looking to buy a 4wd any recommendations?
Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 09, 2010 at 22:45
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Weedyapl
Hi all,
Looking to buy a 4WD just to travel around OZ and tow a horse float, dont want to do any hardcore 4WD'ing but i need something with a bit of guts as it may need to tow a double horse float with two horses.
Ultimately i do a lot of camping but want to be able to sleep inside it if possible.
I've done some research already and found the following:
Nissan Pathfinder not as big Nissan make it out to be theres no way i can sleep in it being 6'. The 2.5 diesel seems a bit underpowered and my research seems to have turned up lots of unhappy owners.
The Nissan Patrol 3.0L TD is too much of a risk to buy IMO after what ive read and seen on forums and the 4.8 seems a definate goer with many happy owners but im worried about fuel costs.
I would prefer to buy brand new (which i can with a patrol) then get second hand but theres no way i could possibly afford a brand new landcruiser (which i would like).
Just exactly how much better are the landcruisers i read somewhere that the nissan patrol is actually a more solid 4wd vehicle cant remember which parts. Is it worth it to get a landcruiser with 90,000 on the clock for the same price as a brand new Patrol?
Not interested in Prados after a review i read about transmission overheating during a light 4wd session, leaking fluids and tipping over.
Havent had a chance to look at Pajeros but an old mate used to have one and had lots of troubles with it, so im a bit put off.
Any suggestions for a 4WD thats comfortable to tour on long trips on bitumen/dirt and u can sleep in? My dads got a Patrol 4.2 TD and that drives fantastic but Nissan dont make them anymore which is just stupid.
Reply By: Motherhen - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2010 at 23:01
Wednesday, Jun 09, 2010 at 23:01
Plenty of room to sleep ? You need the long tray of an F250. We got the extra cab not dual cab for the length of tray. With 7.3 td motor it is popular choice for pulling big horse floats. Second hand only at present. Other than that, a Landcruiser Ute with canopy gives room to sleep, but the luggage has to come off before bed time, or a clever arrangement with drawers under the mattress or swag.
Motherhen
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Reply By: OREJAP - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2010 at 23:09
Wednesday, Jun 09, 2010 at 23:09
Buy a 3.2 Did Ic T /d Pajero auto. Great towing car & so are a few others however here are some figures worth contemplating. 4.8 6 cyl petrol Patrol...185 KW & 420 nm torque. 4.2 Patrol diesel...114 Kw & 360 nm . 3.0 litre diesel patrol...118 Kw & 380 Nm. Pajero NP 3.2 Diesel. 121 Kw & 373 Nm....NT Pajero (latest model from 2009 till present) 147 Kw & 441 Nm . Jump in a NT Pajero with the float on and try it...you will be pleasantly surprised. Bigger brakes & tougher auto from previous models. Seats lay dead flat for sleeping.
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Follow Up By: Wilko - Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 14:20
Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 14:20
Hi Orejap,
Agree with the Pajero, They suprised me, Not sure the
seat fold flat though, or are you talking bout rolling them forward?
Cheers Wilko
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690471
Reply By: TerraFirma - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2010 at 23:16
Wednesday, Jun 09, 2010 at 23:16
Buy a Landcruiser 100 Series, arguably the best Cruiser ever built, considerably bigger than a Patrol. Don't know about sleeping in it..? Perhaps a Troop Carrier for sleeping in the back but the cruiser is the better to drive and tow. I wouldn't buy a Pajero for a few reasons, but thats just my opinion.
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Follow Up By: dazza62 - Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 11:51
Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 11:51
Whilst I would be concerned about towing a horse float with two horses in it with a Pajero can certainly recommend them.
I trust this is the reason for your comments Terra, and hope that it wasn't your 100 Series that we had to snatch out recently. LOL.
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Follow Up By: TerraFirma - Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 11:54
Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 11:54
Yes you are correct Dazza and no it was not my 100 series you had to snatch out.! Oh what a feeling..!
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Follow Up By: dazza62 - Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 12:00
Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 12:00
Oh what a feeling it was!
Snatching out a fully equipped 100 Series with my little 3.2 DID Pajero.
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Follow Up By: TerraFirma - Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 12:15
Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 12:15
Dazza would have been like winning Tattslotto for you I can imagine.! Should have taken some pics mate..? Makes you wonder why more people don't buy those Pajero's hey..?
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Follow Up By: dazza62 - Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 13:20
Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 13:20
Terra it was like winning tattslotto - shame it wasn't, would have been able to afford the 200 series LOL
Value for money my NS Pajero does everything I want it to do and goes where I want it to go. Only drawbacks are fuel capacity - easily overcome and towing capacity - but I don't tow that much anyway.
Photo's are in safe keeping for a significant occassion coming up soon :-)
"Love that car"
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Follow Up By: Razerback - Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 15:33
Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 15:33
Daz, Keep the Paj, I have a 200 series, it's big and beautiful, but mostly big. The Petrol model is impressive on fuel for a big car, we can average 14 Litres around town and have achieved 12.9 on a highway trip. The diesel has heaps of torque for towing but is succeptible to diesel fuel issues, not a huge issue but you need to be careful. If you gotta have BIG the 200 is an awesome vehicle, but there in lies the question?
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Reply By: Weedyapl - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2010 at 23:38
Wednesday, Jun 09, 2010 at 23:38
thanks all for your replies... it would seem that nobody has a bad thing to say about 80-100 series landcruisers... im starting to think they are worth paying a bit ot get a second hand one.
I did think about an F250 as im a bit of a ford man, only cars ive had so far that every single one has been reliable even the $750 XF paddock bomb i bought and drove for 5 years and barely had to touch.
The troop carrier was one of my options as when iwas away on my last road trip i saw a couple sleeping in the back of one but as you have stated they are a bit raw in features and comfort and i doubt they offer the ride im lookin for.
I think im just going ot have to take a 4.8L patrol for a
test drive and then drive a landcruiser 100 series straight after... then i should be able to tell if getting one second hand is worth it.
Sleeping in the back of it isnt terribly important, be nice to have the best of both worlds but im more concerned with finding the best value 4WD for my money.
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Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 07:46
Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 07:46
Hi Weedyapl
Realistically any of the 80/100 series and 4.8 patrols (except the low powered diesels) will do your job
well.
The longer wheelbase patrols are particularly suited to towing - my pick would be one on gas for your plan.
Haven't heard of Prado transmission overheat - but did have one follow us thru
river crossing hitting its relatively unprotected gearbox on a
rock and fracturing it.
As for sleeping in a Patrol ->
Image Could Not Be Found
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Reply By: muzzgit - Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 00:48
Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 00:48
I can recommend the 3.0 patrol if it is the common rail.
100 series Turbo Diesel or V8 Petrol is way ahead of Patrol for comfort, power, looks, re-sale etc; but I don't like the nose down aspect of the Cruiser and I like the
barn doors of my Patrol.
We sleep in ours no problems. We remove all rear seats, have a flat board in the back and a very thick mattress. The fridge goes on the front passenger
seat at night.
I use velcro to stick the curtains to the inside, left and right, I use the silver windscreen sun shade physically shut into the back doors and have a curtain tied to the grab handles just behind the head rests.
We have freinds who do the same in 80 series cruiser, and apart from being a bit slow (1HD) it's a great car. Cruiser is wider inside.
Another thing to consider is whether you want a tailgate or not. Tailgate is really handy to work at for food or fishing etc but is a bugger to have to climb over all the time to get to things in the back.
Cheers,
MUZZ
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Reply By: Wherehegon - Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 07:22
Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 07:22
""Not interested in Prados after a review i read about transmission overheating during a light 4wd session, leaking fluids and tipping over."" think you have been reading Robins posts ?? Prado personally would be underpowered to tow that sort of weight as far as the other comments on transmission over heating havnt seen one yet, I have had 2 (one currently) both been pushed through some soft sand and never ever had an issue with overheating the auto, and is still upright on all 4..If I was after a late model tow wagon and as you have mentioned cant afford a new 200 series what about the pajero ?? They are car like to drive, heaps of grunt the newer one even more so, have 5 speed auto, have a look next time your cruising around and see how many old folk have some nice big vans hooked up behind them. To work out fuel figures for a 4.8 patrol fair dinkum you would need to fill one up go and tow the float with the horses in it then refill and work out how much it used, I bet it wouldnt be under 20L per 100 ?? My uncle has a 100 series tows a 23 footer behind it and manages 15L per 100 when towing thats in an auto. Remember towing capacity think the pajeros have uped there's to 3t ?? Regards Steve
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Follow Up By: Wherehegon - Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 07:23
Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 07:23
sorry should have mentioned the uncles 100 series is turbo diesel
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Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 11:54
Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 11:54
Dont Pajeros restrict the ball weight the higher the weight of the van or float or whatever.
Might rule it out on that alone.
I get 17l per 100k out of my 100ser TD towing 2850kg
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Follow Up By: dazza62 - Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 13:12
Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 13:12
Yes.
Off the top of my head the NT is 3000 kg with a max ball weight of 180 kg or 2500 kg with a max ball weight of 250 kg. NS is 2500 kg with a ball weight of 250 kg.
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Reply By: Razerback - Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 12:24
Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 12:24
Pajero's would not be in my shopping list, I know the newer ones have improved but they have been prone to various problems over the years, I would be buying a 80-100 series cruiser followed by the Patrol.
Pajero Issues
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Follow Up By: OREJAP - Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 20:45
Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 at 20:45
Well researched Razorback....NOT!! That article on Pajero Faults was 2006 FFS!! We are in 2010 & the NEW Pajero is a great car. All vehicles can have their problems or faults that is the way things are. Do you own a faultless Cruiser or Patrol....seems to me there is a bit of generalizing here. Did the 80,100 & 200 series cruiser have a faultless existence in the 4WD world....answer NO. As for the Patrol...
well lets not go there!! Toyotas have been prone to problems over the years. IMO. Toyotas are Over rated, too expensive & No value for the Huge outlay in hard earned $$$. For what you get. Look on Red Book at the standard features on a Pajero then compare that list against & Patrol & Cruiser. WEEDYPAL my second bit of advice to you buy a V8 Cruiser or a 4.8 ltr Patrol (you can pick them up cheap at the auctions because they are not in popular demand) put the vehicle on LPG & away you go. Good luck
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Follow Up By: Member - david m2 (SA) - Friday, Jun 11, 2010 at 21:47
Friday, Jun 11, 2010 at 21:47
The pajero is a great car but if you buy new expect a big drop in resale value.
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Follow Up By: OREJAP - Friday, Jun 11, 2010 at 23:36
Friday, Jun 11, 2010 at 23:36
There are vehicles out there that do depreciate more than others. Some people buy what they think is right at the time & yes depreciation must be looked but so does initial purchase. I looked at a cruiser Turbo diesel (I would not consider a non turbo) & the price was over my budget. After driving a few s/hand T/D cruisers I was not greatly impressed...nice vehicles but over rated & over priced IMHO. The Patrol use to be great value for the $$$ but old styling & really nothing much has changed since I had one in 1998!! The Pajero has come a long way since the early 2000-3. Great value for money and a superb warranty. There are Nissan Patrol owners out there that refusing to purchase Nissan products for the way they have been treated after their patrols expired...but that's there lot. I spoke to a friend recently who had just bought a L/Cruiser Sahara...T/Diesel auto
well over the $100,000 price tag. Double the price of what I paid for my brand new VRX Pajero. The cruiser is NOT THAT GOOD. I will wait & see how both vehicles depreciate.
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