Poll: Vitara/Sierra vs Patrol/Cruiser

[eXc]

Hey Guys,

This is mostly directed at those which have owned a small and a larger 4x4.

I bought a Vitara for my first 4x4 just to have a play and see how I would like it etc. Currently I am going out almost every weekend. I tend to bash things up, have to have more pace up and down hills (TX case) compared to my mates with Pajero/Surf.

I am wondering what people's experiences have been with the smaller vs bigger.

Please vote and state why you prefer the smaller or larger. I know that some will prefer smaller and some will prefer larger, but I am curious as to why.

Cheers
Chris

[chops_Drover]

I own both atm.

I wouldn't really call the Isuzu huge, but it is bigger than the Drover.

It really depends on what you are using it for....

I use the Isuzu as a DD, used to take it offroad a fair bit. Found it great. However visability isn't as good and it is alot heavier. Also when working on it everything weighs a tonne & is alot harder to do. It also follows all the ruts from the bigger cars.

I find the Drover/Sierra is great offroad, rough as guts on/offroad. Wouldn't use it as a daily driver, unless I had to. Very easy to work on by yourself and doesn't follow the other tracks made by the bigger cars. Also when you do get stuck, just about anything can pull you out..

Obviously it very much depends on what you want to do...
If you want it as a tourer, recovery vehicle or comp truck etc go bigger.
If its just a toy or want a cheap 4wd that is easy to work on & reasonably cheap to run got the smaller car.

The other thing to remember is that if your going out into remote areas, inlad Australia etc it is much easier to pick up parts for a 75 series cruiser than a vitara!!!

[micks troll]

Had a shorty MQ now a GQ wagon. I know the MQ isnt classed as a small 4x4 but compared to the GQ it is. I prefer the GQ as:
1 I can sleep in the back
2 Its more stable up hilll etc
3 Able to carry more, easily
4 If anyone has kids it is a pain in the a#s getting them through 2 doors
5 Fit larger tyres then other smaller 4x4s (generally easier)
6 If with a family you dont need a trailer to lug all the gear around (Due to not enough room)
These are a couple off the top of my head anyway.

[TEAMRPM]

Had a shorty MQ now a GQ wagon. I know the MQ isnt classed as a small 4x4 but compared to the GQ it is. I prefer the GQ as:
1 I can sleep in the back
2 Its more stable up hilll etc
3 Able to carry more, easily
4 If anyone has kids it is a pain in the a#s getting them through 2 doors
5 Fit larger tyres then other smaller 4x4s (generally easier)
6 If with a family you dont need a trailer to lug all the gear around (Due to not enough room)
These are a couple off the top of my head anyway.

agree totally..


patrol for me.. owned zuks, pombuses and many pooftrols. patrols are old technology but are strong and cheap enough to bash and crash. zuks well mine was like an esky on wheels, me my dog and a six pack and she was overloaded.. but gee it used to get places

[-Scott-]

Owned both - horses for courses.

For fun offroad, I reckon smaller (I had LJ50) is hard to beat.

For long distance travel, bigger is better (ignoring fuel bills...)

Capability depends on the combination of vehicle/driver/terrain/???

[zookjedi]

depends what you want it for

i voted larger , i have a gu patrol and a sierra , the patrol wins hands down for comfort , distance travel , power , on road handling , family duties , camping etc etc
the zook wins hands down for the more hardcore tracks , rocks , and fuel bills , in saying that neither are standard , .

if i had to buy just 1 4x4 it would be a big one with the right mods it'll go any were a little rig can go (except under ground car parks and will be more comfortable doing it . just costs more to modify

Jai

[v840]

As stated it depends what you want out of your 4wd.
Had a GQ which was great offroad, easy to drive, comfortable etc. But with only passengers ever being my gf and dog I really didnt need anything that big and cumbersome.
Now I have a zook which is perfect for me as it was exactly 1/10th of the patrol to buy (and with a shitload of mods to it it will still be cheaper than a decent GQ) and I dont have to worry if a fark it up offroad or not.
Am yet to take it camping but with just the two of us it suits me great. Fuel economy craps all over the GQ too which is good for me as it is my DD.

I voted small but it really is up to you. If you need the space, i.e kids, tools, heaps of equipment etc., get a large 4wd, if space isnt such a big deal and you value manouverability, better consumption, generally cheaper to buy etc. then go smaller.
YMMV

[grimbo]

I used to have a Sierra that started at as stock and was used for daily driver, weekend trips and day outs playing. I then modded it a bit and still used it for all those purposes. It did everything from take me to work and trips from Melb to Innamincka and back. I modded it some more it become unstoppable on the hard stuff but wasn't very good as a daily driver and as a touring camping car so I bought a GQ.

The GQ was used as a daily driver and camping/touring vehicle and the Sierra sat in the shed. I eventually sold the Sierra because I didn't use it anymore. I have now upgraded the GQ to a GU.

Having said all that it depends on what yuou want to do. The Vitara can easily be modded up to be a serious 4wd without too much expense. BBut it will still be a small car. If you just need more space than a larger car is the go. If you need better 4wd ability then either will suit depends on the mods you do.

[Tapage]

If you are single and plan to play one day in your favorite sand box .. a SWB it's fantastic ..

Sure require less mods than any LWB to do the same ..

But if you are married .. and love go out with your famili a LWB it's a must. Maybe you gonna spend more in your LWB to do the same things than a SWB with less money, but you gotta go, comfortable and carring all stuff that you need.

[eXc]

I don't really need more room - While it would be nice. I was just thinking that a Patrol etc would be a more capable and less damaging to my wallet because of damages.

It's all a year or so down the track, but if I decide not to change, maybe I could spend more money on the Vitara...but then again, maybe it is a waste doing that, and I should just get a patrol.

By the time I spend $1000 on Transfer gears, $1200 on suspension...I could sell the Vitara and get a patrol with mods on it already.

BTW I have a LWB Vitara....so it's not super small.

[macca81]

BTW I have a LWB Vitara....so it's not super small.

its by no means big either its still smaller than my SWB MQ