Thread: Negatives ... Positives

Craig,

You will not be disappointed.
Take the relatively simple construction of the S3 and upgrade/uprate/strenthen the whole vehicle by about 300% and you have a Perentie.
Mine is almost ready for rego and I could not be happier.
48 749 was a non operational/incomplete 4x4 that I have put back together over the last 9 months. I can honestly say it has been really enjoyable and I have ended up with what I believe is a very capable and reliable off road tourer.
There are some parts that are hard to get but not many.
Regards,

Basically, it depends on what you expect of it. It is a basic, but very capable four wheel drive, which will outperform most others offroad.

On the other hand, it has a number of features designed for the military, that may not suit you. Most will be rag top two seaters - which immediately raises security issues.

Although many are well maintained and in good condition, some with low mileage, they are all twenty or thirty years old. Most parts are readily available, but a few may get hard to find if they are special to the Perentie, although there will be enough still in civilian use to encourage availability for a good few years.

Barefoot Dave has written and is selling a book about them. I suggest this should answer most of your questions.

John

Thanks guys .. great help

Just remember pretty much all the Negatives will have a work around, just depends how much extra money you wan to spend.

Noisey? Dynamat it!

Rattley? Turn idle up, replace window rubbers.

Manual steering to hard? Install power steering.

Not enough power? Chuck a turbo on.

Among other things as well. I can't imagine what a series truck is like, but the coil sprung Perentie must be like a new truck in comparison!

Originally Posted by BadCo.

.......

Among other things as well. I can't imagine what a series truck is like, but the coil sprung Perentie must be like a new truck in comparison!

The coil springs are inherently better riding than the leaf springs - but not necessarily when fitted with the heavy duty ones on the perentie and travelling near empty. Turning circle is better than Series due to the wider track, and seats are more comfortable. And the only Series that match or better the perentie performance are Series 3 Stage 1, although a good swb 2a/3 is probably close. And perhaps most tellingly, any perentie is probably at least a decade newer than most Series. But a Series wagon or late model cab will be quieter and more civilised (if in good shape), and any petrol Series will probably be quieter and smoother.

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

The coil springs are inherently better riding than the leaf springs - but not necessarily when fitted with the heavy duty ones on the perentie and travelling near empty. Turning circle is better than Series due to the wider track, and seats are more comfortable. And the only Series that match or better the perentie performance are Series 3 Stage 1, although a good swb 2a/3 is probably close. And perhaps most tellingly, any perentie is probably at least a decade newer than most Series. But a Series wagon or late model cab will be quieter and more civilised (if in good shape), and any petrol Series will probably be quieter and smoother.

John

Interesting comparison!