Monday, May 04, 2009 at 23:24
Hi Mark, I had the 97 Grande petrol V6 myself. I just sold it about 3 weeks ago with 186k on it for $16,500 same as I payed for it 2 and a bit years ago. I added some OME
suspension, cargo barrier, bullbar and a few other bits and pieces, sold it with the bar, barrier and OME was left in it. Was a great vehicle. My biggest mistake (for myself) was putting LPG on it. Had no issues what so ever with the PLG but the tank size 59L usable was way too small and really stuffed me for long distance touring. You are spot on with the annoying droning/vibration sound coming from the exhaust in that rev range but just turn up the radio a bit more LOL. I also heard about the water pumps but
mine was still ok was still running the original pump.
Mine did develop a rear main leak not bad, but enough for it to drop a drop or two of oil over a couple of weeks. The only other thing I found was the front discs seem to warp easy and IM not hard on brakes (wife yes), other then that a very capable vehicle.
Sam as said
check it over good, there is a tube that runs from one side of the vehicle to the other just in front of the rear wheels, get a torch and
check it out make sure if the vehicle has been on the sand that this is clear as the sand will sit in there, also open both front doors and
check inside lower front guards for sand, down behind headlights.
Check around the heads for oil leaks at the rear, if its a grande
check the rear control panel (behind centre console) is working. Take the cover off where the jack and tool kit is passengers side rear cargo area, for possible corrosion down at the bottom. The 96 V6 models did have an issue with head gaskets going but would have been rectified by now due to age (klms). Myn use to use around the 17L per 100 klms around town but that was a lot of stopping and starting. The best I ever got on open road was 12.2L per 100 (all freeway). Great all round vehicle. If you want to go extreme
rock hopping then buy a patrol or 80 series or early 100 series cruiser without IFS. Any IFS, torshion bar front end is no match for the soild coil front ends, leaf spring front ends were fairly good to. As said above, heaps out there so take a good look, GXL or Grande would be the go if $$$ allow for it...........WHG
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