Terracan diesel write ups - what are they like ?

Submitted: Friday, Jan 21, 2005 at 20:24

ThreadID: 19662 Views:4915 Replies:13 FollowUps:12

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Jeff (Beddo)

Had a look at the Terracan diesel today, going for a test drive on monday. Looks like good value for money (I like Toyotas but they are too expensive). Has anyone had any problems with their Terracans (petrol included). The diesel has 120Kw power at 3800 rpm and 345 Nm torque at 1750 - 3000 rpm; how does this compare to the Prado & Pajero diesels ?

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Reply By: firestang - Friday, Jan 21, 2005 at 21:16

Friday, Jan 21, 2005 at 21:16

Have a look at post 19614 from yesterday i think , the review didn't have any faults with it . I guess only time will tel if they are right .It looks like they have made a decent car very good .
Jimbo will tell you that the only real worry with these was the suspension , it seems they have fixed it with the optional pack , expensive it is but i guess that it saves any hassle with the insurance company over modified suspension .

Ive had my Terra for just on a week now ,very happy .

AnswerID: 94339

Reply By: Member - Jimbo (VIC) - Friday, Jan 21, 2005 at 22:05

Friday, Jan 21, 2005 at 22:05

Well, here I am,

Had mine (Petrol Highlander since June 04). Now done just short of 15,000 km.

Suspension was Scheissenhausen in my model, cost $900 to fix at TJM. Fling the road tyres and get decent tyres fitted before you take delivery.

Had a problem with the clutches in the LSD, fixed with a new diff centre under warranty without an issue.

Minor issue with low charging of the battery caused by dud connection from alternator to the batt. They not only fixed it, but fitted a new cable, just to be sure; also under warranty without a gripe.

I bloody love the thing. Great performance on road (and performs 0-100 in 10.3 seconds) and is extraordinarily capable off-road for what it is. Don't expect it to perform like a Patrol off-road, but it can really mix it in the medium duty stakes.

At the money, it is a great thing. Value personified. Leather, climate control, MP3 player 6 speaker sound system, etc at $40K on the road.

Factory back up is wonderful. Five year, 130,000 km warranty says it all.

I'm going to Gembrook to belt the Christ out of it again tomorrow.

Cheers,

Jim.

AnswerID: 94348

Follow Up By: Brian - Friday, Jan 21, 2005 at 22:39

Friday, Jan 21, 2005 at 22:39

I agree with all of the above.

Took delivery of mine on 29th Oct last year and have just turned over 32,000kms.

I have done nothing suspension wise but the Kumo tyres that came with it went real quick. I am running on Bridgestone Duelers A/T's.

Mine is the basic model and I tow a Camper Trailer that weighs about 1200Kg loaded and it does it easy.

The two speakers in the back doors have just chucked it in and Hyundai told me that 2 new speakers will be fitted and if that doesn't fix the problem they will replace the whole Radio/CD unit. I can't ask for more.

I haven't done much off road but when I have it performed great.

I don't think for value for money there is not another 4WD on the market in Australia.

You will get the knockers but I have yet to hear of a Terracan owner that is not over the moon with there vehicle.

By the way I am 6ft 1in tall and weigh 140Kg and I fit very comfortable in the Terracan. If I keep this praise up then maybe Hyundai will give me a new one when my five years warranty is up but at the rate I am going I will get to 130,000Kms well before that.LOL.

Another very happy Terracan owner.

Cheers

Brian

FollowupID: 353337

Reply By: greghud - Friday, Jan 21, 2005 at 22:25

Friday, Jan 21, 2005 at 22:25

looks ok
plenty of good coments
desent power
every button bell and whistle ever imagined
no REAL complants
lifespan?
gotta be worth a look?
P.S. i drive a lux so im not tryng to sell one
greg

AnswerID: 94351

Reply By: D-Jack - Saturday, Jan 22, 2005 at 11:51

Saturday, Jan 22, 2005 at 11:51

Patrol 3.0 TD, 354 nm at 2000 rpm, 116kw at 3600 rpm, kerb weight 2345kgs
Prado 3.0 TD, 343 nm at 2000 rpm, 96 kw at 3600 rpm, kerb weight 1945 kgs
Pajero - don't have, can find on internet but from memory is similary to Patrol, kerb weight about 2T

I'd say your Terracan would weigh no more than Prado and Pajero, probably a bit less. Power to weight and torque very good. Look like they could do with a lift though.

AnswerID: 94384

Follow Up By: pjchris - Sunday, Jan 23, 2005 at 09:50

Sunday, Jan 23, 2005 at 09:50

Pajero 373 nm at 2000 rpm, 121 kw at 3800 rpm, kerb weight 2170 kgs.

Peter

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Follow Up By: pjchris - Sunday, Jan 23, 2005 at 10:01

Sunday, Jan 23, 2005 at 10:01

Oh and Toyota Australia list the Prado as 1980-2170 kgs depending on options and the TD engine is one option that adds weight so realistically it's likely to be a bit above 2000kgs for the base model.

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Reply By: Austin - Saturday, Jan 22, 2005 at 21:30

Saturday, Jan 22, 2005 at 21:30

Hi Guys. Another happy owner here, Just been to Darwin & Back to Wodonga in my Highlander 12,000k over Christmas / New Year, not a problem, standard Kuhmo's & all. And yes we did use it as it was designed for and went in to Palm Valley and 200k of corogations on the Merini? loop road from Kings Canyon to Hermansburg., plus a few other out of the way places. We were towing a camper etc. Only gripe was fuel economy. Best price for fuel was $0.90c worst was $1.45. (Ouch) (The Diesel wont have this issue though.) Just go and buy it and make all of the rest of us jealous.

Garry

AnswerID: 94463

Reply By: Baz (NSW) - Saturday, Jan 22, 2005 at 22:25

Saturday, Jan 22, 2005 at 22:25

From all accounts a great vehicle we looked at it and concidered it our choice was based on comfort and power Disco fared better here, keep your opinions to your self (gone in the head).

AnswerID: 94468

Follow Up By: Baz (NSW) - Saturday, Jan 22, 2005 at 22:27

Saturday, Jan 22, 2005 at 22:27

IMHO that is sorry just clarifying.

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Reply By: flappan - Monday, Jan 24, 2005 at 08:55

Monday, Jan 24, 2005 at 08:55

PLENTY of short term owners loving the things. Looked at them myself. Didn't have the specs I wanted.

Longterm will be interesting , but certainly , brand new with 5 years warranty . . . REALLY appealing , especially a diesel.

AnswerID: 94609

Follow Up By: bigfella - Monday, Jan 24, 2005 at 11:59

Monday, Jan 24, 2005 at 11:59

Horses for courses.

Why the knockers for the Terracan? I would bet most knockers have NEVER driven one and yes I have only had mine for 15 months and love it. A comment above about my speakers (Which by the way are back and not front) seemed senseless to me. So, they are faulty and going to be replaced. Toyota make a great product but I bet they have things go wrong at times as well.

In 5 years I would not expect to get a great re-sale value. I will remember what I paid for my car.

My daughter and son-in-law are selling up and hitting the road and will be pulling a 2.5 tonne caravan and the last thing I would advise them is to buy a Terracan to do the job. The only problem we have is deciding between the Land Cruiser and the Patrol to do the job. As I said horses for courses.

I wish I could predict the future but I am guessing the Terracan will kick some butt in the future as value for money.

FollowupID: 353549

Reply By: Jeff (Beddo) - Monday, Jan 24, 2005 at 13:39

Monday, Jan 24, 2005 at 13:39

Thanks everyone for the comments, took one for a drive, disel, auto and not bad, lot lower than my Surf but more comfortable along the road and handling. Seats very wide losse fitting - don't really hug you, slid around in seat a bit with the leather but apart from that all good comments. Also rear middle seat is uncomfortable with those silly arm rests (even Toyota have, should get rid of the middle arm rests, they make the middle seat like a plank).

AnswerID: 94653

Reply By: TerraA1 - Thursday, Jan 27, 2005 at 00:31

Thursday, Jan 27, 2005 at 00:31

I bought one of the first released.

Have done over 135,000 K's with no trouble.

Driven off road at Yengo, Blue Mountains and Barrington. Was quite capable but would love to have the money to upgrade the suspension.

Only gripe I would have is the lack of after market accessories such as Diff Locks , poor fuel consumption and very low roof load capacity.

But for your average off road adventures it handles all that I have flung at it.

AnswerID: 95066

Reply By: Kumanara (SA) - Thursday, Jan 27, 2005 at 22:44

Thursday, Jan 27, 2005 at 22:44

The Terracan uses Mitsibishi mechanicals. The diesel they have put in the Terracan is the same one that was previously used in the Pajero.

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Follow Up By: TerraA1 - Sunday, Jan 30, 2005 at 00:05

Sunday, Jan 30, 2005 at 00:05

If this is the case do you know if the front ARB diff Locker from the Mitsubishi can be used on the Terracan

I have been trying to find one for the past 2 years.

Regards

Chris

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Follow Up By: Kumanara (SA) - Sunday, Jan 30, 2005 at 08:14

Sunday, Jan 30, 2005 at 08:14

I am not aware re this. If you sent an email to ARB they should be able to follow-up and advise you. I would presume that the diff used in the Terracan would have been sourced from Mitsibishi. The problem would be to ascertain which Pajero diff is the equivalent.

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Reply By: Peter Ja - Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 21:31

Sunday, Feb 13, 2005 at 21:31

Kumanara,

I have one of these Terracan Diesels and the engine is not Mitsubishi. The Diesel is in fact a derivitave of the VM motor and has an Italian heritage. The fuel system is Delphi. I have done just over 14,000kms in mine and have not had a problem with it. The only vehicle that will out tourque this Terracan is the Pajero but if you like the sewing machine like noise of the pump and twice the Diesel usage go for the Pajero. The Patrol has more tourque on paper, but a quick drive will show this is a paper figure and not reality.

We went away with a few 4wds recently and put them all through their paces, 2 of the friends we went away with now have their 4wds on the market and will buy Terracans. We were towing a camp trailer and used less Diesel that everyone in the group even those not towing camp trailers, I will add that none of these vehicles had more pick-up or outright speed that the Terracan (we were in the NT - no speed limit when we tried that).

Get one you will not be dissapointed.

Pete.

AnswerID: 98207