Offroad-Express

Hi fellas

New here so take it easy on me

Looking at buying my first truck in NZ.

Used to landrovers but my experience with releiability is a concern so I thought I would try either a toyota or nissan.

Looking at either a 96 toyota surf ssrx 3.0 diesel auto or a 97 nissan terranno rsr? 3.2 diesel auto. Both imports. Both Have low km's About 60k. Would be eager to hear from you guys with the pros and cons of each truck maybe someone here has run both?

Not looking at doing real serious rough off road stuff (yet) but the option might be good.

Advice on what to look for or avoid in either of these would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance fellas.

Draig

oh man you had to ask

here we go this could get interesting

Both are good reliable rigs, and will handle soft to medium club style trips with no real problems. Tyre choice is probably the biggest part of the equation at this point. (not prepared to offer opinion on this as it can open a big can of worms for discussion).

Further down the track, if you start to get biten harder by the 4wd bug, my opinion is that the toyota is hard to beat, if for no other reason than the fact that the aftermarket bits and peices are more readily available for them. (resale is invariably slightly better on toyota as well)

If you like and/or are capable of engineering your own parts, pick the rig you are most confrtable with.

Just remeber the whole thing is to have fun eh!!!!!

Just my 2c worth.

Coming from a Nissan Guy buy the toyota, at least it has a real chassis

hey - also forgot to ask is the auto option good for most off road stuff - only ever owned manual landys. Choice of manuals here are very very limited.

Also km's - seen some nice trucks with 120k on them. How bullet proof are these motors? Will be doing relitevely high anual km's 40k per year. What sort of life can one expect out of these?

Better to get one with the spare mounted under or on the rear?

Sorry lots of questions.

Draig.

as rokhound stated, both rigs are toyota great and are well worth toyota your attention.. i'm happy with toyota the decision i've made and toyota will be stickin with it till toyota the end... i loves my landcruiser...

at the end of the day,you should go with what youre comfortable with.. its your money..

p.s.. that subliminal message get ya?

good luck and happy shoppin

Draig wrote:hey - also forgot to ask is the auto option good for most off road stuff - only ever owned manual landys. Choice of manuals here are very very limited.

Also km's - seen some nice trucks with 120k on them. How bullet proof are these motors? Will be doing relitevely high anual km's 40k per year. What sort of life can one expect out of these?

Better to get one with the spare mounted under or on the rear?

Sorry lots of questions.

Draig.

personally i prefer manual..

diesels will go forever, (provided theyre cared for correctly) can expect 200+ kms easy from what i understand.. maybe someone else could chime in on that one..

as for the spare, last thing ya want is being up to the chassis in mud, diggin out the spare from under the rear.. stuff that, rear mounted if poss or convert to in truck after purchase when goin on trails, if possible..?

like i said earlier.. good luck, you'll enjoy it..!

[quote="niblik"]:twisted:


p.s.. that subliminal message get ya?

I knew that my subliminal messaging was just far to shallow

Cheers niblik, I'll try to be a bit more forth right in the future

Toys for the boys.
Now how does releiving yourself rhyme with Nissan?

Nibliks got his bases covered though hes got 3 Cruiser alright But he still can't bear to part with his trusty old Series II Landrover!! You don't hear him talking about it to much.......

Hey Draig
A well cared for Toyota or Nissan diesel will go for ages. My neighbour has a 3.2 turbo nissan with 326000kms on it , and it still drives like a newish car (hasn't done much off road work though).
I also have an old 60 series 4.0ltr diesel with 480000 hard arse kms on it (admitidly it is now near buggered, but it starts first go every time, even after sitting for 6 mths)
Rig should be a bit cheaper if the odo is over the majic 100km (more money to spend on kitting it out). No matter what diesel you buy, make sure you get it compression and leak down tested. (usally cost about $60 I think).

my dad owns a 96 terrano regulus.Its done just under 250k with servicing every 5000km.

The Toy has a chassis which that model nissan hasn't.
The toy has a WEAK front drive, diff and CVs, they break with 31s
J Top

the toyota gives you more options for ruture mods, also teh toy will fit bigger wheels easier without attacking teh guards

I run 35" tyres with a rear locker and haven't broken any major parts yet(touch wood) i have had to do a couple of birfields but i think that was more to do with my brake applications. Granted the Toy driveline isn't as strong as the nissan but that doesn't mean its weak either. I think its a personal choice. There will always be for and against as they are both good trucks in there own ways.

*cough* toyota *cough*

Look at the clubs and see what everyone is running, there are the Lancruisers and the Safari crowd in the big heavy end at about a 70/30 mix in the groups I have been out with, but I do not see many of the smaller ones offroad except Toyotas an Landrovers.

Personal choice I run a Toyota Petrol (my choice) My Father and Brother run Toyota Diesel. There are a lot more bits and knowledge out there for Toyotas if something does go wrong.

So Toyota from me.