Thoughts on Holden Jackaroo?

[cmilton54 Find all posts View Profile Close cmilton54]

Hi
I had a 2002 3.0ltr diesel auto SE from new. Good car until it started to use oil. 600kms and off dipstick, sold it asap as holden did not want to know it. 38,000 kms. You had to drive it full time as it used to wander, you could not just sit and steer like a Prado. Have frioends with a petrol and they have had no problems at all with it.

[Palmer Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Palmer]

Have friends that really liked their petrol jackaroo. Used it tow their ski boat a lot, although now they have up-graded to a Prado.

[Cuvier100 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Cuvier100]

I wouldn't buy the diesel version. I have owned two petrol jacks (a 94 model and a 02 model). Both were autos and brilliant. I still own the 02 model. Will sell it once the wife decides to stop driving it and moves over to the Prado.

You have to like the snubby nose and limited cabin space in the front. They are thristy if you are doing lots of kms. They sell like hot cakes because of the low price and quality of build. Keep away from units with high kms. Before buying have it checked by a mechanic. make sure it has regular oil changes and ask the mechanic to drop the auto pan to inspect it is Ok. Engine failure and auto failures will mean the car is only worth its scrap value.

It will be a half the price of a similar year prado and offer a better ride.

[cfryback Find all posts View Profile Close cfryback]

But it sounds like they are the Bic-Lighters of 4X4's - disposable...

[geograzza Member Find all posts View Profile Close geograzza]

Haven't had a lot to do with them, except for pulling one out of the access track to the hook point bypass road at Fraser. It wouldn't engage 4wd for some reason. Engaging 4wd was just a switch on the dash but no action was happening in the diff, so as soon as the going got soft it got stuck. Didn't have time to troubleshoot the root cause. Same trip one of my mates with a Terrorcan that also wouldn't engage 4wd which we tracked to a leaking vacuum actuator. I think I like the "direct into the transfer box" method of engaging 4wd that the Prado has.

[RanJ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close RanJ]

But it sounds like they are the Bic-Lighters of 4X4's - disposable...

You know I always dispute that terminology..... I spent 15 years as a smoker and I never ran a BIC out of gas... always lost if first. Guess that means the Jackaroo is easy to steal? hehe

But in hindsight, I think it's pretty safe to say judging by the responses that getting a Jackaroo is not bad move. No one has jumped up and down saying how terrible they are and given a compelling reason to not buy one. As with any pre-owned vehicle, it's a little bit lucky dip. Guess thats the difference between pre-loved and pre-owned though eh?

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

Hmmm throwing money at something old and cheap with Holden written on it . Now that's living on the edge , good luck

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

How do the jackaroo compare price wise to a say 96 prado, even a prado with another 100k on the clock could be a better bet.

Hutch- Prado 2012 petrol with the TJM Catologue.

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

Hmmm throwing money at something old and cheap with Holden written on it . Now that's living on the edge , good luck

I share your sentiments, except where its a vehicle Holden didn't build, but bought and rebadged.

[RanJ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close RanJ]

How do the jackaroo compare price wise to a say 96 prado, even a prado with another 100k on the clock could be a better bet.

Hutch- Prado 2012 petrol with the TJM Catologue.

Usually... half the price lol

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

How do the jackaroo compare price wise to a say 96 prado, even a prado with another 100k on the clock could be a better bet.

Hutch- Prado 2012 petrol with the TJM Catologue.

Thats a fair observation. If you're looking around the $6k mark, why not a well looked after Prado?

[Cuvier100 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Cuvier100]

But it sounds like they are the Bic-Lighters of 4X4's - disposable...

Much better than a disco but not a good as a Toyota Prado. It really depends on how it was serviced because some people don't change the oil that often = a much shorter life. They are a full japanese import made by Isuzu.

If you buy a 10 year+ old petrol car that has done 200,000km+ do you expect to get 300,000km+ out of it? I think you might be pushing it.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

They are quite popular out in the Goldfields/Central Oz area probably due to being a low cost option for a 4WD. However, they really take a beating and as a result don't last long. They don't get cannibalized like the Toyotas so once they die they don't get repaired. Unceremoniously, they are cremated and left to the elements.

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

They are quite popular with the indigenous crew out in the central lands area probably due to being a low cost option for a 4WD. However, they really take a beating and as a result don't last long. They don't get cannibalized like the Toyotas so once they die they don't get repaired. Unceremoniously, they are cremated and left to the elements. I saw one out at a community once. It didn't drive because the gearbox was shot. But the old fella that owned it used to like to sit with the engine running and in the comfort of his air-conditioned cabin with a couple of his favorite dogs as his fellow community members sweltered in the 50 plus degree desert sun.

Thats gold and very practical.

So it begs the question - theres a few for sale requiring attention to the gearbox. These can be had for $1000.00 or less. Assuming the rest of the vehicle is ok, is it worth buying and fixing or swapping the gearbox? How serviceable are the auto boxes?

Even if it costs $2000.00, thats a reasonable overall cost.

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

I'm in a similar boat with my parents taking a package at the end of this month, and hoping to hit the road sometime soon after. My instructions: 'Son, get me a car + a camper'. Already sorted them with a cub supamatic, but the car is a different thing. I have to make their superannuation stretch (otherwise, heck, they could move in with me!). An older petrol 120 would be a good option, but potentially a bit high on the $$. I was thinking similar: Jackaroo, Challenger, Pathfinder. But, I am actually going to steer them towards a 90 series petrol. I think that overall it's a safer bet.