4WD Buying Advice

[NC_Lane]

Hi All,

I am curently considering geting a 4WD to be used daily as well as for some basic offroad use to replace the AU wagon

Price range is about 15,000 - 20,000 but that would have to include offroad tyres etc.

Was looking at
1. Rangerover 4.6 1996-2000 Models
2. Pagero 98 - 2003 Models
3. Landcruiser 92-2000 Models

I did look at the teritory, but I think it falls a bit short on the 4WD side...

What would be the best selection of the above?

I am leaning towards a rangerover or pajero, but considering all the hitech gear in them, are these easy to break, and expensive to fix?

The landcruiser feels very agricultural but also vey soild...

[buggerlugs]

If you go for the Pajero get the Diesel. In 1998 they still had the 2.8lt intercooled turbo. I think it was in about 2000 they bought in the current 3.2lt direct injection common rail intercooled turbo. A brilliant motor, great on fuel and goes anywhere and the back seats fold away under the floor. The only negative is that they are not as high off the ground as say the Landcruiser or Patrol . We are onto our 5th Turbo Diesel Pajero. Had a great run out of all of them................

[SVTVNM]

My parents own a 1995 2.8lt Turbo Pajero manual, It has never missed a beat it's done 250,000klm. Other than a faulty oil pressure gauge sender, heaps of power and not bad on fuel highly recomended. It's actually their 3rd Pajero great vehicle overall.

[NC_Lane]

Thanks Guys, Used to drive a 84 Pajero with 2.5L Diesel a long time a go doing abt 80,000ks a year on tracks and it never missed a beat. I was just unsure how the new ones are...

Is the 2.8 better than the 3.2 in terms of reliability?

[buggerlugs]

We had a 2.8lt that had done 280,000ks when we sold it, never put a spanner on it. We now have a 2005 Auto Exceed with the 3.2lt and its done 95,000ks, same thing, havent touched it. Drove it from the middle of Sydney to the Sunshine Coast on one tank of fuel, with a fully loaded car and the air on all the way......

[NC_Lane]

Have you put it off-road? what was it like?

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

We had a 2.8lt that had done 280,000ks when we sold it, never put a spanner on it. We now have a 2005 Auto Exceed with the 3.2lt and its done 95,000ks, same thing, havent touched it. Drove it from the middle of Sydney to the Sunshine Coast on one tank of fuel, with a fully loaded car and the air on all the way......

[NC_Lane]

also considering the ones in my price-range have about 200,000 ks on them, what should i watch out for? do these need timingbelt changes every 100,000 as well?

[buggerlugs]

Havent done much with our last two, but our 97 model with the 2.8lt done a bit, No problems at all. People with horse floats used to like them because they were great to tow with, very torquey ( is that how you spell it !! )

[NC_Lane]

Thanks

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

Havent done much with our last two, but our 97 model with the 2.8lt done a bit, No problems at all. People with horse floats used to like them because they were great to tow with, very torquey ( is that how you spell it !! )

[NC_Lane]

not many dielsel ones for sale on carsales...
how are the 3.5 petrol ones?

[buggerlugs]

They go like a rocket but really like a drink. Early model 3 litre ones had some engine problems to. No you won't find to many diesels for sale, very popular, The Prado diesels are very good to, they have a long range fuel tank as well

[Riksta]

I've got a few mates with Nissan Patrols (both GQ and earlyish GU models) and they swear by them.

A mate picked up a GU Patrol Ti (top of the line, leather, sunroof, electric everything) fairly cheap, I think about $13k or something, as well as having a more basic ST model which is jacked to the hilt with spotties all over it and snorkel and everything for serious offroading.

Might be worth considering?

[ZA-289]

Pajero are great onroad but have limitations off road
landcruiser will go anywhere off road but you do feel like your driving a truck sometimes.
Dont go near a land rover or range rover
Patrols are great but also truck like. The 98 onwards are much more refined but the 2.8D and 3.0D are hand grenades and the petrols chew the juice.

I'd go a V6 pajero as an entry level family 4WD. Just be wary becuase older motors will burn oil. Any more questions PM me.

Cheers.

[NC_Lane]

it will be used mainly onroad for daily duties, and the camping trips etc so on road drivability is quite important...
Anything specail to look out on the NL 3.5? Looks like most are autos..

Can these handle basic offroad use?

Originally Posted by ZA-289

Pajero are great onroad but have limitations off road
landcruiser will go anywhere off road but you do feel like your driving a truck sometimes.
Dont go near a land rover or range rover
Patrols are great but also truck like. The 98 onwards are much more refined but the 2.8D and 3.0D are hand grenades and the petrols chew the juice.

I'd go a V6 pajero as an entry level family 4WD. Just be wary becuase older motors will burn oil. Any more questions PM me.

Cheers.

[buggerlugs]

Yes, A mate has one, a 1998 3.5lt model. He goes out bush bashing with his other mates who all have Landcruiser utes. He goes where they go. We were on a trail ride on the bikes last weekend and came across a 4wd club doing hill climbs that I wouldn't even take my bike up. As has been said about the Nissan Patrols, we watched in amazement as the Patrol walked up this very, very steep hill climb.......crazy buggers.......

[Giant Cranium]

easy answer. landcruiser. best 4wd ever. and easy to get upgrades and parts. a rangie will cost a bomb in parts

[TUF_302]

Get a Landcrusier or a Patrol, best two 4wds money can buy!

[Tobey]

Not sure what your price range is, but a an 80 Series turbo diesel would be the pick of the bunch, Coil + Live axel, great off road.

[vanman_75]

^^^^what he said^^^gee ya gotta be quik ..lol what tuff302 said

[ZDI-970]

dont go the range rover theyre more of an suv, cant tow anything at all and theyre weak! id go either of the other two probly a landcruiser...

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by TUF_302

Get a Landcrusier or a Patrol, best two 4wds money can buy!

I dont know about that.. i love my new F150 :

[FlipXW]

I have a 2.8td GQ patrol and its fantastic off road. It is a little thirsty though. My bro just upgraded from a GQ 4.2D patrol to a 100 series landcruiser. His patrol was a great fourby and so far the cruiser is doing the job. Fair bit more power in the 100 series and rides very smooth. He picked it up for 17g. I would go a GQ/GU patrol or 80's/100 series cruiser in a diesel and manual. Cant really go wrong.

[vanman_75]

Originally Posted by chevypower

I dont know about that.. i love my new F150 :

you may love it but you wont get up too many tracks in aus that have only had smaller track /wheelbase 4wds,trust me .

[Mark^^]

Jeep Jeep Jeep get a Jeep.. a real 4WD car.....a Wrangler is a nice rig off road.

[SVTVNM]

With the Pajero V6's I've heard that they are no good on gas, not sure if someone else can back that up?

[Green X]

Mate out of the ones listed i would go the Rover but get a Discovery V8 or TD5.

Yes they can have there problems, but stock as a rock they will drive well on road and go pretty bloody good off-road.

Cruiser at 15-20K you'll be in a Slugo 1HZ 80 series or a guzzler 4.5 petrol both with High K's on em or a 1Hz Poverty Pack 100 series. Great tuff 4WD's but not really ideal for what you want IMO.

[NC_Lane]

Looking at both the cruiser and the patrol, im not sure how much they would be suited for the 90% of its use, as this will be a daily runabout getting me places. The newer models cost quite a bit as well,

leaning more towards a 3.5L pajero which looks to be abt 10,000 say another 1500 to freshen up, and then add in a 2" suspension lift and some better tyres. + bullbar

so close to abt 20,000 will add upto a decent rig which I can take offroad, but still be drivable on the street daily (i do about 1500 -1800) Ks a month.

Does this sound feasible?

[Zedjay]

ive got two pajero's a 2002 3.2 DiD and a 2001 3.5 petrol and i would take the Diesel over the V6 anyday heaps more power than the V6 and less fuel.

and about the 3.5s being thirsty... i find it good compared to my XG falcon Van.

the early 3.5s (the DOHC ones) stay away from and the 4M41 3.2 DiD came out in
november 2002 and is a very different animal to the older 4M40 2.8 it replaced

that said were on our 5th pajero and are about to upgrade to a land cruiser
or patrol but only because the kids are getting older and the paj 3 row seat is only for small kids

id go for a NP DiD GLX dont get a GLS if your going off road the front flares and rear bar will last 5 seconds

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by vanman_75

you may love it but you wont get up too many tracks in aus that have only had smaller track /wheelbase 4wds,trust me .

Well it could, it's prob no wider than a lc100. If it is, I don't think it is by much. But it would get scratched to hell by some of those trees on the narrower tracks. but those tracks, you shouldn't take any nice vehicle. I am very familiar with 4 wheel driving in Oz. If I could take it there, I would prob take it to Toolangi and Yarra State Forrests

[Bushbasher]

Here's something a little left field, have a look at a Mitsubishi Delica turbo diesel. Same running gear as a Pajero, real 4x4 capabilities, drive pretty good and come in plenty of variants in long and short wheelbase and enough room to cart round a netball team if required......just a thought.


Bushbasher