Offroad-Express

You guys might be sick of these requests... anyway, I am interested in what comments people have between the following two 4wd's which seem to be around the same price...

Nissan Terrano R3M-R, looking at the 1999 facelift model 3.2ltr D

or

Surf / Prado 3ltr D (1996 / 97)

It will be a weekend only truck, main use will be occasional towing duty (another car hanging off the back), and very regular fishing trips over some rough farm tracks/hills and or across very looong soft sandy beaches...

Looking for a good all rounder, not too expensive to run, must be mechancially bullet-proof, comfortable, what people's missus may think, etc...

Not having owned a 4wd before, I would appreciate any feedback on strengths and weaknesses...

Cheers and thanks
Tony

Go for the 90 series toyota. (prado) they have more snot and better off road ability as a STANDARD vehicle. The comparable Terrano would be the 3.0ltr turbo diesel
I have a 96 prado, and as an allround wagon, its great.
As usual there is a price difference, (toy is more exspensive). Mileage is about 600-650kms out of a tank for around town driving (about $80-$90 to fill from empty).
Neither of these trucks are stunning in serious off road ability, but having seen the articulation that a standard Terrano manages, the Toy would eat it.

Drive em both, and pick the one you like the most.

Cheers Rokhound, these are examples of what I am considering...

Toyota:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 7.htm?p=10

Nissan:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =106896300

I like the look of the Nissan, but hear better things about the Toyota... decisions decisions

The newer nissan looks closer to a people mover than a 4wd, that particular toyota is petrol, myself i went for the toyota (3.0 d/t) and find they go great. As its been said if you plan on serious off roading neither are fantastic without extensive mods, but if its a choice of the two i'd be going the toyota, maintain it well and it will serve you well. Or have a look at some of the prado's they are great

Petrol in either will be a thirsty beast.
I don't know how the 3rd generation surfs go, but they have basiclly the same running gear as the prado. (except that the prado is permanent 4wd). If you are looking at the surf diesel go for the intercooled turbo.
I thought that model Terrano in Diesel was the 3.0ltr engine. They go very well also.

rokhound wrote:I thought that model Terrano in Diesel was the 3.0ltr engine. They go very well also.

I think your right but that one is a petrol, they were 3.3 litre.

Something like this...
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... key=727404

Forget the nissans, they are crap Well especially that model, I maybe wrong but I'm pretty sure that model doesnt have a chassis, no good for 4wding, you get very bad body twist, hard to mount tow hooks which are mandatory on club trips.

Mike

me being a nissan guy , find a prado you can afford , you ll have no problems with one of those

mike wrote:Forget the nissans, they are crap
Mike

Dont ever listen to Landrover owners they lost the plot years ago
But that terrano proberly would not be the best Nissan for what you want to do how about a Safari

Nice and shiny
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=114033454&key=840970

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=106474371&key=841493

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=113271881&key=841493

Toyota Surf or Toyota Prado

(except that the prado is permanent 4wd)

News to me - is that the very late ones?

Have a 94 and 98 prado both have hi lo and 2wd.

Prado is a surprisingly capable off road vehicle in standard form. The 3ltr engine is good. Infact mods motors (trade me motors newsletter) showed the 90 series prado as one of the most popular suvs on the NZ roads.

I have a 70 series (1994) prado for sale at the moment. Almost sold it over the weekend but the buyer's partner is about to have a baby so couldn't come up with the cash.

Both would do what you want but the toyota would be more expensive initially but they just seem to keep going.

Farm tracks and fishing spots the toyota would be a little more capable out of the box and it is what most of the farmers buy anyway

You don't need to go the Safari unless you like driving a tractor, and the Prado while really nice some find a little big, they both make good offroaders and great towing vehicles. If I was you I would go for a 3.0 turbo diesel Surf, and get wider tires on it for on the beach and if a lot of towing or heavy loads I would look at the cooling capabilities of the surf (larger radiator and auto gearbox cooler if an auto).

Oh and you can tell me the best spots to go fishing too I won't tell anyone.

Never thought I would say it, but go the prado . Nissan lost the plot with their terranos after 1995 to the current model . The inbetween model had no proper ladder chassis so it makes it somewhat difficult to add wiches, tow hooks, bullbars. Never thought I would ever say that.
Al

Cheers guys, this is all good stuff, you are way too cool :afro:

Looks like the Toymotor is the way to go! One more "dummies" question - what are the key differences between the surf and prado (besides the obvious).

like my tractor thanks

re10 wrote:Cheers guys, this is all good stuff, you are way too cool :afro:

Looks like the Toymotor is the way to go! One more "dummies" question - what are the key differences between the surf and prado (besides the obvious).

um part time 4wd in the surf( only two wheel drive on the road)
full time 4wd in the prado

prado can have seven seats

and price! up to 10k difference for the same years etc

Playdoh is quite a bit higher over all than a surf as well.
If you area going to use it for work at all, then the other thing that you may notice is that the Prado has a 1 peice, swinging back door vs the tail gate set up on the surf. Don't know what size rims the surf is on, but the Prado is 16" factory, and this can make a difference to tyre prices.
The permanent 4wd thing doesn't seem to be detremental in any way on mine, if fact quite the opposite when I'm towing the 'Mutt.

Hope all this is some help.

well i have always been a toyota man but my last 2 trucks have both been teranos my latest 1 i purchased last week and is a 97 3.2 litre turbo diesal and is by far the most comfortable truck i have ridden in. i went the nissan way because i didnt like the way the surfs rode and the prados seemed a bit top heavy. My terrano will easily tow my truck at 140kph without me relising. Test drive all possible trucks and make a decsion on the truck that feels best to you. My 2c

albundy wrote:Never thought I would say it, but go the prado . Nissan lost the plot with their terranos after 1995 to the current model . The inbetween model had no proper ladder chassis so it makes it somewhat difficult to add wiches, tow hooks, bullbars. Never thought I would ever say that.
Al

coxsy wrote:like my tractor thanks

same.......

had a few 4x4 in england,landrover defender 90,had a thing called a umn made by alter aswell,few toyotas and mitsy aswell all farm trucks and done some hard work, and i have to say it i like my tractor the best!!!
vince

PigFmr wrote:

coxsy wrote:like my tractor thanks

same.......

had a few 4x4 in england,landrover defender 90,had a thing called a umn made by alter aswell,few toyotas and mitsy aswell all farm trucks and done some hard work, and i have to say it i like my tractor the best!!!
vince

PR wrote:

PigFmr wrote:

coxsy wrote:like my tractor thanks

same.......

had a few 4x4 in england,landrover defender 90,had a thing called a umn made by alter aswell,few toyotas and mitsy aswell all farm trucks and done some hard work, and i have to say it i like my tractor the best!!!
vince

PR you still going to enter your tractor in the sheffield mud plug???

PigFmr wrote:

PR wrote:

PigFmr wrote:

coxsy wrote:like my tractor thanks

same.......

had a few 4x4 in england,landrover defender 90,had a thing called a umn made by alter aswell,few toyotas and mitsy aswell all farm trucks and done some hard work, and i have to say it i like my tractor the best!!!
vince

PR you still going to enter your tractor in the sheffield mud plug???

OK maybe tractor was a bit strong...

All I was trying to say is the Safari's are not the best mannered 4wd out there and if I were looking at offroad ability and towing then off the shelf a Sa(cough) um well or a Prado is not that bad an option.

But they are not in the same league on road as a IFS surf or Terrano as the original thread was about everything has good and bad points you have to weigh (choice of words?) up and size issues (parking) and yes I own and drive a leaf sprung hilux, and put up with it on the road for the tray, the fact it is light and the nice simple design, I put up with the no aircon and the leaf sprung ride because these were and still are not important in my choice of 4x4 Oh and I own a Sa(cough) tractor too (to pull a boat out of the water, don't mind dunking it in the salt water)

Steve_t647 have you driven this model Safari Because when I drove one I thought its was just as comfortable if not more then any prado that I have driven before and its on road handling abilitys semmed better

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=113271881&key=841493

Nope fortunatley the one-eyed cantabrian in me only see's our team's the AB's, Crusaders and Toyota's

I admit I have been in them and they are nice and comfy, but it would be interesting to see their offroad ability out of the box and with minor mods (comparable to the mods performed on earlier one's) like the newer Prado's they are far more like a daily shopper and school bus for those that buy them.

Sad to say but in a few years we may have to do what Rockhound, Steve, Engineer and Jaffa have done and build it ourselves, now that will put new meaning to built not bought (or we all get Jeeps and buy the US stuff to stick under them)

That is one brand that should be mentioned in the list too, the Jeep Cherokee has the potential to show up both the Prado and Sa(cough)

i have a 96 kzn185 3rd gen intercooled diesel surf. it is alot more economical to run than my 4x4 2.8 hilux was. it has the lift up back door like a van not like earlier surfs that you have to wind the window down to open the tailgate. has plently of power for towing it has had a suspension lift so it now rides quite nice on and offroad standard suspension sucks, havnt had any problems with it as yet, but finding after market accessorys can be a bit difficult and take a little time but they are out there. if you push the 4wd button with out shifting the stick into locked position you can drive on hard surfaces ie gravel or icy roads with out damageing anything, something to do with the center diff
hope this can help you if any Q's quote me

Steve_t647 wrote:Nope fortunatley the one-eyed cantabrian in me only see's our team's the AB's, Crusaders and Toyota's

I was born and bread here too and as for toymotor I am pretty sure the ABs and crusaders are supported by those crap Fords

4wdnuts wrote:

re10 wrote:Cheers guys, this is all good stuff, you are way too cool :afro:

Looks like the Toymotor is the way to go! One more "dummies" question - what are the key differences between the surf and prado (besides the obvious).

um part time 4wd in the surf( only two wheel drive on the road)
full time 4wd in the prado

prado can have seven seats

and price! up to 10k difference for the same years etc

Is it NZ new Prados that are full time 4x4? Like I say both the 70 and 90 series one's we have are selectable.

The Prado is a whole different class of machine to the Surf. You definitely notice the extra weight on and off road. The main feature is the 8 seater as opposed to 5 seater. The prado's have a higher body compartment so your seating position is quite upright, the surfs have a high floor/low seat so it feels more like a coupe to sit in.

You really need to try both to compare, and then check the finance as the price is quite different.

Cheers Tintin, good hearing views from a current owner.

And fweddy, I like the sound of sitting in a "coupe" (which is what will be towed on the odd occassion!).

The more I read, the more I think that the surf will be good for what I need. Just need to think about how much to spend to get a nice one. Low K's, clean etc... (and a colour that the missus is happy with )