Options and Opinions - Jeep GC, Patrol, Hilux, Ranger, Prado

[Rikusvdm]

Hi All

I know what i am asking is crazy so many options so many different classes.

I am looking into buying a vehicle early next year, my problem is i cant make up my mind, here is what i want to do:

Fishing most of the places are easy to access but some do need a 4x4, need enough space for all the gear

Cycling, again most places easy to get in, but need a easy way to transport the bicycle with or without a rack

Towing and Launching a boat, anything from a 15ft to a 24ft boat

Lastly camping \ Overlanding with or without a camping trailer

Options i am looking at:

1: 2014 + Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 3.6L - Love this vehicle, love the terrain response, ride quality, Luxury features, engine power and the sound system

2: Nissan Patrol 4.8L, Yes yes i know fuel is a problem, but damn its so big and beautiful, more than enough space, great off road

3: 2012 + Ford Ranger 3.2, Love the looks, big space, just not sure about reliability or services or off road capabilities

4: Toyota Hilux V6 4.0, I know its a strong vehicle, great off road, but i dont like the interior, they are a bit of a hard drive and not sure about service and maintenance

5: 2010 Prado V6 4.0, I know nothing about this vehicle, its good looking, the interior looks nice, still have to test drive, but how good is it off road? services? Maintenance?

My Budget is about R280k - R320k

What would you recommend or advice you would offer, i like doing my homework and each vehicle is great in their own way, ( Note this will be my daily driver )

I just need enough info to make the best choice

Thanks in advance

[GH]

Hi All

I know what i am asking is crazy so many options so many different classes.

I am looking into buying a vehicle early next year, my problem is i cant make up my mind, here is what i want to do:

Fishing most of the places are easy to access but some do need a 4x4, need enough space for all the gear

Cycling, again most places easy to get in, but need a easy way to transport the bicycle with or without a rack

Towing and Launching a boat, anything from a 15ft to a 24ft boat

Lastly camping \ Overlanding with or without a camping trailer

Options i am looking at:

1: 2014 + Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 3.6L - Love this vehicle, love the terrain response, ride quality, Luxury features, engine power and the sound system

2: Nissan Patrol 4.8L, Yes yes i know fuel is a problem, but damn its so big and beautiful, more than enough space, great off road

3: 2012 + Ford Ranger 3.2, Love the looks, big space, just not sure about reliability or services or off road capabilities

4: Toyota Hilux V6 4.0, I know its a strong vehicle, great off road, but i dont like the interior, they are a bit of a hard drive and not sure about service and maintenance

5: 2010 Prado V6 4.0, I know nothing about this vehicle, its good looking, the interior looks nice, still have to test drive, but how good is it off road? services? Maintenance?

My Budget is about R280k - R320k

What would you recommend or advice you would offer, i like doing my homework and each vehicle is great in their own way, ( Note this will be my daily driver )

I just need enough info to make the best choice

Thanks in advance

Out of those vehicles without getting technical, I would look at the Patrol, then the Prado and maybe stoop down to that Hilux but I think the Patrol or Prado will make your smile a little wider but... you said your budget is only "about" and fuel consumption is clearly not a priority, you could look for a '08 to '10 LC200 with the V8 petrol motor and never have to worry about another vehicle again

[Marais Grove]

Hi All

I know what i am asking is crazy so many options so many different classes.

I am looking into buying a vehicle early next year, my problem is i cant make up my mind, here is what i want to do:

Fishing most of the places are easy to access but some do need a 4x4, need enough space for all the gear

Cycling, again most places easy to get in, but need a easy way to transport the bicycle with or without a rack

Towing and Launching a boat, anything from a 15ft to a 24ft boat

Lastly camping \ Overlanding with or without a camping trailer

Options i am looking at:

1: 2014 + Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 3.6L - Love this vehicle, love the terrain response, ride quality, Luxury features, engine power and the sound system

2: Nissan Patrol 4.8L, Yes yes i know fuel is a problem, but damn its so big and beautiful, more than enough space, great off road

3: 2012 + Ford Ranger 3.2, Love the looks, big space, just not sure about reliability or services or off road capabilities

4: Toyota Hilux V6 4.0, I know its a strong vehicle, great off road, but i dont like the interior, they are a bit of a hard drive and not sure about service and maintenance

5: 2010 Prado V6 4.0, I know nothing about this vehicle, its good looking, the interior looks nice, still have to test drive, but how good is it off road? services? Maintenance?

My Budget is about R280k - R320k

What would you recommend or advice you would offer, i like doing my homework and each vehicle is great in their own way, ( Note this will be my daily driver )

I just need enough info to make the best choice

Thanks in advance

Go for the Jeep, it really is a lot of car for the price you pay. It is the most modern, those 3.6 petrol motors are absolutely bulletproof. I have a 2016 Ecodiesel, currently sitting on 125000kms, I tow a 21ft fishing boat with it and never it missed a beat, all while returning 12.5l-100km. The only advice I can give you is to the the 8-speed over the older 6-speed. The 3.6 is a great choice...

It is actually my wife's car that she uses for the school run on a daily basis, she previously had a Prado, and she absolutely loves this Jeep.

I grew up with Toyotas and also drove them for 12 years. I have to say, I now own two Jeeps, a GC and a Wrangler, and I've never regretted that.

[Peter Connan]

For the stated purposes and assuming you know what you are doing or are prepared to put in a bit of effort to learn, you don't need a vehicle with a lot of 4x4 ability, and all the listed vehicles are good enough. If fact, a whole host of others would be too.

But me being me, there is only one vehicle on that list. But that's me, not you.

[Graham]

If it were me, it would be the Patrol (obviously), and then the prado.

BUT. Go take a Patrol for a drive. It really is a very big, very heavy brute of a thing. Ive often seen guys who are super keen on it on paper, and then decided its definitely not for them after the drive.

[Francois Theron]

Firstly I think it is important to decide what type of vehicle will suit your requirement best; ie: DC or SW. From what you describe, the DC will suit it best, but you might have other requirements as well. If DC, personal choice where I will take the Hilux. If SW, that leaves you with 3 options from the list where I think the Jeep and Prado will be best. Even as a Patrol 4.8 owner myself, I think it's overkill. Personal choice between Prado and Jeep, I will take the Prado.

[Commander]

I have to agree with what has been said, for your stated purpose any of the mentioned vehicles would work well and a whole host of others. So will come down to which one you like driving the most. One thing to mention is a huge variance in fuel consumption between the various options listed. Some will be fairly light and some will be pretty heavy, and since you mention it will be a daily driver it will factor unless someone else is paying for fuel.

My vote would go to the Jeep, but I am biased. It certainly is excellent value for money and you will get a newer higher speced version for the same money. Happy hunting!

[WillieJimny]

Every real man wants a Patrol

The others are just another car

[FatPlant]

We have a 2010 JEEP GC, Diesel.
-Absolutely love it. I have not been able to find the limits of its offroad capabilities.
-Overtakes with the 3.0CRD is great, plenty of Torque/Power when needed. Not lazy at all.
-Fuel consumption on my Diesel is fair, considering you are lugging around a 2100kg 4x4 vehicle at highway speeds, I can still get 10l/100km on the open road. (Petrol versions are a different kettle of fish entirely)
-Bicycle(Road or MTB) can fit inside if you put down one of the rear seats. Alternatively the Bike rack works fine.

Cons:
-It is a premium product, even though a 2nd-hand one is cheap to buy. So Repair parts will be rather expensive if you do damage it. My insurance premium is actually less than on my 2011 BMW 320D, for now.
-Forget about sourcing parts at your local Midas/Autozone. You will need to know how to hunt for parts, but overseas sites can deliver within a week for 30% of the price of any local Distributor. (RockAuto.com will be Bookmarked on your Browser )

[souti]

Never driven in the 4.8L patrol, but I would imagine you feel invincible in that thing.

If it's not your daily or you do mostly long road/high way driving its a good bet, but if you CBD area's & mall parking lots, that size is going to be a handful.

I am biased, but in that list the Prado is the perfect all rounder, can do everything you listed, in comfort & with a sense of reliability. The only short coming on the prado( and all wagons) is the packing space, though a simple roof rack fixes that.

In terms of 4x4 capability, prado is rock solid. They actually better than the hilux in stock vs stock in my experience. That 4L V6 can handle slow rock crawling as well as dune bashing with the best of them. Add in the 4wd system and it's one of the best for beach/sand driving.

[Rikusvdm]

I must say, i am leaning more towards the Jeep GC,

Went for a test drive in the patrol and it wasnt bad, but had more fun in the GC,

[Nazdrobia]

How much does that 24ft boat weigh? Can the vehicle of choice legally tow that weight?

I wish you many happy adventures with your vehicle of choice.

Nazdrovia

[Basil Peetz]

I am biased but would say go for the Jeep GC.

Slightly off topic it is completely outrageous the the latest GC release starts retailing at just under R1.5M. More than I paid for my (decent) house not too long ago.

[Tom13]

The Limited is slightly less and starts at R1.3M. The R1.5M is for the Overland and a whopping R1.7 for the Summit reserve otherwise known as Government Official Spec.

I am biased but would say go for the Jeep GC.

Slightly off topic it is completely outrageous the the latest GC release starts retailing at just under R1.5M. More than I paid for my (decent) house not too long ago.

[FatPlant]

I am biased but would say go for the Jeep GC.

Slightly off topic it is completely outrageous the the latest GC release starts retailing at just under R1.5M. More than I paid for my (decent) house not too long ago.

To be honest, that class of vehicle is very expensive to obtain. I know a Land Cruiser is even higher spec by most accounts, but you can easily spend R1.8Mil on a new one.

But I agree with your basic starting point. I paid less than R1.8 for my 5 bedroom house(on a 1300sqm stand) in 2017.It is not something I'll ever do, but you do get people that have the cashflow to justify buying a LC or Jeep GC brand new. Good for them, I'll pick it up from them some years into the future when it has depreciated enough.

[SJC]

Go for the Jeep, it really is a lot of car for the price you pay. It is the most modern, those 3.6 petrol motors are absolutely bulletproof. I have a 2016 Ecodiesel, currently sitting on 125000kms, I tow a 21ft fishing boat with it and never it missed a beat, all while returning 12.5l-100km. The only advice I can give you is to the the 8-speed over the older 6-speed. The 3.6 is a great choice...

Is 125k km considerred high mileage for a jeep? What consumption does the 3.6 petrol give?
Just asking...

My Patrol is sitting on 455k km ... without missing a beat..

[Alwyn777]

To be honest, that class of vehicle is very expensive to obtain. I know a Land Cruiser is even higher spec by most accounts, but you can easily spend R1.8Mil on a new one.

But I agree with your basic starting point. I paid less than R1.8 for my 5 bedroom house(on a 1300sqm stand) in 2017.It is not something I'll ever do, but you do get people that have the cashflow to justify buying a LC or Jeep GC brand new. Good for them, I'll pick it up from them some years into the future when it has depreciated enough.

Saw one in the flesh today on the R21 and N1. I was driving all around it to check it out haha. Man oh man it looks good! But that price is moot. The 3.6 is an excellent engine by all means but one would've expected something woth a bit more grunt at that price point.

[Marais Grove]

Is 125k km considerred high mileage for a jeep? What consumption does the 3.6 petrol give?
Just asking...

My Patrol is sitting on 455k km ... without missing a beat.. >

What type of question is that?

I don't know what you're on about comparing a 1996 Nissan with 455k km on the clock to a new Jeep?

If I owned a Patrol, I'd honestly don't know if I would want it to last 455k km, I would hope it breaks down just so I can go and buy something else.

[Francois Theron]

What type of question is that?

I don't know what you're on about comparing a 1996 Nissan with 455k km on the clock to a new Jeep?

If I owned a Patrol, I'd honestly don't know if I would want it to last 455k km, I would hope it breaks down just so I can go and buy something else.