If you want the ultimate peace of mind and have your heart set on a different vehicle, then I would be looking at the very latest car you can get, but remember the more you pay, the more you will be paying off every week that you aren't working.....and the money disappears quickly when you aren't, especially with that many mouths to feed.
Personally I would have no hestitations in taking a 3L Patrol all around Australia for a year, and there are plenty others who are doing the same thing now.
You need to drive one, and possibly hook the camper up to it if possible. It really depends on what you want to do to it, but you will be heavily loaded, which will take a bit of puff out of it. You may decide that you will need to add a chip or exhaust system, to keep it prforming at its best.
Also think about this, that the car you buy now, wont be worth nearly as much with an additional 40K on the clock.
I think in your situation, if money is tight and not actually knowing what is actually needed in repairs, then I would keep what you have and get it fixed so that you know that you have a reliable vehicle, even if it costs 12K to get there.
I think that it will end up costing more with a newer vehicle, i.e sell yours for 10K - pay 60K plus to get a new one and add the bits you need to make it liveable and reliable for a year or so. Sell after for 40K......
I would much rather see you in a Patrol, but the numbers may not make sense for you, and .....cough, cough, cough, Cruisers aren't that bad.....
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