Choosing a 4wd

Mick, check some previous posts - it is all searchable. It realy does matter what you want to do with it. You decide that first.

Mick,
If you have that sort of money buy a new 4.2 Turbo Patrol and spend around $50,000 on accessories, that could work well. As mentioned search the archives there is truckloads there.

do you want to go off road ? will you cry if you brake your front spoiler on the rangy ? or if you break your mirror on a tree ? if you scrach it ? If the answer is that you dont care , go for it , there a pretty mean car off road , some better tyres and it can go anywere . If you just need it for dirt rd's , Rangi would be great also , If you want to go off road off road and you will worry about scraching a $150k vehicle get a Cruiser or Patrol . Money no object go Cruiser try and stay away from ifs model if you want to go serious off roading

Here in the USA no one would even dream of taking a Rangie off road (much like any $WD here) They are still sold here as the "ultimate" $WD but sales are really lacking considering the competition.

You can buy a BMW X5 with the same 4.4 V8 for $52,700 And you get 6 speed auto as standard compared to $72,250 for the Rangie.

In travelling between the USA and Oz a couple of times a year I am amazed at the variation in prices comparing equal models of cars. Considering the $ exchange Toyotas are pretty much on par but the high end stuff is much more expensive in Australia.

Bruce

Mick it's an interesting question and if I can change the context a little and put this Q, what would most contibutors to this forum do if they had just won the lottery or a favourite rich aunt just died & left them a bucket load. Keeping to the vehicle choice option, would they change their vehicle considering the purpose for which they bought it ??
I guess in fairness one would have to at least test drive a Rangie first to make an assesment. The other important Q is where do you want to go, what do you want to see ? There can be some pretty mean treks around Oz if you really want to get remote & it's a long way between fuel stops, these are often the most beautiful places because of their isolation and solitude and the challenge of getting there, if that's your bag.
Any vehicle that undertakes an arduous trip needs to be set up with the correct tyres, certain spares, adequate fuel reserves, water and the camping gear (tent or trailer) that goes with this type of 4WD'ing. The driver needs to be capable and able to effect repairs (it happens, even to expensive vehicles).
I think (that's an assumption) most ExplorOz members enjoy setting up a vehicle, fiddling, adapting it to their needs, having the pleasure of being smart enough to save a buck here and there. And that's the point, there is a sense of achievement all round like "I did it".
I don't believe your theory about aftermarket extras is correct. Sure, there is a case for "let the buyer beware", but companies like Opposite Lock & ARB etc are very concious of consumers needs and test their components in tough competitions. You will never see any stock factory vehicle with standard factory extras winning the tough competitions. Rangies do well in some of these comps but they are far from being just factory clones.
For me, I would buy the vehicle with a strong engine, say 4.2 Patrol, set it up to suit my camping needs, find a remote white sandy beach with good fishing and with the spare cash have fresh Caviar and Bollinger flown in each evening at sunset to go with the grilled snapper & snow peas.
Good luck with your decision making I hope its the first of many exciting challenges to come.

Mick,
I had the previous model HSE4.6 RR. The last pre BMW creation with the "old" V8.
It went liek a dog initially and eventually RA put a new engine in it - tunred out teh orginal engine had 4litre crankshaft - no wonder it was a dog. After four years a guy at work bought it - and not long after the a/c packed up. It was 2K to fix so the RR was sold for 46k with about 100k on the clock. Original purchase was 115K - that was a ridiculous depreciation cost, but a great vehicle. Will the orphaned BMW RR have the same create of depreciation? Better engine but did the pommie workers learn how to actually build the things? Tiem will tell.

Capable - very - remember well one day near Rainbow Beach when all and sundry were having trouble getting through the soft stuff and with sensible driving the RR went straight through with traction control working like a dream. Even had guys stand and salute!
And before the Cruiser & Nissan guys flame me - I have had a 60 and two 80s plus a Nissan, spread over 20 or so years. The RR feels fragile by comparison and I was always worried about a major failure in the bush, the others simply feel stronger.
As mentioned in an earlier post - the use should dictate the purchase. The RR is smaller - good round town but hard to get the gear in (particularly with the sloping rear hatch which reduces load volumes greatly).

The Merc M series has a great diesel engine, but lacks a bit in ground clearance and is only mid sized. It is much less dollars and has the lowest depreciation of any 4*4 (www.redbook.com.au) but it is due for replacement soon. Great tow vehicle though (except you need to watch draw bar weight @ 220Kg). Bought one a year back and is just as reliable as a L/C (now that is a back handed compliment!).
If I was buying today - I would at least consider the VW Toureg, again depending what I wanted it for, but the M Class would still be high on the list even though it is "old", and I need to carry a spare on my trailer for it.
Unfortunately I can't tour all the time and the ML is easier around town, and its size isn't an issue as we tow a CT when we travel.

On the other hand that BMW diesel in the RR should be good if you want to take the depreciation risk, and spend extra dollars initially.

IAN

We are all so out of whack here that is not funny . We call what we do 4 w driving , but what is it that you actually do ? a beach some clay mud trails , corregated roads ? , The RR with its track control and other fanci gadgets is a auwsom vehicle , if I had the bucks for a tourer for the family for the above mentioned purpose , then a RR would be a great contender . Now what I called 4 w driving is the stuff Truckster & I do , it would be the last car I purchased . Its not its capabily that would stop us , its the desighn of the vehicle for this type of work , Ground clearence / air bag suspention ( one sharp rock and its all over ) Plastic spoilers / options available ect ect ect . This dosnt meen we hate them , it just dosn't suit our purpose . Take Toolangi last week ,a good friend of mine has his 2000 HSC out to play , he had to sit out of most of the tracks . The one's that he did do , he lost mirror spoiler , punctured tyres scrached his nice rims , Now this guy loves his off roading has the bucks not to worry to much , ( and member John was there to see how hard this guy pushed his car ) He now want to get rid of it,to purchase OLDER 4 wdrive to have fun with us . So lets all just look at what we want to do and choose the appropriate car