Good choice of 4WD?

[cxcxcxvcvcvc]

Been considering getting a 4WD just for general off road use and camping/fishing ect! My mum lets me use her 87 turbo patrol wich the missus and i take the kids up on double island on the holidays camping/fishing ect, but my mums selling her house and touring around OZ with the car now, so i have been looking @ getting a 4WD for myself ect, im pretty keen on getting the same model patrol (possibly in the 2 door turbo model) but am also open 2 other types of 4wd aswell, now i don't have a real lot of expertise in this area and any advice is appreciated!
Cheers

[Reaper]

I'd go a 4.2 litre LWB GQ Patrol on gas. Had one a few years back and it was great. Overall they are virtually bullet proof. The only issue mechanically was a tendency to blow head gaskets when they were relatively new but if it was replaced properly it's rarely a re-occurring problem. I would think if it was going to blow it would have done so by now. The only other issue is rust around the rear sliding windows. They are cheap as chips for a very well looked after example.

The SWB 2 door ones are also great but ride comfort (especially in the rear) suffers badly.

Reaper

[Tom_1569]

Depnds on how much your going to spend, how many seats, where you will be driving.

Do you need ground clearance, long or short wheel base, power.

Personelly I love landcruisers so a biast opinion would be a new tray back 70 series, or the new 100 series for a family car, or the 80 series if you dont want to spend to much. I may have my series wrong, i cant remeber.

My sister has a GU patrol, long wheel base, wagon. Its had a fairt few modifications and sits nice now with 35inch muddies, and is also her daily. Goes great up bush, and good on the highway with the turbo. BUT has a terrible turning circle, still struggles to keep up with the landcruisers up bush though. But its got all the goodies, power windows etc and 7 seats.

[TVR-190]

go a Holden (chevy) suburban, can pick up a 98 diesel model for about 30k, one below was on carsales for 30k, 9 seater 6.5L V8 Turbo diesel

[cxcxcxvcvcvc]

Cheers fellas for the replys!
I was thinking of spending between the 10-15K mark max!
Tom_1569 have also looked @ landcruisers aswell!
Mainly want the car 2 be able to cruise up the beaches and dirt tracks without 2 much drama and thats about it, nothing crazy like rock hugger 4Wd lol the missus might complain:P

[TVR-190]

well thatll limit your option a bit more, probly best looking for an older model landy, or even a land rover discovery.

[cxcxcxvcvcvc]

well thatll limit your option a bit more, probly best looking for an older model landy, or even a land rover discovery.

Any particular model you can recommend @ all would be great
My grand father had an old rusted landrover that he used for country work, i will still remember the day me and my cousin where in the front (we where both about 10yo lol) and the old boy stomped it up this steep embankment and the front wheels lifted off the ground for the last 2meters over the top!! Me and my cousin shat ourselves

[Tom_1569]

Could try this V8 355 HOLDEN LX SS TORANA HATCH 4WD-NOT PATROL/CRUISER - eBay, Passenger Vehicles, Cars, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 28-Sep-08 19:24:47 AEST) Should do everything you want, and in style lol.

My bro-inlaw said he paid 10 grand for their patrol, just had a look on ebay. Theres no way he paid 10 grand, I think hes said that so my sister doesnt murder him lol.

[Tom_1569]

Also do not even look at the holden surburban thing, they are not a practicle 4wd at all. Actually their not practicle for much, unless you need 9 seats in which case get a van.

[TVR-190]

Used LAND ROVER DISCOVERY Private Seller Cars For Sale - carsales.com.au

plenty of good discovery's in ur price range

where are you located, thatll help a bit also

[Lumps of cheese]

I wouldn't go past an 80 series landcruiser for your budget.
I had one a few years ago an it was a great all round 4WD. Mine was a turbo 4.2 ltr diesel and went like the wind. We've had landcruisers right through the family for years and have never had any dramas.

[TVR-190]

no matter what you get i hope fuel prices dont overly concern you. You could always consider a suzuki, my dads vitara has taken a beating and still goin strong, did 50000km driving around australia, about 5000km of corregations....

[Tom_1569]

no matter what you get i hope fuel prices dont overly concern you. You could always consider a suzuki, my dads vitara has taken a beating and still goin strong, did 50000km driving around australia, about 5000km of corregations....

Generally the new turbo diesels get good mileage.
The only reason my sister uses the patrol as a daily is because it gets better fuel economy then her 2 litre petrol ZR, by alot. And ZR's dont like Kangaroos at 100km/h lol.

[xlr8_87]

stay away from everything except Patrol's and Landcruisers.
You won't beat them in reliability/performance.

[andyman]

i wouldnt touch a land rover for quids, unless it was modified,

gq patrols with the 2.8 diesel are pretty slow but will get you there, 4.2 petrol will guzzle quicker than you can fill it around town, and an rb30 one is a good option,

landcruiser, 60 series are shocking for rust, so take good looking around the roof gutter bottoms of the doors and rear barn doors, but is saying that will get you anywhere, the 4.0 petrol six craves fuel but has a great flat torque curve, the 2H 4.0 litre diesel has mountains of at low revs and isnt to harsh on fuel - its not uncommon for these to go well beyond 500,000km without major problems, you will pay a decent premium for a diesel but most petrol 60's will have been converted to duel fuel by now. so consider that

80 series, is much improved body and ride characteristics on road because of the coil spring rear end, less prone to rust, 4.5litre petrol again craves fuel and generally cheaper, 1HZ diesel 4.2litre again bullet proof but will pay a premium.

78,75,73 series, same engine as combined in the 60,80 landcruiers, if a troop carrier check rear barn door sag, rust around the roof gutter, body doors etc,

for a 4wd i would take a diesel, easier on fuel and generally more reliable and fixable in the bush


oh tom1569, dont buy a new 70 series they are hopeless in the bush, reason being the front axle is now wider to fit the v8 in, which make the rear end 'hunt' ie try and fit between the ruts, they slide around and carry on, in right situations almost roll, we have a few at work and every one that drives them hates them, great power awful 4wd, they wish they had the old one. toyota are also having some teething issues with the big v8 too

[cxcxcxvcvcvc]

Cheers for all the comments fellas! Much appreciated!!
And Tom_1569 would love to get something like that but its a little out of my budget and the paint job might not fare 2 well bush bashing!
Overall im thinking of staying with the patrol but i will keep my eyes open for any other good deals when it comes time 2 buy! I don't want 2 rush in if ya know what i mean ect Some of the main reasons i like the patrol so much is 1st its familiar 2 me and the family as its mainly the only 4wd I and the missus have driven off road with no dramas ect and 2nd the engine seems to look fairly familiar to be able 2 work on! I have even been thinking of buying some thing like this maybe (link below) and with the spare cash getting the engine/box rebuilt and cleaning it right up? any opinions?
Nissan Patrol MQ/MK Turbo Diesel on Trading Post Auto ? cars, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Holden, Mercedes, Suzuki, BMW and Ford at low prices.

[cxcxcxvcvcvc]

Was just taking a closer look @ the above mentioned car and it has leaf spring suspension was wanting coil setup was wondering Would it be possible to have the wheel arches professionally and legally modified to accept a coil setup?

[badaz]

My old man has had patrols for years and they have been great. I would also look at a twin cab Hi-lux they are also good out bush and you get the ute part for taking junk to the tip or you can put all the camping gear in it.

[cxcxcxvcvcvc]

My old man has had patrols for years and they have been great. I would also look at a twin cab Hi-lux they are also good out bush and you get the ute part for taking junk to the tip or you can put all the camping gear in it.

Actually we had a diesel Hi-lux in the family (dual cab) when we where younger and it was a bloody nice 4WD! But i have been warned to stay away from them for off road use, but the people who told me that could never give me a good reason as to why?

[badaz]

Mate I lived in Darwin for 10years and went out bush all the time with a mix of landcruisers, patrols,hilux's and Pajero's.
All the Hi-lux's went were the bigger one's went.
I had an 1991 single cab hi-lux for at least 5 years and loved it.
You will find some people will trash a 4wd because when they drove it they went like crap, well I would say they can drive a 4wd there is an art to it.

[cxcxcxvcvcvc]

Mate I lived in Darwin for 10years and went out bush all the time with a mix of landcruisers, patrols,hilux's and Pajero's.
All the Hi-lux's went were the bigger one's went.
I had an 1991 single cab hi-lux for at least 5 years and loved it.
You will find some people will trash a 4wd because when they drove it they went like crap, well I would say they can drive a 4wd there is an art to it.

Cheers for the reply!
The only complaint i have heard with them is that they are a heavy on fuel in the petrol model & are gutless in diesel? (possibly why alot of people throw the Holden 5ltr in them wich blows out fuel economy anyway haha lol) anyway not having a dig or nothing 2 be honest the first 4WD i considered was a HI-Lux and i have not ruled them out!

[cxcxcxvcvcvc]

Could try this when i get the 4WD of choice but the missus might object
YouTube - Nissan Patrol hill climb

[BOGANV8]

oh tom1569, dont buy a new 70 series they are hopeless in the bush, reason being the front axle is now wider to fit the v8 in, which make the rear end 'hunt' ie try and fit between the ruts, they slide around and carry on, in right situations almost roll, we have a few at work and every one that drives them hates them, great power awful 4wd, they wish they had the old one. toyota are also having some teething issues with the big v8 too

SO your saying that the front and rear diffs have a different track i doubt that toyota would do that.. its just silly..

Out of all the ones we have worked on at work bout 50 have never seen this..


For the OP check out this site may give you some helpful info

Outer Limits 4x4 Board :: Index

[andyman]

SO your saying that the front and rear diffs have a different track i doubt that toyota would do that.. its just silly..

Out of all the ones we have worked on at work bout 50 have never seen this..


For the OP check out this site may give you some helpful info

Outer Limits 4x4 Board :: Index

yes, if you lay some dust onto a 4 post hoist and drive it straight up, you can see the difference, if you look closely, with the vehicle on the ground you can see it just, ill admit i love my toyota's and was real disheartened when i heard it from the driver of the vehicle, he has been talking to other drivers of these new vehicles from other councils and they say the same thing, and they all say they want the old model back

im talking about the new 70 series, 4.5 litre v8 t/diesel

its also had the injector pump replaced which is a fault and most of them will need to have them replaced under warrenty, due to making the vehicle stall - While driving and stationary,

and excessive oil consumption again a problem with the new engine, toyota are supposidly releasing a special oil to overcome the issue


the guy that drives the vehicle drives it every day, and 80% of it driving life would be out in the sticks and takling slippery crappy tracks, so i have no problem believing what he says.

[GOTMYN]

I have an older model Patrol with a 304, It is great on fuel (LPG), Goes like the clappa's...lol...
Yeh it is leaf sprung, but with the added weight of the V8, it rides fairly nicely!! And it makes a great Tow Car.....

It was Sold until the winning Bidder retracted all their bid's, Dropping it from $6800 to $2550 a few hours before it ended...lol..

MQ Patrol SWB 4x4 V8, Convertable/Hard Top - eBay, Passenger Vehicles, Cars, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 19-Sep-08 07:27:48 AEST)