Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

Yes Herrie that is why we both drive one!!!!
To me the 4.8 might not be as fanzy as a D4 but hey I have all the bells ect that I need and more !!! Most electronic gimmicks breaks and cost money to fix
I think I have my retirement machine already !!!!!and I'm only going to do so in 15 years!!!

only 15 years? ;)

Retirement has got nothing to do with age and everything to do with money.

Well said Stefan!

Guys I just want to put a slightly different spin on the petrol Patrol's major perceived problem, namely the cost of fuel.

I am currently doing some sums for a trip to Botswana. The route is from JHB, passed Kubu Island, then through Maun to the Moremi, through Savuti and Linyanti to Kasane and then back home.

I expect the trip to cost me, using my 4.2 Patrol, appriximately R21 300. One of the other guys will be driving a Hilux Legend 35 KZ-TE, and the expected costs for him would be R20 400. Each of these vehicles will contain two parents, and two children, but his children are a bit older than ours.

This is using an average fuel consumption of 4.8 for the Patrol, and 9 for the Hilux, and the estimated fuel cost difference is just less than R3 000.00, the other R2 000.00 he loses again because his children's accomodation will cost more.

But in my opinion, on a total bill of R21k R3k is not a huge difference.

When I did the Botswana trip my average fuel consumption was also 4,8km/l.

Everybody told me that I must work on 3km/l between Maun and Kasane - I got 4.3 km/l

Peter Connan wrote:This is using an average fuel consumption of 4.8 for the Patrol, and 9 for the Hilux,

I would be mighty surprised if the 1KZ-TE Hilux manages to average 9 km/l over the trip. I think he should perhaps bargain on something more like 7.5 or 8 km/l if it is going to be heavily laden, but then again, I don't own one so I might be dead wrong.

I have seen 3 km/l on my Patrol, but that was dragging an Xplorer through deep sand in Moz. On normal trips with the caravan I work on 4.5 km/l.

Gerrit the Hilux is 2wd, so he is going to spend a lot of time hitched to a Patrol, saving fuel.

Also, due to one of the other vehicles in the group, we cruise at a maximum of 100kph, so the fuel consumption on the tar is better than normal. On our last Bots trip I averages 5.7, which is the best consumption I have ever had.

Peter Connan wrote:Gerrit the Hilux is 2wd, so he is going to spend a lot of time hitched to a Patrol, saving fuel.

Ah, I see, the Land Rover approach to fuel saving (Sorry Koos, net 'n grappie ).

Seriously, though, yes, I am sure the 2wd will be a lighter on juice than the figures I mentioned.

i wonder what kind of 4x4s will be around when i am ready to retire which is like 30 years away... or even what africa will look like then

my TD42 is going to have to last me a LOOOOOOOOONG time as i really cannot see a better retirement vehicle on the market today. The 4.8 would have to come a close second

Dave the 4.8 is like a drug ......once you put your foot flat in second LR on a BIG sand dune it becomes something you can't live without!!also it is nice to crouse at 160 and still be able to overtake but yes a 4.2 N\A diesel will last a hellofalong time too it will just get there slower

I often envy you guys with the 4.8s, but then just as often I love driving my old 4.5 with its simple pushrod forklift motor with no variable induction system, no variable valve timing, chain drive single camshaft and so on. Sure it doesn't go like a 4.8, but old Imvubu can lift her skirt and gather speed up to a bit of a jog if needed .