Offroad-Express

Hi am looking at getting an old d21 2.7td terrano and was after some advice on whether to get an auto or a manual.
I realise that the auto would be good off road but 90% of my driving would be on the tarmac. Economy is a major issue as I am a student and money is tight. I assume that a manual is better on fuel than an auto is this the case and if so is it significant?
Look forward to opinions cheers

I have a Terrano TD27 manual and my work mates have the Auto one and there is very little difference in fuel economy between us, biggest influencing factor is the dude behind the wheel!

RE between the manual/ auto debate, the terrano manuals are known for issues and I have only just recently rebuilt mine, not to say that they are all gonna crap out but it does seem very common. The autos would be a better bet I would say, but if they crap out they are far more expensive to fix!

On a good week of gentle driving I can get almost 800kms to my tank. My work mate with the auto can get around 700-750 so bugger all difference.

Hope that is of some help!

Cheers,

-Sketchy

My biggest advice is make sure you get the turbo, I have a 2.7 turbo auto and my mates got a 2.7 non turbo manual and you really notice the difference, here in Dunedin we have the Kilmore (massive hill like the bomb bays) I can fly up it at around 80-90km/h, I was driving my mates non turbo the other day up it and it was really struggling to do 50km/h – and trust me I was trying.

Fuel economy, whats that? I’m running 13 pounds of boost – I think standard is around 8, and I drive with a heavy foot and I would average around 8km/l (480k's to a tank ish) but that’s running with mud tyres on the road. From memory I have gotten to CHCH on road tyres, trying hard to drive economically and got just over 9 km/l. On a trip to Queenstown, with 5 guys in the truck, snowboards on the roof rack and all the beer/gear you need for a weekend up the mountain I think I got just under 6 km/l. So not that good on the gas.

The other thing if you get an auto, you have to fit a decent trans cooler ($120 odd), the factory ones a shit and the gearboxes a really prone to cooking themselves.

Also on the earlier D21’s you have to watch for rust under the back seats.

But if you’ve got the cash, you could buy my truck
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Nissan/auction-319595825.htm

Check for rust underneath the rear seats .... V6 Petrols can be thirsty, front steering components can be prone to breaking offroad ......

Look at Pajero's as well for that budget .....

Had a terrano once! Auto more expenive to fix then manual. Trick to manual so it don't shit itself is fill the oil from the gearstick hole. need to over fill it by about a litre from memory. there is a site in US called NPORA, should still be going, popular truck in US. Mrs. has got same motor in Mistral, get shit load of k's from tank of juice but it depends on added extras and how you drive. Front suspension shit ofr the hard stuff, but otherwise not a bad capable truck. You can modify the IFS to toughen it up. Or SAS. In eence, the terrano diesel i just a bullet proof td42 cut in half.
Al

albundy wrote: the terrano diesel i just a bullet proof td42 cut in half.
Al

Its only got three cylinders?

albundy wrote:Had a terrano once! Auto more expenive to fix then manual. Trick to manual so it don't shit itself is fill the oil from the gearstick hole. need to over fill it by about a litre from memory. there is a site in US called NPORA, should still be going, popular truck in US. Mrs. has got same motor in Mistral, get shit load of k's from tank of juice but it depends on added extras and how you drive. Front suspension shit ofr the hard stuff, but otherwise not a bad capable truck. You can modify the IFS to toughen it up. Or SAS. In eence, the terrano diesel i just a bullet proof td42 cut in half.
Al

cheers mate I am leaning towards a manual ..... good tip regards oil does anyone know what the stated oil capicity is for a manual and what it should be after filling it from the top?

albundy wrote:Had a terrano once! Auto more expenive to fix then manual. Trick to manual so it don't shit itself is fill the oil from the gearstick hole. need to over fill it by about a litre from memory. there is a site in US called NPORA, should still be going, popular truck in US. Mrs. has got same motor in Mistral, get shit load of k's from tank of juice but it depends on added extras and how you drive. Front suspension shit ofr the hard stuff, but otherwise not a bad capable truck. You can modify the IFS to toughen it up. Or SAS. In eence, the terrano diesel i just a bullet proof td42 cut in half.
Al

You said it all Al......ecept a TD 27 is 2/3's the TD 42
I'm pushing over 20psi boost and it was a non-turbo when i got it
1 other trick to making a manual last longer is never load 5th up too much, ie; towing and going up steep hills

Good luck with it.

ive had both, an auto and manual. Manual gearbox shit itself ( and is about 2 again - but thats more me than anything else) and got it fixed for about $1200. AUto gearbox shit itself ( not me) about 3k to get it fixed.

both got about 600 k from a tank. and definiatly check for rust under the back seats, and in the rear guard from the outside.

tracta wrote:ive had both, an auto and manual. Manual gearbox shit itself ( and is about 2 again - but thats more me than anything else) and got it fixed for about $1200. AUto gearbox shit itself ( not me) about 3k to get it fixed.

both got about 600 k from a tank. and definiatly check for rust under the back seats, and in the rear guard from the outside.

cheers for that mate I am a bit surprised that the manual was no better on fuel than the auto?

heavy foot. it may have been, but wasnt by much.