Gu Patrol 2.8TD

Luke had one few yrs back before he sold it for a TB42 Maverick. Which he sold too...

Try the archives, he was happy with it, but it happy to sell it in the end.

what does he want to do.

Comparing it to a 3.0 - they are 2 totally different engines, one has power and blows up, the other is flat, but lasts..

Gidday,I bought a 98 GU had it for 2 months spent approx $10.000 and it was as bad as before.New clutch flywheel (nissan said it would fix a bad vibration)did not fix.Turbo replaced $1.500.Many wheel balances along with tyres and susp checks (could not fix).Injector pump O/hauled $1.800.
Biggest heap of junk I have ever owned.Sold it for $15.000 and was glad to get rid of it.
Since bought a 80 series diesel GXL.Have been up the Cape, Lakefield,Cape Melville,Bathurst Bay to name a few and could not fault it.
Just a little whinge.
Seeya Locallaw

Hi Brewman,

We had a GU 2.8 1999 prior to our 3.0 ltr. I would say the 2.8 drives like a small loaded truck - it does the job but don't be in a hurry. The 3.0 ltr is more for the fun in driving - far more grunt, thus is more pleasurable to drive, plus the better drive train, gearbox, etc..
Our 2.8 ltr was ok for 4 years, but then the engine malfunction light came on and the good times were over. We had a crack in the head and water went out through the exhaust. The car had only 76,000 k’s on the clock, but we completely lost trust in the car and traded it in for the current 3.0 ltr. – We did not regret this change, it was money well spent.
The crack in the head doesn’t seem to be uncommon, in Germany you find new heads for around Eur 650 regularly on e-bay.
You can imagine what my recommendation would be…

Cheers

$26 K sounds like a lot of money for something that is not popular.
98 model should have around 120 000kms travelled for its age.

try www.redbook.com.au

average kms 120,000 - 150,000
trade in price guide* $20,700 - $24,100
national average price - private sale* $23,400 - $27,400
price when new (RRP) $43,990

Just traded mine.

I think they're asking way too much for one with 200k's..

Not much of a car for towing. Mine couldn't even pull my tinny up the boat ramp without being in low 4wd. or lots of clutch slipping. Once got stuck in a cul de sac in the Adelaide foothills - on a suburban street - embarassing. Front wheels turned, car slightly uphill. Couldn't take off without slipping the clutch. Clutch was on the way out for the second time when I got rid of it. (78K)

I thought it was hopeless off road. Throttle control was far too sensitive. Slow travel on rough tracks caused feed back between the jolts from the road and my foot on the pedal. Kangaroo hopping. Maybe others found a solution to this - but I never did.

It was in excellent condition (bar the clutch - which still worked), with lots of extras. They're trying to sell it for $35K. Would have asked ~$29k as a private sale.

On the road though it was great. Long trips towing to Darwin were a breeze. just don't stop on any slopes. Fuel econ was around 13l/100k, and didn't vary much with load.

I wouldn't do it. Really needs to be an auto to work as a tow car. But they didn't make them. 3l auto would probably be pretty good, but I haven't tried one.

Good luck.

Thanks all for your your comments.

I have had my GU2.8 for 4 years and I have learned to live with it!....can't afford to swap it, so after having a cracked cylinder head repaired and an injector pump re-conditioned I guess you could say i'm reasonably happy....as for the towing, we moved up here (Darwin) over 3 years ago and towed a fully laden (with garage tools ect) 6x4 trailer and sure it wasn't quick, but there is some merit to using it as a towing vehicle...BUT NOT FOR HEAVY LOADS AND I AGREE THAT THE 4.2 WOULD DO IT EASIER...I would be wary of an early 3lt as it is a lottery as to what you get in terms of the known problems with them, my son has a 2000 GU3lt and hIs hasn't suffered from any of the usual problems with it apart from the alternator dropping its guts, it has 75,000 on the clock...as for the price being asked, forget it...it's way OVERPRICED....mine has 155,000km on the clock and I would have thought that I would be lucky to get 26k for it!...I would suggest that he looks around for a 4.2....when I win Tatts i'll get a GU 4.2!!!!!!...until then, i'll stick with what I have....Don

Hi Brew
I own the same model-bought it new and have done over 200,000 ks. Only major problem is a tiny crack in the rocker cover - just happened! Which I have fixed with a squirt of silicon!!
It has been a beaut truck but if I had my time again I would have gone for the 4.2. Especially if I had to tow heavy trailors. Our off road camper was ok, but you didn't want to do many up hill starts!! Once underway the car has plenty of power and good economy. The motor is smoother and more quiet than the newer 3 litre.
I hope this is of some help.

We have had our 99 model since new and it now has 110k on it. Only problems were vibration in the front which was fixed under warranty. It does have a habit of "kangarooing" on steep uphills in low range but a quick slip of the clutch stops it. Other than that, we are very happy with it. Just finished a 10k trip through QLD and NT towing a Kanga Camper without any problems, fuel consumption was 16.8l/100 which I am happy with considering all up weight, speeds and headwinds in some areas. I would say that the asking price is a tad high.

Asking price too high, paid same for mine last year with 150,000 on the clock. Couldn't find a 4.2L for under $35,000 at the time and stayed away from the 3.0L.
Was looking for a GQ but found GU at around same price. Was 1 owner and they used it to tow daughters single horse float from new, traded it on a 3.0L in June 2003 so I suppose they were happy with it. Have had couple of small problems but nothing too $$$$$$$ and nothing to make me want to get rid of it.
Rolande