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Kruisbaak 25 | 2165 AJ Lisserbroek Patrol vs Cruiser: my impressions and thoughts
2020/02/05, 09:38 AM #1
As was discussed in length in a number of posts towards the end of last year, I bought a 1998 Patrol GL from Petri (which in line with a previous agreement I sold back to him again). At the time a number of people asked for my feedback seeing that I have had a number of cruisers before but it was a first Patrol.
Incidentally I also had an 80 series Crusier 4.5 petrol in the garage at the time so compariosns were easy although in fairness to Toyota, the Patrol should be compared tot he 100 series of the same year.
Anyway I thought it would be interesting to share some observations.
First off let me say that there are really no cut or dried way to favour the one over the other since they are very similar in many ways. Even the shock absorbers are interchangeable!
The Patrol appears to be stronger build just looking at the components. Chassis rails, gearbox and axles appear enormous and it weighs 400kg more than the Cruiser! I was amazed to see how short the rear propshaft was due to the size of the gearbox.
Also the Patrol is definitely more sure footed on the road, probably because of the longer wheelbase. One other thing I like is the vacuum actuated rear diff lock, much more reliable and quicker acting than the electric unit in the Cruiser. Then the same model Cruiser has a front locker as well which scores a lot.
The biggest shortcoming for me in the Patrol is the engine. The Crusier will run rings around it, even the carburettor unit in the 80. The Patrol does have lovely, almost diesel like torque from idle, its is a very strong point, but on the open road it lacks quite a bit compared to the Cruiser. And when pushed the Patrol is very heavy on fuel, not even mentioning when going off road.
Interiors are pretty much of a muchness with the Patrol perhaps a little bigger than the 80 and about the same as the 100.
Also the Patrol has discs all round which only came out on the 100 series. In both cases the brakes are adequate rather than strong.
I would say the Cruiser's body seems better made. The Patrol, although mechanically very strong, does sound a bit tinny body wise.
For me a big worry was dealer back up though. For the Cruiser parts is no issue. Although not always available straight away, at least the dealers know what you are talking about. At Nissan I got a blank stare most of the times. They simply don't seem to know their own product! Very disappointing considering the excellent vehicle the Patrol undoubtedly is.
I was meaning to take a 4.8 for a drive but never got round to it. It must be something.
In the end it took a long discussion between me and my son as to whether we should keep the Patrol or not. Many times we decided to keep it and then decided against it. I might still regret my decision but I knew Petri liked it and would not mind getting it back. I enjoyed it for the time I had it.
Last edited by Francois Theron; 2020/02/05 at 09:46 AM.
Andre Muller, Petri Oosthuizen, Quiksilver, RobH
2020/02/05, 11:59 AM #2
Francois you sort of get to the same conclusion than me.
Before buying the 76 V8 I had a look at several Patrols. Test drive many. Spoke to all my friends owning them.
I know there is no direct comparison between the 76 and the Y60/61 Patrols. As you stated the Patrol should be compared to the 100 Series. Except from the 4.8 none of the Patrol engines kept me away from sleep.
Having dealt with Nissan owning several of their products I know what the pain would be to come when the had to man up for spares.
In the end I am satisfied with the 76 V8 and rate the v8 diesel as on of the top workhorse diesel engines available.
Being close to my 60`s and running out of time for buying vehicles I think in my case the Cruiser were the better choice. As per my previous experience when the G60`s were discontinued within 10 years Nissan had none of their parts available. I have owned a FJ 45 Cruiser of the same vintage. To this day you are still able to find spares for it via the Toyota dealers.
But yes Patrols are very strong super 4x4`s.
2020/03/05, 11:55 PM #3
Francois ek het die GL gelike........maar daai "nuwe" GRX is net in 'n heel ander klas.
Die GL was 'n gravel traveller, die GRX baie duidelik 'n stadskar - mens kan dit BAIE duidelik agterkom. Die GRX is 100 keer meer tight en "vas" as daai GL.
Ek sou ook graag 'n tipe write up wou doen, GRX vs GX, maar ek dink dis nou al BAIE keer gedoen, nog een gaan nie rerig value add nie.
Wens jy kon met my nuwe een 'n draai ry........net om self te voel waarvan ek praat.
Maar ja om op te som - albei (EFI vs GRX) het hulle slegte en goeie punte, albei is GREAT voertuie, ek dink daar is baie min om te kies tussen die twee.
Onderdele/diens?? Bly weg van Nissan SA........maar daar is SO baie alternatiewe. Daai hooflig, byvoorbeeld, het binne een dag afgelewer in my kantoor gekry..........R 1800. mens moet genuine net weet waar om te vra. Maar ja, Toyota het baie beslis 'n beter dealer network op die 100/105 as wat Nissan op die Trols het.
Maar ja, die keer gaan ek stick by daai GRX, mens gaan BAIE moeilik hom kan vervang - jy moet dit genuine sien om te glo.
Het dit al iewers gese - maar die GRX tick regtig net AL my boxes, wat EK in 'n "weekend 4x4" wil he. Ek het baie lanklaas so oor 'n kar ge faff soos oor die GRX wat ek nou het.
2020/03/06, 12:21 PM #4
Ek dink wat ek eintlik in short wil se Soois.............ons het albei 'n "proefneming" gemaak met daai groen GL.
Jy dalk "meer as ek", ek het al so 3 Trols gehad, en Safari bakkies, - jy was die "1st owner".
En weereens - as ek met die GRX ry, is daar nie eers vergelyking tussen hom en die GL nie. Die GRX is 10x meer solid, en loop BAIE stiller op ooppad.
Ons het intussen albei weer rygoed gekry, ek is SUPER chaffed met die GRX, en ek dink tog jy sal eendag ook so mooie koop wat net in die garage staan en wag vir haar volgende trip. Die Trols se pryse is van so aard dat dit binne bereik is, so 'n 3de/4de 4x4 wat net eenkant staan.
Myne kos my R 121000 soos hy nou hier staan. Hyt lekker sound, leather, nuwe Coopers, Outback drawers, bullbar, rock sliders, dual battery system, roofrack, OME shocks alle duplikaat sleutels en FSH van Dag Een af. Meeste van die ekstras is brand new. Alles is ook 100% working, die aircon, al die outlets, tot die aerial werk 100%.
Jy sal ook een eendag kry, en ek dink ook hom wil hou.
'n 1998 EFI in dieselfde toestand as die GRX gaan my ten MINSTE R 200 000 kos. R 85000 meer. En ek weet genuine genuine nie waarvoor ek dit ekstra sal betaal nie.
Vir my, Patrol se 3 "main" weak points, teenoor 'n EFI of 'n 80??
1) LC het beslis 'n meer solid gevoel as die Trol
2) Die Nissan 4,5 het nie die krag van die EFI op die ooppad nie
Patrol se strong points??
1) Daai 4,5 het HOPE low down torque, en rev like mad as jy hom opwen, meer as die EFI
2) Baie stiller op ooppad as EFI
3) Beter padhouvermoe
5) BAIE beter toegerus as 'n GX.......climate control, sun roof, leer, agterste split seats, overhead console, etc etc
Ek dink offroad capabilities is BAIE na aan mekaar - die Trol dink ek het 'n beter ariculation, maar die EFI maak weer op met 'n voor locker.
Petrol verbruik?? Albei is swaar, jy weet dit lank voor jy begin rondkyk vir enige van die twee. Klink of die Trol so knorts swaarder as die EFI is.........maar ja, kyk ook na aankoopprys?
Nissan se parts backup is swakker as die LC s'n, BY DIE AGENTE. Maar ek het honestly nog nie rerig issues gekry met dit nie, jy moet net weet waar om te vra.
Die EFI trek harder as die 4,5 Trol, hy het 18Kw meer in sy gat en is ligter.
Trol het nou weer beter lowdown torque, rev dat dit klap, en (debatable maar dit klink so) het sterk(er ) diffs en ratkas.
............BAIE naby aan mekaar, ek dink die bepalende faktor , as jy tussen twee selfde modelle GRX of EFI op 'n spesifieke dag moet besluit, gaan wees
1) Toestand, en
Soois jy weet ek het nou die dag 'n 1998 EFI gekoop. R 160 000. Reeds weer verkoop.
As daai EFI teen 160k langs my GRX staan teen 115k, watter een??............die GRX, all day long.
As EFI langs GL gestaan het?? Die EFI, heel waarskynlik.
2020/03/06, 01:43 PM #5
Petri ek hoor wat jy se. Sal my nie te veel vat om weer 'n Patrol te koop nie. Dis net in my huidige omstandighede met my seun wat Toy tegnikus is, maak 'n Toyota nogal sin. Hoeka hy wat my oortuig het om die GD6 te koop en ek is nie te beindruk nie, so ook nie altyd die beste roep nie!
Maar as die regte Patrol oor my pad kom, wie weet?
2020/03/06, 01:56 PM #6
Laaste ding......jy moenie die Trol 4500 "measure" aan daai groene nie Soois. Ek het ook, en die GRX wat ek nou het is WAY WAY WAY nicer.
GL is verkoop aan Klient in Noord Kaap, happy en als, was tog nie 'n bad kar teen die prys vir wat die Koper wil doen nie.
Ek sal self graag met 'n 4,8 GL wil ry eendag, sommer net. Net nie die auto nie, daai hout steering en dash is GLAD nie vir my nie, en ek soek anyway NET manual.
En nee, probeer jou nie eers naastenby inchat in 'n Trol omdat ek hulle like nie. Dit kom ook al JAAAARE, die Patrol ding, ek het maar net soort van "vergeet" van hulle en Cruisers gery.
Moet ook se ek het nog nie die GRX eers amper op 'n grondpad gehad nie, dalk sing ek 'n HEEL ander deuntjie. Maar ek twyfel, ek dink die Trol gaan mooi maak op 'n klip trail in Lesotho, lekker suspensie en torque.
2020/03/06, 02:34 PM #7
Teen hierdie prys, is ek BAIE keen
Ja, dis rof om die hoeke, maar ek trek alles deur my boude anyway.
2020/03/06, 02:39 PM #8
As daai kilo's genuine is, is dit 'n steal.
2020/03/06, 02:43 PM #9
Trek die cash hardloop gaan haal hom voor hulle agterkom
2020/03/06, 02:44 PM #10
2020/03/06, 03:45 PM #11
Jo - cheap, wat koop jy vir daai geld anyway
Kyk die "Dekra" Report link op die ad, hulle is nogal kwaai akkuraat.
2020/03/06, 03:50 PM #12
Just my observations walk......I'm NO expert on this, but ja - I've had a couple (cars, that is ), and that included LC's and a couple Trols.
LOTS more LC than Trol, so I'm still a Nissan "Rookie" here, I'd say.
But Value for $$$..........unbeatable.
Look at jelo's link above.........for R 70 000, you'll get a (much worse condition than this Trol) 60 or maybe even 80 Series. Really not even comparable, lets be honest.
Last edited by Petri Oosthuizen; 2020/03/06 at 03:50 PM.
2020/03/06, 03:56 PM #13
Yep, we're looking at a second 4x4 as the Wrangler is over 235,000kms and one must expect it will need a bit more TLC which means more time at the indie. So we need something robust and cheap enough to stand around the farm just in case.
I looked at this, but it's REALLY small and well, overpriced, and needs a LOT of work:
Even if the Patrol needs R10k of work, I'd still be ahead.
2020/03/06, 04:01 PM #14
jelo jy kan easy peasy tot by R 100k gaan vir daai tipe kar. Myne het 279000 op, en as DEALER kos hy my R 121000. 1998 Model.
Just as a sort of "reference".
2020/03/06, 04:06 PM #15
That's more for the Jeep purist. The Patrol makes waaay more sense and would probably be less temperamental even given the km's and age difference.
2020/03/06, 04:09 PM #16
jelo jy weet dit obviously al klaar, maar op Patrol Forum het ek ou gekry wat (genuine) parts BAIE cheap verkoop, excellent service.
Nuwe headlight op daai GL..................R 8900.
By hom.............................................R 1900, delivered on your doorstep.
Dis op daai "headlight" Thread
Wil nie probeer se die parts is cheapo nie, maar wel........R 1800 is amper below par for the course.
Last edited by Petri Oosthuizen; 2020/03/06 at 04:09 PM.
2020/03/06, 04:15 PM #17
well actually not, the TJ is almost completely bulletproof if maintained a little, the 4.0 engine is very like the TB45 Nissan, old school SOHC, it just doesn't die, and the suspension is a really basic 4-link
TJ spares are also cheap and plentiful from US online sources.
hence the comparatively higher price
But I'm not here for a debate on Jeeps.
2020/03/06, 05:28 PM #18
2020/03/06, 05:40 PM #19
Thats a helluva lot of car for 69 gorillas. If I was in the market I would take a serious look at that.
2020/03/10, 12:12 PM #20
That is a seriously good buy ... so much car for so little money.