urgent - advice needed please.

HTSB1 · 26-02-2008, 06:35 PM

My husband and I need to purchase a cheap 4WD to pull our new boat in and out of the boat ramp. We don't need to tow it long distances (takes 20mins max to get to the furthest boat ramp in our small town).

We're currently looking at a 95 Landrover V8 or a 2000 Ford explorer XLT. We live up north WA and need air con, plus would occasionally drive down to Perth which is an 8hour drive from where we live. We also own a service station in town and have access to wholesale car parts.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

JONESY_XR6 · 26-02-2008, 06:50 PM

um thats a tuff 1. Is there any reason why u have picked out just those two cars? How bigs ya boat? 20ft?

Laminge · 26-02-2008, 06:52 PM

Jonesy, leave the sms posts to your phone and not the forums

Budget on a car is?

Weight of towing is?

MrEL · 26-02-2008, 06:53 PM

GQ patrol / Ford Maverick. Tuff , cheap and easy to get parts for and fix.

andrewts · 26-02-2008, 06:54 PM

I'd probably shy away from the Land Rover for the simple fact that it is English. Plus the Exploder is newer and probably has better parts availability, although this would be less of an issue with it compared to the Land Rover.

guy351 · 26-02-2008, 06:56 PM

i would personally go with the ford explorer as it is much easyier and cheaper for parts and would be more fuel efficient.

JONESY_XR6 · 26-02-2008, 06:57 PM

Or evan pick up a 94, 95 80 series cruiser for a decent price...

Windsor220 · 26-02-2008, 08:55 PM

I would steer clear of the Landrover. The things are junk.

FPV70 · 26-02-2008, 09:08 PM

DO not get Landrover. not that they are bad but to be honest, they are Bad.
The V8's in the Landies sound great but thats about it. they die and are VERY expensive to fix.
Explorers are just Bad and you can not run them on Gas.
Nissan Patrol or Landcrusier Diesel would be the better choice or if you like, Petrol versions (although heavy on fuel).
These 2 are the best for parts and repairs and Far better cars than the 2 you just listed.

Macca23 · 26-02-2008, 10:31 PM

Depending budget - Patrol or Landcruiser! Petrol motor would keep it cheaper to buy even though use a bit more fuel, Your not going too far in 20min for it to be a concern! THey arnt too bad on the long distance drive either at cruising speeds!

Will need the weight of the boat to give you a better choice of 4wd.

Dave_au · 26-02-2008, 10:34 PM

Hilux

Green X · 26-02-2008, 10:47 PM

Explorer can be Run on gas!!

I don't mind the Disco's but as others have said chances are you'll get expensive problems, the V8's do sound good but power is average at best, in 95 they still had the 3.9V8 which was like 120kw and for the fuel it sucks it ant worth it.

I would go the explorer out of the 2.

Will pull the boat easy and use less fuel than the disco
will be comfortable to cruse in with electric seats with inflatable lumbar support air cushions and good A/C aswell.
Will sit on 120kp/h+ with ease.
Plenty of balls for overtaking, drop the hammer and they get up and move, I have hit 180km/h in mine and it was still pulling.

Issues
Gearbox and T/case can have problems if not serviced or with high K's
Engine Chain tetioners/ guides can have problems, if it occurs $500 at best $4000 at worst, listen for a engine rattle on start up this is a give away that they are worn.
Parts can be expensive, but you can get most stuff sent from the USA for allot cheaper.

Cheers.

Tote · 26-02-2008, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torxteer

I would steer clear of the Landrover. The things are junk.

I can see from your list of cars that you have owned that you are suitably qualified to comment on the suitability or otherwise of either vehicle.....
Tote

Windsor220 · 26-02-2008, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tote

I can see from your list of cars that you have owned that you are suitably qualified to comment on the suitability or otherwise of either vehicle.....
Tote

What have they got to do with anything?

I gave my opinion having worked on quite a few.

Mongoose · 26-02-2008, 10:56 PM

F series' are great for that sorta thing

Tote · 26-02-2008, 11:03 PM

Depends on your budget, a 95 Land Rover will cost a lot less than a 2000 Explorer. From a quick look at the web an Explorer will cost 10 - 15K and a landrover will cost less than 10 and for 10 - 15 K you could get a series 2 V8.
The Rover v8s go well on gas and they have a towing capacity of 3500KG which may be important to you, I don't know the capacity of the Explorer. I believe the early Explorers had engine issues with the smaller v6.The gearboxes in the later Land Rovers (post about 1997) are stronger than the early series 1 Discos.
Whichever vehicle you chose will be expensive to repair major drive train issues in as both are reasonably low volume sellers here. Four wheel drives are by their nature more expensive to maintain than your average falcon as well.

I realise that my post is probably a bit pro Land Rover but I have my third one on order and have found them to be a reliable vehicle if serviced by a Land Rover specialist (or yourself).
For some really biased comments have a look at the Land Rover forums www.aulro.com and ask some more questions there.
Regards,
Tote

BA_Turbs · 26-02-2008, 11:07 PM

I had a V8 Landy. Was a Disco, the basic model that included not much more than electric windows.

Been the most reliable car I've ever owned. Nothing ever went wrong with it. Ever. I got reasonable fuel usage (note: I didn't say economy), about 14-15 ltr/100kms, but the ex-missus who used to hammer the thing from cold every morning never got below 20 ltr/100kms.

Also, very much rivalled the Territory for comfort, the only thing that let it down was the very high pedal position. Another thing I liked about it was I could service it myself and I have basically no mechanical knowledge.

I know there are many horror stories about them, but I think the later the build, the better the car. Obviously I only have MY experience to go on, but I can't fault them, in fact was far happier with it than the GU Patrol I've owned subsequently, particularly off road in stock form (<--To avoid hijacking thread... I hope!)

jmi8 · 26-02-2008, 11:11 PM

My brother has a Landrover V8 and he's onto his 2nd motor with a knock in it too! Not to mention the electrical probs with it.. You have been warned

mik · 26-02-2008, 11:53 PM

my own preferance would be a landcruiser auto no.1 , nissan patrol, probably the ranger as well, the pommy stuff i`d steer away from, parts availability and service for them would be harder to find in your location i would imagine.

DJRAU3XR8 · 27-02-2008, 12:31 AM

Do not and I repeat do not buy the Land Rover. I have been a mechanic for over 10 years and trust me there are a lot more bad Land Rovers than good ones. The in laws went against what I said and brought a 2001 Disco v8 and have had nothing but trouble with it. Oil leaks, water pumps, radiator and now the abs/dsc light comes on whenever you hit a bump. Approx $800 to fix!!!! The last shape explorers were actually good bits of gear and are pretty reliable but like others in this post i would avoid the early model. They are still having recalls on them!!!

Unco · 28-02-2008, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJRAU3XR8

Do not and I repeat do not buy the Land Rover. I have been a mechanic for over 10 years and trust me there are a lot more bad Land Rovers than good ones. The in laws went against what I said and brought a 2001 Disco v8 and have had nothing but trouble with it. Oil leaks, water pumps, radiator and now the abs/dsc light comes on whenever you hit a bump. Approx $800 to fix!!!! The last shape explorers were actually good bits of gear and are pretty reliable but like others in this post i would avoid the early model. They are still having recalls on them!!!

the heads and the tappet covers were manufactured by different places, so the holes for the bolts don't actually line up between them. they do not put a gasket for the oil sump, they just use a sealant, but i'm pretty sure you can get gaskets for them. those are the main sources of oil leaks in the V8's.

the abs sensor in earlier models just needed to be removed, cleaned and re-inserted. i don't know about post 2000 models as i left then. but they can be problematic.

Trevor 57 · 28-02-2008, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrEL

GQ patrol / Ford Maverick. Tuff , cheap and easy to get parts for and fix.

I would have to agree with that, but you need to get one with low K's and a diesel IMHO, and they aren't that easy to get anymore.

Maybe a later GU 4.2litre diesel?

vanman_75 · 28-02-2008, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Trev

I would have to agree with that, but you need to get one with low K's and a diesel IMHO, and they aren't that easy to get anymore.

Maybe a later GU 4.2litre diesel?

dont woory about the ks trev mines on 270 and will go another 270 tough as nails just look for a reasonable service record these and cruisers are made to do do 500 thou plus they are that good

Ringo · 28-02-2008, 01:58 PM

Ummmm I was going to join the discussion and hang crap on the Disco because its expensive to fix when things go bad and ......well....things go bad on them from time to time...

but its already been said 15 times....

Cruiser / Patrol / Hilux are hard to beat

itsabitsa · 28-02-2008, 03:20 PM

go a 70 series cruiser

Trevor 57 · 28-02-2008, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanman_75

dont woory about the ks trev mines on 270 and will go another 270 tough as nails just look for a reasonable service record these and cruisers are made to do do 500 thou plus they are that good

Yeah I know, I have one that has only done 220,000 but I have seen with up to 500,000. I know of one that was traded with 800,000, was a bit rattly, but still went OK.

whales · 28-02-2008, 03:30 PM

Without any doubt go for a landcruiser

vanman_75 · 29-02-2008, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Trev

Yeah I know, I have one that has only done 220,000 but I have seen with up to 500,000. I know of one that was traded with 800,000, was a bit rattly, but still went OK.

there were a couple lads i worked with a couple years ago their work ute was an old gq ute with 500 litre tank on its back, with 650 untouched gee it was slow ,but couldnt kill it

cowboy · 29-02-2008, 04:08 AM

Landcruisers can be killed, trust me. 5th gear particularly weak. Go for a patrol or alternatively a Triton. I had 3 of these and just couldn't break them, and I tried. I really did.

Trevor 57 · 29-02-2008, 08:37 AM

I didn't want to get into a Nissan vs Toyota thing, but a bloke I know had a mechanics business in Alice Springs and he was saying they had a bucket load more problems with the Land Cruisers than they did with the Patrols, but that was back in the days of early GQ's and 60 Series (although the 80 Series was around too), a bit of chalk and cheese really.

If you are going to go for a Patrol stick with the 4.2 litre for gods sake.