Mother-In-Law Help!

"Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!" (theduckduck)
04/11/2020 at 12:42 • Filed to: Mil help!!!

Hello Oppo,

My MIL got a job as a part time rural mail carrier and is searching for a vehicle. She is looking at possibly importing something RHD. I know quite a few of you have imported vehicles and she is looking for good recommendations on what to get. She is looking for an SUV that’s a 4x4 and automatic. It needs to be something that could easily be serviced. The big wear items are going to be tires and brakes. She has been eyeballing Pajero’s. I would appreciate any help in this subject. Any vehicle recommendations or importers to use our avoid? Her budget is $10k but would be happier at $7k.

UPDATE: I realize that I never included a location. She lives in South East Minnesota. She has no problem going to the East Coast to get a car because she has family in Philadelphia.

THANK YOU OPPO!!!

Badass Pajero for your time,

What I really want her to get so I could borrow it!

DISCUSSION (17)

Sovande > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
04/11/2020 at 13:09

What does a part time rural mail route pay that it makes financial sense to import a vehicle? I need that part time job.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
04/11/2020 at 13:14

Kinja'd!!!

$8k Canadian all day long. So like...$683USD

For Sweden > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
04/11/2020 at 13:15

Isn't the Land of the Free full of used RHD Jeeps?

Chuckles > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
04/11/2020 at 13:29

How about a RHD Jeep Cherokee for 3500?

https://scranton.craigslist.org/cto/d/chinchilla-1997-jeep-cherokee-xj-rhd/7104750809.html

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
04/11/2020 at 13:29

Mail spec Jeep Cherokee or Subaru Legacy.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
04/11/2020 at 14:01

J eep sells RHD domestically for mail carriers. I would look for a used one of those, it will definitely be easier to find parts and get serviced than something personally imported that only has a relative handful in North America. Subaru may also sell some RHD vehicles for mail carriers.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
04/11/2020 at 14:13

https://cars.trovit.com/used-cars/right-hand-drive-postal

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
04/11/2020 at 14:17

I used Japanese Classics in Virgina, and I wouldn’t hesitate to use them again. They’re a bit on the higher end of prices, but they have a reputation for bringing in better than average cars. Most are closer to $15k, though. For Pajeros, most of them are autos being imported right now.

As much as I’ll sing the praises of a Pajero, I probably wouldn’t have one as an only vehicle or without otherwise having a backup plan. While the diesel engines also exist in some small Caterpillar equipment (and some engine parts will be available at a Cat dealer) , sooner or later you’re going to need something like a radiator hose for which the only option is ordering it from the other side of the world and waiting a week or two for it to show up.

In the price range, something like used mail spec Cherokee or Legacy that already exist here may be a better option, as the parts support will already exist here. Another option might be something like this Accord wagon that otherwise existed here originally and will have the corresponding parts support a Rockauto or dealer overnight order away.

RPM esq. > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
04/11/2020 at 14:34

Here’s a sweet RHD SWB Pajero that’s already been imported and titled in the US, which will speed things along and help with the budget...just get to the Seattle area and pick it up. Asking $6k.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/d/lynden-1992-mitsubishi-pajero-rhd-5spd/7104574666.html

Kinja'd!!!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
04/11/2020 at 14:35

YEEESSS...Jimny for the win!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
04/11/2020 at 14:37

I would personally say a Subaru of some sort if you’re doing a JDM import. Forester, Impreza wagon...Legacy wagon....the parts would be available here, easily.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
04/11/2020 at 14:44

First or second gen CRV? Decent fuel economy, easy to get parts for, damn near bulletproof, and they don’t drive too bad either.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > For Sweden
04/11/2020 at 15:56

Not any more. Most of them rusted and the rest were crushed. Also, they aren’t exactly safe, comfortable, reliable, or economical. Don’t listen to David Tracy.

Boxer_4 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
04/11/2020 at 18:10

The postal Legacys are pretty beat at this point as the last ones were build around 20 years ago - I’ve had the thought before that it would be interesting to build rural postal vehicles out of SH Foresters, but I’m guessing the market would be pretty limited...