New member needs help !

I am only really interested in opinions on either vehicle. I have tried said forums and am now trying here.

thanks anyway.

OK want a non bias opinion, looking at past comments on this subject and driven both vehicles your only choice is how much you are willing too spend, because both vehicle have there strentghs and weaknesses and as far as i can tell not much between them.

4.2TD in both.

I am doing the same as you only difference, we have a third vehicle in the choice.

Baz.

Can I ask what your other option is ?

Firstly welcome to EO, manners i used to have them.

We have not decided as yet and it is hard because you have to please all that are involved, our choice involves towing too a 1.3t camper and comfort in the back seats as we have a third party that travels with us and i can tell you this for certain the cruiser and the patrol way way way behind in the comfort stakes in the back seats.

If i was buying just for me i would buy the live axle cruiser with the barn doors.

Good luck with whatever you choose and enjoy travelling and this forum.

Baz.

You never answered to question ?

I get enough grief with the Explorer sorry SWMBO likes the other choice and i must admit i do too, you have made a good decision i feel. I will tell you this we really liked the Prado but it doesn't pull as well as the Explorer and don't want to go backward with power which was a bummer and strange to as the Prado has more KW than the Explorer so the other 3 are back to be concidered, oh we are buying second hand too up to 2002.

You should get a good deal on an Explorer , they are really struggling to move any of them at the moment. Ofcourse this good deal will be countered with an ugly sale price on the other end but I am sure you have factored that already.

"I wanted a turbo live axle auto - and neither Toyo or Nissan do one"

You can get a turbo diesel auto 3.0 Patrol. All Patrols have coils and live axles.

Utemad

You're right of course - I didn't even consider the 3.0TD - At the time there were far too many questions over it. Plus I just couldn't bring myself to buy a 4cyl. Too stuck in my ways I guess.

Gaz

Hi In hock,

I have the Dtronic chip on my 3.0TD and it now has 420Nm at 2,000rpm, almost the same as the 4.2TD cruiser at 424Nm. Makes a noticeable difference, especially at the bottom end where the 3.0TD was lacking a bit.

I went through the same dilema a year ago when replacing my 80 series cruiser. Overall, the cruiser has better attention to fit and finish, but could not bring myself to a IFS front end. I drove the 4.2TD nissan but much prefered the 3.0TD (but understand the reasons why many still prefer the 4.2TD). After 1 year and 30,000kms, I am very happy with my choice (as I am sure I would have been regardless of Nissan, Cruiser or 4.2TD)

At the end of the day, IMHO, the Nissan is slightly more compromised to off-road use while the cruiser is more compromised to on-road use. A generalisation I know, but when you look at the suspension, spring and shock settings, fit and finish etc... it does hold up to a fair degree.

What swayed me in the end was that the money I saved allowed the patrol to be fully fitted out for my needs. If i went the cruiser, I would still have a big wish list. But in 2 years when i replace this vehicle, who knows which way i will go, both are very good vehicles and I am sure you will be happy with either.

Cheers

Captain

Aircon doesn't cut out on the 3.0l !!

Leroy

This is my way of thinking as well. I am sure an experienced 4wd'er could get any vehicle further than my abilities will allow me and as this vehicle will spend the majority of it's life as a drive car I am keen on the Landcruiser as it is so much nicer to drive versus the noisy truck like behaviour of the Nissan .

If it was going to be a 4wd hack type of vehicle which I would thrash and bash then I would certainly get the Patrol but at my age I want some comfort as well.

Gazza

In well 55's defense I have heard of air con problems in the Patrol as well.

My 3.0L has never had an air con cut out even when towing on those hot northerly windy days, must only be the 4.2 that has this problem.

Geoff.

As with any problem like this it is always in the minority these days .

As stated it's a 4.2

I have previously well documented my results with over-warming on the 4.2L and how I overcame it so the air con would not cut out. Okay, so it cost me $1100- for a shiny new PWR radiator with 2 x 26mm cores instead of the plastic unit with 2 x 12mm cores. But it did the trick.

Other than that, I bought my Patrol because it is capable of doing everything I want to do, cost shyt-loads less than a GXL and (IMHO) has a stronger drive train.

If I was not into "bush driving" (as opposed to "Off-roading") and spent all day on the bitumen, a GXL would have been my preference; but I wouldn't have been able to afford it anyway!!! LOLOL

Good luck.