Don't be put off by all this "top mount is shit, interheater not intercooler" talk.
Simple; If manufacturers who spend mega money designing vehicles use them (diesel and high performance petrol) then they must be ok,
And furthermore, who
(with any performance orientation) is going to say that no intercooler is better than none?
Remember
(if you knew), that intercoolers work as heat sinks, absorbing heat from boosted air, then shedding it to atmosphere AND into intake air.
The main difference between diesel and petrol fitments is that diesels are 'on boost' for much longer periods, meaning the intercooler can heatsoak easier, then it just relies on what it can shed heatwise into atmosphere...
Obviously then, the more cool air the core can be around the better, but weather this means front-mounted, well ducted/ fan blown or a very large cooler will depend on package solutions.
And most of it comes down to individual requirements;
lots of slow speed high load use?
highway low load?
room to mount cooler?
cost of core/plumbing?
likelyhood of mud fouling/ stone damage?
turbo size?
other cooling systems?
I also have a terrano, and a planning on using a water to air intercooler.
The don't look friendly to plumb a front mount, and I'm not willing to remove A/C to add space.
Water to air also lets me keep bonnet without scoop, and I can plumb radiator to where ever I like, even fit 2 if space is tight.
I like passengerpete and the strangers fitments (
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/ ... 25&t=28159)
Well my 2cents worth
Nathan