Living in the UK we seem to have a few landcruisers and nissans about at the right price .
I know most people on here seem to go with the crusier 80 series .
any views on the big nissan patrol 4.2 ? any downside i need to look for ?
Twodogs

The newer Patrols reportedly have a sensitive fuel pump - I've read NGO reports of them failing in northern Kenya (contaminated fuel from drums etc) and they turned out to be very expensive to replace.

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Enzo

I had a GQ TD42 Patrol for 18 months as a company car a good while back and it was a great car - it was stable and comfy and a really good car. Some would argue that the TD42 is even better than the Toyo 1HZ 4.2 as it has timing chain rather than belt if I recall, and it is a very smooth engine.
You can also fit an aftermarket turbo - like the 1HZ - although I believe that for some reason after 1995 the TD42 should not be fitted with an aftermarket turbo, but no idea why!
Gil

there's a thread here in the forum about patrols started by my for no long ago...

I'm just about to buy a 3.0 2003 Patrol, the 3.0i is the one you need to go. I did an extensive research about this model and IMHO here is where you get the most for your money (notice that the 3.0 has the same HP and torque than the 4.2 even if it has only 4 cylinders)

i don't believe the problem with diesel is general as this engine (ZD30) is not common rail and in dodgy places you could easily fit a Raco filter underneath if diesel is bad.

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Mario T. - southing

A few views here on the 3.0 Patrol and other alternatives. I haven't driven one, but if they are better than the 4.2 then they must be damn good. However I would stay away from the early ones...
Nissan Patrol 3LTR to buy or not to buy?? @ ExplorOz

I have said it before on a few posts, but so long as your filtration and servicing is up to standard there is nothing to fear about the African fuel and modern engine mixture - I was a bit "nervous" when we had to buy new fangled Renault trucks and CAT equipment. So far not missed a beat and better reliability than their mechanical brothers! Filters cost a bit though, but easily made up in fuel savings.
Gil

thanks for the information Gents it all helps
Twodogs

A patrol is going to be a good compromise solution - its a heavy weight offroader for a very reasonable price. On this basis they are now challenging Toyata LC in Australia. However, in my opinion, the Landcruiser is a much nicer vehicle to drive. My first car was an old Nissan patrol and I had one of the current shape on order when they were first coming out in Aus before there was a long delay and I ended up buying a LR Disco instead. So given the above, I've twice been keen to get a 3.0TD Patrol and each time my wife and I have gone to test drive one, we have both been really disappointed with it. On the last occasion we wanted a 4x4 for every day use and we ended up buying a Shogun 3.2D instead. Now the patrol is probably a better heavy duty offroad option if you want to go overlanding / offroading and we already have a Defender and a Unimog so we didn't need to make that compromise. Definitely worth driving if you haven't already to see whether you like them or not and if you afford the extra, I would go for a Landcruiser. Very much down to personal preference however as the Patrol will be more than capable of getting the job done. From all the research I did when we were looking, the 3.0TD is a better choice than the 4.2TD - it produces as much power, is more economical and a newer design.

Thanks Toby
Twodogs

We did London/Ct with patrols. No problems except the filters!!!!!! we went through 30 or so filters in 5 months....between 5 vehicles

Vehicles were 2.8td.

Very nice fully kitted. No problems with conditions...albeit ABS was scary when stopping with the load on corrugated roads!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As mario said...try to fit inline diesel filter prior to the filter..dont know if you will lose power etc etc

Nice website of Aussie couple travelling trans africa a in a modified Aussie spec Nissan Patrol crewcab pick up.

Africa Overland homepage