Offroad-Express

I'm thinking of selling the L200 to get a SWB soft top Paj.
Want it for club runs, hunting and family trips.

Diesel or petrol?
Auto or manual?
What do you recommend, and why?

Cheers

mudbugga wrote:I'm thinking of selling the L200 to get a SWB soft top Paj.
Want it for club runs, hunting and family trips.

Diesel or petrol?
Auto or manual?
What do you recommend, and why?

Cheers

I have a LWB 2.8 diesel manual, why because it travels nice cheap on diesel and heaps of room, did not want an auto to many issues with a manual its in or out simple., Just be sure if buying a diesel take it for a good run and find a hill and check it does not over heat, but for the price with central diff lock and rear diff lock on the NZ models there hard to beat for the dollars

Good stuff tga.

The SWB seem to me to be quite a good size for what I want, and parts also seem to be easy to get for the different models.
I just can't make my mind up to go diesel (2.5 or 2.8?) or petrol (3L or 3.5L).
I'm not comparing running costs. That's irrelevant, just after pros and cons of what others have found ie waterproofing, ratios, offroad ability etc stuff like that.

I've had the 3.0, and I've got the 3.5 now. I'd say they are equally good off-road, but the 3.5 has got some more top-end pep which makes it nicer driving on the open road.

I've driven both the 2.5 and the 2.8, steer clear of the 2.5 as they are a bit gutless, the 2.8 is surprisingly grunty.

Both the 3.5 and the 2.8 got new drivetrains which (apparently) are much bigger and stronger, and I found the auto box in my 3.5 works a lot better than the auto box in my old 3.0

I'm on my second SWB now, and I kinda wish I had a LWB so I'm not struggling to cram stuff in all the time. Plus, the SWB verges on too short, particularly when climbing up hills. Good departure angle though on the SWB.

Had 3 myself so far, two 2.5 Diesel and currently V8 converted to Ute.
I loved the soft top but they are bad for leaks in the sunroof and rear canvas cover and are a fortune to repairreplace. If you find one in good condition treat the canvas like gold with canvas protector in a can type things you can pickup from Repco etc.
I didn't have a problem with the power from the 2.5's but the 2.8's certainly have more guts. I also have never seen a factory soft top in 2.8 form.
I always go manual as I prefer to drive the vehicle myself, however autos can be good if you plan to drown it often as no clutch to press in and destroy.
I prefer diesel as they sound better and have a lower ratio so it enjoyed going down hills unlike petrol equivalents. Also enjoyed getting drowned, unlike my current petrol. If you go diesel I'd reccommend raising the alternator .

Am now going after a Challenger as they are mid wheel base and don't look like a big moving box (LWB Paj). A few manuals have come up but none specifically what I'm after.

Hope this helps.

Awesome guys!
I'll see what pops up
Cheers

Well here is my 2 cents worth

I had a soft top was a pain, noisy on the open road and in the wind, painful unzipping the rear zips all the time to get stuff out of the back and worst thing was it sucked dust in every where wasn't allot of fun driving on a gravel road especially in a convoy.

I now have a SWB hard top, 3.0L manual with rear locker out of my old soft top, its much more practical dryer, more secure and no dust.
As for engine I prefer the 3.0L petrol they are less likely to lunch themselves like the 3.5L's do as have had plenty of experience with the 3.5's doing valves pistons etc, also the alternator on the 3.0 is mounted on top of the engine and is less likely to suffer from mud damage. The 4D56 2.5 are sluggish, 4M40 2.8's go well if you get a good one.
Manual is my preference gives a bit more control. I also have a KZJ95 Prado as my daily driver which is auto and I don't like descending steep hills with the auto.

Cheers nicinnz

I was wondering about the soft top abilities a bit.
I mainly was after 1 so I could drop the top to go spotlighting for bunnies etc.
Good info on the 3.0 vs 3.5 etc that's the info I need to help sway me in the right direction.

I enjoyed my soft top, easy enough to take on and off, however didn't seal all that well and leaked.

I originally brought mine to got spot lighting for but never ended up getting there, hopefully you do with yours!

mudbugga wrote:Cheers nicinnz

I was wondering about the soft top abilities a bit.
I mainly was after 1 so I could drop the top to go spotlighting for bunnies etc.
Good info on the 3.0 vs 3.5 etc that's the info I need to help sway me in the right direction.

How about a hard top with a sun roof in the rear for banging the bunnies (best of both worlds). Out of left field I know...

I gotta defend the 3.5's.....

Yes I have done up the heads as it dropped a valve and yes it needs a wee top up of oil between changes but it goes far better than the 3.0's I have driven and they are pretty cheap to do up compared to any modern diesel!

Get a J-Top, they are great! You wont be disapointed. Mines a 3.0l and goes well with 36's on.

For what its worth ive been shooting rabbits and wallabies out of my swb sun roof for 3 years now. Only prob is only one person can fit out and to stand comfortably its better to slide the front passenger seat forward.

Im not a fan of the running cost of my 3.0 let alone the 3.5 and would probably go a diesel 2.8 if given the choice again.

got a V6 3.0 LWB auto and its too expensive to run, just had to grab a daily as the pajero sucks juice. check fuelly stats;
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/adimw/pajero

Cheers guys!
Keep the experiences and thoughts coming.

my brother bought my old mans one off him recently and its a 2.8 lwb 5spd, nz new one, so has the rear locker, is very comfortable to drive round the country side.

has done 3 tours of the south island. it blew a head gasket very early on in life while still under warranty and just this weekend we have been removing the injector pump for a rebuild. has 260,000 kms on it and has been going well up untill a few months back when its been getting real hard to start.

it seems that it gets very good fuel economy but i think the nz new ones had massive fuel tanks installed??

but apart from that, has been a very good truck, hasnt really done any off road work but will be now. after the injector pump will be new springs front/rear recovery points and some 33's slapped under it.

I have a fairly well beaten up 3.0 V6 Petrol LWB ('92) for sale if you are interested.

i had a 3.0 petrol not bad but very thirsty my mates 3.5 uses less gas prob because the engines not working as hard to carry around the the weight since it puts out more hp. im comparing them on road driving