.... just putting some advertising over Australian Safari Just got home from Japan where we spent a few days, on our way home from England, to find the 4WD we have been given to drive in the Safari, sitting outside the shed. A brand new top of the rnge Nissan Navara turbo diesel 4wd twin cab. Very nice. If anyone is interested in buying one of these, and wants an honest opinion of the performance of these vehicles, I will post some photos, both of the vehicle, and Safari after we get back. Unfortunatly, still severly jet lagged, and not out of holiday mode, I have to set this car up to race, by this friday night (well not race exactly, but being a fast zero, is the closest thing to racing, without paying the entry fee). Sittting here, catching up on what has been going on for the last couple of weeks is not helping Ah well its a bum of a job, but somebodys got to do it, although I have the impression, if I decided to give it up, I would be swamped with aplications to take my place....bugger it...get up and move...work to be done...can sleep anytime (I just dozed off at the keyboard) Regards GT:thumbsup:
I would be very interested.....>> In your review of the ute Graeme. We have been looking at getting one next year so your impressions would be valuable. I've read that the one main failing with them is the factory suspension and that once you replace that they are not too bad. I'm not interested in it as a serious off-roader, but as a tow vehicle so your impression on fit and finish as well as features is what I'm after.
First impressions...>> ...paintwork is good, (this one is silver, the same as my zed), and the interior appears to be well fitted and functional, seats are comfortable, so far, but I have only driven it about 10k so far, after next week, I will give you a definitive answer on that one (being a farmer, and still race endurance motorbike events (although not the Safari), my back and shoulders are a little delicate (still recovering from breaking my collarbone for the second time in six months), so if at the end of a week, I say the seats are comfortable, believe me, they are). The turbo diesel is smooth, and quite powerfull, although not run in yet, but for this sort of thing, I would prefer the petrol for its response, and top speed. The ride, at the moment on highways, is quite good, if a little soft, so it will be interesting to try it on some really rough stuff. You cant fault the looks, nissan designers got it right...finally. Just spent the last 4 hours trying to fit a terratrip and UHF radio (difficult, because we are not allowed to drill any holes in the bloody thing), and the terratrip is being a pr#ck, as nissan use a high frequency pulse in their speedo signal, and the terratrip doesnt like it. Ah well.. finished my coffee, better get back to it, its not going to prepare itself.. Regards GT.
I agree with you on the looks....>> And you have nailed the suspension problem that the off road magazines found (too soft) and while it has been a few years now I know how a broken collar bone feels, and how long they take to heal. You probably wont be able to answer this question but Jen is hoping you will be able to let her know how comfortable the back seats are. As a family of four we need the space, and if the back seats aren't comfortable it makes life uncomfortable (bloody winging kids).
I dont drive for a team...>> ...I dont know whether you know much about rallying, but just before the first car, covers the course, a fast zero travellels the course, at about the same speed as the competitors, to ensure the course is safe, and to put up extra cautions if needed. The vehicle, fuel etc. is supplied by the organisers. I just get to drive it. This is my 19th Safari. The trick is to drive fast, but not trash the vehicle. The reward...a weeks worth of pure adrenalin. GT:thumbsup:
Wow, had me worried there for a second pete..... "jen wants to know how comfortable the back seats are"... I guess I should read the whole post before dropping into the gutter...:embarrassed::embarrassed::embarrassed::LOL: Cheers
Cant say about the back seat...>> ...as I have taken them out. We strap our bags and swags down there, as there is no point in trashing the seat. However the rear seats appear to be comfortable, the usual rounded corners, so you can get in and out easily, and the back door appears to be marginally bigger than the twin cab rodeo's we had for the last 2 years, with corresponding more leg room for rear passengers. This makes the ute back, a little smaller, or it might be my imagination, because of the alloy roll bar...oops light bar, roll bars are illegal, not that I think it would make a great deal of difference in a roll over. One thing you learn, is the back door doesnt open as far as the front door, which is a bit of a trap, as you tend to expect it to open further, and you walk into it, catching your bottom lip on the top corner of the door. You would think, after doing it three times, you would learn, but apparently not. I will let you know in two weeks, but at the moment, I would happily trade in my Triton on one. Regards GT :thumbsup:
