It's their off-road ability.

When a mate jumps into the Patrol to travel up his farm trail to go cut firewood and says - "man. this thing rides well. It's better than John's Hilux, better than Pat's Pathy, better than my Troopy (not hard that one), and better than my missus' Disco. I don't have to hang on with both hands to stop myself from flinging about."

And you forgot belt tensioners, factory brakes, exhaust manifolds warp, driver's seat belt doesn't retract, exhaust heat shield eats hands,

 

It's their off-road ability.

When a mate jumps into the Patrol to travel up his farm trail to go cut firewood and says - "man. this thing rides well. It's better than John's Hilux, better than Pat's Pathy, better than my Troopy (not hard that one), and better than my missus' Disco. I don't have to hang on with both hands to stop myself from flinging about."

And you forgot belt tensioners, factory brakes, exhaust manifolds warp, driver's seat belt doesn't retract, exhaust heat shield eats hands,

and don't forget the greatest idea ever----dummy taillights !!! I'm leaning more towards GEEYOUTOO's idea about being a masochist--- I know when (and if ) I get rid of this one,I'll be getting another one

 

It's a love hate relationship, I've had mine 17 years from new, been through the grenade (long before joining here) when that happened I took the opportunity to weed out many of the other issues, ie Dual Mass, more recently 5th gear went on holiday so now I think I'm in a pretty good place, I too have people get into mine and say it rides like a car, the difference is it rides like a car that will go anywhere and carry all the bits I need for a comfortable touring solution .

On the other hand, we could just all be masochists.......

 

Thats why you buy a td42.

 

So buying a TD42 replaces a grenade with potential overheating and the same above problems remain? LOL

Owning a Patrol, or maybe and 4wd, is a hobby. You drive it, break it, replace parts, fix it and enjoy it. I don't think I could own a a 4wd if I didn't enjoy the fixing and tinkering like I do. It would cost a small fortune!

But back on topic, I don't think there are many 4wd's that don't have their list of faults, just companies wanting better profit.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Owning a Patrol, or maybe and 4wd, is a hobby. You drive it, break it, replace parts, fix it and enjoy it. I don't think I could own a a 4wd if I didn't enjoy the fixing and tinkering like I do. It would cost a small fortune!

But back on topic, I don't think there are many 4wd's that don't have their list of faults, just companies wanting better profit.

I think this hits it right on the head.

I know myself that, although I don't want any major issues, each time something has come up I've had a sense of achievement in addressing it myself, Albeit with some swearing and lost skin!. And the Patrol lends itself to that side of things quite easily. Parts readily available, reasonably priced (or after market versions available, for the most part) and a wealth of knowledge right here with people VERY willing to help. AND actually, I think this is a major factor for me... so many other forums just don't have the quality membership that this one does! I cant count how many times I have gotten a response to simply 'Google it' in other forums cos they deem the qn too simple to waste their time on. you don't get that here and it makes owning a Patrol a million times easier.

My best mate has a Jeep Cherokee Renegade... and i wouldn't even know where to start with the issues and $$$$ bills he has had on it!

Not to mention the street/off-Road presence we have when you see guys just look as we drive past in a virtual Mack truck!

So we don't have it that bad...

 

None of the issues I've had during ownership of two Patrols over nearly 7 years have actually prevented them from being driveable... that's what's key to my satisfaction with Patrols.

 

This covers it in one sentence...

When mine put a leg out I started it and drove a few hundred metres to a better parking spot. It idled very smoothly (if a little rattling going on lol) and I reflected I could cover the hole in the block with a piece of ally and tapped holes for M6 bolts to keep the oil in and drive it at walking pace to somewhere if I had have been stranded in middle of nowhere at the time haha!

 

For me it was absolutley the best platform for my project, without any doubt.

 

Just a reminder, the OP's question was why we love our Patrols overall with all their faults, this is not going to turn into a specific model bashing thread, those posts will be deleted.

 

tiresome and tough
tough and tiresome.

again its a love hate.
you can treat the bitch like pos and it wont break, but they still drain you driving them for long periods or doing day after day of trade duties.
I hate money as well..you need to throw lots at them for anything decent in ride and performance.

 

After being a Toyota man for many years, I accidentally bought one.

My heart fell in love with the power and capability, right out of the box.

My head reminds my how good the driveline is.

My bank account doesn't speak to me any more because of the fuel economy.

 

For all their faults, they'll still cost you less and go further than the competition. And in the case of the GU series 4+ specifically, they are the best looking 4WD released this century. Not that I'm biased

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

Patrols have character and charm. My Patrol is a member of the family.
The competition don't have that - they are just a tool to be used to get the job done.

I've owned 14 Patrols over 17 years and yes they've had all the issues that have been mentioned but not one of them has left me stranded.
I had an unusual issue with my rear diff a while back and took my GU to a local 4x4 workshop. When I looked in their workshop I saw nothing but Toyota's. I expressed concern to the owner that his establishment appeared to have a brand bias.
His response was;
"Not at all, the Nissan's just generally don't need fixing like the others."

 

It wouldn't have been a diff/gearbox specific workshop would it .....? :lol::lol:

 

when its running i enjoy driving it so much.
when its broken i want to light the pos on fire
their offroad ability and robustness, along with general simplicity is what i find so attractive.
also parts arnt so dear that fixing them is prohibitive.
all in all i love mine. buts its costing me a motza at the moment.

 

Categorising them as the best of a bad bunch is probably demeaning to how good Patrols actually are but a the end of the day all brands have varying degrees of problems/little issues. Some hate this, many call it character. You might say Patrols have character or soul compared to some of those others but I guarantee you if you spend some time on the other forums they all think their brand/model has character too. Believe it of not many Pajero owners are as patriotic about their rigs as we are and will swear black and blue they have more character and soul than anything else out there.

For me the Patrol simply is a good honest package without all the bull@#$t bling that many of the newer comers have. I also prefer the older styling as it limits the complications with frontal bullbar shapes, the interior still is easy to add accessories etc etc and they are tough. Maybe I've been lucky but I've had very few of the issues mentioned by the OP. Some people say they don't do anything brilliantly but they don't do anything bad. For me that means they do do their thing brilliantly. I don't believe it is the little issues/foibles that give a vehicle character, I'm too old for that crap. I've had a Jeep and spent a couple of years on that forum. Great forum but they tend to right the issues off as character.

At the end of the day if you like it for what it does for you then it's s good thing, no need really to justify it against anything else. Otherwise you spend all your time like Pajero/Mitsubishi and no doubt most of the other IFS brands who argue their rigs are brilliant but still end up comparing them to a Patrol or Cruiser. If you are happy with your lot there is no need to do that.

 

For me my gq is reliable and able to take any abuse I give it.flawlessly does what its asked and is one of the most reliable tow vehicles I have owned.There would not be another vehicle of the same gvm that could cope with the demands I expect of it.

Sent from my LG-K520 using Tapatalk

 

I have a 1992 GQ, I wonder how many 1992 4wds will do what I ask of mine? It skull dragged a camper from Perth to Cape York and back, and that was far from the worst I've asked of it.

Like the vast majority of TD42s it has never overheated, it is tough and takes the abuse, it tolerates crook fuel, it has an indestructible driveline, I could get spare parts from any town in the country, it is comfy, doesn't balk at anywhere I point it and heck, my bias towards it is born of the reliability and memories it has given me. When all my mate's IFS utes, 80 series, land rovers and jeeps have fallen by the wayside and I've driven from Brunswick to Perth and back to get them axles, front diff centres, transfer case solenoids, radiators, you name it, mine plods along.

The model has a few faults, sure, but they (mostly) aren't the show stoppers of other brands.

Go to an off road race or winch comp and count the patrols (it will be a similar number to the entry list) and count the non patrols (it will only need a couple of fingers, and they'll probably have patrol diffs anyway), there is a bloody good reason for that. Nobody enters to make up numbers, they want to finish and finish well, and the best chance of doing that is in what type of fourby?

Sure the other brand forums crap on about how good they are, but as said above, they all compare themselves to the patrol and don't realise how much of a compliment they're giving us by doing it

 

Had an MK for a number of years (can't remember exactly). Had this GQ for about ten years. Probably a GU next at the right price. Toughest vehicle I've ever driven. Funny how everyone in Ja, who bought one for the first time, just becomes addicted to it. Yes, it has had some problems, but they're fairly simple and comparatively inexpensive to fix. I hear too many horror stories when it comes to modern vehicles, when they have problems. Plenty$$$ to fix, especially 4bys. Never really been let down and I live in the country and travel 40 miles every day and the old girl just keeps ticking. Usually gives a sign long before something goes wrong. Main wish: a five speed gear box and a turbo. Can't see myself selling it.

 

Hey guys,

I am on Patrol number six. Have loved them all. Even when I had a double roll over in my GQ shortie, just tied it to a tree winched the roof back up and drove it home. I recently purchased a 2016 GU wagon and am currently modifying it with all the usual accessories that we love. I am also about to ditch the 3.0 for a 6.2 LS3.
The reasoning behind it all is when you compare to what else is out there with solid diffs, coil springs and a decent chassis there are not many options. I wanted something I could service myself and be able to fix it in the bush if needed. All the others were too electronic in set up and service requirements. So it was an easy choice buy another Patrol!

Cheers Keith..

 

I am no mechanic but I am able to do a fair bit of stuff myself on the mighty "trol.
More so with the help on this forum
My old td42t is low tech and basic but I like it that way. It is also as strong as an ox and has enough creature comforts to satisfy me.
It's not fast but I've been there and done that. If I want to go fast I'll get a 1000cc motorbike.
I reckon I'm too old though, cruising around, away from the crowds, with my family suits me better these days.

 

Well said Wart.
I started buying Patrols because fast things were getting me into trouble. Patrols are a fun way to slow down.

 

Had my 4.2 from new, 17 years. Smartest thing in the car is the HN7 sitting on the dash. Like others have said - just friggin tough as - easy to work on - thousands of tough accessories to bolt on - wanna play tough, bring it on, wanna tour with the camper, bring it on - wanna tow ya mates new rig a 1000Ks, bring it on - wanna rescue ya nephews 4by for the 100th time, bring it on - wanna just turn heads for the fun of it, then that's why we love our Patrols [emoji41]


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

We love them because we accept their faults and deficiencies.

That a definition of love is it not?

Cheers

Justin

 

I bought my GU2 in 2007 because an auto Landcruiser 4.2 turbo was more money than I was prepared to spend then. The 4.2 GUs weren't available in auto.
I wanted diesel but I was persuaded not to go with the 3.0 Di so I settled for the 4.5 Ti.

Now I finally have what I want so I'm happy..

 

I will admit it took a little while to bond with mine.
Felt numb driving it and just another car. Albeit one that lets me go down the beach and fish (previous car did that too but thats another story on how i got my patrol)
I looked at a range of different 4x4s that would let me do what i could do with my kids without spending a fortune taking them out all the time. The patrol popped up and it was the best vehicle available for the money i did have at the time that would allow me to do the things the kids and i wanted to do.
So when i have them every second week, we go fishing a lot and driving down dirt roads and tracks when we can.

It took more than a few trips for me to get used to it and its little annoyances here and there but now i dont think i would not part with it.
So why do i love it? Well apart from taking blood and bark off me working on it and its comfortable to drive IMO its helped create many special memories for myself and my kids and allowed me to spend time with them. That for me i cant put a price on.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

 

This is my first 4by. I considered the Patrol and Landcruiser as the only true offroad vehicles with a large accessory and parts network availability in Australia. And it was much better value than an equivalent 'cruiser.
I guess I love it's ability offroad.
It has its faults (as I expect the Landcruiser does too) and I'm working through those so they won't be an issue (exhaust manifold, coil towers, nads etc) and is evolving into the touring rig I want.

 

Totally agree with everything you say.

When I decided to get my first 4wd back in 2010 the only guy I knew who was a serious 4wder was my former flatmate Mick. He'd bought a new Hilux in 1999 when he decided it was time to explore Australia (after never having owned a car in his life due to having ridden motorcycles for 14 years!) and had since moved onto a 100 Series. So he was the first place I went for advice.

His advice - Landcruiser or Patrol, there is nothing else. I argued that Pajero's seemed to be pretty good (and they are) but he stood firm - I probably should note that he knows how I am and knew that I'd break anything less than a Patrol/Cruiser.

I'd happily buy a Landcruiser tomorrow if the vehicle and price suited my requirements, but I am pretty plugged into the Patrol network now so it's a given that whatever replaces my GQ will be Nissan branded. I'll probably have another CRD Patrol within 12-24 months, and when I do I probably won't ever sell it... I'm 48, and a late model GU will almost certainly see out my days.

 

My first 4WD was a 2.8 GU, and I wish I had kept it and thrown a TD42 in it. Everything on that car was immaculate except the motor

Then I had a ZD30 D22 navara - super reliable, all I ever did in 45,000kms was service it and general maintenance, fine for camping and mild tracks, I swore after that ute I would never own an IFS ute again though.

So I bought an 08 hilux dual cab when I moved to Darwin **** diffs, intermittent power loss, rode like a billy cart, floated at 100kph, worst car I have owned.

After scoring an even time roster and missing the Vic high country I was visiting home once a month and needed something cheap and capable, with that in mind I bought a 92 GQ with a TD42, ebay t04e poxxy turbo and little top mount, 35's, rear locker, 3" straight through exhaust. Still my favourite car to drive, just point it at obstacle, soot it up = job done. I drowned it, dinged it, drove the wheels off it. Never over heated, went well for a 7k car, cheap parts, easy to work on, felt like a 4WD should with 2 solid axles, sturdy to tow with, even on 35's, 2 1/2" lift and no sway bars.

Then I sold everything, and bought what I wished I had from day one of being hooked on 4WDs. GU coil cab and after my brothers 07 CRD lost the screws from the oil pump and self destructed in a big way at 120,000 easy kms, and my good run out of the GQ TD42 with 420,000 hard Kms that's what I ended up with Over heating TD's is a myth

I will never sell this ute, it's setup perfect for everything I do, I have spent 100's of hours on it, and when the TD42 has blown its final soot it will get a transplant and live on

Name a comfier, more capable, more reliable 4WD

 

We had a new member sign up yesterday from Togo, West Africa, with a 2.8 turbo in his old GQ, he's an American living in Togo and loving his very lonely Patrol.

 

My boys got a 2.8GU - punching 15pd boost - gotta love those 4.8 diffs - goes real well [emoji106]


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro