Advice

Eric, thanks for your input. Whilst my comments tend to suggest that I have virtually decided on the diesel option I would appreciate your thoughts if any on the petrol option. I have found that with most 4WD drivers I have spoken to say that the petrol versions are more expensive to run and require more maintenance and the diesels are more reliable although one bloke suggested that with the multi point fuel injection available on some models there isn't a lot of difference.

Donmac the later part of your follow up is correct {i think}the mordern 4x4 with all fandangeled electronic stuff they put into the engines these days they run pretty similar.

A few years back we did the simpson desert , there were 5 truks 2 80 deisels mine a deisel 60 a petrol 80 and a 3.6 0r 3.4 auto prado.
The deisels all used about 100 lt the prado used 98lts the petrol 80 used 210lts it didnt have all that fanfdangeled electronic gear on it.

We were all amazed at the prados economy.

So as a guess it will apply the same for the trucks you have short listed in the petrol eqivilent.

All the best

Eric

www.capeyorkconnections.com.au Cape York Connections

gday donmac,
at my last job i had the hilux , rodeo and courier (bravo) as work vehicles doing approx 50k per year 50/50 split highway and bush or paddock work. in 2001 i had a rodeo, 2003 a hilux and 2002 a courier. the rodeo was a dual cab, hilux a space cab and courier a dual cab all with traybacks. All lower spec models rodeolx, hilux std, courier gl. Heres my thoughts anyway.
hilux 3.0td excellant power delivery right off low revs. cruised on 110km/hr easily. very nice motor. much better than std 3.0 diesel.harsher riding on road excellant bush ability, build,reliable,2nd hand though prob the dearest.

rodeo 2.8td revved very well off low revs too, can be noisy esp when cold, towed well, mech sound.off road very good, comy on road, rear leaves pretty soft.pretty good value for money. built well.for what you pay 2nd hand i reckon the rodeos are bloody good value.

courier 2.5td. off road- motor poor at low revs (sand or hard going) gap between 1st and 2nd too much. had probs with exhaust manifold, intercooler hose, air con dropping out, front strut assembly probs , wheel alignment probs.

anyway thats my two bob
cheers
dd

Thanks ross and also dingodigger your opinions are appreciated.