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4x4s - Toyota, Nissan or Mitsubishi?

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rustyheela

rustyheela

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Im looking to buy a 4 x 4 to go away in occasionally, up to about $30000k - ie a bit of sand, mud, maybe Palm valley in NT, merrenie loop, birdsville, Arcaroola, Flinders / Gawler ranges etc. I would be looking for a model year 2000 or newer, Auto, but not sure about the petrol / diesel/ turbo issue, and from all the reading online etc I have narrowed it down to, in no particular order:

1/ Toyota - prado - seemed to hold their value well, and you dont get much, if anything for under 30k. seemed to be the most popular & xellent reputation

2/ mitsubishi - pajero - Mid - high price value for money, good reputation and reviews

3/ nissan - Xtrail - all ive read seemed to cover all the bases and i would get most bang for $$ but is this just a glorified family mover or Softroader?

Honest feedback,thoughts and comments would be greatly appreciated as i dont really now anyone with a 4 x 4 or people that have driven these areas, so i dont have a reference point.
 
Forget the X-trail. The Prado and Pajero's are quite good (I'm a LandCruiser man myself). 2nd hand wise there are a lot more Prado's on the road so you will have more options here when looking.

I prefer diesel (more economic and more torque at the lower revs) and if you are going to be doing any half dinkum off-roading I would be steering clear of an auto too.
 
For Reliable off road use there is not too many choices past either a Landcruiser or Patrol...... the old Bronco,s not bad either ... Built to last , Built to handle most terrains.

I have owned numerous 4wd,s ranging from sierra,s to tritons, Navaras, pajero, and always back to Landcruisers and Patrols.

when i go bush or beach i want to know im coming back with the vehicle.

I do however tend to go WAY off the beaten track and maybe my choices may not be applicable to someone that may have support or help close to hand when travelling.

only my view on MY choice of 4wd

and agree with Derty.. Diesel only for me also with the exception of an ole V8 chevy landcruiser i have as a plaything close to home :)
 
I've had Pajero and Landcruiser, currently Rodeo. All good. The most comfortable was the Pajero. The most trouble free was the Rodeo. Best value was the Pajero. They all had lots of rough farm use.:)
 
Toyota diesel 3in exaust purs like kitten lot of gulf work fishen ect unbelievable ride
 

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Personally i would go for either the Prado or Pajero (Prado is probably slightly better in my opinion). However, i have a few friends who have just bought large caravans and have had to sell their Prado's and buy Pajero's because the Prado hasn't been rated to pull the caravans. So that is the only advantage of the Pajero in my view.

Xtrail is really too soft to be brought into this comparison. If you want to bring a Nissan in, you would need to consider the Pathfinder.

I would have to disagree with the earlier comments about choosing a Patrol or Landcruiser. My experience is that they are not practical or comfortable enough for day to day use, and are too geared up for off-road use. With the Prado and Pajero, you get decent off road use (and modifications are available to make it better) while still getting a comfortable ride during the week.

That's just my views but, everyone uses their 4WD in different ways
 
pedalofogus said:
I would have to disagree with the earlier comments about choosing a Patrol or Landcruiser. My experience is that they are not practical or comfortable enough for day to day use, and are too geared up for off-road use. With the Prado and Pajero, you get decent off road use (and modifications are available to make it better) while still getting a comfortable ride during the week.

That's just my views but, everyone uses their 4WD in different ways
Click to expand...

I have a V8 sedan and another passenger vehicle for family and day to day use plus Motorbikes.

I use the 4wd for 4wd driving not for comfort use and normal around town use.

mind you the current patrol i use for longer distance travel is pretty comfy and no complaints on a decent trip.

have driven and owned numerous types/models/styles of 4wd and still think if one is serious about 4wd ing then they need a serious and "go anywhere" 4wd.


each to there own tho.
 
The land cruiser is not for wimps ,they are ruff, tough guzzle fuel dont even think about reverse parking and are not available in pink notice no julia in this thread worrying about where her dog can sit :) but it wouldnt matter any way on your new Black Duck canvas seat covers.
But they will get through water 4ft deep will get through most bogs sandy or wet, put a winch on and you aint walkin home.
These vehichles are tetosterone filled tanks every body gives way ,left or right
and best of all greenies hate em.
 
breaker said:
The land cruiser is not for wimps ,they are ruff, tough guzzle fuel dont even think about reverse parking and are not available in pink notice no julia in this thread worrying about where her dog can sit :) but it wouldnt matter any way on your new Black Duck canvas seat covers.
But they will get through water 4ft deep will get through most bogs sandy or wet, put a winch on and you aint walkin home.
These vehichles are tetosterone filled tanks every body gives way ,left or right
and best of all greenies hate em.
Click to expand...

You left out the bit about them being Pitt Street tractors too.
You are right about the fuel. Don't leave the engine running when you are filling up with fuel. There is a chance of running out of fuel if the pump cant keep up to the engine.:)
 
Every mine I've worked at in last 30 years uses Toyotas must be something in it.
100series turbo diesel is my wife choice of weapon!
 
todster said:
Every mine I've worked at in last 30 years uses Toyotas must be something in it.
100series turbo diesel is my wife choice of weapon!
Click to expand...

Until the last, say, 5 years. I have now seen lots of Nissan's in the mines too.
 
After just completing a lap of the country, I was amazed at the number of Toyotas on the road in remote places. Both Landcruisers and Prados. Often we'd pull into a campground and there would only be toyotas. On 1 occasion there were 10 vehicles - 9 of them Toyota and each of them a different model. The patrol also has a pretty good reputation, appart from the 3L diesel, which has a history of failing.

If you're looking to stick to the semi beaten track, it doesn't matter too much what you choose. We saw some very unlikely vehicles in places they probably should not have been. The pajero would be fine once kitted out with a few after market bits but if you plan to go remote - I would go for the turbo diesel prado. Have not heard anything bad about them and plenty of them around. I suspect it would be more easily fitted out with accessories also if you wanted to do that.
 
I have a 2006 petrol Prado and use it to pull a van [rated to 2500kg with electric brakes]. Also use it off-road -- mainly soft beaches with a rough entry.
It has been excellent. One of my reasons for going with the Prado was availability of parts in remote areas [an issue I once had with a Jeep].
However, to date, no spare parts have been needed.
What I don't like the car for is city driving. It is far bigger than I need and the visibility is not that good - so I use my wife's Honda sedan if I can.
R
 
Having any sort of unusual vehicle when you're far away from a major city is a hassle when it comes to obtaining spare parts.

That factor alone would seem to argue for getting a Toyota since these seem the most common 4x4 away from the cities.:2twocents
 
In my part of the country, it is all about the 4WD and you are on the right track. Comments I've read have been spot on. Basically it's about your needs. From what you've said you want a 4WD for occassional get aways, so definately the Prado or Pajero will meet your needs. Both comfortable for every day use, great on the fuel for long drives and will get you off road in most environments. But obviously if you like the really rough terrain you would want a higher quality 4WD. X-Trail is a great little car but only good for the light work. No low gear so look out if you loose momentum.

Please, please do a 4WD course before heading off road, you will save yourself alot of anguish and time if you are prepared for your driving conditions and know how to get out of a jam. Also good to test your cars capabilities before you do it alone. You see city drivers do the most amazing things which is always good for a laugh.
 
Toyotas are the vehicle of choice for rebels in third world countries.

Guerrilla Trucks
Why rebels and insurgent groups the world over love the Toyota Hilux pickup as much as their AK-47s.

David Guttenfelder / AP
Photos: Pickup Trucks From War Zones Across the Globe
Guerrilla Trucks
As the war in Afghanistan escalated several years ago, counterinsurgency expert David Kilcullen, a member of the team that designed the Iraq surge for Gen. David Petraeus, began to notice a new tattoo on some insurgent Afghan fighters. It wasn’t a Taliban tattoo. It wasn’t even Afghan. It was a Canadian maple leaf.
When a perplexed Kilcullen began to investigate, he says, he discovered that the incongruous flags were linked to what he says is one of the most important, and unnoticed, weapons of guerrilla war in Afghanistan and across the world: the lightweight, virtually indestructible Toyota Hilux truck.

“In Afghanistan in particular,” he says, “[the trucks are] incredibly well respected.” So well respected, in fact, that some enterprising fraudsters thought them worthy of ripping off. The imitations, Kilcullen says, had flooded the market, leaving disappointed fighters in their wake. But then “a shipment of high-quality [real] Hiluxes arrived, courtesy of the Canadian government,” he explains. “They had little Canadian flags on the back. Because they were the real deal, and because of how the Hilux is seen, over time, strangely, the Canadian flag has become a symbol of high quality across the country. Hence the tattoos.”
It’s not just rebels in Afghanistan that love the Hilux. “The Toyota Hilux is everywhere,” says Andrew Exum, a former Army Ranger and now a fellow of the Center for a New American Security. “It’s the vehicular equivalent of the AK-47. It’s ubiquitous to insurgent warfare. And actually, recently, also counterinsurgent warfare. It kicks the hell out of the Humvee.”
Click to expand...

An experiment conducted by British TV show Top Gear in 2006 offers one explanation. The show’s producers bought an 18-year-old Hilux diesel with 190,000 miles on the odometer for $1,500. They then crashed it into a tree, submerged it in the ocean for five hours, dropped it from about 10 feet, tried to crush it under an RV, drove it through a portable building, hit it with a wrecking ball, and set it on fire. Finally they placed it on top of a 240-foot tower block that was then destroyed in a controlled demolition. When they dug it out of the rubble, all it took to get it running again was hammers, wrenches, and WD-40. They didn’t even need spare parts.
Click to expand...

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/10/14/why-rebel-groups-love-the-toyota-hilux.html
 

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rustyheela said:
Im looking to buy a 4 x 4 to go away in occasionally, up to about $30000k - ie a bit of sand, mud, maybe Palm valley in NT, merrenie loop, birdsville, Arcaroola, Flinders / Gawler ranges etc. I would be looking for a model year 2000 or newer, Auto, but not sure about the petrol / diesel/ turbo issue, and from all the reading online etc I have narrowed it down to, in no particular order:

1/ Toyota - prado - seemed to hold their value well, and you dont get much, if anything for under 30k. seemed to be the most popular & xellent reputation

2/ mitsubishi - pajero - Mid - high price value for money, good reputation and reviews

3/ nissan - Xtrail - all ive read seemed to cover all the bases and i would get most bang for $$ but is this just a glorified family mover or Softroader?

Honest feedback,thoughts and comments would be greatly appreciated as i dont really now anyone with a 4 x 4 or people that have driven these areas, so i dont have a reference point.
Click to expand...

No towing?

Mostly urban use?

How many passengers?

You may wish to consider avoiding the largest vehicles unless needed, due to costs

Havent owned an X-trail and wouldnt bother

Toyota if you want best reliability and parts in the outback..but do you really need that?

Have owned various used 4wds, presently a Jackaroo, prior to that a Pajero because both do all I need for much less $$ than Toyota and Nissan.

With regard to auto tranny, they are fine off-road, except not as good downhill. They generally use approx 15% more fuel.
 
To SM junkie, what would be deemed rough? seen plenty of australia but in a VL commodore!! drove up to Windjana gorge n through n down the Gibb river road to Derby, rough & corrugated yes, but no real need for 4 x 4 to access. also took her out to Mt Augustus with a campertrailer and no dramas apart from 2 punctures.

just looking for something / trying to maybe go to places such as this, but also get off the beaten track a bit in something that will handle it and not fall apart. Not ready for Canning stock route yet!! just trying to get feedback, opinions, suggestions. Thanx for replying, much appreciated
 
awg said:
No towing?

Mostly urban use? yes

How many passengers? 1

You may wish to consider avoiding the largest vehicles unless needed, due to costs

Havent owned an X-trail and wouldnt bother

Toyota if you want best reliability and parts in the outback..but do you really need that?

Have owned various used 4wds, presently a Jackaroo, prior to that a Pajero because both do all I need for much less $$ than Toyota and Nissan.

With regard to auto tranny, they are fine off-road, except not as good downhill. They generally use approx 15% more fuel.
Click to expand...

trying to get my head around and work out wether worth the diesel or petrol cost / trade off. Like the Pajeros n prados but some off them for low years have huge mileage, ie 2004 prado 150 - 200k lometers $ $30,000- $35000?
thrashbox?
 
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