What is the best second-hand model of the Nissan Patrol?

While the later Y62 Nissan Patrol was petrol V8 only (and a thirsty one at that) it’s also way out of your budget. Go back in time to the old faithful GQ model, and you’re going too far back, as these are now quite old vehicles. Which leaves you with the GU model which fits within your budget but is still new enough to be around in good numbers and in good condition. Within that GU model-window, the version I’d recommend is the earlier 4.2-litre turbo-diesel model built from 1997 to 2007. While there were other turbo-diesel engines offered in the GU, they were problematic, especially compared with the tough 4.2-litre unit. There was also large-capacity six-cylinder petrol engine, but that has a monstrous thirst as well. Given that you want to tow a camper and do some off-roading, the extra range and fuel efficiency of the turbo-diesel will be a bonus. The only catch is that this engine was only ever tied to a five-speed manual gearbox, and if you want an automatic, you need to look elsewhere.

Nissan Patrol 2006: Is it worth buying?

The vast majority of Nissan Patrols from 2006 have covered a lot more than 172,000km, so that’s definitely one thing in the vehicle’s favour. These seem to be a pretty good thing over time and kilometres as well, but there are still a few things to be wary of. The first of those is how the vehicle has actually been used in the past. Has it been used extensively off-road? Climb underneath and check for damage caused by rocks and try to gauge how hard a life the Patrol has had. The other thing to bear in mind is that there were two diesel engines offered in this model. The biggest, a 4.2-litre turbo-diesel is a pretty good thing and tough enough to survive. The smaller unit, though, a three-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel doesn’t enjoy the same reputation for reliability and longevity. In fact, the smaller diesel is notorious for suffering an incorrect air-fuel mixture and/or turbo-boost spikes which can smash the pistons to bits. At which point the whole engine is junk. Should this happen, you might find that the cost of repairs is more than the actual value of the whole vehicle. So that’s the bottom line: If the engine is a six-cylinder, it’s probably worth a punt if it’s cheap enough. If the engine is a four-cylinder, you might be wise to look for an expert on these engines to examine it and give a recommendation in person. This model Patrol was also entangled in the Takata air-bag fiasco, so make sure the air-bags have been checked and replaced if necessary before driving it anywhere.

Nissan Patrol 2006: How much is it worth?

That’s an awful lot of money for a 2006 Nissan Patrol, Heather, but there are a couple of mitigating factors. The first is the incredibly low mileage and if there’s a GU Patrol out there with fewer kilometres showing, then I’d be a bit surprised. The second thing in the car’s favour is that it has the mighty 4.8-litre petrol six-cylinder engine which is one of the best towing engines ever made for a passenger vehicle. A Patrol with that engine will always find a buyer even if, at $18,000, it’s right at the top of the price ladder. Then again, given that it represents more or less a brand-new 2006 Patrol (and this model was a cool $80,000 on the road back in the day) maybe $18,000 is a steal. Depends on how you look at it. The only caveat is that it will use lots and lots of fuel and double that amount if you tow a caravan with it.

Nissan Patrol: Resale value

Wow, that’s a rare beast, Tom. It’s also a bit of a unicorn and, since no two converted Patrol tippers were the same (more or less) there are no hard and fast rules on what they’re worth second-hand. From the sound of things, yours is in very nice condition and has low kilometres, so they’re both good selling points. But from a buyer’s point of view, I’d want to know that the vehicle has been properly engineered (as these were converted to tippers by third party modifiers, rather than Nissan itself) and that it has all the paperwork necessary to obtain a roadworthy certificate and be legally registered. What your insurance provider will make of such a vehicle is up to them, but it’s another consideration for would-be buyers. As for a price guide, the only similar vehicle I could find for sale at the moment was around the $20,000 mark. But this is a classic case of a vehicle being worth precisely what somebody else will pay for it.

What is the best tow vehicle to buy?

The GQ Patrol was a tough old bird, but it’s old and buying one now is a gamble. You could consider a Toyota Landcruiser, but again your budget will limit you to an older vehicle and that is always a risk. You could perhaps consider fitting power steering to the XF ute.

Nissan Patrol 2004: Losing power

It sounds like a problem with the turbo or the fuel pump. Get it to a diesel mechanic and have it checked.

Nissan Patrol: Cold hose temperatures while running?

The top hose temperature, if what you say is correct, is way too low, it should be up around 100 degrees, hence the low bottom hose temperature. I would suspect the thermostat is stuck open.

Nissan Patrol 2013: How much does it cost to fix the transmission?

Without knowing the cost of labour in Qatar the cost seems about right if you’re going to replace the transmission.

What's a fuel efficient SUV on the market?

I don’t believe that what you want is out there, and can only reiterate past advice, buy a Patrol/Pajero/Prado/LandCruiser.

How to find cars that are easy to get in and out of?

The best thing you can do is to go around to various dealers and check a number of vehicles to see how they work for you.

Nissan Patrol 2004 Problems

No car is perfect, but we've gathered everything relating to the Nissan Patrol 2004 reliability here to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Nissan Patrol 2004: Has the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine been fixed?

Answered by CarsGuide 27 May 2004

EARLY GU Patrols with the 3.0-litre turbo diesel experienced some lubrication problems, and Nissan advised dealers the problem could be fixed by increasing the oil level in the sump. There have been no further reports of problems, but contact your Nissan dealer for more information.

Diesel

Service with a price tag

Answered by CarsGuide 26 Mar 2004

YOU can have your vehicle serviced wherever you like without affecting your warranty, but if you go to a service outlet other than a Nissan dealer you will need to ensure it is being serviced as recommended by Nissan. If a component fails and you want to claim on your warranty, Nissan will want to know that it has been serviced correctly and you will need to provide evidence of that service. It could get messy.

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Nissan Patrol 2004 Problems

Nissan Patrol 2004: Has the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine been fixed?

Service with a price tag

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