Offroad-Express

Hey guys, am looking at selling my Safari GQ for a smaller 4WD, most likely to be a Terrano. Am looking at two here in CHCH at the moment one a TD27 with 178 kms and a QD32 with 248 kms. Aside from the obvious difference of kms can i get some opinions on which would be the better option.

Not looking to do any hard out 4WDing just wanting it for a wagon to cart my family around, tow the occasional trailer and hit the odd shingle road for hunting and fishing.

Any comments or considerations would be appreciated.

Cheers

Gran_Safari wrote:Hey guys, am looking at selling my Safari GQ for a smaller 4WD, most likely to be a Terrano. Am looking at two here in CHCH at the moment one a TD27 with 178 kms and a QD32 with 248 kms. Aside from the obvious difference of kms can i get some opinions on which would be the better option.

Not looking to do any hard out 4WDing just wanting it for a wagon to cart my family around, tow the occasional trailer and hit the odd shingle road for hunting and fishing.

Any comments or considerations would be appreciated.

Cheers

I own a 98 TD27 eti mistral the FIL owns a 96 QD32 ETI terrano both a good.

The FIL has owned both the earlier WD21 terrano and the R50 and wish he had never sold the earlier one.

the R50 is always chewing through suspension bushes

Are the two you've found both the R50 shape?
If so they are a very similar vehicle, with both suffering from the same gremlins. Take both for a drive, see how you find the power differences.
Check the trim levels suit what you're after (they vary from basic, to quite 'luxurious' with woodgrain dash, spoiler packages etc)
Kms IMO is almost irrelevant. You never know when the odo's been messed with, and a well looked after and regularly serviced vehicle will give much less problems than a thrashed example.
Cheers,
Nath

Yes both are r50, QD32 is a G3M-r and the TD27 is a R3M-r Limited.

What are the gremlins that i need to watch out for?

In the listing for the QD32 it mentions that is has "power take off"
What does that mean?

Cheers

I presume by 'power take off' they are referring to a switch that changes autobox shifting patterns??
Common problems that come to mind are the efi fuel pump playing up causing surging issues, and rear suspension bushes wearing causing a wander. Pump can be costly to fix, the bushes are pretty simple to do.
Not sure if the autos give as much problem in this model as the previous (D21), but its always good practise to flush and fill with new atf, and fit up a trans cooler if doing any towing.

Shit loads more power with the QD32 and more economical too.

I'm going to test drive both trucks tomorrow, what are some of the things i should be looking out/listning for?

Cheers

I drove quite a few when I brought a new truck, and several of them had the injection pump problem (QD32), it is most noticable when taking off from a standstill, they will surge or have a delay in moving with a sudden jerk which feels like a gearbox problem but it isn't (although if left long enough it will cause one ). It is I believe a fairly expensive fix as the pump needs reconditioning. The worst part was the worst one was a dealer that wanted $13500 for it! dreamer haha. I ended up getting a facelift R50 with the ZD30, time will tell weather that was a good decision or not

I asked the dealer about the eti fuel pump and wether he knew if it had been replaced (on the QD32) he reakoned it had been done because it had a blue mark on it, were do i look to find this pump?

get a good security system for it ... theres a lot of them being nicked in chch at the moment, factor this into your budget

Gran_Safari wrote:I asked the dealer about the eti fuel pump and wether he knew if it had been replaced (on the QD32) he reakoned it had been done because it had a blue mark on it, were do i look to find this pump?

there are blue and yellow and white..actually could be many colours...

why you ask.. It depends on what colour marker pen the guy doing the final inspection on the assembly line is using on the day.

I'll be honest... if it wasn't for the fact we have a diesel mechanic as a family friend i would have not brought the mistral knowing it was getting near the magic 180 thou mark where everything starts to go wrong or wear out with most jap vehicles.

But since the pump rebuild and modification it goes like a cut cat.... stabbed rat ..take your pick