operating throughout CR.
I needed a pick up for my business and my Range hardly gets used. I invite you to drive it and see what you think. It has the 2012 marchamo and retieve.Before we left the states, we sold my husband’s Lexus 350 and my Honda Element and purchased an all-original 1984 Toyota Landcruiser…for a song! Had our mechanic check it for general “worthiness” and backed it onto our 40′ shipping container in front of our household goods. I had researched general availability of parts/mechanics for this kind of vehicle, checked the import taxes ($2,350) and the RESALE value in Costa Rica (high), just in case.
Boy, are we glad we did! This workhorse goes anywhere, laughs at the potholes and can be worked on everywhere by good mechanics. The gas mileage isn’t great, but I factored that in with the overall cost of buying and transporting the vehicle, which was very low. Figure we can drive this a very long time before the extra gas cost catches up with us.
Granted, it has a “truck” ride, but that is offset by the way all of our Tico guy friends LOVE this car!!
My Land cruiser (1976) gets over 25 mpg Diesel.
Once I de-Tico’d the electrical system it’s as reliable as any tank or John Deere. The added benefit’s are, Taiwan and Colombian parts are available and no engine will live as long. The brakes look like they belong on a dump truck.Shocked
Everyone tries to talk me into power steering and brakes. NOOP. It served Gato from ’76 till he got too old to drive it so it’s plenty good enough for me.
He downgraded to a 2008 Mitubishi with AC and automatic.He made me promise to take as good of care of it as he did.
Here’s the world record.
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/travel_and_transport/epic_journeys/longest_driven_journey.aspx97 landcruiser with four doors and barn doors is my beast. straight six and injection, no turbo.
step up from the jeep styles that you see at the front of every traffic jam in c.r.. those jeeps are not made for the highway even at 60 kph..
crltd.‘Cruiser talk….oh boy!!! We got extra stuff like belts before we shipped. I know that we will get squished in an accident because we are surrounded by steel. Our tan ’84 had a few little blemishes and has some rust on the roof, but we are going to take advantage of the excellent and cheap bodywork here in CR and get her looking great. Instead of having her completely repainted will just do a off-white cap, touch up the little body paint places and have the tan body buffed out. Our ’84 just goes and goes and because we also have the six with no turbo, less to go wrong. My husband is always getting props from Costa Rican guys who love ‘Cruisers. A great decision all round!
Also thought of having a big expedition roof-rack installed, but we probably won’t be doing any “expeditions”!
Mine’s sitting in the driveway stripped to bare metal right now. It took me and my mechanic buddy(Tico) 10 hours to sand it to bare metal.We then wiped it with corrostop and it’s ready for primer shortly after the sun comes up. I highly recommend you do the same with that ’84.
You’ll be amazed at how much plastic (bondo) the Japanese used to make the thing half way straight and you’ll also be amazed at the light cancer under that plastic.Back in those daze everyone put bondo directly to bare metal (the wrong way).If you don’t strip it, you’re wasting your effort.It’ll bubble up on a yearly basis down here.
Go to SUR and get a gallon of Klass etching primer and cut a couple of guys loose with four inch grinders with rubber backed sanding disks.Sand it to metal then take a rag and wipe it with SUR Corrostop, 3 times. 8-12 hours later it’s ready for a rub down with Scotchbright and a coat of etching primer.THEN apply the plastic ( It’ll be done in a couple of daze.
The primer, base and clear coats will run you
$350.Negotiate the spraying with several shops.
The guy I found is charging me 30,000 colones to shoot it and leave it in the booth and under the lamps overnight.By the way crltd. What’s a traffic jam ? I haven’t seen a traffic light more then 12 times in six years ( the one, and only one, in Liberia.8)
I’m on the –self imposed– no drive list to the central valley. I use the phone, wire transfers, and the bus service to get whatever I might need from there.
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