Bugger, darnit, damn indecisiveness - help please!

[harvey]

I'm torn on choice of vehicle... i'm seeking the best compromise for an on/offroad vehicle and don't know which way to turn.

I've come across a 1997 LWB 2.8TD Pajaro GLX... it's in really good nic and within my price range.

I currently own a Nissan Patrol 4.2EFI Automatic.

I have owned a Range Rover Classic and a SWB LandCruiser II.

So here's my dilema. The Range Rover was a supremely comfortable vehicle. It was also supremely unreliable. The Toyota was supremely reliable but not as comfortable. Sadly, though i wanted to keep it it was too small for our needs. The Nissan is large enough for our needs but is too thirsty. But whereas i was concerned about the roll-over point in the toyota being tall and short, i'm not concerned about the rollover of the Nissan because its long and low [by comparisson].

So this leaves me with the Mitsubishi. What are your thoughts.... I've read that the TD is a 6cyl engine and it's economy is bound to be better than the petrol Nissan. But what's the longevity of the 2.8 td engine like? Particularly when taken off road. Also what are the longevity of the drivetrain such as diffs and transmission like on these?

Also, part of the stablity of the Nissan [and to my surprise the SWB Toyota] is down to the live front axle and great articulation. But the Mitsubishi is tall. Am i right that it's length will help it's stability [thinking rollover here]. Also... are these vehicles stable offroad [at least comparible] with their IFS front end... particularly if i were to consider a body lift and suspension lift? My confidence in the patrol in this regard is high, but it was low in the SWB Toyota and i don't want to hop in another vehicle like the toyota that feels so vunerable to roll [even though it didn't]

Finally.... what would you do in my situation. I can sell the Nissan for a little more than the cost of the Pajaro. So would you go the Pajaro or save a little more and do an engine swap from petrol to diesel in the Nissan? [being unbiased i hope!]

Many thanks in advance.

[-Scott-]

Hello harvey

You haven't told us what sort of 4wding you're into - beach running, firetrails, mud-pluggin, rock crawling?

Unless you're a hardcore rock crawler I expect the Paj will take you anywhere your Nissan will go - with more onroad comfort and lower fuel consumption.

The 2.8 is four cylinder - not 6. The engine was class leader for power and torque when it was released, but economy isn't it's strong point. About 12l/100 for highway is typical, some get better and some worse. The only problem I recall hearing is the occasional cracked cylinder head - but I don't know if this is "normal" or a neglect issue.

The length of the 4by won't necessarily affect the roll over chances (unless you're talking end-over ) - track, and the height of the COG are more important. In this regard the Paj is pretty good - well, I don't know that it's particularly bad...

The 2.8 (and the 3.5V6) have larger drivetrain components than the earlier models, and are considered pretty close to the Patrol for strength. Mitsubishi make an excellent rear LSD, although rear lockers for that model are hard to come by - factory is your only option, and they weren't common. ARB make a front locker, and crawler gears are available too. With a locker in the front, LSD in the rear and throw away the rear sway bar there aren't too many tracks which will stop the Paj.

The models with the larger drivetrain components also came with a "factory" body lift (compared with earlier models) so they'll accept 33s with a simple suspension lift (and Patrol rims.) Much larger than that and your gearing struggles - if you REALLY want larger than 33s perhaps the Nissan is more your style.

Accessories for touring are readily available, most mechanics in the country will at least know what it is, and they're not hard to find in wreckers.

Hope this helps,

Scott

[harvey]

Scot that's excellent. Thanks for your help. My type of offroading is touring mainly with some deep ruts thrown in with the usual following of mud. I'm not a rock crawler or winch competitor. Given what you were saying it would seem to me that the Pajero could well be a good compromise between road/offroad comfort and ability.

the 2.8 diesel doesn't sound any worse than the 4.2 diesel of the nissan either... so i think i'll be looking at the pajero a bit more closely. As for me i tend to favour 33" [255/85/16] tyres and by the sounds of it i won't need to do much to get the Pajero to use these comfortably.

thanks again.