Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Im looking at upgrading from the 3L pajero to something that has bit more towing capacity and a more powerful beast all round.

Looking to spend around the 10-13k mark.
Has to be Auto and duel fuel.
The car will be my everyday drive but will be looking at getting some lift, winch and snorkel for the future.
Looking for a car to keep for a few years (5+) as ive gone through a car a year over the last 3 years buying cheap cars.
At most it will tow a 6m ally boat or a 1.5t digger on a tandem (200km at a time at most)

for that price id be looking at 1992-1994 FJZ80R Cruiser or a 1997-1998 GU Patrol both 4.5L (carsales)

Key things im looking for are:
reliability
expected lifespan
modifiable (price of mods)
capability (off road)
and any other pro's/con's of each car.

Which would people recommend?

I like the interior of the GU compared to the 80 but its whats underneath that counts in the long run.
the higher mount head unit works better for the gps/dvd combo that i have.
having said that the toyota seems to have the better reputation. but is that just better marketing?

GU is newer, way stronger and cheap to modify.

Cris

drive both for a long distance then decide. i personally would deep throat a shotgun before taking a GU on any form of long trip ever again. drive crap compared with an 80.

strength, not much in it, same as reliability.

bad_religion_au wrote:drive both for a long distance then decide. i personally would deep throat a shotgun before taking a GU on any form of long trip ever again. drive crap compared with an 80.

strength, not much in it, same as reliability.

This is very subjective. It comes down to personal preference and how the car is set up so far as suspension. Both are about the same for general offroading but if you want to play a bit more and do some harder terrain in the future then the patrol starts to creep in front on strength and reliability. There are more things that you would need to upgrade on the landcruiser to keep it at the same level as the patrol. Tire fitment and driveline are better on the patrol for larger tires. There is a reason you see way more patrols in competition than landcruisers. But as I said for general touring and basic offroad then they are both fairly similar and it just comes down to what you're looking for in terms of your preferences.

Steve

you can get 80's much cheaper than that. most people on car sales are dreaming with their prices. market value for an early 4.5 80 is only 7-9k

I'd test drive the best example of both you can find (be a tire kicker) and make a decision which way to go. both 80 and gu are gettin old and most will need work to make them like new.

If i was buying either especially for towing
It would be the 80 series turbo diesel/auto
Mate has one ive driven heaps,bucket loads of power and cheap to run for what it is
Wouldnt touch the 4.5 petrol guzzlin 80 series
Then i wouldnt touch a GU ever again
Both are getting on abit so finding either in near 100% condition will be a tall order
To many variables for a constructive decision
Best take a few of either for a drive,only u will know what suits your needs
Which ever way u go,ensure if a petrol/LPG combo,ensure that it works well on both
LPG hides alot of petrol problems

i got a petrol 80 on duel fuel and would recommend a turbo diesel for towing. Landcruiser have to be driven slow gearboxs are particularly weak if driven like a race car. Basically landcruisers are slow and steady and patrols are the faster.

For a good cruiser your looking at about 10 to 14 grand. I got mine for 11. Runs perfect petrol or gas. Patrols are usually a lot cheaper. If a cruiser is looked after iv been told they will last alot longer than a patrol but it all depends on how their all treated mine with the gas detuned so im getting 14lt per 100km pulled a hilux on trailer no probs just slow.

As mentioned is mostly personal preference. I beleive the cruiser will be more reliable but the patrol is much cheaper for parts

My wife and I went around Oz with a petrol/LPG 80 towing camper, across Simpson with 3.0 GU and up to cape n back in a after market turbo 4.2 GQ.

From my point of view GQ with Turbo 4.2 and $2K spent on interior "luxuries" (seats, stereo, dvd, etc.) I gotta say GQ was easiest and most comfy trip we did.

Asked my wife same question and she said the same thing.

80 is def more car-like compared to the Nissans and for me a big thing not to discount is the offset rear diff which helps when avoiding obstacles.

Down side with 80 is trans (as mentioned already). Needed rebuild when we got back at $7500-. CV's, axles & hubs not up to Nissan ones.

Petrol 80 with 100l LPG tank seemed to always find the going a bit harder when towing and in the rough stuff (wouldn't crawl along as nice as a diesel).

GU was good except for 3.0 (had to rev it like a petrol) and crap seats. Bloody big vehicle though. Turning circle is typical Nissan.

GQ was good fun up the cape and back again with good grunt from the 4.2. aftermarket seats shouldn't really be classed as a luxury but rather a necessity.

I obviously it comes down to the $$ you've got to spend. If you're at all handy tightening up body nuts, etc to get rid of the rattles and squeeks is now biggy.

Given your towing and planning on keeping the truck for a few years I'd be looking at a big diesel with turbo.

Obviously my ideal if $$ would allow would be 4.2 TD GU with aftermarket interior.... My 2c....

wow thanks for the info.. i think im leaning towards the GU. mainly because its newer.

the thing that has turned me away from nissan's in the past is the turning circle because i live in the inner city area and there are a lot of small streets but the cheaper price for the newer car is tipping me over the edge.

any info regarding the 4.5 petrol/gas patrols?

i don't plan to tow on a day to day basis more like once every month or two.
at the moment we use the 3.4L prado to tow the boat.. while it struggles along it does the job.

Whats wrong with the gu's interior? just recommended to change the front seats coz they are rubbish?

Mavtd wrote: CV's, axles & hubs not up to Nissan ones.

eh? there's plenty of good engineering info discounting this myth.

dmck wrote: Whats wrong with the gu's interior? just recommended to change the front seats coz they are rubbish?

They ride like a boat. first time i drove one, i actually stopped and checked the sway bars were connected.

they handle like a container ship. near enough is always good enough. they seem to need constant steering inputs all the time at highway speeds to keep them in their lane.

the seats are terrible.

the seating position usually requires your arms to be twice the length of an evolved human compared with pedal position.

controls/cabin setup was obviously done by getting the office boy to throw darts at a dash mock up to decide where to fit the buttons/levers.

they are tiring to drive. i would stop for driver changes/stretches probably twice as often as i would in the 80/105's i've taken on the same journey.

the GU's i am using for my basis of judgement all had less than 40,000k's on them, and maintained to the letter. so don't scream "poor condition high mile cars will do that"

You know I don't think an 80 or a GU will tow that boat any faster. I'm pretty sure the 3.4 prado is faster to 100 than both.

both 80 and GU make more power, but both also weigh considerably more than the prado.

toughnut wrote: There is a reason you see way more patrols in competition than landcruisers

Cheaper buy in price/worse resale value, the fact they were introduced with coils earlier than landcruisers and mob mentality...

not sure what that's got to do with towing a boat with an 80 vs a GU tho...

The 3.4 prado MITE be faster than the 80 L/C or GU to 100 unloaded
But hook the boat up and see

Which ever you decide youll have your work cut out getting a goodie cheap
It took me over 6 months to find my GQ
And boy did i look at heaps
For me the TB42 EFI (GQ)has got plenty of power and pulling over 2 tonnes is never a problem

dmck wrote:wow thanks for the info.. i think im leaning towards the GU. mainly because its newer.

the thing that has turned me away from nissan's in the past is the turning circle because i live in the inner city area and there are a lot of small streets but the cheaper price for the newer car is tipping me over the edge.

any info regarding the 4.5 petrol/gas patrols?

i don't plan to tow on a day to day basis more like once every month or two.
at the moment we use the 3.4L prado to tow the boat.. while it struggles along it does the job.

Whats wrong with the gu's interior? just recommended to change the front seats coz they are rubbish?

I had a GU 4.5 petrol auto but not on gas and towing 3.5 tonnes it handled without any drivetrain breakages. It had plenty of power but it lacked in the jump from 1st gear to 2nd. To much of a gap which was very noticable towing 3.5 up ranges although I am running 305/16 tyres. Interior is very nice and roomy. Seats are fine. Best to test drive a few different trucks Gu/80 and see what you think. I have since pulled my 4.5 motor out and fitted a 4.2 turbo diesel manuel and love the fuel economy difference. Happy hunting.

Cris

You're always going to get a million arguements each way on this, may as well have asked Commodore or Falcon. I reckon mob mentaility is also very alive and well on the Toyota front as well.

From someone who had to downgrade from a 2003 4.8 GU auto with 4" lift, 35's and lockers to a TD 80 series with same lift and tyres I would say stick to the GU. The 80 I have is not as comfortable as the GU was, sure the TD is great but I'd swap it back to my 4.8 anyday if it wasn't for loss of job. The 80 interior was good for it's day but looks dismal compared to the newer GU interior and much less cubby hole type storage spots etc too. May not be a totally fair comparision due to age differences but certainly is due to buying power. AQll forums have a plethoria of problems and fixes etc documented but I can honestly say the info I get from 80 forums leaves me with far less confidence in the mechanical side of the 80 compared to my GU. I guess deep down I am a Nissan man cause I cannot find the value in 80 series for it's age compared to the later Nissan. Only reason I jumped ship and went for the 80 over the GQ (which I have owned before) was at least the 80 still looked a little modern compared to newer rigs and it really was a hard thing to downgrade in age of vehicle. I actually bought a Sahara with factory lockers and upspec trim etc that had had a 1HD-FTE transplant in the hope it would compensate for the loss of the newer Nissan but still today I'd reverse the situation if ?I could go back and do something different.

I think the comparisons are not equal models
80 series against GQ
100 series against GU

If that was the case then it would be a tuff choice between an 80 series and a GQ
Wouldnt give a toss about the 100 series or GU

bad_religion_au wrote:

toughnut wrote: There is a reason you see way more patrols in competition than landcruisers

Cheaper buy in price/worse resale value, the fact they were introduced with coils earlier than landcruisers and mob mentality...

not sure what that's got to do with towing a boat with an 80 vs a GU tho...

If you quoted the full paragraph you'd have seen that it isn't to do with towing a boat. It was to show an example of the previous couple of sentences refering to if the OP wants to do harder driving in the future. If you're going to quote a small part of a larger post then take it in context. Don't make it to be something it isn't. Patrols are cheaper but still give very good reliability and you can get a lot of spares and aftermarket parts for less than you can for a landcruiser. This is, as the OP stated, one of the reasons for leaning toward a Patrol. Because he can get a later model for the same price. Which is also why he is comparing a GU with an 80 series cruiser. They are in a similar price bracket.

nerida67 is right. You should definately buy a GQ over a GU or 80 series. Heaps better in terms of build quality, power and comfort.

I only bought an 80 series because GQs are more expensive.

the gq looks like a big box though... i might have a look on car sales and have a drive of each... we'll see how we go from there... i'd ideally like a 100 series but im still a student and thats too much to spend on a car for me. might wait for the auctions to see what comes up...

toughnut wrote:

bad_religion_au wrote:

toughnut wrote: There is a reason you see way more patrols in competition than landcruisers

Cheaper buy in price/worse resale value, the fact they were introduced with coils earlier than landcruisers and mob mentality...

not sure what that's got to do with towing a boat with an 80 vs a GU tho...

If you quoted the full paragraph you'd have seen that it isn't to do with towing a boat. It was to show an example of the previous couple of sentences refering to if the OP wants to do harder driving in the future. If you're going to quote a small part of a larger post then take it in context. Don't make it to be something it isn't. Patrols are cheaper but still give very good reliability and you can get a lot of spares and aftermarket parts for less than you can for a landcruiser.

context? "patrols have driveline to cope with big tires, hence are comp trucks".

my point still stands. i doubt the poster will be doing tufftruck, yet 80 series driveline has completed that fine too... to argue "comp trucks = better trucks" is rediculous.

Am i wrong but most people i've talked to who have owned a 80 or a GU GQ first and have swapped later on always liked their ride they traded? Just about all the people who have traded an 80 for a GU regretted it or atleast didn't like the ride. I don't know alot of patrol owners so i am biased towards the cruiser.

after upgrading from a gq to a gu i wouldn't go back to a gq, the gu is so much quieter and more comfortable. my gu was a 4.5 auto (now a ls1 ) don't expect great economy, but i doubt you pajero would be doing much better, i towed a car trailer on a regular basis and never had a drama the only thing that i didn't like was the auto was very sluggish esspesially towing my 1.5t camper on the beach it just never seemed to kick down when it should. if i had planed to keep the 4.5 i would have got a manual. my first car was a hilux and was for ever having problems, then upgraded to a gq and gave it a flogging and never had any major issues, then the gu which i haven't had any problems with.

oldmate wrote:nerida67 is right. You should definately buy a GQ over a GU or 80 series. Heaps better in terms of build quality, power and comfort.

I only bought an 80 series because GQs are more expensive.

Um can't say I've been trolling car sales sights to know for sure so I'm gunna ask to clarify. Are you really certain that GQ's are dearer to by than GU's. Wwhen I was looking 2 years ago GQ's were cheapest, 80 series next, GU last. Depending on models etc of course but I would say on average a GU petrol to be dearer than 80 petrol to be dearer than GQ petrol in say ST and GXL guise. Even though I'm partial to Nissans I onyl bought the TD 80 cause I could not get a TD GU as cheap. Whilst I have a preference to Nissans I'm not died in the wool fanatic, I'm tossing up getting rid of the Cruiser cause it does nothign for me and whilst I'll be looking at something else it will most likely not be a Nissan again cause I cannot get the Nissan I want in the budget I have.

And GQ build quality over GU. Nothing wrond with GQ's I had one years ago but I would say a long stretch to say build quality better than later model. People say build quality of Nissans is poor but I could not fault anything on either (GU) the second hand 3.0l (engine issues aside which I did not have) or the later 4.8l save for a slight squeak in the rear door rubbers which was adjusted out by the dealer. What is the build quality thing anyway, everything on mine fitted exactly where it should and did what it was supposed to do and stayed where i wa supposed to stay and kept doing what it was supposed to do???

I went from a petrol 80 series to my current 4.2td GU and all I can say is I will never go back.
Much better and updated interior, much much better ride handling, drives like a dream in fact, love it over my hilux work car. The only single thing I miss on the 80 is the drop down tailgate, that was just so handy. Nothing a rear table on the gu door can't fix however.
The only thing I can say is get a diesel and forget the petrol whchever car you get. Not having to fill up twice in four days on Fraser island is worth the price of entry.
Oh and I towed a boat and horse floats a lot with both, the 80 hated it chewed the fuel when loaded up, couldn't use 4th gear on the auto, and you could always feel the load. GU doesn't blink, does it so easy. Could just be the 4.2 tho

GQs being dearer than 80 series cruisers ????
Theres no way i would have bought an 80 series similar vintage, low Ks and as well looked after as my GQ for what i bought my GQ for
Toyota same make, same Ks, condition ECT are always dearer than the equivelant patrol
Because you pay extra for the badge

while we are mentioning price brackets shop around. Yesturday i saw a 100 series for 10 grand with 10 months rego and 250000km. There around if you search.

Manual will always be better than auto in same car for towing purposes.

yeah i kno there is a bias to manual but i have an auto licence and stupid me lost my licence so im stuck on these auto p's for another 3 years...

ive seen a few 100 series for around 10g but im in melb... just gotta wait and see.

Nothin at all wrong with a "good"auto for towing
They only issue is maybe they run a tad hotter as the auto fluid goes into radiator for cooling (seperate tanks)
If they do run hot just run a seperate transmission cooler
My GQs an auto , no probs towing
And the mates 80 turbo diesel is an auto and no problems pulling his 26 foot van