Outer Limits 4x4 Board

***This is not meant to be a Tojo/Nissan/LR slagging match.....so if you wanna do that f*** off elsewhere*****

I want to replace my Defender with something more livable and comfortable, but still a solid, or more solid off roader. I will be doing a lot of k's in the city/highway and weekend bush bashing/one big trip per year. I want a well set up tourer that can play a bit but nothing hardcore.

I am thinking I'll go with an auto.

So my question is what do I go for?

I've thought about a Patrol (3L or 4.2L), Cruiser (standard van).

I want a turbo diesel, but could add my own if need be, I want something reliable, I don't want IFS.

My budget is 30 -35k plus 5k or so on mods.

Your thoughts please?

mabsydney wrote:I am thinking I'll go with an auto.

So my question is what do I go for?

I've thought about a Patrol (4.2L), Cruiser (standard van). Not Available in Auto
I want a turbo diesel, but could add my own if need be, I want something reliable, I don't want IFS.

My budget is 30 -35k plus 5k or so on mods.

Your thoughts please?

My choice would be a Disco II TD5 Auto with a Davis Chip & Intercooler.

The Patrol 3.0L Auto is a big car for a small diesel auto.

Personnally i would go for the 100 series but both are great cars you should really test drive a wide selection of 4wd's and chose which one you fell most comfortable in..

Go and drive everything you can. Get a feel for how they drive on the road. This is where youwill spend most of your time with it. You can make do with some discomfort for a few days a yr, to be more comfortable the rest of the time.

If Nissan had an IQ at all at HQ, they would offer the 4.2 in Auto. Having said that I reckon a conversion would be done for stuff all, sell the manual setup would nearly pay for the autosetup.

Plenty of cars out there, drive em!

driven the Patrol ST coil cab 4.2TD ute, very rare 2nd hand but have seen some set up very well as tourers. Depends on how many people will be touring i suppose.

If a wagon is on the cards then i agree will someone further up the Patrol 3.0 TD is a little gutless especially fully loaded etc.

If goign TD then definetly go Intercooled also, increase is stunning, my uncle just got his 3.0TD patrol wagon intercooled. Big difference.

Good luck. (PS - i think you may need more than 5k to set up as a proper tourer, just my thoughts though)

there are many to choose from

i still like the 80 series turbo diesel multivale

just there so expensive and hard to find a good but if u find one of them at a good price right kms you'd be laughing

An auto narrows down the options are fair bit.

As already mention, a good TD5 Disco could be had for this price.
Nissans are only available with the 2.8 or 3.0 with an auto and I'm not too sure what the options are with the Toyota.
If you are going to spend most of the time in the city then i think the Disco would be the pick of the bunch (especially if it was chipped ).

benhl.......totally agree i need to spend more than 5k on mods to set up a good tourer..........but that is what i will start with........and i have some after market gear i will take off my defender and fit to whatever i buy. Coil cab is out for me unfortunately as I want to carry up to 5 people. I have seen a dual cab patrol ute in Bondi area, but it must a a cut job as I am sure they have never made them.....and it looks new.

Others....thanx for the input.....Bogged 4.2L auto would be good i agree, have to enquire about a conversion.

Test drive, yeah that is what i need to do next........I''ll go see some dealers in the next week or so and see how they go. I feel like I have been researching for ever!

look i know u were looking at the patrols 3l or 4.2.

But ultimately drive everything you maybe surprised what you like.

If do settle on a 3L see if you can get one that still has a warrantly left on it.

I like the disco interior and stuff but have seen a few blow motors just because a hose has come loose and they cooked themselves just land rover things but other than that my series 1 disco was pretty good with the only mechanicals happening on every trip i had but for every day use it was great.

also i gave it stick everywhere i went and the econcomy was great around 650-700 per tank

toyota biased as i am, the standard van is awesome, but then so is a pootrol, and they seem to be better value for money, i.e. tuffer front diffs, as good offroad, as reliable (more some would say) yet a lower resale value... bit wary of a 3l in a patrol though, but still either would make me happy

Thanks for all the advice.

Morkz, yeah I am pretty sold on the Patrol, I'm just exploring other avenues now to get an overview of what my other options are. But like Bad religion says, Patrol does seem good value for money.

I will advertise the Defender in March, so depending on how long it takes to sell that I'll be looking to buy soon.

The size of the disco appeals especially around the city, but I'm pretty keen to move away from Land Rover just cos of the reliability thing. Nissan or Tojo just seem more reliable.

i didn't want to slag on landrovers, but mate's disco, that only sees highway miles, and tows the occasional tinny, cost over 13grand in warranty, at which point landrover refused to fix anything else under warranty, at which point the 2000 disco was traded for an early 90's cruiser straight up, and he hasn't looked back.

the cruiser used to get to tow the big yacht too, but buggered a gearbox... apparently their patrol (GQ) handled it well though.

and i am toyota bias

I like the dual cab 'lux too.......but they aren't really strong enough I think.......if only Nissan made a dual cab Patrol!

GU Turbo Diesel Intercooled 4.2. Awsome value for money and tough as.
DOWNFALL Manuel TO Auto Conversion.

My pick would be either an 80 series TD (factory turbo) or a disco 2 td. Some people I have spoken to rekon the 80 TD is the best LC toyota have made to date. Disco's drive nice in my opinion and have a bit of class . They also have a nice high driving position and the controls are fine. It only seems some people have never driven a european car before and unless the indicators on the right then the ergonomics are crap. But as mentioned before you have to try and find one thats got all its service records etc...Possibly go for a 300tdi. So far they have a proven record (someone is bound to prove me wrong) and use sfa fuel. Only prob is that their gutless.

If theres only 1 or 2 people - disco
More than 2 - 80 series

Either a Turbo Deseil Nissan or toyota doesnt really matter which one, they are just as good as each other. Not inculding the IFScrusier, that sucks. Thats not a bias point because i own a nissan, ill say the same when nissan do it too.

bogged wrote:Go and drive everything you can. Get a feel for how they drive on the road. This is where you will spend most of your time with it. You can make do with some discomfort for a few days a yr, to be more comfortable the rest of the time.

Bruce nailed it for ya !

Ludacris,

TD6 Ute looks great, but I need to carry more than 2 people, so unfortunately its out for me

TD5! For $5k you could sort the springs, Bruce Davis chip it, and a whole lot more. Much more if you do it yourself. I recently picked up a 99 S2 TD5 Disco Manual with 90,000 klms on it for $24k and it so smooth around town and goes everywhere I have tried to get if off road (so far). It has ACE which helps the handling around town.

As said though, test drive a few.

Sorry champ. What about a Nissan wagon. Must be hard to find the best buy for your dollars.

I know without a doubt that I will be purchasing a GU wagon when the time is right.

There is one on ebay, petrol though for $23 000 79 000 kms imaculate.
Being fuel injected they are not thirsty but have heaps of power.