Dual Cab Touring Vehicle

Agree, I would be looking at the others on the list before the Nissan, the Hilux's hold there money more so you probably will not get a good example in that price range but there would be some good choices in the others

Thanks for the advice. I've done a quick google and as much as I like the look of the D22 Navara, I'm starting to feel a bit wary of the problems associated with the ZD30... Even if they are less likely in later models.

Thanks. I was very happy with the Hilux as it was... minus the highway driving. Once the speed got upwards of 90km/h, it felt like a dog and I I would get tired of it very quickly on longer trips. It did have an after market turbo (which is a possible contributor to the problems it ended up with), but even then it was still difficult to drive at higher speeds.

I suppose that raises another question... In the Hilux diesels, what model engine did they start to be considered more of a comfortable highway driving vehicle?

Ps. Part of the reason I got a decent price from the mechanic was because of the goodies it had. I bought it like that though too and didn't make any mods other than put BFG All terrains on it. So I'm keen to start from scratch and make my own mods, rather than inherit.

I have a normally aspirated 03 diesel and it runs fine on the highway at 100 -110.
It sits happily at 60Kmh in third on the beach, it just loves 80Kmh anywhere making it a great dirt road tourer and it pulls well at low RPM in low range.

Its no rocket ship and ya do have to drive it like a diesel.

Once ya get into the flow, I find it quite relaxing, it will hold the 100kmh happily without running away like a petrol car does so ya don't constantly have to watch the speed or depend on cruse control....there is no hand trottle

Ya not going to pass much and ya will slow down on the bigger hills

Admttedly I do travel fairly light...but that is the whole point of a hilux.

There are singnificant improvements in the engines right across the range from around 01.
The 2.7 litre petrol goes from a carby to fuel injection, the fuel injected V6 is offered and both the normally aspirated diesel and the turbo diesel get the electronically managed diesel pump.

They all go better than the models a year before.

If ya realy want a fast highway vehicle.....petrol is the go...I have a 2.7 litre petrol work truck and while you would not say it goes like a shower of $#@t, its got ample power and goes pretty well even full of tools and with ladders on.
The 2.7 liter petrol makes much more power than either of the diesels.
In my opinion its one of the best 4 cylinder petrol motors ever built.
All the ignition parts are high on the motor and fairly well sealed.
It actually makes more power than both the 4.1 liter six from the XF falcon and the 253 V8 from the HQ holden.

As for the V6......hell if I could have laid my hands on one of those on the right terms...I would not be driving the diesel....hell what a thing.

cheers

G/Day mate, This time I will agree with you...LOl...LOl.


The 2.7l Petrol would have to be the best engine toyo have produced ever.....Drove a hilux the other day with 580,000ks on it! that engine has not been touched, and runs like a clock.

Cheers Axle.

How does the petrol go on fuel economy compared to the diesel?

AHH well that depends on how you drive it....the petrol motor will tend to be better at higher speed.

One of the reasons why the diesel tends to be more economical is because it simply does not make as much power, putting the foot down hard is pretty pointless so ya don't tend to.

The other thing is that diesel has been loosing its advantage for years because diesel has not been significantly cheaper than petrol for a very long time.

cheers

I had an '03 3.4 v6 auto from new for 6 years and 200 kms. It was a great ute which ended up being fairly modified.
I got 15-16 l per 100 out of it fully loaded with a roof rack. The manual would do a bit better.
The 2.7 actually doesn't give too much away to the v6 in an empty ute, but starts to run out of a bit of puff when they are loaded up. They also get fairly thirsty in a heavy ute, but will always get there. As stated, a great engine also.
If you are happy with petrol, you'll drive your dollar further that's for sure.

I think its worth saying again...the secret with hiluxes and the other light utes is to keep them light.

Their advantage is that they are light to start with, if you can keep them light as possible all their advantages remain.

As soon as you start to load them heavily they struggle and are at a significant dis-advantege compared to the heavy utes.

Ya Hilux will carry nearly as much as ya landcruser..and it will do the job.....but not as easily and probably at no advantage in fuel economy.

The hilux is over half a tonne lighter both empty and fully laden than the equavalent 70 series...and even lighter unladen than the 100 series......if you can keep it lightly loaded you can have a clear 1 tonne advantage over a lot of the heavier touring 4wds on the road.

That means a great deal in fuel economy and in the ability to traverse soft ground.

cheers