Wednesday, Jun 22, 2011 at 14:52
For what it is worth, In the last 12 years I have owned both 3.0ltr and 4.2ltr Patrol (both TD manual), and 200 Series TD (auto as that is the only option). My usage was mainly as a day to day around town vehicle during the day, and holiday and weekend 4WD trips and outback touring. But majority of this I do without any sort of trailer or van, so I do not do a massive amount of towing around heavy loads on the back so bear that in mind with my comments bellow.
Basically irrespective of the religious arguments all have their advantages and disadvantages whichever way you go and I will try to summaries bellow first by my perception of differences between 3.0 and 4.2Lt Patrol and then Patrol vs LC 200 series. But it is important to remember this all comes down to what you are actually using it for, personal preferences and budgets. And basically in their own right I have been happy with all 3 as excellent 4wd for Australian conditions.
3.0 vs 4.2 Patrol differences :-
1. Put in its shortest description, 3.0Lt has more "power", but 4.2 has more torque (power is simply torque x revs so anything that can rev further can have advantage in the "power" stakes). ie 4.2 has more torque across the rev range, but 3.0 revs out higher, which gives it the peak power edge if you are prepared to keep it revving. This was true both in the spec sheet, but also was apparent in the driving (though there is way more torque with the 4.2 down low in the rev range than the 3.0s advantage at the top of the rev range). What this means is that the 4.2 is definitely much better are getting large loads going without significant clutch slipping, but 3.0lt might be marginally better at maintaining speed if you are prepared to keep it revving as you go up a
hill. For my money, if you are towing loads, I would prefer the 4.2, because it just feels like it does it a bit easier, whereas you could not help feeling that the 3.0 was too small an engine for a bit load. Even for around town, I preferred the 4.2, because with it's
long flat torque curve you did not have to constantly search for the exactly right gear to keep it going which was a factor in the 3.0.
2. 3.0lt was slightly better in the sand dunes (ie where you need need all the power that you can get), and slightly better overtaking on the highway, but apart from that I preferred the power delivery characteristics of the 4.2.
3. the 3.0lt does feel like a more refined engine (smoother and less of the diesel "rattle"), than the older generation and more truck like 4.2.
4. I am working from memory, but I think the towing capacity of the 4.2 manual was 3500kg vs 3200 for the 3.0lt. But I also think if you go auto, this drops dramatically, but I would
check with specification from Nissan on this.
Overall, I think I would slightly prefer 4.2, and if doing lots of towing heavy loads this is a no brainer. But you just need to be patient when towing the larger loads and be prepare to slow down up the hills, and not have much grunt for overtaking even on the flat. If you are ok with all of this, then I think you will be very happy with the Patrol and have a very capable vehicle.
Now having said that, for me the primary reason for changing to the LC 200 from the Patrol was that I just wanted something with a little more grunt. Which leads me to the Patrol vs LC 200 comprision :-
1. in the bang for buck stakes the Patrol is a winner. Yes, I prefer the LC 200, but for the price, the patrol is all value.
2. But if you are prepared to pay the price, it is hard to argue that the LC 200 is not a superior vehicle. Yes there have been some issues (some oil usage especially up to around first 50K, some tail shaft clunk issues both of which I have personally had as with many other owners), but in general these issues have been mostly blown out of all proportion by people that don't own them, and I must say I have yet to speak to an overall unhappy LC200 (but they are out there, one of which has spent massive amount of time documenting his dissatisfaction...google Landcruiser 200 series lemon).
3. if your criteria is being able to tow a huge load with ease, the LC 200 is the clear winning. The power and drivability of the TD 4.5 V8 is outstanding, and leaves either of the 2 Patrol TD for dead (if you have any doubt about this, just go and take a LC 200 and 3.0Lt Patrol for a
test drive and tell me the difference).
4. shortest simple explanation I can give to compare the 2, is Patrol feels like driving a truck, and LC 200 is more like driving a car. The LC 200 is much more refined in almost every way.
5. Overall, in its standard specification, in either Patrol standard build,
suspension and setup felt much tougher than and unbreakable in hard 4WD conditions than 200 series LC. 200 Series Landcruiser
suspension felt a lot softer, and in danger of breaking things if hitting things 2 hard off road. But conversely LC is much better setup and comfortable road touring, and even on gravel roads in reasonable condition, the LC 200 is better option. However, some of the best money I have spent on LC 200 was after market
suspension work to be better compromise between the 2, and now have vehicle much better suited to hash 4wd situations without too much trade-off to on road comfort.
6. LC 200 has much more "technology" which can give it an edge in
places it can an edge in off road
places it can reach, but in truth there is not much in this either way, and I could not help feeling some comfort with the Patrol, in that my perception was that there was way less to go wrong, and a bit easier to fix in the Patrol if it did.
7. LC 200 is only available in auto, which depending on your outlook (as it was for me) was a disadvantage. But having said that, while for off road, manual does have some advantages, my forced experience with Auto has taught me that auto does actually have some significant off road advantages, particularly where keeping momentum going is important (eg sand hills for 1, and on some
hill climbs where you need some moment and speed changes). And the downsides of the auto can be managed.
8. if you are bush bashing, because the Patrol is marginally smaller, and much more common out there, you are going to get a few less scratches and scraps rather than being the first LC200 to bulldoze your way through the tight spaces.
9. I recon it might be easier to find spares and get things fixed on a Patrol than LC 200 when you are in a remote location.
10. Fuel economy is more about common sense and the way you drive, but in most situations I have seen (spent a reasonable amount of time on the same trip as people with Patrols and have compared figures), the manual patrol will get better fuel economy than my LC 200 (but that might also be the way I drive, and if you use the horses, you have to feed them). Suffice to say I have never got the 10.3 litre per 100 claimed in the specs, and in my vehicle at least you would have to drive very frugally to get this (though others have claimed they routinely get this). I have got a few refills at 13 lt/100k in the best conditions. But for outback touring full loaded with all the bits, roof racks loaded and lots of weight, and mostly pushing along is more like 18lt/100K. On soft sand and all of this, I suspect it is pushing up
well towards 40Lt/100K but most vehicles would also blow out in these conditions.
11. LC 200 is much more comfortable vehicle to drive around in off road or on.
Anyway, this is just by 2 cents worth based on my personal preferences and usages, but I hope it is objective and useful for you.
Cheers
Matthew
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