With our children now all in their 20`s we need 7 `proper` full sized seats, 3 in the second row, and two at the rear.
Tech wise hubby insists on a diesel (or possibly lpg) and manual gear change.
Sadly we don`t have loads of spare cash and are looking up to £5,000.
It would be really good to hear from any of you with recommendations, especially about the degree of comfort in the seating department.
We currently have a shogun but the seating is just not up to carrying adults long distances, or even relatively short distances for that matter if I`m sitting in the back
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Or one of these ........... probably the best full size rear seats in any passenger vehicle. My brother (6ft and 23 stones) has done hundreds of miles in the back of ours.
You won't get a Landcruiser of Patrol of that age for £5k, although there are some of the previous shape on ebay for less, they all seem to be Petrol and Auto's though.
What about a Discovery, they have two good size fold down rear seats.
The Y61 shape Patrol was introduced in 1998, usually with a 2.8l diesel engine. There were relatively minor changes during 2005, the new version being referred to as the "Facelift" model. Mine was registered in August 2005 and is one of those. It is slightly longer and has different bumpers - needs a different towbar too.
The ZD30, 3 litre engine introduced in 2000 (I think) and was modified some time during 2002 (IIRC) to improve reliability. A 2003 model should have the later version of the ZD30 - but it would be worth checking (later version takes 8.2 litres of engine oil - earlier 2 litres less). It then stayed in that form until 2007 when the CRD (Common Rail Diesel) engine was introduced.
Like the Landcruiser, it's a great towcar and it's great offroad (at least as good as the Landcruiser, not quite in the same league as the LR Defenders) but don't expect it to be economical. You'll get around 20mpg in town or towing and rarely get much more than 25mpg. Don't buy a petrol version - they only do 10-15mpg!!
We had a pajero and now a Landcruiser LC120 the LC120 has 8 seats but actually the seats in the Pajero were much better and practical. One question though why on earth would you want a manual over an automatic?
The manual gear box is one of my husbands requirements, he does not like automatics in general but particularly not for driving round snow covered alpine roads.