question on whether to purchase a terrano

[veipe]

Hi all,

Need your help in deciding if i should go for a 1996 Terrano Rm3r 3 ltr V 6 petrol in all Black with Ricardo seats etc. having done about 120000 Kms.
I can get it for $11000 NZD. I took it for a short drive & it seemed alright except for the loud exhaust noise . I can get a report from AA for about $105. I need your help to answer these questions.
1. Is this too many kilometers to be of any good value ?
2. Is this a fill it & ride on, no maintenance kind of 4X4? I have never owned a 4X4 before but have always wanted to drive one & so this urge to get one.
3. How economical is the petrol engines ?
4. WOudl i have a challenge trying to sell it back in about 2 yrs & 30000 Kms from now ? Would pople still be willing to pay decent money ?
5. How does this compare with the Mitsubushi Challenger or the Toyota Surf which are available for about $14000 and around 100000Km.

Please suggest.

veipe

[Fourbyfour]

Veipe, from my own experience with my 1992 Terrano 2.7t diesel, I would not buy one again. With todays petrol prces I would question the decision to by petrol. My Terrano will tun in 30mpg driving from Auckland to Hamilton I have a friend with a v6 petrol Terrano and he said the best he ever gets is about 18mpg. My biggest dissappointment with the Terrano was the cooling problems associated with the automatic version.
I recently did a trip back in a friends 3.0 litre. Toyota surf and could not beleive how that vehicle could tow a 17ft boat up a very long steep hill and the temperature gauge hardly moved.
I would pay the extra money for a surf or if you do go for a Terrano, get one with the 3.0 litre turboed and intercooled engine in it. For my next 4wd I plan on getting a 3.0 Litre Toyota Surf
Just my 5 cents worth.

Murray

[DaveM]

Murray,
did your Terrano overheat, or just show hotter than normal on the guage?
Just interested to see if it is just a Nissan thing.
My Safari can go up to 3/4 or higher driving even short hills with no load, but anything under the red is "normal" according to Nissan, and I know of a lot of mates GQ's have the same happen to them.

I personally wouldn't go for a petrol, mainly because I couldn't afford it, but wouldn't mind having the power. Would've thought that the price would be lower (seen them for closer to $11500 down here)

Dave

[DaveM]

Keep an eye on Trade Me, you can usually pick up a good deal (AA check would be worth it though).
Just an example: http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/auct ... key=117128
Or this one for $9000: http://www.trademe.co.nz/structure/auct ... key=117128

[Fourbyfour]

Hi Dave, My biggest problem is driving back from Tairua on the Coromandel Peninsular to Auckland in the space of about 4km this hill rises over 440 metres even with an empty trailer the temperature goes up until it is just below the first white mark. There is another post on this forum by me (Terrano's running hot and cold) that describes all of the things I have done to try and fix this problem. I know when we get to the top of the hill it is running hotter but are not sure if this is normal or getting too hot. I would like to try wiring something like a VDO gauge into it to find out exactly what the temperature rise really is.
I had another Terrano owner tell me that it only needs a 5 degree celsius rise to go from normal to maximum on the Terrano.
I know my brotherinlaws 3.0 litre Surf flys up there accelerating all the way and even when towing his 16 ft fizz boat his temperature gauge hardly moves. I guess its normal because I have 3 friends with early to mid nineties vintage Terrano's and they all suffer the same problem.
Once over the top of this hill the temperature drops down to normal within two km.

[Petemcc]

as stated on other recent topics the toyota guages are designed not to move much.they arent that good you only know then they ore really over heating dont take this as a sighn that the temperature is not changing at all. however you cant go wrong with a toyota!!

[Fourbyfour]

as stated on other recent topics the toyota guages are designed not to move much.they arent that good you only know then they ore really over heating dont take this as a sign that the temperature is not changing at all. however you cant go wrong with a toyota!!

Pete I know what you mean, the gauges on most modern japanese vehicles are not that accurate, They will only give an indication of whats happening but not accurate measurements.
I am very familiar with high speed marine diesels and when we are running we not only watch the coolant temperature but also the exhaust temperatures to get an idea of the load on the engine.
I have decided that my 92 Terrano does need replacing within the next twelve months and when comparing it to the 3 litre Surf the main things I liked about the Surf were better performance, smother ride, lighter in the steering and more space behind the back seat. In previous vehicles I have always had a good run out of Toyota's.

Murray

[veipe]

Hi All,

Thanks for the various suggestions but i am yet to get a clear go or no go from your suggestions. I need your help to ascertain
1. is the price too much
2. Are the odo kilometers too much & how much more life does it have - Is it a reliable vehicle ?
3. What can i expect to get back in a years time when i sell it & assuming that i do all regular servicing & keep it around the 130000 Km mark
4. How does this compare with a 1996 mitsubishi pajero which is a 2.8 Tirbo diesel having done about 85000 Kms & is priced around 13700?
5. The other option is a 1996 diesel Toyota surf for about 13000 which has done around 120K kilometers.

Thanks,
veipe

[Fourbyfour]

I think that basically every vehicle is an individual. More important is the service history and general condition of the vehicle. Don't put too much emphasis on odometers as they are probably suspect anyway. In the first twelve months I had my Terrano the alternator went ($700) then the automatic transmission ($2600) both front shocks ($400) Brake needed pads and discs reskimming ($400) tyres($600) and battery ($300)
Really thought I had bought a lemmon but had it for six years now and been going good since then.
Murray

[albundy]

Buy a pre 95 one as they have a real chasis you can mount stuff to. I havea 94 V6 5 speed modified and love it. Wouldn't swap it for anything. Nissan auto's are renowned for being crap and everything on a desiel is expensive to replace. They are a good sized rugged offroad vehicle that will get through bogs that heavier trucks struggle in
Al