Not sure what to buy - Family vs 4wd....

[Oncealoma]

Hi all,

My 1997 Nissan Patrol, SWB has just been stolen - have put a pic/note in the stolen vehicles section.

Need to replace, but needs have changed, so thought I'd ask for some advice.

Essentially the main change is that I now have 3 kids under 4 to consider. A 2 door was becoming a bit of a pain. The wife has a nissan maxima, which does most of the kid transport.

I dont really do a lot of 4wding these days, as the vehicle I buy also has to be my daily runaround. However, I dont want to lose the absolute capability, plus I have a jetboat, so some of the ramps are river based.

I only do around 5000kms a year.

I have $21K to spend, ideally less. Had only just settled on a long term plan, which was to keep my truck forever (I've had it for 9 years), then upgrade the wifes vehicle to a 7 seater at some point down the track. We would just put up with the inconvenienceof the 2 doors.

I am now at a cross road - given that I dont really have a need for a really solid 4wd. Do I consider petrol or diesel only, what vehicle is going to give me good reliability, practicality, comfort, longevity, value for money??

Really interested in any comments - at this stage I am open to all solutions (including selling the wifes car) Someone may have been through a similar experience as their family's have come along....I have a horrible feeling that the word 'compromise' may need to come into the equation.

Sorry for the long post, as you can perhaps tell its a decision I want to get right.

Kind regards
Oncealoma

[Jerry]

include the price of a good security system and maybe a tracker as well in your replacement budget


would recommend cobra and autowatch ... don't mess round with the other "5 star" ones, and someone that will install it properly

have a read up here
http://www.vehiclesecurity.co.nz/

[niblik]

mate, dont be worried about the length of post etc.. you got a few queries to answer and wanna consider options, its all good.. i hear ya on the family thing as i have 4 kids and mrs plus tow my offroaders occasionally so 7 seats and 'towability' were things i needed.

you gotta consider though, do the kids and mrs join you offroad? what pedallin you do? hardcore mud, rockcrawlin, average grade or shiny trips? perhaps entertain the thought of a dedicated trailered offroader and get a comfy 7 seater tow wagon? could save beatin up your daily driver? i know a few blokes that have gone this way. could that be another option?

why 7 seats when you have 5 members in your family? 5 seater vehicles would open the market options up for you..?

with 21k the worlds your oyster, so to speak..

[tweake]

i would be inclined to go with a LWB patrol.
better for towing than a SWB, easier to fit the kids in etc.
at 5000km a year it will rust out before you wear it out. petrol/diesel doesn't matter. i would be inclined to go petrol. no ruc, cheaper rego. fuel cost doesn't mean jack for such small km's, it will be well and truly offset by the cheaper rego.

[keithal]

why 7 seats when you have 5 members in your family? 5 seater vehicles would open the market options up for you..?

Extra seats for a couple of the kids mates maybe?

[Oncealoma]

Hi - Jeez you blokes are quick to reply! Thanks.

Yeah, the 7 seater idea is more of a future proof thing - eg taking kids/mates to sports etc etc. Dont want to go down the bongo van track just yet.....

The Mrs isnt really part of the equation on any of the trips - mainly hunting access really. But theres been buggar all of that recently, or better still, have used mates wagons instead of mine.
I would almost class most of my trips as easy 4wd, as i just didnt like bashing my truck around. Main thing I need is to be able to pull the jetboat out of a river, soft shingle etc (Canterbury/West coast/Otago). The beauty of the old patrol was I always knew I had the capacity to get into the tougher stuff if I needed to.
I am thinking that I'd like a vehicle that could handle the tougher stuff if I needed to. But thats where I may need to be realistic.

The petrol comments made are interesting & I'm starting to think down that track. Thats for reinforcing the point.

I just looked at a yard & sat in a few wagons -
Explorer - great layout for the family, but I imagine its 4wd capability wouldnt be that good?? V6 petrol. Good value for money?
Prado - feels like you pay for a badge? Quite a lot of $ involved
Disco V8 - How dear to run would it be? Quite good family layout.
Pajero - the guy was pretty convinced this would be a good fit. 3.2L Diesel, or better still a 3.8lt petrol, he didnt have any to show me
Patrol - He wasnt too happy to sell me a 3litre turbo LWB one. Really felt the 4.2L LWB would be the best bet, but they are rare as all hell.
All I ended up doing was getting more confused!! I guess I really need to sit down & work out the priorities.
Yeah, world is my oyster.....just too many oysters to choose from!!
Cheers

[gimmemud]

I would agree with the dealer about the 3.0 patrol, my work mate got a new one at the start of the year and it's a lot of vehicle to move around with that motor. If you enjoyed the patrol, what about just getting a lwb? The 4.8 petrol ones are loved over here

[Dirtydog]

Seems like a lwb safari/patrol would be the way to go, but dont overlook a diesel, sure they may be gutless but they have a better tourqe range for getting places.

a Freind of mine has a lwb safari, hes a builder and hes always carring around all his gear, hes had a few trucks over the years and he reackons he wont go back.

hes never had a problem with it, does exactly what he wants it to.

with a poly air system in the rear it would be even better for towing aswell.

and at least there is plenty of parts here in nz for them.

[CLUMZ1]

Heya mate, I don't have kids but I've got mates to truck around with,

I've owned a Jeep Wrangler, LWB Mitsi Pajero and am now driving a '92 LWB 7seat Safari.

Go for the 4.2, on these forums and the aussie ones I read it seems like the 3.0 is a grenade ticking away under the hood.

I love the Safari (Patrol), and reckon its the best truck I've had yet.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/nissan/safari/auction-499400562.htm $17G 7 seat, 4.2 diesel.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/nissan/patrol/auction-503070902.htm $15G 7 seat, 4.2 diesel.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/nissan/patrol/auction-501868992.htm $? 7 seat, petrol.

or go for the older shape, more truck for the money... this one http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/nissan/safaripatrol/auction-494734523.htm looks super tidy

Just my 2c

[juz]

I agree with most others, LWB Patrol would be ideal.
Heres a good priced petrol one from central. Looks tidy as, leather? 7 seater, resonable K's for the $$$$

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 246842.htm

[tow99]

what ever you do DON'T BUY A V6 FORD EXPLORER!

[Rotazuk]

Have you looked at something like this
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 003676.htm
2004 landrover discovery . I am biased , as I have a 99 TD5 , but think its another worthwhile option to look at .

It's around 5 years newer than the nissan and a bunch less km's . It's a v8 , small one but still sounds like a v8 . At 5000km's a year I think petrol is a better option and good power for towing . With the cornering system , ace , it will be very comfortable . Not been in a late model nissan but would walk all over an 80 series for comfort .
With the rear airbag suspension it is well suited to towing , no need to put in polly springs or anything like that as sugested . Will be soft when empty but still be level when loaded . For mild offroad , as you imply that's all it will do , the rear can be raised by the airbags too help if its long overhang gets caught . Also what sell's it for me is the traction control , would help greatly for the odd time off road .

The are no match for a kitted out patrol or 80 series , but off the yard I can't think of anything better . Solid axles all round compaired to , well anything bar the patrol and cruiser , will be better offroad .

They are not a machine to go and put 35's on and rip around the bush , left stock they should do the job . They have issues I am sure , as do all makes , but get a d2a (2002+ I think ) will be better than my 99 with 250,000 km on the clock .

Just my thoughts and maybe something else to look at

Chris

[xj]

I know where theres something that may fit the bill.... (ahem).... (shameless bit of self-serving product plugging...)
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =499780966

[mudtroll]

I agree with most others, LWB Patrol would be ideal.
Heres a good priced petrol one from central. Looks tidy as, leather? 7 seater, resonable K's for the $$$$

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 246842.htm

If your going to buy a petrol patrol buy one of these, heaps more grunt than the 4.5, much better auto (5 spd) & better brakes.

[Big]

maybe get a diesel turbo Pootral.. couple guys here have put urbos on theirs and goddam they hall..just a thought and at 21k budget.. the world of pootrals is ya oyster.. not a super late model one though..

[Oncealoma]

Hi gents - Thanks again for the replies.

XJ - nice rig, a bit too hard core for me at the moment. I may build my next truck up over time again, like I was planning on my old patrol.

Petrol 4.8l patrol - Have been told these are pretty hard on juice? I know I only do 5000k's, but that could change down the track & only really want to buy once. However - are these good for long slow hauls up rivers (eg Rangitata style). That gold one does look nice though.

Took a V8 disco for a spin, just did not like the feel.

Where I'm leaning at the moment is a 4.2L LWB Patrol without too many ks (under 180k??).

However - I have got a bit of work to do re the insurance. I've worked out how much additional gear got flogged with it & its currently sitting at around $8K. However, lots of it is old stuff that i have accumulated over the years (& hardly used), so possibly wont get paid out much from insurance. I need an outcome from insurance before I can know what I have to spend.

MORALE OF STORY - MAKE SURE YOU TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOS/KEEP RECEIPTS OF THE STUFF YOU KEEP IN YOUR TRUCK. MAKE SURE YOU INFORM INSURANCE OF YOUR MODS!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers

[Oncealoma]

Hi turoa - sent you a pm, but it seems to have stuck in the 'outbox' not sure why.
Interested.

Cheers

[KIWI_TERRANO]

Mate that runs garage at tekapo has one of the petrol one like that gold one on other page, its running lpg with 34 and reackons he gets just as good of ks out of it as i would my old 1kz surf on 33s got ,

Well worth a lot and heaps of power

[CLUMZ1]

Hi turoa - sent you a pm, but it seems to have stuck in the 'outbox' not sure why.
Interested.

Cheers

It will stay in outbox until he reads it.

[Herd]

IF you're only doing 5K a year, a petrol is what you need. I purchased a Safari LWB 1992 EFi with 90k for $9,200 about 3 yrs ago. It's a low roof, 7 seater, front and rear a/c, rear axle LSD, rear axle articulation remote release, heavy duty webbed tow bar and auto with a free wheeling front hubs. I would have paid double that if it was a diesel. Our Safari does about 9000km a year. LWB make better tow vehicles than SWB 4x4. I only use the 4WD when retrieving our boat off the beach and when off road on "shinny trips". The Patrol/Safari springs sag abit. You can use those airbags to lift the rear but it will reduce your articulation for off roading. I replaced the factory springs (and they had saged with 90k on the clock) with HD Cobra springs that are made in Christchurch and a new rear set of Koni shocks.
I've done some modelling using MS spreedsheets and am convinced with a capital cost differential between petrol and deisel vehicles of $10k with all the other differentials as per the AA annual vehicle costs (see their web site for reports that cost $7 for non members) that I would have to do 20k a year before the cost of running my petrol Safari would exceed that of running a deisel Safari. According to the AA figure, the average motorist in NZ does 14k pa and this costs $1.0848c/km for a deisel and $1.0770c/km for a petrol in a 3000cc+ vehicle.

[Tarmac]

With the way ACC levies and road K's are goin the economy of diesels is fast goin down the shitter. Esp if your doing lower K's per year it has to be more economic to go petrol. As mentioned you get a shit load more car for your money in larger 4wds to purchse the petrol version

80 series petrol?

[Oncealoma]

Hi - Interesting re the petrol consumption calcs.

Any feedback on how dear the 4.8litre petrol patrols are? Would I need to re-mortgage?

Cheers