Stephano,

Whatever they can get a better deal on while doing a bulk purchase. Running a fleet operation is little relevant, with one caveat - in a country where the locals run around in Ladas your LC or Patrol will be a bit useless if it breaks down and needs spares.

At the end of they day, if you know your vehicle in and out, maintain it properly, address the known problems, drive with mechanical sympathy - what difference does it make?

Moggy - you said -The nissan is comparable to toyota in terms of toughness, ability and size and is pretty much as well known in many places, notably west Africa.

I said - Would like this confirmed. I did not use the words 'verified by someone else'.

I ask - is this offensive? Not in the least. Just asking a question and trying to make use of the forum to see if someone can support the statement that the Nissan is comparable to Toyota in terms of toughness, ability and size and is pretty much as well known in many places, notably in West Africa. If there is a body of opinion that supports the Nissan over the TLC then it's food for thought for if/when I think about changing cars. Generally speaking, the Patrol seems to be thought of as an alternative to a TLC 60, not an 80.

would like this confirmed means verified by someone else, as for the rest you seem to completely miss the point yet again. It's not about wether the nissan is a better car than the toyota, it's wether it is a viable alternative.
I don't care if you don't think it offensive, I do
I'm too bored by your mindlessness to bother with you anymore!!

Gentlemen, please...........
 

Gents

could we please leave out the derogatory comments and or insults - we are here to enjoy, gather info, pass on info etc, could we please accept, that we all have our own opinions and that sometimes trying to put words down in writing can come across wrong or be misinterpretted.

Thanks

Chris

fair one, I shall return to my usual moderate self!!

Good Lord ! No blood for that. The endless discussion should be between British esthetics and Japanese ethics. The Toy reliability and LR charm. Could they mate and give birth to an ideal vehicle?

Enjoy...

why not, land rovers have mated with most things!!
robin reliant engined 101 anyone?

It's more fun the other way round, ie the V8 in the Reliant ;

Voila !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s8MqizQUeE

and watch out for Reliant "Starsky and Hutch "
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwx4LVa1hro

Hi,

This is true in general, but not so with an HDJ 80 auto trans. Engine braking is very, very good in high and low range.

Hi NCR,
So does an Auto TLC 80 go as slow as a manual TLC80 down a 100% (45degree) slope ? I do not think so........

The bigger the engine cc the better the engine braking - and especially with a large capacity high compression diesel, definitley, I totally agree.

But the weight of the vehicle will always overcome the slip in the torque converter - and make it pick up more speed than a manual gearbox - the engine will still be at near tickover, but the vehicle will run faster on STEEP decents, which was my point.

granted, the TLC has great engine braking - the TLC80 auto is probably better than my manual Defender 90 - on the steep stuff - due to cc

another couple of auto v manual points .....

the manual gearbox vehicle is safer to stop on a slippery decent - all you do is turn the engine off (not engaging the steering lock!) and bring the engine to a stop with gentle progressive footbraking - super smooth and very safe.

with the auto - all you have is the footbrake to stop - not good.

It was mentioned that you can select the gear you want to stay in...
Low 123 or High 123 - this works to limit the gearbox from changing UP - but not DOWN
- so if you want to pull away in 3rd low you cant -(except with LR ZF boxes - unless you know different? - go and try with your toyotas)

If you select 3rd low hold and want to pull away in 3rd - it will step through 1st and 2nd before changing into 3rd often giving you too much torque -especially on slippery terrain, snow, ice, hill starts etc.

This is where a tiptronic box is great you can select 3rd low and it will change into 3rd low and stay there - or if you put it into 2nd high thats the gear it stays in.

As for the high and low range debate - remember theres a lot of overlap betweent he ranges - on a Defender - 5th low is about the same as 3rd high, I spend quite a lot of time in 5th low between dune sections, saves doing a range change up and down and you are always ready with the control and torque of low range if you hit a soft patch or need the engine braking.

I like to drive in the highest gear the vehicle will pull for the conditions - for fuel economy - be it high or low range.

If it cheers anyone up - here in Banff the other day the -40 screenwash in the Disco was freezing up......brrrrr :( ...............but theres lots of snow :)

Hi Y'all. I am not getting into which is better (auto or manual) but just a point of note, on the HDJ80's if you select 2nd (auto) it will pull away in second, not 1st then 2nd. This is really neat!
But I do know that a lot of autos, like Gripper says, go through the gears until they get to the gear you've selected. I think modern autos are much more efficient and do what you want them to do. In fact I believe that it is not possible to buy a new Landcruiser with a manual gearbox!
Anyway, I'm off now to finish the rest of that bottle of wine I started before we took the dog for a walk....

Cheers,
Matt Savage

Matt - Nice one - is that in high or low box - or both ?

Ive often wanted to put a Toyota 4.2 straight six diesel into the Disco and get rid of the rather thirsty V8...maybe I should try and shoehorn a GM Duramax V8 diesel in.....

Hi Gripper. I guess it's hi and low. I've only ever tried it in hi. The gearbox won`t know if the transfer box is in hi or low, so it must work with both.
As for the 4.2 into a Disco, I`ve seen it done with a 110. But I`m a big fan of keeping things simple (ish!). If you want a 4.2 get a Landcruiser!
A friend of mine down the lane has a 6.2 GMC V8 diesel in his SWB 2a! It sounds fantastic, but it was no quicker than my 200 tdi Discovery....
Anyway I`m drifting off subject.
Auto vs Manual... ummmm

Cheers,
Matt

Hi Gipper,

Yes, I think so. Maybe even slower. Have you tried one yet?
In an auto TLC you will only use low range when in great slopes or crossing obstacles slowly, as the car speed, even in D, is very, very slow and the gear changes only occur at about 3000 RPM. For instance I CANT drive in the sand in low range because I cant gain speed and momentum at resonable engine speed...
In a manual TLC, the use of Low Range is mutch more common, even in the sand.

Hi Gipper,

What you say is true, but - again - irrelevant if we are talking of the 4.2 LC. As Matt already said, it is possible to start in second (High or Low). It may be interesting in the ice, but I never used it. The thing is that with an auto the power delivery is so smoth that the need to start in a specific gear doesnt exist. For instance, I dont see a situation where I'd need to start in third in my auto... In fact I never drove in third low! As mentioned before, I can only use low range in the Toyo in (great) slopes or when crossing obstacles slowly.