Trade in the Pathfinder?

Ben and Renee,

For comparison fuel consumption figures, go to the Trip Planning tab, and click on Fuel Consumption. It shows this forums 6 cyl diesel owners average 6.6km/l on treks and 6 cyl petrol 5.6k/l. On highway cruising would get better consumption I'd inagine, but it's a useful starting point for getting your head around your solution.

I understand diesels consumption is less knocked around by towing than a petrol. The price difference between petrol and diesel is less in the country - it's over 10c/l difference in Perth often which diminishes and fuel consumption advantages.

There are great advantages in knowing your vehicle, it's service history and where you put all your bits when travelling etc that you will lose if you get a different vehicle. You're not the only ones contemplating the price of fuel and I imagine the price of second hand 4WD's will drop as people try to offload them - which will affect the trade in price you'll get.

The link on the left - to Vehicle Choices - also provides useful stuff to consider.

Enjoy your travels.
tim

All good advice above... It's a difficult choice between diesel & petrol, you need to look hard at initial cost+service intervals+are you capable of doing it yourself to save a $ when looking at a diesel. Sometimes the extra costs associated can eat away at the advantage you may gain in fuel consumption.

As a general indicator, I have a V6 Triton@12l/100km for our daily grind. With the camper in tow(approx 800kg loaded) we use 14-16l/100km. Mate I go away with recently bought a new Rodeo TD, getting 8-9l/100km as daily driver and his last trip away with his camper(also around the 800kg mark), he averaged 10-11l/100km. Not sure of the service intervals on the rodeo but if they are 5000km, my Triton is 15000 so there is a clear difference in the running cost already.

Anyway, I have managed to not answer your question really at all, I'm getting quite good at that, guess I just like the read of my own type...

Ben

A bit of a hard call here. You have a vehicle you know, which is a distinct advantage.

Having said that ... herself has a Pathy of similar vintage ... I can't believe how thirsty the bloody mongrel thing is ... it's worse than my previous V8 Disco .. and that's saying something.

But .. as you stated ... "you want to get off road a little" ... and it's more than competent in that regard.

I reckon that at the end of the day, it's a flip of a coin. What you will lose on swaping vehicles will most likely not be much different on what you'll gain in fuel consumption.

Your call ... but enjoy the trip you lucky lucky bastard ... :o)

Cheers

hi ben
when you look at Fuel the cheapest is gas then diesel then ul petrol on long trips diesel usley out performs ulp but gas out performs all per cents per k not on let/ 100ks but on cents per ks so calculate where you are going and search the internet wher gas can be purchased in my gas only ford i do 300 ks for $21.00
try that for size

It's been said above but don't forget that the cheapest vehicle you will own is the one that you own now! Unless you have a marvelous deal lined up you will lose cash in any changeover to another vehicle of unknown condition. My advise (FWIW) is, assess your current vehicle and if it is upto the job stick with it . Fuel may be dear but do the sums and compare what it will cost to get another vehicle.

Cheers Dave L

truckester
you have not seen the lastest on gas and when you do you wil be amased at the cost per k we have a decated vehicle for gas and it will do 300 ks for $21.00
now i have people who travel all over NSW AND QLD AND THER IS NO PROBS