Tell me about Mitsubishi Delicas.

L400s - the second pic, which is of a facelift L400.

Full-time 4x4 - no need to shift into 2WD for tarmac, though a 2WD mode is there to save fuel.

2.8TD suffers from failing seals in the pump, stretching cam chains, but is fairly economical and well known, shared with Shogun. EGR valve is another source of problems.

Post '97 2.8TDs are supposed to be better at coping with modern fuels - I used to put a couple of litres of unleaded in with a tank of diesel to get the seals to swell when mine was trying to play up.

I think there are some early 2.5 models - same engine as the L300.
There are V6 petrol ones. Really like the sound of those!
Rust, rust and rust. If offroaded, they often get cracks in the chassis above the bumpstops at the rear. If not rustproofed, they go pretty much everywhere at the front.
Parts not too expensive.
Look awesome with proper bullbars and big yellow spotlights.
Factory they're 2.1m tall - beware height restrictors. Lifted... They are only 1.7m wide though.

FWIW they do handle. 85mph on the A7, 28mpg average.

LWB models are available, seat configurations are not easily removed, so as a works van it's hard to "untrim" it - my Voyager proved to be a bit of a revalation yesterday, as I needed to load furniture so took the centre seats out and rolled the very heavy rear bench forward. The L400's rotating middle and fold-up-against-the-side rear seats don't provide anything like as uncluttered an interior.

Fascia panels get broken on the dashboard. Various trims available of course, I had either a flat tray, a gauge pod or a small flip-top cubby box in mine at various times. Column shift on the automatic so a nice clear floor at the front.

I mean, they're pretty predictable, no horrid surprises and couple of pleasant ones. Much as I love L400s and prefer the AWD on them, I think L300s look way cooler...

Having owned both, and loved both each in their own way, I would readily admit that I would not see either model as a 'daily'

L400's are a nicer drive on tarmac, have more 'toys', have better MPG from the later 2.8 DIEsel

L300's are stronger, thicker metal in the chassis, heavier on juice, older 2.5 DIEsel, best I ever got was high teens for MPG

Personally I think there are better choices for a 4x4 works van out there . . . .

Jo0Lz

Tbh Ben's link covers it

The L300 4x4 system will suffer from wind up if used on tarmac.
L300 :20-25 MPG, look for rust and play in the bottom pulley. I'd go for a non crystalite roof imho.
L400: Not much knowledge of these, but look for old/brittle header tanks, higher 20's mpg.

Both are tall vehicles so if you need to get into any low carparks there could be a problem.

Not retro, but a kangoo 4x4 may be an option?

Bought my L400 for a trip to Le mans with mates and a family holiday just over a year ago, planned to keep it for a few months then get something else but ended up selling the sensible family car and keeping it. It's been 100% reliable breezed through both mots, parts have been cheap, it coped great with the snow and the little off roading I've done but fuel consumption is awful. All the usual problems have been covered in other posts already, header tank, fuel pump seal, chain stretch and rust. Mine is the bottom spec Exceed with a low roof and is a little battle-worn so was very cheap to buy too.

If you're using one as a van then all the seats are very easy to remove, just a few bolts, and you'd have a massive load space.