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V6 into 4WD AE106 or AE115 wagon
I posted this in the tech forum, but then thought I'd increase my chances of a response by putting it here too:
Here in New Zealand I am considering buying a 1995-97 or later 110-series 4WD Corolla wagon. This could be an AE115 Sprinter Carib... Sprinter is a Corolla with detail differences (in some models only eg the 95-2003 Carib differs only in grill, front lights, hood & front fenders from the Corolla wagon, and the Carib Russo differs only in the badges); the first FWD (AE80) Sprinter generation was sold in the US as "Chevy Nova", differences being in panel profile, lights etc... the doors are interchangable... and the AE8x Carib was sold for some idiot marketing reason as a "Tercel", which it plainly wasn't... or an equivalent-year 4WD Corolla Touring wagon, which differs entirely in every visible part and is in fact an AE106. Both AE106 Corolla and AE115 Carib were available in FWD or 4WD; the Carib Russo was only FWD. AE115s have a tapered roof with a lower tailgate opening than an AE106, the roof is narrower (side-windows slant inwards more strongly) and the tailgate is curved, so though the cargo-floor is the same length, the corners are cut off in the AE115, and I don't want that. Both cars look really good, though the Carib is a definitely oddball style. The AE106 4WD wagon is available with the hi-po 4A-GE 20-valve engine mated with 6-speed, though that version isn't so common. That trans should handle any V6's power & torque.
OK. I want to find a manual one, possibly with cosmetic damage to make it cheap, and with dead engine to make it MUCH cheaper, and to stuff in a V6. I can get such a car for probably under $1000NZ ($810US).
I have heard nothing but bad about Toyota's 2.5-liter 2VZ-E and 3.0-liter 3VZ-E engines; these corrode the heads (just like a VW and Oettinger Wasserboxer!), which results in water running down the valley into the oil... big-time bearing failure. I have seen plenty of SV30 Camrys (including aliases such as Windom, Vista, Camry Prominent, Lexus ES300) for sale with dead engines, and sever wreckers, including Toyota ones, have told me not to touch Toyota V6s. Damn! Because they'd probably fit the engine bay (might even fit the Corolla trans) and are available as manual FWD. I don't know if the SV30 ever got 4WD, but I have seen a 4WD SV20 (sen a couple of SV30 2-door sedans too, rare). No, a Kluger (=Highlander) 3MZ-FE 3.3 or 3.5 V6 would be WAY out of my price range. I've heard of 3VZ-GEs, but not in this country, and suspect this was a mistake for FE.
Nissan's 3.0? My experience with Nissan Skyline diesels (RD28) was, like those of everyone who has made the mistake of owning an RD28, was a disaster, and everyone else I've known with Nissans (Urvan gas, Bluebird gas & diesel) has been bad too. I don't trust advice, because I bought the Skyline on advice that Nissan diesel 6s were excellent engines, better than Toyota diesel fours. Well, I found out just how wrong that is. So... a Nissan V6?
Mitsubishi? Soft bores. They wear out. Not to be trusted.
What options does that leave me? Hyundai?? (don't mention European engines, please. No Eurocrap for me. I'd have a rear-engined VW van, but not fitted with any Euro engine or electrics). Hmmm... Hyundai... haven't heard anything bad about their V6s. But where have I heard that sort of thing before?
Magazines are no help. They NEVER seem to mention bad engine designs a few years down the track. Perhaps because they said glowing things about said angines when they were new...? That's why fools buy BMWs.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Anyone been here, done this?
OK, now to start a new thread on "Why are Canadians importers setting ripoff prices for AE9x Caribs and other used vehicles from Japan?"
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