What 4WD to get if you want a little grunt?

[Xjas]

Just looking for some outside the box ideas here and though it may make for an interesting discussion.
I'm getting the push from the missus to get a 4WD wagon so we can take the kids camping and occasionally tow a car trailer.
Not really interested in a diesel as their performance sucks, I am not concerned with fuel economy, it has to be capable of some off roading especially on the beach, will have to be auto, budget would loosely be 25-35k, idealy I'd like to have 250+rwkws but 200rwkws at least, something no older than 2005.

The options I have come up with so far.

2005-2009 Pathfinder V6 petrol and add a Stillen supercharger .
Pros- software is available to tune the factory ECU.
Cons- Factory auto trans may not be reliable, rear door handles break off constantly apparrenty.

2005-2009 Pathfinder fitted with VK56DE,
Pros- they come like that from the factory in the USA so all the parts are available from Nissan for the conversion.
Cons- VK56DEs are relatively cheap in the US but the other part may make the conversion a bit exxy, still not that much power- may need turbos.

2005-2009 Patrol with a L98/LS3 and 6 speed auto from a Commodore.
Pros - Kits are available for the coversion from Marks adapters, I already have tuning software.
Cons - Getting engine to work properly with Patrol dash, ABS, etc would be a pain if not impossible, this would be the most labour intensive of my options so far.

2005-2009 Patrol 4.8 and add a turbo kit.
Pros - Pretty easy conversion- bolt on kits are available, huge power potential.
Cons - Trans would need upgrading, and also possibly need pistons and rods making it pretty expensive. Factory ECU not easily tunable, piggyback ECUs are the only option with an auto trans.

2005-2007 Landrover discovery 3 HSE V8 petrol.
Pros - Factory V8 so would require the least work on my part.
Cons- makes good power but less than I would have liked, not easy to add power, stories of big dollars for small components make me a bit cautious of Land Rover running cost.

2005-2007 Range Rover Sport 4.2V8 supercharged petrol
Pros - Has good power from the factory.
Cons - 4.2 supercharged engine only avaliable with big brakes which need 20 inch rims - no good for the beach. Might be a bit out of my price range.

2005-2008 Landcruiser Prado V6 and add a TRD supercharger.
Cons- ECU difficult to tune, may still not get that much power out of it, rumoured engine reliability issues when supercharged.

Can anyone add to this list of cars to consider.

[csv rulz]

Hsv Avalanche
Jeep grand Cherokee srt8
Ford/fpv territory turbo

A few others for u

[offshore]

The most sensible option is to forget about hoting up the 4wd and just have a performance car plus the 4wd. I see so many people doing up there 70 series landcruisers on facebook and and treating them like a summernats entrant and be honest its a waste of time lol.

[BigAnt]

Porsche Cayenne?
http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Porsche-Cayenne-2006/SSE-AD-2763823/?Cr=4&sdmvc=1

The advanced search function on carsales will let you filter by power as well as price, year, drive type etc.

[Xjas]

Hsv Avalanche
Jeep grand Cherokee srt8
Ford/fpv territory turbo

A few others for u

I had thought about a Territory turbo, lot of power potential but not sure they'd be up to any serious 4wding.


The most sensible option is to forget about hoting up the 4wd and just have a performance car plus the 4wd. I see so many people doing up there 70 series landcruisers on facebook and and treating them like a summernats entrant and be honest its a waste of time lol.

Sensible? Thats why I said 250+rwkws not 400+ lol.


Porsche Cayenne?
http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Porsche-Cayenne-2006/SSE-AD-2763823/?Cr=4&sdmvc=1

The advanced search function on carsales will let you filter by power as well as price, year, drive type etc.

Handn't even considered a Porsche, wonder how they go off road.

[csv rulz]

Any high performance 4wd is going to be compromised for serious off road work. I would imagine you go down one path or the other.

[HSV Listy]

Jeep Cherokee with v8 might be closest with some go. Still up there in money

[Blown 454 AWD]

Just looking for some outside the box ideas here and though it may make for an interesting discussion.
I'm getting the push from the missus to get a 4WD wagon so we can take the kids camping and occasionally tow a car trailer.
Not really interested in a diesel as their performance sucks, I am not concerned with fuel economy, it has to be capable of some off roading especially on the beach, will have to be auto, budget would loosely be 25-35k, idealy I'd like to have 250+rwkws but 200rwkws at least, something no older than 2005.

The options I have come up with so far.

2005-2009 Pathfinder V6 petrol and add a Stillen supercharger .
Pros- software is available to tune the factory ECU.
Cons- Factory auto trans may not be reliable, rear door handles break off constantly apparrenty.

2005-2009 Pathfinder fitted with VK56DE,
Pros- they come like that from the factory in the USA so all the parts are available from Nissan for the conversion.
Cons- VK56DEs are relatively cheap in the US but the other part may make the conversion a bit exxy, still not that much power- may need turbos.

2005-2009 Patrol with a L98/LS3 and 6 speed auto from a Commodore.
Pros - Kits are available for the coversion from Marks adapters, I already have tuning software.
Cons - Getting engine to work properly with Patrol dash, ABS, etc would be a pain if not impossible, this would be the most labour intensive of my options so far.

2005-2009 Patrol 4.8 and add a turbo kit.
Pros - Pretty easy conversion- bolt on kits are available, huge power potential.
Cons - Trans would need upgrading, and also possibly need pistons and rods making it pretty expensive. Factory ECU not easily tunable, piggyback ECUs are the only option with an auto trans.

2005-2007 Landrover discovery 3 HSE V8 petrol.
Pros - Factory V8 so would require the least work on my part.
Cons- makes good power but less than I would have liked, not easy to add power, stories of big dollars for small components make me a bit cautious of Land Rover running cost.

2005-2007 Range Rover Sport 4.2V8 supercharged petrol
Pros - Has good power from the factory.
Cons - 4.2 supercharged engine only avaliable with big brakes which need 20 inch rims - no good for the beach. Might be a bit out of my price range.

2005-2008 Landcruiser Prado V6 and add a TRD supercharger.
Cons- ECU difficult to tune, may still not get that much power out of it, rumoured engine reliability issues when supercharged.

Can anyone add to this list of cars to consider.




Talk about miss the boat

The only thing up there that can blow the GMC is the supercharged Range Rover (blower on the GMC would kill it)

LS3

Nothing up there competes.

Everything above is possibly dearer than the GMC as well.

Only went last week

Cheers

Steve

[C4B]

FJ Crusier with the factory TRD supercharger.

[duke5700]

If you shop really hard you might get a V10 Touareg from around 2005 for $35K..

Cons - diesel, if you shit a turbo it is engine out to repair, expensive. Chew through tires like a mofo because of the weight/hp.

Pros - V10 with 850nM.. with scope for more. Tow 3.5 tonne and quite OK in light 4wd work, beach etc.

In all seriousness, with the somewhat limited budget, I would be buying something with a clean body/dead engine kind of deal and going from there. A Patrol with a dead 4.8 in it if you can find one.

[HSV,_I_GOT_ONE]

I'd go for
- Range Rover Sport Supercharged 8, still a capable off roader even with the 20's on it.
- Grand Cherokee with any 8 in it. SRT would be the best for performance but may not perform too well off road. Get a Limited or Overland if you definitely want off road capability.
- Porsche Cayenne, they're still a very capable for off roader.

Only problem with the above is they will be expensive maintenance wise with the Jeep probably the cheapest of the three with more modification potential (off road and performance parts). Jeeps are still exy in parts though so don't be fooled by the initial lay out prices.

[team illucid]

Really trying to convince myself and the wife that the H1 hummer will suit all of our requirements.

[offshore]

What I want is Chev Silverado with dual back wheels

[Xjas]

Thanks for the replies guys, definatlety some ideas there I never thought of, the V10 Touareg certainly interests me, I didn't even know they made one with a V10 diesel, with a some minor mods I'd say they would go quiet well.

[duke5700]

Audi also make a V12 Diesel, no idea on what the older models go for. I can only imagine what they cost to maintain.

[Xjas]

From what I just read about the V10 VW they are a bit pricy to maintain, engine out for just about any repair bar an oil change.
I know a couple of people with Audi Q7s and they have told me in the past you dont keep one once its out of warranty as the repairs are insanly expensive, 4K to replace the A/C compressor as an example.

[jc_sv8]

What about an old coupe? :driving:

http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz318/jcraigau/MadderMax_zps9a469627.jpg
:rofl:

[zorro]

I suppose you own a petrol station? We have a pajero v6, fantastic truck btw, and on gas will do 400klms a tank. Acceptable as a full tank of unleaded is about 130 and gives us 100klm extra to the tank.


Any mid sized and full size wagon on petrol will kill your back pocket, buy a second car make it diesel and enjoy your trips away and enjoy your car for daily driving.

[Xjas]

Fuel usage is not a big issue because I have a work vehicle for my daily driver, whatever I buy will probably cost more a year for insurance and rego than it will for fuel.

[CalaisBoy]

Don't know a lot about 4WD's but the Motor mag Hot Tuner was interesting about the Jeeps entered. Did very well!