Offroad-Express

Im thinking of the following viechles :

Isuzu MU
Hilux Surf
Nissan Terrano
Nissan Safai

Can anyone tell me what sort of pros and cons there are of each ive herd the safaris are awsome and the surfs heads are prown to damage terrano gearboxs etc a run down would be much appreciated.

Looking 1990 to 96 at the moment just something that will go on the beach tow my bikes and will keep going.

Cheers Guys

Safari's go for ever they are very strong and they have a solid front diff which doesnt limit diff clearance. Id go for the safari.....my 2c worth

Big_Ben wrote:Im thinking of the following viechles :

Toyota Landcruiser 40 Series
Toyota Landcruiser 60 Series
Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series
Toyota Landcruiser 80 Series
Toyota Landcruiser 100 Series

Can anyone tell me what sort of pros and cons there are of each ive herd the safaris are awsome and the surfs heads are prown to damage terrano gearboxs etc a run down would be much appreciated.

Looking 1990 to 96 at the moment just something that will go on the beach tow my bikes and will keep going.

Cheers Guys

Based on what you are looking for I'd go for a Toyota Landcruiser, probabily the 80 series . Safaris are pretty tough but they are also farkin heavy - I had an old 4.2 diesel safari that was real strong but drove like a pig.

If your towing bikes down the beach - I'd actually probabily look at a Hilux ute (to put the Bikes in the back tray).

MNC wrote:

Big_Ben wrote:Im thinking of the following viechles :

Toyota Landcruiser 40 Series
Toyota Landcruiser 60 Series
Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series
Toyota Landcruiser 80 Series
Toyota Landcruiser 100 Series

Can anyone tell me what sort of pros and cons there are of each ive herd the safaris are awsome and the surfs heads are prown to damage terrano gearboxs etc a run down would be much appreciated.

Looking 1990 to 96 at the moment just something that will go on the beach tow my bikes and will keep going.

Cheers Guys

Based on what you are looking for I'd go for a Toyota Landcruiser, probabily the 80 series . Safaris are pretty tough but they are also farkin heavy - I had an old 4.2 diesel safari that was real strong but drove like a pig.

If your towing bikes down the beach - I'd actually probabily look at a Hilux ute (to put the Bikes in the back tray).

he has some valid point (even though he's a biased toymotor driver )

don't buy anything with leaf springs like a hilux unless you own a neck brace and kidney belt go for something with a solid fornt diff and coils allround. my pick would be either a 80 series like mnc said or a safari (safari's are very heavy and sluggish though)

sweeta 80 series sounds sweet anyone like the explorer?? how much fuel do they really use ??

Stay away from the exploder. They are crap. They are weak on strength, build quality, reliability, and economy.

Are you going to be doing anything other than driving on sand?. Ie do you want to get into club trips, rutted track expolring etc?
If all you are doing is beach driving, just about any Jap 4wd will do the job well with some reasonable allterrain tyres on.
Buy the one you like driving on the road the most.

Safari's are a little heavy, but for the price you can pick them up for now, they are well worth the money.
Yes they are heavy, but easy enough to turbo, and they are built to last.

My SWB is a little sluggish, but I would drive this any day over a Surf.

sweet as cheers yea i would love to get into some club stuff to with the appropriate suspension upgrades etc spsoe this rules out a terrano and the likes unfortunatly i have 12k max so cant really go all out on a truck ?

12k will easily buy a Safari, if thats what you want of course.
Heaps on Trade Me, and for that price you can buy a standard one and have money to mod, or buy a modded one.

Where abouts are you?

I know where a good one is in wellys if your interested

Isuzu MU
Hilux Surf
Nissan Terrano
Nissan Safai

Isuzu Mu- mine was VERY UNRELIABLE! No space if you want to go away somewhere, 3 door is a pain in the ass. Grunty motor tho. My auto blew up.

Terranos are a bit weak. (my opinion)

Safaris are as tough as nails, slow, yeah, not bad. The 2.8 hilux was slow too, and the safari motor is better off road due to mountains of torque.

lux or safari in my opinion.

and the mu's don't go as far as a suzuki, mind you neither do the terranos

im in tauranga by the way so sounds like a surf or safari wouldnt mind a surf tho just like the look of them.

what models do i stay away from mostly ?? Any uying advice when looking for one of these ??

the early 2 door IFS ones, don't get one. the top ball joints are prone to failing and then you have all sorts of fun trying to hang on to it.

warlord225 wrote:and the mu's don't go as far as a suzuki, mind you neither do the terranos

my terrano goes very well......any of the four on your list can be capable trucks.....jst dont get a vitara!!

Buy the one you like driving on the road the most.

I'd agree with that comment. Go for a drive in each of them, and see which one you like for the type of driving you do. After all, it's you who has to drive it every day

Hmm I don't think you could go too far wrong with this one.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 102044.htm

Sounds like all the mechanicals are done and is manual and has diff locks

Looks to be a really good basis for a truck

daisy wrote:

warlord225 wrote:and the mu's don't go as far as a suzuki, mind you neither do the terranos

whata mean my mu will eat your "sook" any day bring it on!!!!!!!!!


GO ISUZU

who was being pulled out backwards, after how many zookies went through .

anyway back on topic, personally the newer terranos, (the mcpherson strut ones) and a cruiser or safari would be my personal pick, don't know much about mu's, and yes I'm a very biased vitara driver

Big_Ben wrote:Im thinking of the following viechles :

Isuzu MU
Hilux Surf
Nissan Terrano
Nissan Safai

Can anyone tell me what sort of pros and cons there are of each ive herd the safaris are awsome and the surfs heads are prown to damage terrano gearboxs etc a run down would be much appreciated.

Looking 1990 to 96 at the moment just something that will go on the beach tow my bikes and will keep going.

Cheers Guys

I've had a few of these trucks.

Mu - Not a bad truck. plenty of power for the size of it. limited to how much mods can be done due to IFS. Overall good for a tight budget.

Explorer - Great to drive. Never seen something drink so much gas. On paper looks good but only good for ski roads and the likes. Very expensive for parts.

Safari - Not had 1 but reputation speaks for itself. Only real fault is weight.

Surf - In a 3l diesel has the same benefits as the Mu but much better looking and has 5 doors but still has the prob of limited mods with IFS.

Cruiser - Most of the Cruisers, with the exception of the 80 series, are quite primitive in their interior and handling but with the right alterations will go almost anywhere. The 80 series seems to have the best of them all with plenty of power, Sits well on the road and with a few minor adjustments has the making of a superb offroading beast.

Hope this is of use to you. Your're the one who has to drive it everyday so go try a few out. You should be able to find a good truck for 12G.

cheers guys yea i im heading towards the cruiser and terrano will be good on the road (terrano is nice onroad drive one of the old mans mates ones) will settle for auto if i come across i nice one but the cruisers seem rather nice will have to see what they are like to drive on road as the offroad use will be kept to beach and gravel roads etc a suspension lift and a decent set of tyres would really be it wouldnt it ?? Shouldnt have to worry about lsds lockers and the likes at this stage ?? What are the terranos like in terms of mods ?? easy enough to fit a suspension lift and the likes ?

Cheers again Guys

i have a 94 widebody terrano and have lifted it 2 inches with lift springs in the rear and adjustments in the front there are plenty of things avalible for them and plenty of people on this site have them and have done extensive mods(al bundy)...... very nice to drive on and offroad, i have the 3L v6 model which has plenty of power but a bit thirsty........i dont know how good the diesil one are.... the only reason i dont take it offroad anymore is i diddnt want to wreck it so i got a zuk sj413 hope this helps

great cheers mate i have never seen one lifted do you have any pics of it bro ?? just quite curious thats all

standard



sorry cant find a pic of it standing so you can see the lift but with 2inch lift and 31s it is preety good


terranos can jump!

hahah sweet very nice fairly capable truck compared to the likes of the safari etc in the background ?

I've had both petrol and Diesel Terranos. I sold my V6 petrol one because I'm cheap and it was thirsty to run. I have recently purchased a Diesel, which is standard so far. The Diesel goes well but is reasonably tame in terms of power. For road running I'd choose the Diesel for economy, for offroading I'd choose the V6 for the extra power that helps clear the treads when it gets muddy.

If your curious as to how to modify one, there's a power of info on this site alone. Take a look at the following...

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=889

sweet cheers alot of reading to be had there

go to this us site http://www.nissanpathfinders.com/Index.htm and find out how far you can go with a terrano/pathfinder....

arghhh might go this now ??? good quality exterior no dents etc recaro interior manual and a suspension lift would be on the cards and some 32s prolly sound alright fellas ?? That model is a decent one is it not ??

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =102407915

also low ks for a truck of its age.