Thanks to NissanPatrol.com.au for my Birthday email! It reminded me to post pictures!

[Shaun UK]

Hi Stropp,

Thanks for the confirmation that the pictures got though, my wife thanks you for complimenting her choice of 'van!

I had a trip out to a big Indoor Caravan Show yesterday, so wasn't around on the 'net.

While fully expecting that my wife had some ulterior motive to my birthday treat! It did turn out to be a great day to be in the warm indoor halls (The weather was cold with heavy rain there, back and by all accounts, most all of the day).

While there was one or two big cost gadgets that we have swooned over, we managed to resist the temptations to purchase anything of high value while there, this time! The great thing about these places is that you get to see the latest ideas and innovations. I am told though that I've got to save up to add an electric self-leveling jacking system! My wife says its so COOL and as she usually has the job of winding the jacks, I should be glad to get it for her "We'll" now have some time to ponder and talk ourselves out of buying this and the rest of the gear we saw!



Anyway as the forum is for our vehicles I'll just add a little bit of British Nissan Patrol History, as I recall it:

Patrol's of all types are relatively, a rare sight here in the UK. They had never been a big seller, not least because Nissan limited the variety of models and engines available, I'm sure. I don't recall any UK spec, Y60 4.2 Litre Diesels or high tops (such as the "Safari" in other Countries), other than for peoples "Grey Imports". It may have been due to EU emissions legislation, that we were only offered the 2.8 Litre Diesel (manual only), or the Petrol 4.2 Litre with both Manual or Auto gearboxes instead. Along with a couple of trim levels and SWB and LWB. The strange thing was that fuel prices was (and still is) extremely high, relative to most of the world . So this petrol engine, giving around 13 MPG in town, regardless of its reliability, seemed to frighten off most buyers. The 2.8 Litre was just lacking the power to impress. This engine was carried over as the only option along with the manual gearbox, when the Y61 models were introduced in late 1997. it took a few more years before the engine was upgraded to 3.0 Litres and an automatic box made available. The Y61 was never offered here with any petrol engine option. The current Nissan Patrol series hasn't been marketed here at all!

You could say that we, don't really have much of a need of such off road vehicles in the UK, unless you happen to be a farmer! Which would explain the lack of Patrol sales and Nissan no longer offering them. Yet, if that was right, then why does there seem to be absolutely no shortage of Land Rover's, Toyota's and even Korean 4x4's, everywhere here? Not counting the "Luxury end 4x4's such as Range Rovers, Lexus RX, BMW's X5's.

Having owned two previous Nissan Patrols over the years, all of which, gave me really robust reliability, it has always puzzled me. Maybe, more to do with image and style and/or Nissan never trying to market them here. But I do know that these machines are just so undeservedly underrated here in the UK.

Cheers to everyone on the forum.