Decisions, desicions Toyota..Nissan..

What years do you consider 'early' model

early is anything earlier than 2010.

Come off it Truckster! Our Nissan 3 litre is going strong without any problems. The Landcruiser has just blown the head - now which is the "grenade"? It also is the one that did in the gearbox, like cruisers tend to do. No, we are not crazy drivers.

Motherhen

Might have to drop the first http://

Disco may have a Rav4 supercharged v6.. wont help you stuck in mud 4ft deep though.

Great unbiased advice Disco

Cheers.....Borgy

No one mentioned little SUV's, not even the original poster.
and no one would deliberately drive into mud 4ft (1.2m) deep would they or would they???????

Don't think any normal 4wd could handle those conditions either.

Disco.

Hiya Disco

*Take your time in looking, don't buy the first one you look at, drive as many makes and models as you can and make sure that your 'significant other' is also happy with your eventual choice as he/she may also have to drive it ocassionaly.*


Yep took me about 8 months to find my Hilux and i love it..Havnt said that about any vehicle ive owned before..

Reading through other forums a lot of blokes mention i should hav bought this but i wanted a 4wd in a hurry and could not wait...

Dont fall into this trap..Read/Review and BE PATIENT..

Cheers

disco driver :
"and no one would deliberately drive into mud 4ft (1.2m) deep would they or would they???????"


Yes They Would

I would suggest that had more to do with driver skill than the capablity of the car.

Jim.

the fact that you equate 4x4 ability with 185 kw means you dont know what your on about. Did you mention MUD? what does this have to do with 185kw? Oh and is Australia the only place you find mud?

A Daihatsu Charade probably could have pulled him out of that situation....nothing whatsoever to do with it being a Patrol and being better for Australian conditions!

Andrew

mmm...Petrol..small fuel tank..lots to carry in jerry cans on CSR. After looking at specs on redbook a 2003 prado looks interesting..might have to wait awhile 'till I see one at the right price tho

Pippy, its only the 2.7 petrol that has a 90 litre tank. If you go the GXL,snowy,vx,vxgrande they all have 159 litres available both in diesel and petrol form in the 95 series. The 120 series prado have 180 litres both in diesel and petrol form. The 120 series is better on fuel then the 95 series in V6 petrol form. The diesel in the 95 series is the 1kz turbo motor, great motor but in my opinion a little under powered for the 120 series. The D4D is a ripper in the 120 series but might be out of your price range. Regards Steve M

Sorry also the RV6 has duel tanks also. But also for under 30g's you would pick up the diesel model (95 series). Will tow no problems. I think you will find the petrol very expensive in the amount it will drink towing BUT you will pick up a petrol model for 10g's less so that is alot of petrol or extra's you may want/need to add to a petrol model. I reckon you would be looking at roughly around the 15/17 per 100 towing in petrol (highway) and around the 12/13 for the diesel. Im sure some one will correct me if these figures are wayout. Also meant to point out the 120 series with the 4litre petrol motor is extremly powerful 179kw compared to the 95 series of I think around the 132kw. There are heaps of prados (either model) on www.ebay.com.au for you to have a squiz at or checkout www.carsales.com.au Regards Steve M

Or if you want diesel F150 4x4

I saw an article in a 4WD magazine written by a fellow from Fine Choice Autos in Vic stating that he would not go any where near a 3litre turbo Prado as in his opinion, and I quote "They are a hand-grenade waiting to go off".

I have heard nothing else negative about these vehicles.

Can anyone shed any light on these comments by someone in the trade.

Regards,

Gazal.

Gazel, not sure if you mis typed and meant to say nissan 3 litre or not but 3 litre prado motor ??? What a load of sh#t obviously by some one who thinks he knows alot and knows sweet ###k all. (not meaning you in any way). Also depending on which motor he's talking about as both motors in either model prado is also available in the hilux's. The only issue I have heard of (and not common) is a few heads going on the 1kz motors but only a few. This could also be put down to how they are treated by the owner, flogging the crapper out of them, lack of service etc. Have not heard any issues on the D4D motors, have heard of a few diff issues and clutch only. I dont doubt that their is some BUT obviously not enough for everybody to know about unlike the patrol 3 litre motors in the earlier models. (a few on the later models one known on here ( !!project toni !!) As usual you cant believe every thing you read. I am not a mechanic nor in the motor trade (was) but I still have a lot of contacts and friends who still work for Toyota and we see each other quite regulary Im always asking, So hows these new D4D's been, usual reply, yeah no issues. Regards Steve M

Hey PJD, think you contradicted yourself a bit !!!
"toyota make great cars but NISSAN make better 4wd's
just get a gu 4.2 ""not a 3.0""

MMMMM so Nissan make a great 4wd just dont get a 3 litre. Toyota make 3 litre no issues, Toyota make 4.2 no issues.

Sorry couldnt help myself LOL, yes Im a Toyota man but I would have a patrol as well. But as you have said, and good advice not the 3 litre (early model mainly) They all have their faults I just think Nissan let down there loyal customers when they know they had issues with the 3 litre motors and unfortunately have hert a lot of people who will from now on bag the crapper out of the 3 litres. Have they fixed the issues ?? Who knows but if I had the $$$ I wouldnt chance buying one or it would be gone before warranty ran out. I agree that except for the Toyota 80 series and the 100 series with the live axle front ends, patrols are a strong off road vehicle. Regards Steve M

im talking about front & rear live axels & manual locking hubs
the way a REAL 4WD should be
why do you need to put in 4wd at 30-40k's per hour
you should stop & drop tyre pressures first
the 100 series had a serious problem with there wishbone
front end colapsing & leaving you stranded like a 3ltr nissan
but because not many of them get on rough roads
you didnt here alot about it.the city cars didnt brake

I have always stopped before putting in 4wd anyway, I think majority do. Low range you definately need to stop. Im not sure I agree with you in regards to "manual locking hubs the way a REAL 4WD should be". I dont see any major issues with say an 80 series GXL or Sahara that are all wheel drive or Disco. They all have live axels, coil sprung on all four corners, Sahara also having front and rear diff locks standard, would you not class any of these as not being a real 4 wheel drive ?? The only thing that I could see is maybe a tad more fuel usage because everything is turning instead of manual hubs where as nothing up front would be turning except the wheels unless you lock the hubs in. I would say definately more wear and tear on the drive line same as any all wheel drive, but dont see any issue with that untill you had covered high klms, but by then the back would be just as worn. Ive had both. Live front end (leaf spring) definatey without question better wheel travel than IFS but then I have found the prado flexs with better wheel travel in the rear then the lux (leaf spring) did, but dont think you could compare even the hilux with coil all round, hence why the 80 series cruisers, patrols,discos are great in the real hard stuff,corrugations etc. Totally agree with you about the 100 series IFS cracking a wishbone, but supposidly rectified now since that first happening ??? Must say I dont always drop my tyre pressures as soon as I hit a dirt road. I take note of the conditions, muddy ??,rutted ??, rocks ?? etc. Regards Steve M