76 vs. GU series 7

[YOGI001]

HI guys,

My HDJ80 is Starting to cost me some money and I have been considering an upgrade for a while now.

While I love my toyota's I am not against Nissan's and think the new patrols to be built quiet well.

My Likes for the 76 cruiser is the engine, followed by the engine, the rugedness and the quality.

Dislikes is the rear suspension set up and the gearing being quiet high.

Likes for the patrol are the drivetrain being coiled allround and the cabin size.

Dislikes or maybee concerns I have is the 3.0ltr. I know they use to have issues and I just wanted peoples opinion on the CDI version and longevity.

I plain to keep it for a long time and either vehicle would get the standard enhancments including 2-3" lift and 33's.

I would appreciate people experiences with these vehicles to help with a little direction.

Way out of left field I am also considering a 150 3.0ltr Prado.

[hj 45]

I have a 76 GXL, just ticked over 3000 kms. Really like it, but it does require a fair bit to set it up just right, which means $$$$. But I guess you'll get that no matter what vehicle you buy brand new. Good things about the 76 is that motor, it really is awesome, option of factory diff locks - I've given mine a go and they're brilliant. Seating position is nice and high, but not as much legroom in the 76 compared to the troopy and cab chassis. I'm going to rape my wallet and will put in either Stratos or Paratus seats. Another positive is that the 76 is really good in tight spaces, pretty compact and good visibility. Suspension is another thing that needs attention, I'm looking at parabolics on the rear with Dobinsons coils up front and hopefully Koni shocks, again, it all adds up.

Then there's the usual barwork, winch and whatnot. Oh, there's the replacement 166 litre fuel tank for the 76, haven't priced it though. Overall, I think this wagon is awesome.

As for the Patrol, it is a bigger vehicle so it has more room inside, but of course it's bigger on the outside, coils on the back which are nice. Lets be honest though, the motor is fairly rubbish, really gutless down low. Seating position is pretty low too, but ok once you get used to it. I'll leave it up to you.

[Z()LTAN]

4.5L v8 with heaps of power and torque or a 3L 4cyl with as much power as my wheel barrow.

hmmm

[Clanky]

4.5L v8 with heaps of power and torque or a 3L 4cyl with as much power as my wheel barrow.

hmmm

And your wheel barrow will still be running in a few years time!


Can always coil the rear in the big Toyota.
Be cheaper than the $$ you will lose on a rebuild on the 3.0 litre or inevitable engine conversion

[montana]

series 7 patrols can be a lottery for reliability and economy from forum discusions,some love the 76 with improvements but i wouldnt spend that sort of money on one. try to find a dealer willing to give you either for a few days. i drove a series 7 and found it gutless but you see a lot of them towing vans.

[Bingham]

$50k Vs $65k, Guttless vs plenty of herbs, Can't safely own out off warranty v can own out of warranty and be confident it would last. Load 3 L and terrible on fuel vs not to bad the cruiser from all reports. Asian size vs Australian size.

[Yotabits]

Cruiser all the way mate and you won't look back. Ive got a 79 series GXL cab chassi V8 and have just clicked over 170,000 km since 2007, i drag a 2 tonne tool trailer around with it all day every day, its not as economical with the heavy brick behind but at the end of the day buy a vehicle that suits your driving style, budget and intended use. My best fuel consumpation has been 12.5 ltr per/100 and worse has been 32ltr per/100, i tow alot of heavy stuff and its not always aerodynamic, on average i get approx 550 km out of 90 liters (front tank) rear is 90 liters as well, and it costs approx $120 per 90liters to fill.

Further specs about my cruiser (not a hyack, just info)

285/75/15 Mickey Thompson MTZ
Factory difflocks (i have used these hundreds of times and are so relialbe its just not funny, ive had air locked vehicles aswelland these shitall over them for reliabilty)
ARB barwork, scrub rails Warn 9.5 with cable,
After market sat nav, reverse camera, mp3, cd etc (kenwood)

The above figures are with factory exhaust and computer (3" inch exhaust and chip on order at present, with expected gains of 25% fuel economy and shitloads more power and torque (Try doing that to a 3lt nissan coal burner!!!)

Ben

[YOGI001]

Thanks for the info guys. Greatly appreciated. I am going to stick with Toyota. Shouldn't of had to question my loyalty.

Spoke to a dealer and its up to a 6 month wait if I can't find what I want in the country already.

[ledgend80]

if you have a look on lcool there was a guy on there who has coiled the rear of his from memory

[OlllllllO Jee-Q]

did they have any dramas with the first of them? eg 2007?
looking to buy one at the moment.

[CRUZAAMAD]

they have oil consumption issues, been told they need to be HEAVILY DRIVEN when broken in to bed the rings in.
my brother inlaw has the 4.2 1HDFTE old motor, friends have the new v8, they say theyre not happy with the v8, theyd have the old 1hdfte back any day...
brother inlaw is looking to update, but friends tell him his car is better...

others have said the v8 flies, soo its pretty well you make the call. buy or not..
i would.. just need to buy my house first. then one. 76 wagon, hell yeah..
try the next year, or read up the owners manual carefully when buying one.

[GUtripper]

A mate has a 76 v8 ute,apart from regular oil consumption, the injectors have been replaced under warranty due to poor running, crap economy, lots of smoke etc. Apparently this is also relatively common.

[chunderlicious]

A mate has a 76 v8 ute,apart from regular oil consumption, the injectors have been replaced under warranty due to poor running, crap economy, lots of smoke etc. Apparently this is also relatively common.

same things can be said about most cars ever in existence.. we just have the internet now and here about every bad thing... mine hasnt had any oil issues, smoke issues or injector issues in 85000km.... drove it hard from the start and she is a speed demon that pulls harder than a 15 yr old

[Shadow]

they have oil consumption issues, been told they need to be HEAVILY DRIVEN when broken in to bed the rings in.
my brother inlaw has the 4.2 1HDFTE old motor, friends have the new v8, they say theyre not happy with the v8, theyd have the old 1hdfte back any day...
brother inlaw is looking to update, but friends tell him his car is better...

others have said the v8 flies, soo its pretty well you make the call. buy or not..
i would.. just need to buy my house first. then one. 76 wagon, hell yeah..
try the next year, or read up the owners manual carefully when buying one.

From what a friend has been told with his 200 series cruiser, toyota are changine the oil spec on all the v8 cruisers to a full synthetic 5w30.
They believe the short stroke of the piston in this engine is making the rings just skim across the oil instead of bedding to the bore when warm.

This could just be more BS from a toyota dealership, but thats what they are telling him. And last service (fixed price!) they put in full synthetic oil apparently.

[bru21]

love my 76! don't know where you got the idea of high gearing from???? have you drive one? Its pissing low - to the point that I fitted 33's the week I bought it so it wouldn't do 2900 at 100. Thanks Ryano for sorting the rims and tyres! Allied Savana's -they look ok and pretty close to factory.

They are a great bus and take 25,000 to loosten up and start driving naturally - up until that point you feel a bit like you are raping it. Lately I feel like I'm getting places just as fast as a car.

Seats are just terrible and I'll throw a Mastercraft 3g in shortly.
The other thing is fitting more then 2-3 surfboards in the cab is hard as the back seats dont split / fold - they just fold making it a 2 seater.

EDIT: Mine doesn't use a drop of oil - I service it myself (fark letting toyota near you 66k truck) and have driven it pretty hard from new. This does help and a mate that worked with them on the mines said they love to be raped and none out there use oil. Also they hold like 11l and who cares if it uses 500ml or 1lt even - its not like it will starve and you normally throw the oil at service time. Its more environmental to burn it and use its energy in the car then at a powerstation

cheers bru

[hj 45]

How muchly for a Mastercraft seat? I want to replace both of the front seats. That'll equal $$$$$ Am going to price some new seats tomorrow.

[De-lux]

I'm still waiting for the pootrol bogans to chime in... "oh yeah get a troll, they are farken heaps sick maaaate" *sips Woodstock can*

[bru21]

How muchly for a Mastercraft seat? I want to replace both of the front seats. That'll equal $$$$$ Am going to price some new seats tomorrow.

call brent from wizard.

I paid too little as I got them with my blitzkrieg order and didn't pay much shipping. I paid $500 ea $US (less than on the mastercraft site), but i think $1400 AUD ea is the norm.

cheers bru