Which Car To Buy..

Hi Guys,

Love the forum.

Had my car stolen 2 weeks back and now I need to buy another. I am in Melbourne's West and used to do prospecting back in the 90's until about 2002/03. I am interested in getting back into the hobby and I know most tracks are car friendly.
I need something reliable. Does anyone have any suggestions? Vehicle will be used around the Golden Triangle.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks for now..

Hey WolfsGold. Well, I'm no expert but .... I bought an old 2T dual cab traytop a couple of years ago, off eBay. Only paid a couple of hundred dollars for it, and then spent way too much with new motor, new clutch, recon gearbox ... but it has served me well.

Then I bought a Capri convertible off of eBay ... spend = a few hundred dollars, and then spent another $1000 bringing up to scratch.

I've still got them both here ... everybody uses them ... so they were certainly worth the effort.

Then I bought a great trailer for all my gear, tents, hot water for showers etc., BBQ, solar ... off eBay ... $2000. It's great!! Took it to Laancoorie and was completely self sufficient

Now I am just finalising a Nissan '91 Terrano 4wd with all kinds of wonderful accessories, recon motor etc. for $1500 ... even if I spend another $1000 I've got a cheap buy, great purpose-specific tow vehicle ... and I'm happy!!

Don't know what you financial plans are ... but there's proof that you don't have to spend sqillions of dollars to have all the extra gear!!

Im gonna add to this thread....
Im selling my wrx soon , which should get me back 22-24k...

Now for 4wds.... ive looked at them all but so far, Nissan Patrols and Pathfinders have caught my eye 02-06 models....
Ive heard they are pretty much unbreakable....
Does any1 else have experience or opinions on this vehicle? reliablity, ect?

G'day Silverbullet08. I'm with you .... the Nissans really are the best of the 4wds, no matter what the version that suits your needs. But I'm thinking, that is probably the trick ... look at the size, power etc that suits what YOU want to do with it.

I'm female and almost 60 ... I didn't really want a huge vehicle ... just one that had all the mod-cons inside, was diesel 4wd, and could comfortably tow 800kg (my camp trailer). For me, the Nissan Terrano Auto Turbo Diesel 4x4 was just perfect.

I'm a true blue Aussie ... but you can NOT beat the Nissans (of any size) ... they're just a damned tuff vehicle!!

cheers kate

Alot of ppl have told me to look also at the toyota range, but while im not against then i just like the look of nissans more.
Im pretty oblivious when it comes to forbies, size doesnt matter too much, then being a guy, a want something big and tough!!
Turbo diesel, not a v8, i dont want it to be too thirsty lol..
Reliability is the key factor here, tho ive read alot about the older models being easier to fix with ur own hands if an issue could arise?
but ive always prefered the later model the better.

I have pinned down a couple on my list.... just a matter of selling my other vehicle 1st lol

LOLOL My turbo diesel is only 4cyl ... and I get 100kms for $10 ... that's all I look at for value for money!

I've got a trucking co. .... the boys do any maintenance that I might need ... they gotta earn thar keep sum how

i wouldn't touch a nissan patrol with a 3l diesel with a barge pole.famous for getting to200k or there abouts and going bang.i had a 4.2 patrol with a turbo kit and it was the best ute ive ever had and i reckon ever will have,so im not anti nissan just anti 3l.the 4.2 will go to hell and back and i've pretty well done it.but isn't great on fuel.wish they would bring it back all the same , when it came time to buy i new ute i went with another brand,know a lot of ex patrol blokes who wont go near a 3l also

I hear what your saying cougarcans ... this one has had a 'new' rebuilt motor put in it ... and yes! the old one did do just over the 200G!!

It also had a recon auto put into it (with paperwork), all-terrain tyres at 80% .... BUT NO CD/RADIO ... now THAT was pretty hard to take!! First job on the list for the boys to fix for me ... after fixing the hole in the exhaust pipe

hope all go's good then kate.long as the turbo was new as well cos they weren't real brave either.mates 3l blew a turbo then he got it rebuilt, then the motor went.was his wifes bus for running kids to school etc so it wasnt flogged,just wasn't good.

cougarcans wrote:i wouldn't touch a nissan patrol with a 3l diesel with a barge pole.famous for getting to200k or there abouts and going bang.i had a 4.2 patrol with a turbo kit and it was the best ute ive ever had and i reckon ever will have,so im not anti nissan just anti 3l.the 4.2 will go to hell and back and i've pretty well done it.but isn't great on fuel.wish they would bring it back all the same , when it came time to buy i new ute i went with another brand,know a lot of ex patrol blokes who wont go near a 3l also

Ahh okies, i thought they were meant to be unbreakable from what i read, i had no idea...
is this all models of the patrols? or just the older 1s...
would it be more wise to get a pathfinder or toyota land cruiser?

I don't think it is all 3.0 lt Patrols that were affected, but certainly for a few years their engines were unreliable and failed.

Ok ive read now that alot of patrol engines pop around the 200k mark and need a decent amount of money to be fix...
alothough i am still very favourable of them

does any1 know which models if any are highly reliable in the 3lt?
after checking out most 4wds on the market, as good as toyota comes across their appearently very over priced...
my veiw is directed towards the nissan pathfinders.. does any1 have any issues or stories on them that could shed light?
im looking at spending 20-25k so preferably a newerish model lol

I have a landcruiser ute , can't beat it for getting into area but most tracks are ok to drive along . But having some space and being able to rest and lay down during bad weather or just sleep out , look at awd vw vans ,well l am . These vans are the only ones put together by the germans in germany other are done in cheaper labour countries , they lost the war but make good vehicles and safe . Cheers papoutsi

dont know much about the pathfinder .ive always had utes.i think and a guess it is,they share the 2.5 litre diesel that were in the just superceded navara.which were a bit thirsty.and some were good and some were horrible.im not sure when the 4.2 ended in the patrol wagon but i'd be trying to maybe source a low k one of them.which id say would be in your price range .guess the best thing is to get something that suits you.