Looking at getting one of these in turbo diesel from 2006/7ish and onwards.
They seem to range from 115,000 kms to 145,000 kms around the $30,000 mark give or take a couple thousand.
What are people's thoughts and or experience with them?
Will be using it for off-road and towing a horse float.
No city slicking
Depends what you want to do Owen.
Lots of people will say no way to 3L Patrol as the early ones had engine problems but after 2007 you should be right.
OTOH the Patrol has a LOT more load carrying and offroad ability. The Prado is soft on the rear end but you can fit a load levelling hitch (with torsion bars) and it will pull big caravans so the horse float will be no probs
If both are TD's they will be near enough the same on sand - or do you mean off roading? The Patrol has way better wheel articulation but is harsher on road.
If what you really mean is 'get down the beach' or 'sometimes pull a trailer with a geegee in it' , but most use by far is on roads and with no trailer - Prado. Or T/D Pathfinder.
If you want to regularly pull a horse float 500km with all the stuff for u and missus and kids for a weekend so have 300kg of camping gear - Patrol.
Take the Prado over the Patrol.
I have owned most 4x4's over the past 30 years and whilst there is nothing majorly wrong with the Patrols they are big cumbersome things. They are heavy and difficult to drive in town and their turning circle leaves a bit to be desired. They have plenty of room in them but be carefull what Diesel engine model you buy. The older 2.8 lt six was gutless and you had to rev the shizz out of it to make it go, it was fairly thirsty as well. The models you are looking at have 3.0 lt four cylinder diesels.
The Prado 3.0 lt diesel is a good flexible engine and whilst the vehicle is roomy it is a much more manageable size than the Nissan it also has a smaller turning circle. If you are doing bush work and beach tracks the vehicle size can be an important point to consider.
For the record I have had both and don't own either at the moment. Personally think the Prado is a better all round vehicle.
Cheers.
ET.
Select to expand quoteGreenroom said..
Looking at getting one of these in turbo diesel from 2006/7ish and onwards.
They seem to range from 115,000 kms to 145,000 kms around the $30,000 mark give or take a couple thousand.
What are people's thoughts and or experience with them?
Will be using it for off-road and towing a horse float.No city slicking
Nissan,Manual or Auto?
Lads at work have them, pull 3.5 tonn shark cat, in and out of ramps, no problems, all are manual trans rated at 3.5 tonn. Get the chip to back the boost off so it doesnt do any damage. Chip was about $100 they reckon. Considered a quality power train in the Nissans. Heavy duty clutch kit around the 400-600 if you want to go that way.
Our field team run them on mine sites as well, so far so good, with some up around the 200k on the clock.
Dont limet yourself to early models, for not much more coin, you can get to 2010-2011 models, with less the 110k on the clock. Take a look what sales yards are selling used for. Real price they traded or purchased are between 15-20% below what they are asking. They have to make a profit, but gives you an idea on actual $ they are being purchased for at auctions and such like.
Right now there are a great amount around due to as you are aware, downturn in industry.
I have the Toyota, but I couldnt see spending the coin worth it now, as I only use it for fun times on weekends in Summer and holiday towing Van.
Check the local haunts, Gumtree to get an idea on whats around and price range.
There is a constant supply of late model prado and patrols at the mannheims auction yard near perth airport,
Mostly govt. and fleet sales, this is where the car yards get most of thier stock from.
You might be able to find what you want there and save a few bob at the same time.
stephen
.... and gas it too
T/D with a dribble of gas burns cleaner and makes BULK power.
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..
.... and gas it too
T/D with a dribble of gas burns cleaner and makes BULK power.
How much do those sets go for, Mark?
Late model Pajero, Cheaper, you will get a later model, larger towing capaicity and a heap more power but smaller than the Nissan...
Dgas is about 4 grand Buster, you need to be sure that you'll be keeping the vehicle for a lot of years to get the return on your investment. My Disco had dgas.
Prados are good but bloody expensive. Nearly as good as a Patrol off road and a better donk.
Patrol is brilliant but underpowered, economy usually isn't as good as Nissan claim either. Real world figures as reported on a couple of Patrol forums are more like 12-14lt/100 around town and up towards 20lt/100 towing.
I've got the 4.8 petrol and it's not much worse, I get 19lt/100 around town and recently got back from Exmouth towing a heavily laden tinny and the best I got was 16lt/100 and the worst 21lt/100.
Paj probably isn't a bad option if it doesn't need to be a real off road weapon, they tow well and do a bit of beach work with ease.
If you're towing a horse float expect a patrol or cruiser to be up around 20/100 and the Paj/Prado about 15.
For the tracks down your way I'd be looking for the articulation that a Patrol gives, it's much easier on a vehicle when you can crawl up a step rather than hammer your way through and that's where a live axel front end comes into it's own.
