Offroad-Express

Great to get so many views - probably started a bit of a ford vs Holden type debate - whoops

Had this gq inspected today
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =478573745
Looks great in the pics but it's not - dents, rust, oil leaks. Was hoping it would be pretty good at that price.

Still interested in this
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =477902475
But concerned about the Ks and whether most things will be warn out.

Maybe what I want is not realistic - a good towing vehicle (I am convinced 6 cylinder or bigger) suitable for family, towing and launching boat for under 15k without needing money spent on it.

Maybe it's best to get a big loan and get something newish.

Spend more and go newer. If it is not going to be thrashed off road, double your budget( and maybe then some) and look at 100 series cruisers and 4.2t safaris ('99 on). You can't expect much from any truck that is 20 yrs old.
Only offering this advice as I have to get another ute for a new ontracts manager I am taking on. Been looking at mid 90's etc, but realism is setting in and am now looking at yr 2000 + wagons. Remembering that even these are 12 yrs old now.

if I had the money, I'd buy a 100 series live axle and trash that instead

rokhound wrote:Spend more and go newer. If it is not going to be thrashed off road, double your budget( and maybe then some) and look at 100 series cruisers and 4.2t safaris ('99 on). You can't expect much from any truck that is 20 yrs old.
Only offering this advice as I have to get another ute for a new ontracts manager I am taking on. Been looking at mid 90's etc, but realism is setting in and am now looking at yr 2000 + wagons. Remembering that even these are 12 yrs old now.

Good advice in my book. You pay for vehicles in two ways. Interest/repayments/depreciation OR repars.

Repayments are regular amounts that are easy to build into your budget, repairs are always expensive, and due to ol murphy happen when money is at its tightest.

Thanks for all the advice! I think the last couple of comments some it up.

Whatever I go for should be newer with low ks no matter what make of vehicle. Make repayments on a new truck or pay for repairs - pretty simple really.

Now to convince the boss to double the budget

why not look at a td5 discovery same comfort as a p38 is 5 cly diesel, good tow cap nice trucks good room good bang for ya buck. my 2cents werth

For the same money I can buy:
1993 80 series 4.2TD with 300000ks
2003 discovery facelift 4.0 with 120000ks
1999 patrol 4.5Ti petrol with 170000ks

So discos do appear to be good value for money. Followed by the patrol.

go for the td5 over the 4.0 petrol this is a good buy http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 520654.htm
tows good. give nibs a pm he has one and bubba too i think

You already know what I'm gonna say..

Yeah but you are pretty biased

I thought the idea was to have something that was reasonably reliable. LR product is the Alfa of the 4wd world. They devalue massively (a huge amount more than any other make), you have to ask your self why.

rokhound wrote:I thought the idea was to have something that was reasonably reliable. LR product is the Alfa of the 4wd world. They devalue massively (a huge amount more than any other make), you have to ask your self why.

Because morons who despise them for the hell of it, devalue them and make them awesome buys for the rest of us

My 80 has now cost me what it would cost to buy 2 or 3 disco 2's or about 9 disco 1's. Wish Id gotten another disco 2. First one that dad had (td5) was stupidly powerful, rediculously economical, fantastic on road, probably went as well as my 80 and only required usual service items. The diesel disco 1 that I got to drive while my 80 was off the road and too $$$ to fix is still going strong (now owned by my dad), and has only required a new battery.

Would I buy another 80? Yes because I love the sound it makes and the way it is unexpectedly quick, but if I was offered another disco 2 I would jump on it in a heartbeat.

Ive also driven many GQ's and as good a vehicle as they are, the motors are prone to blowing up when you try and get decent power out of them and drive like a truck compared to an 80

Hi Turoa,
What went wrong with your 80 that cost so much? Do you think they were common issues for the breed or were you just unlucky with the one you bought?
Cheers

doggoneit wrote:Hi Turoa,
What went wrong with your 80 that cost so much? Do you think they were common issues for the breed or were you just unlucky with the one you bought?
Cheers

Motor repairs haha. its more than sorted now and runs freakn sweet. On my 3rd turbo, done the bottom end twice (properly!), the head twice, the injector pump twice, the injectors once, the clutch once and a cam.

I don't really know many 80's that havn't done atleast an auto or a motor so I would aim to try and buy one that has had both done to avoid any problems flatmate bought his with a rebuild motor and box and its sweet!

Mine has probably been a bit unlucky, but if buying one and it hasnt had work done you would want to factor in atleast a fuel pump and injectors

Holy shit that must be a bit depressing sorry!

No doubt that diesels are bloody expensive to repair. A 2003/2004 face lift disco 2 with a v8, low ks and a warranty is starting to look attractive. I don't give a rats about the fuel cost as that's the cheapest part of vehicle ownership.

theres a primo 105 series on tard me with a low km transplant 4.5td V8 in it with camper set up and all the gears, totaly nice all round truck.


i had to do the knuckle bearings on my 80 the other day, first real maintenance ive ever done on it think it needs a rear U.J now too...

A bit rich for me if you are referring to the one with a start bid of $40,000.

yea thats the one, would be a wiked cool bus though aye!!??

Ive also driven many GQ's and as good a vehicle as they are, the motors are prone to blowing up when you try and get decent power out of them and drive like a truck compared to an 80 [/quote]

Thats abit strange as unless its a black top then these motors(td42) are very strong and will support massive power. Most engine failures are from bad setups.

crazyclark31 wrote:Ive also driven many GQ's and as good a vehicle as they are, the motors are prone to blowing up when you try and get decent power out of them and drive like a truck compared to an 80

Thats abit strange as unless its a black top then these motors(td42) are very strong and will support massive power. Most engine failures are from bad setups.[/quote]

Not as a reliable tow pig they can't. 18psi is kinda the max before it starts blowing past the rings. Sure they can make huge power but it is sacraficed in the name of reliability, especially if its an unrebuilt engine. If you rebuild em with a boost compensated injector pump, and a large turbo they do haul ass and can be reliable, but it gets very expensive to do that

I have to say was glad this question ( 92 80 series to old??? ) was put out there for all you landcruiser guru's opinions as i myself have been considering updating my tow wagon which is currently a 1996 KZN185-Surf,Auto, 3.0 turbo diesel...Dont get me wrong its been a great wagon and all ,also has never let me down to this day (touchwood it doesnt ) !! But with having to tow a 6m fiberglass boat and also with a trailer truck in the process of been built i am not satifieds that the KZN185 will tow it comfortably long distances with out been a struggle over hills whilst filled with gear and having the trailer on the back.

Have been looking at 80 series for a while and have decided that it goes back to the old saying " you pay for what you get " !! to get a good 80 series i would be looking at 15-20g but to me that is expensive price for a gamble your going to take to hope that the one u choose is a good one and not going to give you troubles week in week out...But the 80 series hold there value and there r good ones out there....
I personally have been looking at ones that have less than 300km on the clock ..
My question for you 80 series owners is.. Petrol or diesel ?? 24 valve or 12 valve ?? pros n cons

Didnt mean to thredjack or rant on but am also interested in others opinions about these wagons so keep em coming..

Have been keeping an eye on this one so fire away with the thoughts... possible viewing tomo altho the kms are higher than i would prefer

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =478187920

If you are hell bent on an 80 series, the very least you can do is get the 24v model. It is a huge amount better than the earlier model.
I hear you on the KZN towing thing, I have been looking at other wagons for towing but I also have to have a useful work wagon (towing duties include the mutt, a 6m tin can (doesn't get towed far though) and a 2.3t bobcat loader, also gets called to tow 1.5m3 of hardfill at times at 3 t). I have been looking at the new Ranger ute but at $60k may keep looking at it. I would like a later model 100 series, but a 2005 with 200ks or more is still $40k and it 7 years old. It is annoying how buying at this level is such a PIA with regards to your bang for the buck.

What about a late 90s or early 2000 Nissan Partol 4.5 petrol on LPG?

Anyone had experience with these and how reliable they are when on LPG? Is this 4.5 petrol motor a long living motor?

Cheers

I have a 3.1 Isuzu intercooled turbo diesel with a rebuilt engine, it's doing towing duties, boats, and a hilux offroader, on trailer totals 2tonne. Which I tow to the coast through the south Isl mountain passes, it does it OK but have an EGT guage (which dictates my speed when towing ), poly air springs, trans cooler etc, so set up to tow
I would LOVE a cruiser for towability and comfort, i'm holding out for another year just so as to afford the 24V model.
I would take Grant's advice (Rokhound) they are far superior and worth either spending the extra coin on, or holding out till you can

As far as I can see the Isuzu's appear to be a terrific buy - value for money. Is the 3.1 reliable? I read somewhere about the 2.8 being better.

This is very cheap for 24v 80
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =477845658

Must be something odd - or perhaps non turbo.

Still keen on peoples experience with Patrol 4500 petrol reliability and longevity as the following looks like a good buy.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =426289919

Cheers

Afew bits of 80 series info for you.

80 series autos will need rebuild between 300 - 350 kms.
12 valve models should have Big end bearings done as they are notorious for failing. You would be unlucky to buy one that hasnt been done though. 12 and 24 valve motors are strong motors and should last well over 500kms.
EGR removal, bigger exhaust, tweek up the fuel pump and a bigger impeller on the turbo unleashes the potential on these motors.
Alternators are mounted low so will fill up with mud and die regularily if you are offroading.
The only rust issues are on the firewall behind the front inner guard - vertualy impossible to check unless you strip them.
Pre 93 had smaller brakes and will need upgrading if you want to run big rubber.
Power windows crap out regularily

Ive thrashed the crap out of mine for 150000kms now. Yes parts and maintenance are dearer than a GQ, but much nicer to drive.

For mostly onroading buy the 80. For mostly offraoding go the GQ. Just my 2 cents.

doggoneit wrote:Still keen on peoples experience with Patrol 4500 petrol reliability and longevity as the following looks like a good buy.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =426289919

Cheers

You're looking at a minimum of 20Litres fuel per 100k's and that's on petrol, LPG will use more but of course it's a bit cheaper.......still will be quite expensive to run.

LPG is a lot cheaper - I have a Rocgas card and it is currently around $1 litre. But you are right - with LPG you use about a third more.

doggoneit wrote:Still keen on peoples experience with Patrol 4500 petrol reliability and longevity as the following looks like a good buy.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =426289919

Cheers

Actually very good motors and very popular in Aussie. A few of the aussies are now running them in comp vehicles.
Mate has one, absolutely loves it.

Dearer at fuel pump but overall I reckon they will be as cheap if not cheaper than diesel to run given the RUC charges, higher maintenance costs and higher rego of diesel vehicles.