Mitsubishi Delica - the 4wd van thoughts?

So I've been wanting something 4wd, more room, camp easy than my extcab 00 prerunner.

First thought was double cab 2012-15 with a 4wheel camper or other slide in camper. Well what - 2nd gen 4wd taco can run around 20-30k and a 4wheel camper is another 20k+. Pricey for the room you get. Thought about a full size with a flat bed with a flatbed camper - bout same price - even more. newer 4runners are expensive. Also your mpg is terrible with all.

This brought me to vans. Family friendly, roomy, odd. My family had VW westfalias growing up and I loved them. Well they aren't 4wd, unreliable, high millage now days, really depends on what year you get, very expensive for the nice renovated ones.

Searching craigslist I came across a Delica. A Japanese import van. Now, the 93s and under can be in the US due to 25 year rule. These things are pretty sweet though! room for family, 4wd, turbo diesel, get 20+ mpgs! Seats fold down into a bed, can take the middle seats out for more room like a westy - no popup roof though. Pretty dated, kinda ugly, pretty odd, right hand drive, but cool in it's weird way. Also can get one for under $14K with under 100k miles.

I guess what I am searching for is if anyone knows about these things or has experience? What I've read they are pretty reliable because they are Japanese and fairly easy to work on. I know they are somewhat common in Canada.

Let me know thoughts! Might just be a fun project to have if you're into that sort of thing - which I am, need to convince the wife now, might be hard because it is ugly haha

Example:

 

You'll be something special rolling around in that thing...

 

Reminds me of the Subaru van we had when dad was stationed in Iwakuni Japan....

 

I mean it is weird. But looks can always be changed a little - just feel like it is what I've been wanting but unfortunately it is in an ugly little package haha

It could be the next overlanding vehicle! I know people see them in Moab

 

Get it, it'll be the different one. But definitely need an exo-cage.

 

There's a guy locally that has a Chamonix. Newer version, not sure of the year though. The good thing about those is that they are "specialty" vehicles, meaning that whoever bought one probably took care of it so even used, you're going to find them in good condition.
One feature that I really like about them is the front bumper/brush guard transitions to a full skid plate that ends directly in front of the front wheels. Pretty nifty design.

 

I really like delica's, I was considering importing one from Canada. I have read that some have headgasket issues, but aside from that they are pretty reliable.

 

its definetly different. almost looks off balanced to me, lol. hardest part would be getting parts for it when something breaks.

 

Another thing to note, there are a lot of interchangeable parts between the Mitsubishi Montero and Delica. I think that all of the suspension components are the same.

 

I see these more and more now and there sweeeet

 

Exo-cage it is!

Yeah I was seeing that! Unfortunately they are all pretty high mileage and a bit older than these vans and way more ugly!

Yeah also since it is expensive to drive in Japan, these vehicles have not very many miles when imported! All the ones that I am looking at look nice (besides the outdatedness). I do love the brush guard too - pretty sweet deisng

I was thinking Canada too but was thinking about rust problem and more taxing across the boarder. I guess it probably equals the price of a US imported one but think I can find a better condition one here. Yeah haven't read too much about any issues either

Yeah it looks super weird - back is just cut down, seat over front tire - but it works in a weird odd way to me haha

Put some sweet retrofit headlights in, black rims, and some overlanding gear on the outside and it would be pretty sweet

Saw that too! And since they becoming more common, it is more easy to find parts as well.

I want to see one/drive one in person. I think it just may work for what I want. I'm going back and forth between the looks of it though. It's a head turner but not sure in the right way haha

 

wifey said no

Got my heart set on this ugly beast too fast