Looking at either Patrol or Hilux

[shincism]

Just sold my current car and changing styles a little bit, (old car was a 1998 Subaru Impreza WRX) which sat only a few inches from the ground. And going upwards!

So, any information would be great, ive had a little look around the forums and found a few things but the posts are old, so i thought I'd throw this up.

My current cars of interest are:::: 1998-2000 Model Nissan Patrol, have a 1998 2.8TD in mind which i wouldnt mind having a look at, has 288xxxkm radios, lift, rack, everything for touring. and they only want $12,000 for it and they are fully optioned vehicles...I dont think i want to venture into the 3.0TD due to their massive problems, but anyway.


OR I'm looking at a 1998- onwards HILUX duelcab diesel or petrol, but to get one as optioned as the patrols u are looking at around $15,000 onwards. I have 12,000 to play with at the moment but if i cant find the exact vehicle i want ill either wait or try and make some more money appear.

But tell me your thoughts about what car you either have, what you would want, whether the car u have is good or no, etc etc. I mainly one one for fishing etc, ive gotten into the sport a bit more as of late and i dont mind going down the beach for a throw as well as going out in the boat with a mate for a bit of a flick. So towing may be a consideration as well

Thanks for any intel of the members. would be muchly appreciated.

Thankyou,
Tobey.

[FNQCairns]

that patrols engine was a reliable old donk compared to the 3.0, not in the race comared to the td 4.2 but you are high in the km range already, start saving straight away for a rebuild in 3 years ...possibly.

How much is a well looked after early model td4.2 the non turbo model (it can be added later)...it's the toughest engine ever sold in a vehicle, the only reason they die before 1m km is owner abuse ie overheating, poor oils, lack of servicing etc.

If it where me and I luv the 4.2 engine like no other I have ever known, I would opt for the petrol and put it on gas, will blow the diesel away in the sand and everywhere else. Forever save money on fuel and the purchase price.

Sorry I don't know the Hilux.

cheers fnq

[shincism]

Yea fair enough about the high kms. I'm going to talk to my mechanic about it this afternoon, but there are zero 4.2TDs around at a reasonable price, ive found one 1991 4.2td for 13000!!!! haha but ill have a wait around, it took me 6 months to sell my car so its not gunna bother me waiting for a new one i suppose. KEEP THE INFO COMIN!!! thanks anyone who ads their 2 cents, very much appreciated.

Tobey

[PADDLES]

definitely buy a 4.2 motor and not the smaller ones (for either petrol or diesel). don't be scared to go a petrol on lpg either shinc, if you can get lpg easily enough where you want to go. you're comparing 2 totally different cars though in choosing between a twincab hilux and a patrol wagon, is there a specific reason for these 2 vehicles only?

[shincism]

mainly because i like these both, i like the GU patrol moreso then the GQ and ive had a thing for the hiluxs for a while, not really sure why, i mainly like them because they are a bigger car, ive thought about an older Vitara etc, but if you have any better cars that i havent thought about im more than happy to take that information on board

[maztez]

I've had a Hilux 2.4D twin cab and found it a great vehicle if you don't need grunt for towing etc .very reliable and only limited by driver experience offroad .
Have also had a Nissan GQ 2.8turbo diesel and loved it . Although underpowered it was such a reliable vehicle and great offroad .
I now have a Nissan Xtrail and love it .
not having low range I spose would be the only downer as far as my needs are concerned but a great mid offroader .

Really any 4x4 is only as good as the driver and their experience .

[Chimo]

I bought a 4.2 GQ diesel in '90 and it was a good vehicle with 7 seats and we used it as the family transport and for towing the boat. I fitted a cruise control too. It was a solid, tortoise like performer that hated long inclines so much that even without the boat on sometimes I had to shift down to 3rd gear.

Then I fitted a Turbo Dynamics turbo with exhaust in the kit etc and oil cooler and timer and had the injector pump set up properly with 7lbs boost and turned it into a great vehicle. It climbs long sloping hills in 5th with the cruise control on with no worries and tows 2 tonnes nicely but not like a race car. 10 to 12 lt / 100km at 100km/h 16 to 18 lt / 100km towing or stuffing around in town with traffic lights. Oil changes and filters every 5000km.

Get a 4.2 diesel from somewhere other than the beach and turbo it or a petrol and fit gas.

IMHO I dont think you will be sorry if you go the Patrol route. Still have mine and its good for a lot of years yet. They rust around the rear windows so watch that and the rest is pretty good.

Cheers
Chimo

[BenDover]

My mate got a top of the range gu patrol for someone for 10k. (sorry dont know what year) His mates with the guy who owns the dealers auctions. Ive had a 2.7 hilux. At the time its was alright in the single cab. My dad got a 2.7 in a dual cab, but its not very good. So he traded up for the 3 litre turbo diesel. Its better. I personally would go the 4.5/4.7 petrol patrol anyday. Like all the others have said. And gas it. Can always turbo it later . Very cumfy and strong. Youll have fun in it. And be able to take your mates and all your gear.

80 series cruisers are a bit out of your price range.

[shincism]

i think a large majority of the cars im lookin at are out of my price range, might have to go to the bank AGAIN and ask for some more dollars, hahaha

[Noelm]

80 series Cruisers are not so dear these days, but I would be bypassing the small Diesel in the Patrol, while it is reliable, it is very sluggish (read gutless) go for the 4.2 every time.

[White Pointer]

G'day,

Add up the price of an engine rebuild, a gearbox rebuild, a transfer case rebuild and driven axles front and rear and anything under $30K becomes high risk.

White Pointer

[PADDLES]

you're right white pointer but i think you've really gotta allow a spare $10k up your sleeve when buying any second hand vehicle no matter what the price, unless it's got a decent warranty of some sort (and not just the 1 month statutory warranty from the dealer ........... i've been bitten)

i've just upgraded recently shincism, i got rid of my petrol/gas GQ, awesome car but it had a hard life and wifey thought it was getting unreliable, so it had to be replaced. you'll buy one of these for between $5k and $10k. a reasonable petrol GU (1998-2002 for better gas conversion) for between $14k and $20k and then it'd be another $2k (with the government rebate) for gas. the GQ's are real good buying in my opinion.

[mbt]

There is a reason why the 4.2s are hard to come by, there worth owning, those smaller motors are fine in the Navarers but dont cut it in the larger vehicles.
If I had a choice between the small powered Patrol or the Hilux , the lux would win hands down..

[shincism]

Thanks for everyones input, Ive been talking to my mechanic, also long time family friend, and had a beer with him last night about it all and I've made a decision.

due mainly because im still only reletivly young (22 next month) and my mind changes all the time, ive decided im going to go with something cheap and only spend sort of half the money ive obtained for my car.

In the similar body shape, i prefered the patrol, u can fold everything down and take it camping etc, without the need of a tent, but money money money. So im gunna take the Toyota way and find myself a cheap 4Runner, and they are cheap as chips. looking around 6000 for a 94-95 model, full optioned etc. they come with the 3L V6 and ive been told they are a fairly good engine. i can fold down the back seats for a bed if i need enough room in the back for gear and high enough ground clearance in stock form. This way if i get bored again in another year and a bit, same thing that happened with my rexy, i wont have chucked all my money into something that im not gunna make anything out of, this way ill still have 5-6 sitting around to start on the next part.

Benefits of only buying this car: doesnt matter if it gets buggered, cheap, doesnt matter if it gets sand in it, cheap, and i dont have to be as anal cleaning it when i chuck it on the beach. Ive decided to do this alot due to the fact i cant see myself doing massive 4x4ing, just a nice simple 4x4 to get me where i need to be.

Anyway, thats my thoughts, tell me whether im thinking sensibly here, im pretty sure i am. but hey, you never know!?

[FNQCairns]

Hey I think you heading in the right direction, cars are a mugs game, lots of money gets spent on them at purchase for not much return over a handbag and matching high heels when compared to other models and types.

Some people have a genuine love of cars, keeps them broke but happy until other things become more important.

Not known to be the strongest nor the cheapest to own over time I understand but these days I compare all to the patrol, would be a GQ in this case, choose a good lux and it sounds like a plan to me anyway, depreciation near 0 and if it's wreck in 5 years from salt, mud hole or a bushtrack tree it just paid you back in full.

cheers fnq