Nissan Narvara D22 with 3.3L V6 Engine 2004 model

Hi Simon,
Although I do not own a Navara through my experience through the 4wd club is that the Navara can have some issues with ground clearance especially those with sidesteps installed.
Robert

The 3.3 is one of the better V6 engines around. Make sure it has been serviced as they don't really like going too long between oil changes. Once you put your foot down he'll be wanting a LR tank as they love drinking, but if you want kW then you need to drink fuel. The Navara is pretty basic and easy to use and if used properly will do most things you have in mind. Could do with a lift and bigger tyres especially if going to play on sand.

What was wrong with the diesel in a 2004 D22. I knew that the Patrol version had major issues but i thought the similar engine in the Navara was OK.

I had a Pathfinder with that motor in it and never had any trouble in over 350k. I put it on lpg which made it a lot cheaper to run. I used to get 13-15 l/100kms on petrol and around 16-17 l/100kms on lpg.

If the young blokes 2.7L Hilux was hard on fuel, then the 3.3L V6 Nissan certainly won't be any better, and it will actually be a whole lot worse.
Like all young blokes (and I've been one, too! - even though it was a long time ago!), they love "flooring it" at every opportunity, and hearing the exhaust note as they run the engine up to 3500-4000RPM through the cogs.

There's only one way to get good fuel economy - imagine a fresh egg is stuck under the accelerator pedal, and you must avoid breaking it.
Keep the RPM down, don't hammer it through the cogs, change up at 2000RPM, instead of 3500RPM.
Keep the speed down on the open road - nothing chews fuel like a petrol engine hammering along at 120kmh.
Keep unnecessary junk out of the ute - don't carry stuff around that you don't need immediately.
It's amazing the amount of utes carrying around 150-200kgs of unnecessary junk in the tray/tub and cabin.

The early 3.0L ZD30 diesels in the Nissans did give a lot of problems, they didn't get the "hand grenade" nickname for nothing.
All diesels are expensive when they need repairs, if you go looking at a diesel, buy one that has had a recent engine overhaul, and you will be getting a better deal than one that has done 300,000kms and is still on the original engine.

Here's the kind of thing I'd be looking at (below), if I were you. Not a great deal of difference in the used purchase price today, between the diesel and petrol, and the V6 petrol will soon be chewing a big hole in the young blokes pocket, if he's a leadfoot, as most are.

2002 3.0L Nissan Navara diesel with new engine

Cheers, Ron.