Upgrading from Duster, but to what?

[SJN]

Is there any particular reason no-one is recommending the Wildtrak or XLT? They've been my frontrunners, but no-one so far has mentioned them?

[jelo]

Ride comfort in and around town? And maintenance? I've heard nightmare stories about buying one that isn't in good nick...

Why would you buy ANY vehicle that isn't in good nick? If you buy a lifted trail rig that the PO bashed over weekends, that is your own bad decision. That would go for any capable 4x4.

Ride comfort is as good as any vehicle I have owned. Lovely German auto box, heated seats, good seating position, center cubby box perfectly placed, good space for feet and legs, should be good even if you're over 1.9m.

Maintenance: factory service contract is part of the purchase, thereafter serviced at an indie as per the schedule. Major service costs in line with most current modern vehicles. Nothing major has broken on ours, nothing fell off. Crank position sensor harness needed TLC at 250,000kms. Cat converters were removed @ 225k KM, which improved fuel consumption by minimum 1L/100. We do a minimum of 5kms of bad servitude farm road every day. So that implies at least 16,000kms of that mileage was on a really horrendous dirt road. Yearly trips are usually Moz or similar and that would mean at least another 20,000km of hard off-roading. We might need to do some suspension bushes @ 300,000. The rear door hinges have started to rattle on bad corrugations. Spares are just an Interweb click away. Hundreds of upgrade options.

Factory sound system is excellent.
Fuel consumption now without cats in mixed driving is 12L/100 measured using a GPS trip log. So genuine figures, NOT onboard computer lies.
This drops to 10.5L/100 on the open road when driven at the speed limit.

[jelo]

Is there any particular reason no-one is recommending the Wildtrak or XLT? They've been my frontrunners, but no-one so far has mentioned them?

Go and have a look at some of the errors and complaints under that part of the forum.........

[jelo]

Any reason you'd recommend it over the 3.0 V6?

Lots. If you want to buy a 3.0L V6 turbo diesel then buy a low mileage WK with FSH.

[SJN]

Why would you buy ANY vehicle that isn't in good nick?

Well, I don't mean willingly. I mean people buying one, only for it to start falling apart a few miles down the road, and experiencing major issues with high mileage. Like a Landy, I figure its luck of the draw when buying used: you either get a great one that lasts forever, or you marry one that keeps falling apart.

But the rest sounds good though. I'll definitely give it a look! Rubicon also worth a look?

[jelo]

These are the ones I'd look at:

- Wrangler JKU 3.6
- Grand Cherokee WK2 3.6
- Grand Cherokee WK 3.0 OM642
- Pajero Sport

Your choices are a mix of SUV and pick-up: you need to decide which format fits your lifestyle. You can't do that the other way round.

[WernerDL]

The squidgy organic bit behind the wheel!

Thanks Werner. I do love me a Pajero. The SWB in our little 4x4 group always manages to blow me away, and have heard nothing but praise for the Super Select system! Any drawbacks of the PS vs the SWB (except for size, obviously)?

Can't really think of anything more than what @allandell said. Also think the SWB should be better off road, and could be little more nimble around town than the PS, but you'll pay at the pump for that. Also the big Pajero is being discontinued last I heard, but the indies should keep them up and running for years to come.

[jelo]

Well, I don't mean willingly. I mean people buying one, only for it to start falling apart a few miles down the road, and experiencing major issues with high mileage. Like a Landy, I figure its luck of the draw when buying used: you either get a great one that lasts forever, or you marry one that keeps falling apart.

But the rest sounds good though. I'll definitely give it a look! Rubicon also worth a look?

As with most vehicles: FSH and a good look-over by a reputable indie.

[SJN]

These are the ones I'd look at:

- Wrangler JKU 3.6
- Grand Cherokee WK2 3.6
- Grand Cherokee WK 3.0 OM642
- Pajero Sport

Test drive booked for the GC 3.0 and the Pajero Sport!

Your choices are a mix of SUV and pick-up: you need to decide which format fits your lifestyle. You can't do that the other way round.

This is a tricky one. Because I don't have kids (and not planning on having any), it can swing either way. Trips are usually just me and SWAMBO. I'm not leaning to one or the other in particular at this stage. Guess it will be determined by driving them as well.

[Rainier Vermaak]

Rubicon also worth a look?

As a lifestyle vehicle the JK Wranglers are awesome.

The Sahara only have traction control, so if a diff lock is a sine qua non then you will have to look at a Rubicon.

[jelo]

As a lifestyle vehicle the JK Wranglers are awesome.

The Sahara only have traction control, so if a diff lock is a sine qua non then you will have to look at a Rubicon.

That being said: you need to be on quite a rough trail to overwhelm the traction control.........

But a JKUR 3.6 is indeed the target option.

[SJN]

As a lifestyle vehicle the JK Wranglers are awesome.

The Sahara only have traction control, so if a diff lock is a sine qua non then you will have to look at a Rubicon.

And long distance comfort? I test drove a Compass and a SWB Wrangler back in the day and found them a bit uncomfortable?

[Graham]

If youve managed with an SUV/station wagon type layout so far, then I dont think a bakkie needs to be considered. Im of the opinion that a bakkie layout is only practical to a select few users, for most others (ie, people who dont cart motorbikes, wet dogs, scuba gear, garden refuse) they're very impractical.

Anyway, a left field option, what about a Touareg? Super comfortable, will fit into the Sandton vibe very well, and, ive seen touregs on the trails, theyre extremely capable off road!

[jelo]

And long distance comfort? I test drove a Compass and a SWB Wrangler back in the day and found them a bit uncomfortable?

Just to be fair, compared to what?

a SWB Wrangler will have a choppy and imprecise ride : this is the product and the end result of all short wheel base vehicles, especially with solid axles: the Defender 90 was another example

and a Compass was sadly not well conceived or engineered, I consider nothing more than a capable cross-over

I suggest just go drive a Wrangler again, but this time the 4 door. At least then you'll have an idea.

I've driven mine from Barra Lodge to Brits in one go. I seriously doubt many people do that very often.
Some people consider 400kms far: I do that on a Saturday for a beer.

[jelo]

Anyway, a left field option, what about a Touareg? Super comfortable, will fit into the Sandton vibe very well, and, ive seen touregs on the trails, theyre extremely capable off road!

good choice and stylish enough

[SJN]

Just to be fair, compared to what?

a SWB Wrangler will have a choppy and imprecise ride : this is the product and the end result of all short wheel base vehicles, especially with solid axles: the Defender 90 was another example

and a Compass was sadly not well conceived or engineered, I consider nothing more than a capable cross-over

I suggest just go drive a Wrangler again, but this time the 4 door. At least then you'll have an idea.

I've driven mine from Barra Lodge to Brits in one go. I seriously doubt many people do that very often.
Some people consider 400kms far: I do that on a Saturday for a beer.

Definitely adding the Wrangler to the test drive list. But will probably aim for the Rubicon.

[SJN]

If youve managed with an SUV/station wagon type layout so far, then I dont think a bakkie needs to be considered. Im of the opinion that a bakkie layout is only practical to a select few users, for most others (ie, people who dont cart motorbikes, wet dogs, scuba gear, garden refuse) they're very impractical.

Anyway, a left field option, what about a Touareg? Super comfortable, will fit into the Sandton vibe very well, and, ive seen touregs on the trails, theyre extremely capable off road!

Interesting. I hadn't even considered it. Thought about the Amarok, but hadn't seen the Touareg as a capable off-roader. Looking at some Youtube videos it does seem like it can hold its own for the most part?

[jelo]

Interesting. I hadn't even considered it. Thought about the Amarok, but hadn't seen the Touareg as a capable off-roader. Looking at some Youtube videos it does seem like it can hold its own for the most part?

It will kick the Amarok's bum.
The Touareg is basically a poor man's Porsche Cayenne...........

[Rainier Vermaak]

And long distance comfort? I test drove a Compass and a SWB Wrangler back in the day and found them a bit uncomfortable?

The GC is brilliant wrt long distance comfort. And will still handle most offroad stuff easily.

The SWB JK will be choppy, drive a 4 door.

[jelo]

Definitely adding the Wrangler to the test drive list. But will probably aim for the Rubicon.

We should have bought the JKUR based on the price difference at the time. But the wife was in a hurry and there was a JKUS on the showroom floor...........