for $15,000 that patrol is Cheap....& are you really serious about the title Patrol or cruiser? pft!

 

Haha I like patrols but I also have a lot of friends who rave about 80 series.

The GU seems like the better buy here though..

 

Mate, I was in the exact same spot a couple of months ago. Ok, well not exactly, I had settled on an 80 series Cruiser GXL 4.2L TD. The missus said why don't we buy a newer post 2000 car. I informed here that that would bump the budget up by 10k, she was happy and I bought the Patrol.

Anyway, my criteria for my 4x4 was

Big Turbo Diesel engine (4.2L)
Solid front and rear axles,
coil springs
wagon
7+ seats
Power windows
auto hubs or constant 4x4.

To keep the cost down I had chosen the 80 GXL for a budget of 20K and was settled. As I said the missus wanted something newer so I got the 99GU ST wagon 4.2L TD for 28K. It already had snorkel, 2" lift, 3" exhaust, 12 pound boost and fuel pump tune.

From what I gather from your post and budget, you are looking at the DX Landy or DX patrol. Both are great vehicles, but the cruiser has a slightly weaker front diff. Even non turbo the cruiser isn't a complete slug, but the patrol will have more power. Both have manual hubs.

If it were me and for a matter of 3-4 grand I would go the Patrol. Or if you are a Cruiser lover, have a look at the 80 GXL with the turbo diesel.

 

Mate thanks heaps for your input. The patrol is actually an ST. Good to hear your GU is running well. I don't really have a loyalty either way, I just prefer the look of the patrol and they seem a better 'value' truck. The landcruiser 'tax' some people expect is quite huge.

 

A 4.2L TD ST for 15K, that's quite cheap. There is either something wrong with it (flogged out) or he is under selling himself. Even without mods they usually go for around 23K. If nothing wrong with it, go for it. Make sure you get all the REVS and mechanical checks done.

The 4.2 is great and easy to work on with lots of room under the hood (pre 02 model). I have Rust protection and second battery tray and still have loads of room for compressor, breathers, dual battery system etc.

 

I've had an 80 and now have a gu and I'm not looking back. The 80 felt like a land whale. My2c

 

Ok I have just discovered that the patrol has 340,000 km on it. It is basically a mates who is offering it at trade in type price to me first. It is also a country car so all it's KM's were done in the middle of nowhere.

340,000km's... sounds like a lot as I am used to driving around 4 cylindar city cars. Can these 4.2TD engines really go into the 500-600's reliably?

 

that and more from what i'm told

 

Yep you pay extra for the "Toyota"(woops i swore) badge
Always have and always will
An 80 series TD id think about,after driving they have heaps of power
Not sure how the 80 series N/a would go or even the patrol TD
Really depends on your budget and what the car has to do
Ive been in a factory (non modded) 80 series 4.2 turbo auto and this thing will accelorate up hills pulling a tandem trailer
(with a small truck on the trailer)from 110Ks
Really depend s what you want

 

I have read somewhere that even though on paper the 1hz was more powerful than the td42, the latter had better pickup and felt more powerful in driving.

 

340,000k's wow someone has just run it in for you still another trouble free 200,000k's to go yet.

 

Like choosing between ghonorea or hep C .........

 

Patrol:strong diffs,gearbox,great motor,nce to drive comfy can drop the clutch and not worry about breaking somthing.

80 seriesver priced,weak drive line really the only thing i like about them is the motor.

 

The turbo diesel 80 is quiet powerful though, even compare to modern turbo diesels.

 

Take the GU, it may have a few more kms but is newer in age.

 

if you can score an 80 series with a 1hd-ft in it 24 valve turbo diesel take it.

1HD-FT

 

What did you end up getting?

I used to own an 80 series TD and now have a 06 4.2 patrol.

80 series had heaps more grunt, went like a rocket (was the 12 valve TD model), but I must say I prefer the patrol. The only other thing I liked about the 80, much roomier inside.

Cheers
Dave

 

Roomier than the Gu? Wow!

 

By more than you would imagine.

 

I just recently bought my GU, and as im not so small, i was convinced that a landcruiser
was the only go for me. I was saddened as Not only mechanically but aesthetically, ive always admired The Patrols, the " one day i'll have one!" thing, ...one day .
I found the price difference between Toyota and Nissan, a stomach churning experience.
FFS i bought a 2006 for the same price of a 98/99 Toyota.
A 2006 Toyota was/is a minimum 9k difference.
money is money at the end of the day, and yes i know the saying, you get what you pay for,
but seriously, i couldnt be happier.

And guess what, the manual GU, is plenty roomy for a little guy like me ! 6ft 6

 

Its quite suprising just how much bigger the Cruiser is on the inside........ it doesnt look it from the outside but once sitting in the front seat you will notice its a long way to the passenger door.

 

Currently have found a GU 4.2TD for 15k with around 250k's. I have also found a 1994 80 Series 4.2 non turbo diesel with 310k's for 12k. Both are in good condition. Both have hardly if any aftermarket extras.

May be a bit late with this, but if you looking at a 1-HZ, as in non turbo as stated, in the tojo with high kms then be careful. The pre 94 to early 94 tojo HZ engines have big end issues and they could pretty much tare the engine to bits when they let go if under load.

They fixed it mostly from mid 94 onwards and its not a big problem since, if you fit an after market turbo to one of these you need to upgrade the big ends as a matter of course, or it will only be a matter of time before trouble strikes. A guy I work with changes his every 50k no matter what, but he drives it hard in the bush a lot and has a workshop.

The pre 94 1HD factory turbo engine was not as bad as they built them tougher to take the turbo, but still could give problems. After mid 94 you have no issues with a 1HD, but the 1HZ is as sluggish at a patrol 4.2 till you trick it up a bit. With a post 94 1HD-FT in a tojo you will pay a premium as they are powerful, tuff, very reliable and very sought after, though still weaker in the drive train than a patrol. I only sold mine because of the tow rating, to stay with a tojo 1HD-FT with a 3.5t tow capacity I would have had to go up to a 100 series and they are weaker than the 80 series again, the patrol is one tuff truck in this regard.

When I sold 96 80series 1HD-FT the first guy who came, with his mechanic on tow, bought it for the same price I paid for it 2 years earlier.

 

Hi Drillerboy, i understand that those HD-Fts perform like a gas engine, did you find that with yours?

 

I had an 80 series sahara( now my sons). Took out the 1HDT- after the bottom end let go- droped in the 1HDFT 24 valve and WOW! it used to tow my 4.3 tonn Boat like it was not there. They have loads of power and accelerate uphill in 5th with out batting an eye lid.

If I could.... I would marry the 2 vehiles the GU & 80 series motor. Then you have a reliable weapon.

But if my choice was between GU 4.2 non turbo and 80 series 4.2 1HD I would go with GU.

If the choice was GU 4.2TDi and 80 series 4.2 1HDFT the 80 Series would get it.

I tryed looking for one again before I got my 2000GU 3.0 ( very happy with it) and the 80 series... with the same bits as the one my son has now, I could not get for under $20K. FFS I paid that much for it 15years ago.
and for all this hype about front diffs being weaker and so on... Bolocks! We have punished the 80 series and the only thing we broke was axel( not diff) the 80 series lockers work awsome.
anyway there it is my 2 bobs worth
Best of luck