holden jackaroo 1997 3.5l v6

[QldKev]

Hi

My wife and i are in the process of buying our first four wheel drive and i would like some info on whether the Holden Jackaroo 3.5 litre V6 is a reliable and capable four wheel drive. Also we were wondering what the fuel consumption is like we have heard around 13 litres to 100k. Would like to hear from anybody that owns one. We will be using it for towing a 15 foot fibreglass boat, going to Fraser Island and 4WD on beach.

Thanks

Kev

[QldKev]

I'm really after comments on any of the models in the Jackaroo; not only the 97 model.

Thanks in advance

[Streetkid]

Am in the process of researching different options to buy a fourby myself and have found that jackaroos have a pretty good reputation, driveline is quite durable though not the greatest fuel economy and is mid range in its off road ability and toughness.

[maverick1]

Hi ,
I have owned a 1995 3.2 v6 jackaroo for the last 2 years , it has been
very reliable with no mechincal failure in that time , very capable off road vechile , i have run on varoius beach conditions from Ballina to fraser island and have had no problems , as far fuel comsuption on the highway
the best i have had 10.5 litres per 100 km but and average of 11.5 on the highway , i had the exhaust restictors removed which improved my fuel consumption by about 2 litres per 100 km , overall very happy

Regards
Rick

[QldKev]

I'm also looking at a Deisel Landcrusier; it just seems you get a lot newer Jackaroo for the same price. I've been told the Landcruser gets about 12L/100k which is pretty good. Also the size of the Jackaroo would be better for parking etc.

[Dignity]

Kev, 12 - 13 km litres per 100km is about average on the highway although you will need to increase that while towing. in 4wd expect that to go up to around 40 + litres per 100km. City driving pushes around 15 - 17 litres depening on a variety of causes. Have a 1999 3.5 litre auto (only condition the missus would let me own one) and it has been up north qld and the NT with very few hassles. Been most places in the company of landcruisers and got everywhere they have gotten albeit a little slower, Maybe it is just me but I don't stress my vehicle out as much as they do and I also have less problems. I did put in heavy duty coils and had to put in extended shocks front and back. I did this mainly for towing the bigger boat but it improves off road perfomance as well by raising the truck another 45mm.

sam

[QldKev]

Sam, thanks for the comments.

I've ended up with a 100 series T/D landcruiser. I thought if I went the Toyota route I would be pretty safe, and the extra space / comfort of the bugger car made the final decision that much easier. So far with 50%city, 40%off road and 10% highway I've avg 14.5L/100km.

[Dignity]

Sam, thanks for the comments.

I've ended up with a 100 series T/D landcruiser. I thought if I went the Toyota route I would be pretty safe, and the extra space / comfort of the bugger car made the final decision that much easier. So far with 50%city, 40%off road and 10% highway I've avg 14.5L/100km.

Kev, so long as you get to use it. With the higher fuel prices these days almost anything is a luxury. Good to see though that you did call it a bugger of a car. I do like the landcruisers but I did kind of lose faith with them when they went to the 100 series and dropped back to 5 studs. On a trip up north Qld we had a hell of a time getting a hub replacement for one. We even had a mate who worked for them in Townsville and were surprised at the hoops he had to jump over to get one up to Cooktown. On one trip I did 2 tyres in and a third started loosing pressure ( a whole new story about tyre pressue and depth of tread and service agents snapping studs ) and I borrowed a landcruiser spare for the 100kms to next camp. Then got a chance then to find and plug the leak at camp with a few beers. The spare had 6 studs and I took it easy due to the rim not matching the profile of the others (stuck a bit further out) but if it had been a 100 series I was stuffed and we would have had to make repairs in the dark at a place we would not have liked to have been. Make sure you do carry spares. Also lost faith with the Prados when they brought out a plastic radiator.

sam