Thinking of going to the dark side

[tafftunk]

Thinking of selling my double cab hilux and getting a lwb safari or patrol i know i know im opening up a can of worms here but im wanting more room as the kids are getting way to big and 80 series cruisers are to dare for what they are, Question is whats or if any real problems with the nissans and how much are they to register either petrol or diesel I know of a few rust issues they take a fair bit of oil and body mount problems but compared to the landcruisers are they a better option. My mates cruiser has costed him a fair bit injector pump rebuild full bottom end rebuild power steering rebuild injectors replaced and guards and lights are more expensive to replace etc etc seems to cost him more to keep it roadworthy compared to my other mate with his swb nissan. What you guys reckon.

[coxsy]

oil is oil, 11 litres every 5000k, body mount issuse's come with body lifts, don't do one no problems.
Reg is high on a diesel,or pay the fuel costs on a petrol on it about same price
rust around rear window and roof maybe seams under the body at the rear
a tad under powered is another issue , turbo or headers will ix it a bit

[tafftunk]

Is the rego higher than 600 a year as far as servicing goes that's nt a problem and I turboed my hilux and that was easy was thinking of putting a turbo on one heard they can lack a bit in the HP region but other than that pretty good whats involved in getting 35s to clear it with out spending 7 grand don't mind spending money but if I can make it I would rather go that way.

[Suza]

Do it you won't look back. I went to a Y60/GQ LWB TD42 n/a manual Safari last year and love it.
Rust can be a problem key places are the roof - look in and below the gutters. Where the A pillars go into the guards, around the front body mounts and as already said if it has the rear sliding windows around the frames
If you can find one with a PTO they are fantastic but if looks like it has never been used or hardly ever used strip it down and regrease and oil before using - the drivers side (wear the free wheel hub is) runs through a housing that relies on grease to stop it either sizing or destroying itself.
Power wise some think they are down a bit but in saying that I dragged 3 ton of trailer and digger home from Nelson (100km trip and 700m alt gain) and we only took 15min's longer.
Spent 2 weeks driving around the south island with my family (6 of us all up and 2 loaded full length pods on the roof) and had no real power issues.
I run 33's on a 2" lift and don't believe that I would need to go much higher to get 35's in. The 2 inch lift is very straight forward just springs and shocks and make a little bracket to lengthen where the front brake lines are mounted to the diff

[tafftunk]

Looks like nissan might be the way to go then ay how much is rego for a year ?

[Sadam_Husain]

Looks like nissan might be the way to go then ay how much is rego for a year ?

its $600 or a bit over that mate, you cant go wrong with a Saf there pretty bullet proof and dont have all the $problems$ 80 series cruisers have and there a fair bit cheaper to buy, other than the rust issues to watch out for the only other problem they have is the front FWH hubs and a few hunderd bucks will sort those out if they havent already been done, get a turbo one or get used to driving slow mate

[rokhound]

Don't understand why you think rego is going to be more than $600 ish ?
That is the max you will pay, ever (unless you are registering a special heavy weight vehicle, like a 100t crane etc).
If the thing was originally rego'ed as private car as opposed to a commercial vehicle, you may get away with $450ish a year.

I wouldn't touch an early 80s, but a 24v one is a different story. I just can't get my around the dollar's they demand for them.
If you want a cheap, reliable, large 4x4 then the pootrol is a bloody good option.

[madlux]

what about a kzj78? cheeper then 80's

[DaveM]

I've had a number of Safari's now, then tried a KZJ78, onto an 80 series, and now a LWB Safari. Prefer the ride/power of the 80, but was damn expensive for motor maint. and couldn't keeping it.
Will eventually turbo the Safari, but it gets me where I need to go, so no real rush.

[Suza]

Big difference between a kzj78 and a Safari. Ones a medium size and the other is in the large cat

[quick6]

I currently have an ln106 d/c turbo and a GQ lwb. Like you I am keen to sell the Hilux and get a second Safari, I have found it to be that good. I will miss the tray on occasion but the boot is pretty big, economy has worked out pretty similar (can get 10.5l/100km in GQ on a trip if careful) and the Safari is cheaper to register. In my opinion the hilux feels somehow weak in comparison and has definitely been more demanding maintenance wise. Rust has been the only issue with the Saf and that was my fault for not checking carefully when I bought it. IMO take the time and find a good one and you won't look back.

[tafftunk]

Yeah nissan has won me over we'll I'm gonna get the wolf for the hilux and then chuck it on to sell. As for rust in safaris that does not faze me I'm a panel beater by trade so got that covered,Be just good just to have more room to fit the family so it's comfortable when I'm out trucking, Thanks for all your replies, I pay 600 a year for my hilux in rego because its registered as a goods service vehicle which is annoying so anymore no big deal but if its cheaper to reg a nissan that's a bonus for me hahaha

[nismo26]

I pay 600 a year for my hilux in rego because its registered as a goods service vehicle which is annoying so anymore no big deal but if its cheaper to reg a nissan that's a bonus for me hahaha

They are normally only $400ish to reg for a year.

[tafftunk]

Massive next question would be whats my hilux worth I guess ? It's got a few good mods lifted, winch one of kind bullbars, turbo etc etc and I'm repaying it next weekend

[fish]

My 2wd hilux is $580 per year wtf

[Big]

My 2wd hilux is $580 per year wtf

its a diesel ute.. same for my old mazda ute i have..