New Vehicle and mods?

[Drewboyaus]

Hi Folks,
So it looks like I'm not far away from securing a new gig. With my current job I have a company car but with this potential new one I will be paid a car allowance. I'm quite pleased about that because though the Territory has been quite a good car, I'm going to buy one that can do more family 4x4 touring work.......as to what badge and model, that I haven't decided yet......I'll wait until I have sealed the deal.
What I'm interested to know is what sort of mods can be undertken on a new vehicle without affecting warranty? For example; because I will buy an auto so the missus can drive it, if I fit a nomad valve body and torque converter lockout will that void warranty? This is but one example and I'm looking for you to share your experiences.
BTW, this car will most likely be leased over a 4 year term and if its any good will buy it back at the end and pass it on to the wife.
The extra upside to all this is the Q will now become a weekend warrior vehicle with super flexy suspension and a bloody big turbo strapped to it!
Your thoughts please good people.........

[NP99]

I'd start with a fully upgradable navigation system mate :)

[Hodge]

I went through this few years back with a Navara. Had a few warranty issues with Nissan. Simply put mate , they will do their utmost best to blame anything for anything.
Best example is the Thai model d22s was almost guaranteed to have a loose body mount before it sees 10k on clock. Nissan instantly blamed mine on a lift kit. Turned into a bit of a fight until I pointded out the Navara forums with countless cases.
Anyways without writing too much and sending this topic off rails, that's just my 2c. They will use anything to get out of paying.

[threedogs]

First congrats, Think the Auto mods will Void any warranty as would blocking the EGR
,drive it and service it but if it goes wrong you know what Nissan are like eh

[boots]

I think size has to be factored in if your wife will drive it Drew . Do you wanna go diesel or petty ? A mate of mine has just gone from an amarok to a kluger cause of his wife driving it occasionally and the lease was up.

[Drewboyaus]

I think size has to be factored in if your wife will drive it Drew . Do you wanna go diesel or petty ? A mate of mine has just gone from an amarok to a kluger cause of his wife driving it occasionally and the lease was up.

Cheers Boots, this is one of the reasons why the badge it will wear is as yet undecided. It needs to be a diesel and will be a proper, capable 4x4 vehicle, even if it isn't a Patrol (I know, wash my mouth out) or even a Nissan (but not a Toyo) but it will be doing lots of km around Victoria for work (blacktop), including the South West which will be part of my patch. Doesnt need to do extreme but still hold its own on longer family high country trips so it wont be a Kluger or AWD type of vehicle either. Wife will only come into it when it's time to trade it on or keep it.

Had been thinking Pathy or Paj or Jeep GC but the new forkin' Pathy is a softroader POS now with no low range. Just need to confim the GQ is staying as my toy.......I am not giving up on the mighty Q! It will get a whole new life.........LOL.

TD, not quite there yet mate, got a meeting with the director of sales to get through yet some time in the next week or two but close enough that I can start considering these pleasant questions.

[mudski]

If its not a Patrol then I would get a Prado. A mate of mine owns one, so does his brother. Both have just a 2inch lift, bull bar and muddies and thats it. Nice inside, nice outside and has done many high country trips in it.

[Drewboyaus]

If its not a Patrol then I would get a Prado. A mate of mine owns one, so does his brother. Both have just a 2inch lift, bull bar and muddies and thats it. Nice inside, nice outside and has done many high country trips in it.

I hear you but will be out of my price range. They are forking expensive.

[happygu]

I hear you but will be out of my price range. They are forking expensive.

Drew,

I put a larger exhaust on my 3 Litre Patrol, and the dealer fixed a problem caused by the exhaust under warranty - so not all dealers are bad.....

Mic

[Winnie]

Are utes in the equation? BT50 are good cars

[Drewboyaus]

Are utes in the equation? BT50 are good cars

Possibly, I really like the Ranger and will be under consideration but I'm keen to get something that has 7 seats. There are times that would be really handy.

[Drewboyaus]

Drew,

I put a larger exhaust on my 3 Litre Patrol, and the dealer fixed a problem caused by the exhaust under warranty - so not all dealers are bad.....

Mic

That's what I want to hear! I guess it's all going to depend on what sort of mod it is.....

[NP99]

Possibly, I really like the Ranger and will be under consideration but I'm keen to get something that has 7 seats. There are times that would be really handy.

Kombi van mate....the whole tribe can fit.

[Drewboyaus]

Kombi van mate....the whole tribe can fit.

.......and we can all smoke cones together......

[threedogs]

Have you looked at the holden range a diesel Captiva might tick a few boxes

You know what they say the family that smokes together aaggghhhhhh forgot lol

[kevin07]

I would say your not going to get a 7 seater that's off road capable enough for the money your looking at so the ford ranger or bt 50 would be the go but the down side to them utes squashed kids in the back equals not good for travelling and also means you have to have a waeco 80lt fridge as the others are 2 high for the back so go figure ay.

[Drewboyaus]

Had a look at a Paj yesterday. Drives pretty nicely, HEAPS of grunt. Standard rear diff-lock. Price is pretty sharp too and has free servicing for 3 years and fixed price for 5.....pretty good value in my book.
Not a tough as a Patrol but for what I need, it doesn't have to be. Will be mainly on road. Would do some medium-hard high country tracks no dramas if needed though......
Anyway, I'll need to hit a few dealers up about mods I reckon. Might even have a chat to Wholesale Automatics and ARB and ask them about warranty issues.

[Drewboyaus]

Gotta get over the last hurdle first.......feeling confident though.

[Bloodyaussie]

Stay away from Pajero mate.......... I would go a Prado if I was not driving a nissan.

[liftlid]

Get as many mods done as you can by the dealer then the warranty is covered by them, sounds like you can't decide between a tourer and a bus, remember you still have the gq for 4 w driving, get something that suits touring, you don't need lots of mods to go touring.

[Drewboyaus]

Stay away from Pajero mate.......... I would go a Prado if I was not driving a nissan.

Why do you say that? They appear to be quite a good thing. The independent suspension all round would suit the large amount of blacktop
I would consider Prado but it's is too expensive.

[Drewboyaus]

Get as many mods done as you can by the dealer then the warranty is covered by them, sounds like you can't decide between a tourer and a bus, remember you still have the gq for 4 w driving, get something that suits touring, you don't need lots of mods to go touring.

You make a good point Gary. I guess for touring (and that's exactly what I'm thinking) I'll need bar, snorkel and a mild lift only really.
The GQ is staying and will get some more hard core mods if this all goes ahead.

[MudRunnerTD]

If your looking at the Pajero then you should be looking at the Patrol as they are similar in size. NissHead did the lease and I th ink he is very happy.

If your looking for a smaller 7seater that is capable then I'd be seriously taking some notice of Simon on 4wdtv in his Colarado7 he loves it! He drives it! And he is trying to smash it and is very impressed with it. Thanks to him also the aftermarket companies are developing a good range of accessories for it too. ;)

[mudski]

Why do you say that? They appear to be quite a good thing. The independent suspension all round would suit the large amount of blacktop
I would consider Prado but it's is too expensive.
The only good thing that came out of Mitsubishi is the Lancer EVO range. There you go! Get one of those and you can do the dirt roads are warp speed at least. Hehe.
My old boss bought two top of the range Paj's, and both had endless troubles on numerous things, gas guzzlers he told me and effing ugly too...

[Drewboyaus]

If your looking at the Pajero then you should be looking at the Patrol as they are similar in size. NissHead did the lease and I th ink he is very happy.

If your looking for a smaller 7seater that is capable then I'd be seriously taking some notice of Simon on 4wdtv in his Colarado7 he loves it! He drives it! And he is trying to smash it and is very impressed with it. Thanks to him also the aftermarket companies are developing a good range of accessories for it too. ;)

Patrol is still in but the Paj leaves it in its wake for on-road dynamics, versatility, equipment and price. As I mentioned earlier too because I'll be running it as a work car, the free and capped price servicing for 5 years is pretty hard to go past as far as managing the running costs. 5 year warranty and 10 year power train warranty is better than anyone else by a mile.
Looked at Colorado 7. Not bad but I really detest the interior styling. If I could live with that it would possibly get my money. But I can't.
The current three I'm considering are Paj, Patrol, Jeep GC and the superseded Pathfinder (if I can find one when it is time).

[Drewboyaus]

And effing ugly too...

I don't mind the look of the current model......earlier ones yes, wasn't much of a fan.

[liftlid]

I would not have said the jeep would be a reliable remote tourer.

[Drewboyaus]

I would not have said the jeep would be a reliable remote tourer.

I agree, it is still in the mix on price and features but is a rank long-shot.

[kevin07]

remote touring leaves at patrol or Toyota if your sticking to the main places then you could add paj or jeep but a jeep come on. no one will carry parts for it

[liftlid]

remote touring leaves at patrol or Toyota if your sticking to the main places then you could add paj or jeep but a jeep come on. no one will carry parts for it

Japanese twin cabs and possibly the ranger or Colorado ( time will tell) are properly the future for touring, you need something with a good dealer network / spare parts also

[gaddy]

We took the Colorado duel cab for a test drive when they released the new one , hooked up the old mans boat , a 23 ft whitley 3.2 t loaded and was very impressed in the way it towed it , even put down a deposit , then stumbled on the patrol a few days later . Earlier this year my parents did the birdsville track and came across a couple of people using them to tow vans . Got talking to them and the were having trouble with engine and transmission cooling , but driving style could play a factor in that .

[Bloodyaussie]

Everyday my brother inlaw wishes he did not get a Pajero... he bought one for the same reasons you have stated and wishes he had got a GU or the Prado...

It has cost him a fortune in repairs for a car that is not that old....

He did not buy the Prado for the same reasons you stated but with the costs of repairs he could have bought one.

[Drewboyaus]

Everyday my brother inlaw wishes he did not get a Pajero... he bought one for the same reasons you have stated and wishes he had got a GU or the Prado...

It has cost him a fortune in repairs for a car that is not that old....

He did not buy the Prado for the same reasons you stated but with the costs of repairs he could have bought one.

What has he had to repair?

[Bloodyaussie]

Transmission...$6000 and they have a problem with valves but he cant afford to get that fixed right now.

He also just spent nearly $2000 on belts and service and other crap!!!

[mudski]

What has he had to repair?
His arse coz it got reamed too many times by mechanic. He said, "we won't worry about the grease, its gonna hurt anyway....". Mitsubishi really need to stick to making small cars. Sorry Drew, I really don't like Mitsy's much. I would buy a Hummer over a Pajero, and paint the biatch camo style.

[Drewboyaus]

Transmission...$6000 and they have a problem with valves but he cant afford to get that fixed right now.

He also just spent nearly $2000 on belts and service and other crap!!!

Ok, that sounds pretty poor but did he buy new or second hand?
I would expect in the timeframe that I will own any leased vehicle a blown tranny will be fixed under warranty.
Hopefully by the time I have used up and spat this next vehicle out the Y62 will have a decent diesel donk and be priced in a vaguely realistic way.