Buying a used GU pre 2001

[ShaneGQ]

Hi
Just sold my SWB. Now i am looking at a used GU which wont break the bank. Which motor is better and why? TD2.8, 4.5 petrol, 3lt TD. I want it for 4wdriving as well as driving 1200km every couple of weeks back from work.

any info would be great.

Thanks

[Duff]

stay away from the 2.8, the 3lt td is much better but there was a fault with them in the early models, but cant remember what it was now. and the 4.5 lt petrol is thirsty but has power. if you can find a 4.2lt turbo diesel id go for that one. i like the fact that it is well know and ultra reliable if cared for. then i would go for the 3lt TD as it has the same power as the 4.2td but more hi-tech.

[j-top paj]

get a 4.2td if you can but if not then a 4.5 will be fine.
dont bother with the 2.8

[j-top paj]

how much are you prepared to spend?

[bogged]

Budget?
manual/auto/dont care?

Mods?

[mikmav]

2.8's really aren't that bad.. sure you wont be dragging people off at the lights.. but its pretty reliable, not going to explode like the 3ltr, and not thirsty like the 4.5 petrol. Sure a 4.2 would be better, but it'll be $5k more. I just bought one and its better than I was expecting after reports of them being underpowered etc.. my budget wouldn't stretch to a 4.2, and I didn't want the risk of an older 3.0..

[2CRAZY]

x2

2.8's really aren't that bad.. sure you wont be dragging people off at the lights.. but its pretty reliable, not going to explode like the 3ltr, and not thirsty like the 4.5 petrol. Sure a 4.2 would be better, but it'll be $5k more. I just bought one and its better than I was expecting after reports of them being underpowered etc.. my budget wouldn't stretch to a 4.2, and I didn't want the risk of an older 3.0..

[ShaneGQ]

Thanks guys. I have a budget of around $15000 cash so i dont need or want a loan. Auto or manual does not matter. not interested in mods as i will do it all with the GU. Looking around there a few starting off at $14000 and up. as i said dont really want to break the account balance. What I have seen around on the net there are a few very standard ones that are a good start.

[giantracing]

i have a gold st for sale turbo 4.2, 99 model but low km around 160,000 i think. upgraded exhaust. top rig. i am the second owner $29000. come from the bush all i did to the car was pulled all the interior out cleaned and put back in, some small dints repaired

[bogged]

Thanks guys. I have a budget of around $15000 cash so i dont need or want a loan..

then your limited to a 2.8 diesel, or a 4.5 petrol with shit loads of klms..

You would be better buying a late model GQ LWB and putting the cash towards mods.

[ShaneGQ]

Yeah will see what is around. when the time is right i will have around $20k cash then i might see the bank man for the right rig. Thanks guys just really wanted to see which is the better motor.

[j-top paj]

Thanks guys. I have a budget of around $15000 cash so i dont need or want a loan..

then your limited to a 2.8 diesel, or a 4.5 petrol with shit loads of klms..

You would be better buying a late model GQ LWB and putting the cash towards mods.

what do you consider a shit load of Ks?
i got mine with 177k one owner for 15k 2 years ago.

[giantracing]

j top. what year. what engine. if you paid 15000 for a rig with 177000km and it was a 4.5 auto then that not a good buy. but if it had 4.2 turbo that is a good buy. was it st or dx, 4.2,3.0,2.8,4.5, 4.8

[bogged]

j top. what year. what engine. if you paid 15000 for a rig with 177000km and it was a 4.5 auto then that not a good buy. but if it had 4.2 turbo that is a good buy. was it st or dx, 4.2,3.0,2.8,4.5, 4.8

... doubting you will see many turbo GU 4.2s for $15k. with any klms on them.
mate searched for 4+mths paid over $35k 2001 GU turbo, with 150sih k klms.

[mikmav]

saw 2 very rough >300k DX 4.2 Turbo's with no extras for about $16-19k when I was looking..

[bogged]

saw 2 very rough >300k DX 4.2 Turbo's with no extras for about $16-19k when I was looking..

ouch!

[giantracing]

if you look on the bottom of jtop sig line, 98 GU 4.5. so 15000 is way to much in my eyes.

[Nev]

if you look on the bottom of jtop sig line, 98 GU 4.5. so 15000 is way to much in my eyes.

Jtops price sounds good to me but hey what do I know. I know the 4.2TD's are expensive though as I was looking for over a year and ended up paying $34 000 for a very clean 2001 model ST with 125k and a few extras like safari intercooler etc.

[giantracing]

i have a gold st for sale turbo 4.2, 99 model but low km around 160,000 i think. upgraded exhaust. top rig. i am the second owner $29000. come from the bush all i did to the car was pulled all the interior out cleaned and put back in, some small dints repaired

nev,
so this is not far off your rig about 5000 cheaper but 2 years older.

[MyGQ]

Ok here are a few things

GU Patrols are a good unit

Being Pre-2001 model don't even touch the 3L TD as it WILL, not probably, will end up doing the engine, its a given.

the 2.8L while a little gutless compared to the 3L engine, has a far better reliability track, you can even chip them cause they are electronic pumps to get a bit more power out of it

On the 4.5L engines, be careful some of the of the gearboxes between 98 and 2000 as they have a 5th gear issues, they tend to shit the 5th gear off the countershaft and just spin doing nothing, and you are left with only 4 gears then. the 4.2L TD engine also had this problem with the gearbox.

[Nev]

i have a gold st for sale turbo 4.2, 99 model but low km around 160,000 i think. upgraded exhaust. top rig. i am the second owner $29000. come from the bush all i did to the car was pulled all the interior out cleaned and put back in, some small dints repaired

nev,
so this is not far off your rig about 5000 cheaper but 2 years older.

Yeh and I reckon your offering a very good deal if the cars in good nick.

[j-top paj]

j top. what year. what engine. if you paid 15000 for a rig with 177000km and it was a 4.5 auto then that not a good buy. but if it had 4.2 turbo that is a good buy. was it st or dx, 4.2,3.0,2.8,4.5, 4.8

4.5 manual ST in VERY good condition.
ARB bar, HD sidesteps, car kit, UHF, spotties, lift etc...

at the time it was the best option i could find for the price. i could have got a TD42T but then no money to mod it.
within the first couple weeks i had already spent 10K on the GU

[jtraf]

some 4x4ing and 1200km every couple weeks......

2.8lt fits that ok and they are excellent on fuel...

how many people who knock them actually had time in the seat???

[j-top paj]

j top. what year. what engine. if you paid 15000 for a rig with 177000km and it was a 4.5 auto then that not a good buy. but if it had 4.2 turbo that is a good buy. was it st or dx, 4.2,3.0,2.8,4.5, 4.8

... doubting you will see many turbo GU 4.2s for $15k. with any klms on them.
mate searched for 4+mths paid over $35k 2001 GU turbo, with 150sih k klms.

no way...
i havnt found many, and the ones i have found sell straight away.

il be waiting till the end of the year to upgrade mine to a 05/06 TD42T (whatever the last year was for them)

all i gotta do now is pull 50K outa my arse

[j-top paj]

if you look on the bottom of jtop sig line, 98 GU 4.5. so 15000 is way to much in my eyes.

that was 2 years ago dude...

now with all the gear in it its worth more than 15k..
but i have spent over 40k on it

[GQGasPig]

I recently picked up a 99 GU DX Wagon 4.2 N/A diesel for $25K with 153K on the clock with steel winchbar, rear wheel carrier, aluminium roof rack, 2" lift with Konis and poly airs. It is in mint cond and drives superb. the dealer let swap my 33x12.5 Copper ST's across from my GQ.

I know I paid a bit of a premium but 4.2s are few and far between in this sort of condition. By the time I bolt on a turbo, LPG, cargo barrier and maybe some drawers I will have the ultimate touring machine. I had been looking for ages Australia wide so I think I got lucky.

All I can say is keep looking, the wait is worth it!!

[j-top paj]

the 2.8L while a little gutless compared to the 3L engine, has a far better reliability track, you can even chip them cause they are electronic pumps to get a bit more power out of it

i did consider the 2.8 when i was looking but i found that the injector pumps had problems with them so thats why i got the 4.5 instead.
i wanted a 4.2 but the 4.5 and 2.8 were the only ones in my price range

[j-top paj]

how many people who knock them actually had time in the seat???

my uncle bought one in 97 and the turbo died fairly early and he also had other problems with it that i cant remember what they were.
he ended up selling it in 2000 or so

[nabstud]

i have a gold st for sale turbo 4.2, 99 model but low km around 160,000 i think. upgraded exhaust. top rig. i am the second owner $29000. come from the bush all i did to the car was pulled all the interior out cleaned and put back in, some small dints repaired

Then...

if you paid 15000 for a rig with 177000km and it was a 4.5 auto then that not a good buy

I'm not having a go at you but is the 4.2 really worth double the price of a 4.5, same age, same km, just because of the different engines? (just using yours as an example - disregard ute/wagon differences as wagons are just as expensive) The rest of the 4x4 has done the same work(if anything the ute has more likely been a workhorse as opposed to a shopping trolley) so I still find it hard to swallow the price difference.

[jtraf]

So that question again who that knocks it has spent time in the seat??

I know of many 3lt's that have gone Bang.......also seen a lot of 4.2 rebuilt at a lot less than 500000kays

Yes the 2.8lt wasn't the greatest engine in the Patrol but with maintence plays a big role in why they fail.......

And I have to say all cars have had issues but the one that flags the 2.8 mostly is power....

I have had one and would again........

Maintenance plays a big part with all cars and looked after well they go well for ages.....Best mate bought one new in 98 and still has it with over 250k on the clock........

how many people who knock them actually had time in the seat???

my uncle bought one in 97 and the turbo died fairly early and he also had other problems with it that i cant remember what they were.
he ended up selling it in 2000 or so