Pajero V's Patrol

good luck with finding something under 100,000km with the price range but you may be lucky. Its usually he price of $30k - $40k for those km's in both cars. Our patrol has 121,000km on it and we did a straight swap for an 06 navara (so would have been $28,000...it had 108,000km when we bought it)

Out of either one I would go a pajero - they are under rated as a 4wd yet they aren't as aggressive (watch me get slammed here for saying that!)

Why? because, as much as our 3.0lt patrol tows fine, drives fine, comfy as! etc its a lemon and its going back to the car yard this week after nothing but issues since the week we bought it in July.

I grew up driving a 1991 Pajero (I actually have it for a week or so while mum and dad are away) and its done light towing - the box trailer with canopy towing the camping gear every school holidays etc.....the in-laws have an 07 Pajero and their biggest issue lies witht he tyres - they are 17'' and you cannot get off roads for them at all.....no where....!

Alot of people will say to rule out the 3.0lt patrol and not the 4.2lt...I would almost side with them but after having 2 nissans I wouldnt touch one again. (purely because of bad experience with not just the car but also the service dept's)

As for diesel vs dual fuel....thats debatable....Id go diesel but you pay extra for it when buying a car, petrol pajero's tend to chug through it a fair bit....

Laura (all imho)

probably would depend on if you need the extra size of a patrol over the pajero, personally i wouldn't consider ANY 3 litre GU's, have a search, they still seem to have trouble after 2003.
Ultimately i'd look for a patrol 4.2 td intercooled or not (doesn't matter much) they are understressed and proven reliability wise.
Gas/petrol could be ok probably try and get some mileage figures and do the sums to see how much different they are to run.
A GU 4.2td should return somewhere between 11 and 14 litres/100 depending on how its driven.

Not too sure about what pajero to go for - some one else will chime in, but they seem pretty good, and would no doubt be more car like to drive in town than a GU.

I have an 05 DiD manual Pajero with 160k on the clock.I bought it new

I tow an 1100kg trailer regularly with it and it plays the game fine. I did put heavier springs in the back though.

only issues have been minor and attended to no questions asked under warrantee.

There is now way I'd get a petrol Paj, gas or not, while this 3.2ltr DiD thing is available. It's a cracka.

As for $, Mine is outa lease in Feb. I'll be looking for $25k with my k's. I don't like your chances of a sub 100k vehicle for under $30k.

As for Pootrols, well someone must put up with them but not this little black duck .lol

Hi Newbiesb, with regard to the petrol vs diesel part of your question. We have just changed from petrol (mitsubishi challenger) to diesel (holden rodeo). The rod is our first diesel and I must say we are very impressed with respect to its towing ability and performance off road. We tow a camper trailer (1 ton max) and have found when traversing difficult terrain the diesel just 'tonks' along smoothly at low revs, whereas the challenger seemed to have to work harder in the same conditions. Both were fine on the open road. Just another factor to consider. doc.

Geez Newbiesb you'll start something here with a question like that! Here goes...
I have an 06 diesel NP Pajero which tows a Jayco Flamingo off-road camper. With a wife and two girls, it's packed to the rafters and is towed mostly up the beach. Absolutely no problems, tons of grunt, but I did put poly airbags in the rear springs as it sagged when towing with conventional springs. Otherwise, can't recommend the diesel Paj enough!

Hi Newbiesb,

I had a 2003 GU 3.0TD from new and reckon it was a fine vehicle. Only real issue I had was the dual mass flywheel, it let go at 105,000kms and had to be replaced (~$2,500 - ouch). I never had any motor issues and reckon that the actual number of problems with the later 3.0TD's is about the same as most other makes (its the series II, up to ~ Sep 2002 that have the bulk of the motor issues).

But the BIGGEST problem is Nissan Australia customer service. Any vehicle can have an issue, its how the manufacturer looks after its customers that counts and Nissan has woeful customer service. I have since bought 2 new vehicles and refused to step foot inside a Nissan dealership both times - a real pity as the GU Patrol is a good value for money vehicle.

Cheers

Captain

It also depends where you will be taking the vehicle. Sticking to bitumen with occasional short excursions on dirt roads, or long trips through remote deserts. So depending on where you decide to go have a look at what others are driving. You don't see as many Paj's doing the Canning or Simpson as Patrols or Cruisers, ask yourself why.

Barnesy

Just watch some of the older (2003 +-) stock Pajeros with a heavy ball weight on the Independant Rear Suspension. They can pop wheel shafts (can't remember their name offhand :-)) out of the diff (not a big deal to fix initally).

I went for a diesel for the pulling power. If you are pulling a heavy camper, then i would question the gas combo.....12 months around the block with an underpowered vehicle combo would drive me nuts :-)

It is a personal choice between the 2....too many factors to consider in 5 minutes IMO.

Good luck with your choice.

Andrew

Hi Newbiesb

I have a 1997 3.5 litre manual pajero on gas and tow a 1100 kilo camper. It toes this effortlessly. On the highway I am getting 20litres per 100km on gas sitting on the speed limit whatever that may be. I cant tell the difference running on gas or petrol.

regards Kc

Hi Newbiesb, I had a 97 3.5 DOHC petrol Paj. Did 170 000km in 2 years with all sorts of towing from 1500 through to 2 tonne vans. It was a pearler of a car looking back on it. Was surprisingly good offroad and was the car that broke my wife's acceptance of my love for offroading. I took that car to many places I should'nt have been but each time was able to bring it home relatively unscathed.

I have now got a couple of 4.2 GU's that still get used a lot for tow duties. These are awesome to drive long distance and offroad. They just do most things in a relaxed manner. 15 hrs behind the wheel and you get out feeling like you could turn around and do it again You are well aware of Nissan's crap service so I won't go over that. There is a few things to watch out for even in a 4.2 GU. 5th gear is a reported problem in and around 2000 models and there is the ever present running hot issues with them too. Even with huge loads mine have never stopped me from going anywhere, yes they have run hot and driven me crasy at times but as soon as I back it off a little things are fine.

Best vehicle from my experiences is the 4.2 GU (which is why I have just bought my second one) but the Paj will handle what you are suggesting you will do with it too.

Out of interest I have a low Km 01 petrol Jackeroo up for sale in the trader section and at 10G it would be a hell of a vehicle for your trip too.

Best regards, Trevor.

We have a 2004 patrol which took us around Australia in just under 6 months as was pretty much faultless (just replaced tyres and shockers). Got about 11l/100ks on the trip.

It handled all the off roading we wanted and as we had the auto and an aftermarket cruise control fitted it made life very easy travelling through the rough stuff and on the blacktop.

As it happens we're selling it as we're off to Europe soon, so if you're in South Australia then have a look on ebay as we're selling it there... :) Sorry for the advert... :)

Cheers,

Chris

Have NP 2003 DiD diesel/gas. Great machine never had a problem purchased new and had gas installed when warranty expired have 137000ks 56000ks with gas installed.I tow a 505m caravan which it pulls with ease.Is great on the beach as i am a mad keen fisherman.Have had 2 petrol pajs but would go diesel for power and economy.