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Thread: Prospective Perentie 4x4 Buyer

  1. #1
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    Prospective Perentie 4x4 Buyer

    Hi all,
    Just joined up as looking to try my luck at a Perentie 4x4 at auction (AFM) sometime this year.
    Very new to the Land Rover party, have done a bunch of reading up in the forum thus far but still had a few questions to throw out if anyone has any insight:

    - Being 4 speed, what would be the ideal speed to sit at on the open road to not overwork the motor? (Read somewhere between 80-90)
    - What would be the typical fuel consumption in urban and country settings?
    - Are there any typical issues or gotchas that can arise in these machines?
    - Are these legally rated to only sit 2 people; can a conversion be made to accommodate more?
    - What would be a ballpark figure I could expect to pay for a Perentie in reasonable condition? (obviously varies between auctions)

    Any help would be appreciated,
    Cheers

  2. #2
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    Personally i wluld try buy one privately instead of the auctions. The days of grabbing a bargain are long gone.
    Privately a lot of the little issues have been fixed, also things like power steering and turbocharging etc..may habe been done.

    Anyway, i sit on what ever the speed limit is.

    About 11L/100km

    Wiring issues, mostly things lile black out switch and indicators. Axles are a weak point too.

    Depending on variant, but yes 2 seaters, its getting harder to engineer for extra seating capacity, but can be done.

  3. #3
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    Prospective Perentie 4x4 Buyer

    Welcome
    Before buying one please understand that they are rough, tough, built for purpose vehicles that are all now 30 yrs old
    Don’t expect any luxury unless you install them
    To answer your questions
    Mine sits at 100km/h all day long
    It uses 10.5l /100km around town, 12 towing my camper trailer
    They are all 30 yrs old so yes expect some maintenance
    Legally 2 people only, can be engineered for more
    You will pay $20 k plus at auction
    Hope this help
    Phil B

    Custodian of:
    1974 S3 swb wagon (sold)
    1978 S3 swb canvas
    48 749 '88 4x4 Perentie
    1985 County with 4BD1T

  4. #4
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    Welcome,

    As a Perentie 4x4 owner (only 3 years) here are my observations:

    * Yes they will do 100kmh (in stock form)
    * Personally I sit on 90kmh - it makes a big difference in noise levels, and the vehicle just feels more relaxed.
    * I did a 3,000km trip once and sitting on 90kmh for a lot of the trip, I managed to see 9.1 L/100 km (relaxed, highway driving)
    * Normal driving I get between 10-11 L/100km.
    * Buying them from auction is a gamble - that has paid off for some people (like me), but not so well for others
    * Some of the vehicles at auction come with a RWC, some do not.
    * Some are sold "incomplete and non-operational" - which can mean small issues (missing parts) down to a disaster (blown engine, blown gearbox, etc)
    * As others have said - they are a 30 year old vehicle, with no creature comforts.
    * People either LOVE THEM (me included) or HATE THEM.
    * Try and find somebody local for you, you might be able to drive one and see what you think.
    * As others have said - I would be tempted to buy one privately (eg Gumtree) - the main reasons:
    > You can have a good look over the vehicle
    > Hopefully it is being sold with a RWC
    > You can test drive it
    > Hopefully the owner has sorted out any issues
    > You can ask the owner - what have they done to it, what is wrong with it, why are you selling it?
    * You can't drive the auction ones - and due to Corona, sometimes the inspects aren't allowed either
    * The prices have risen dramatically over the last few years - 4x4's used to sell for 5-10k, they now all go for 20+k
    * Some guys buy them, get them home - and the wife/girlfriend/SWMBO says "get rid of it - it is slow, noisy, has no air-con or radio.".. Hence they do pop up for sale privately.
    * Some people have put more than 2 seats in them - but this does require engineering.

    Personally for their age I think that they are a brilliant vehicle - but it is 30 years old. Don't expect modern levels of comfort from a 30 year old vehicle used by the Army.

    Cheers,
    GG.
    54 Series 1 86
    61 Series 2 109 - Club Rego
    76 2 Door Range Rover
    78 101 Forward Control - Club Rego
    88 Perentie FFR - Club Rego
    90 4 Door Range Rover - Club Rego
    93 Discovery 1 200 Tdi - Club Rego
    98 Freelander 1 - Full Rego
    22 Defedner 90 - Full rego

  5. #5
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    I have had mine for almost six years, purchased at the auctions, sight unseen, it's an FFR (fitted for radio), so it has the extra 24 volt generator and an extra four batteries (4 x 12v), this makes it great for running accessories like a 12/24 volt fridge etc.
    They are noisy (diesel drone and wind noise), hot, you dehydrate a lot travelling in them, they let a lot of dust in on unsealed roads......some days you love them, others you don't even drive them.
    They are in their element ticking along off the beaten track, plus being a coiler they ride very well.
    Unless you eat a can of Spinach for breakfast and smoke a pipe, power steering is a must in my opinion, however I am 64, so "armstrong" steering isn't an option with old shoulders.
    Cruising speed...well they will easily cruise at Freeway speeds, but the faster you go, the more juice they use, as they are not very aerodynamic, however 80-90 is a happy medium. Driven sensibly they can deliver excellent fuel figures and this results in a fantastic fuel range if you are travelling in an isolated area. You wont over rev them, and although they only have a four speed gearbox, they have the highest ration LR transfer case available (as far as I know), so they are only ticking over at around 2300-2400 RPM at 100 kph (with stock 750 x 16 tires). The 4BD1 are a robust bullet proof engine and they are governed at about 3600 RPM, so you will never over rev them, and unless you try to run them on water, like driving through deep water crossings, you wont harm them.
    But as others have said, they are a thirty plus year old vehicle, they have been a fleet vehicle, so driven by a variation of drivers, some kind to them, others not so kind, they have never been shedded, always parked out in the elements. Some have low readings on the odometer, but in reality they have had speedometer changes etc, Its hardly reasonable to think the army would have one sitting in the corner for thirty years and get very little use. The FFR's have hour meters, which reflect more on the amount of engine hours the vehicle has done, as they can spend a lot of time with the engine running whilst the vehicle is stationery.

    I forgot to add, with standard tires (750 x 16) which are tubed, they are not really suited to long running at Freeway speeds (100-110 kph) as the possibility of a flat tire is a high probability. I believe the Army had a convoy speed of 90 kph, and a catch-up speed of 100 kph, plus they ran very high tire pressures in the Perenties, 65 PSI rear, 55 PSI front, which possibly helps prevent the amount of tire flex/tube abrasion and flats.
    A lot of owners switch to running tubeless on their Perenties to reduce the risk of flats. Another option is to run good quality heavy duty tubes.

    Cheers, Mick.
    1974 S3 88 Holden 186.
    1971 S2A 88
    1971 S2A 109 6 cyl. tray back.
    1964 S2A 88 "Starfire Four" engine!
    1972 S3 88 x 2
    1959 S2 88 ARN 111-014
    1959 S2 88 ARN 111-556
    1988 Perentie 110 FFR ARN 48-728 steering now KLR PAS!
    REMLR 88
    1969 BSA Bantam B175

  6. #6
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    Thanks all, all of this info is hugely appreciated.
    Definitely know what I'm in for comfort wise, am not fussed and am keen to just have a solid rig to take wherever I want.
    Planning on having it as long term investment while adding in extras along the way. Good to know the Isuzu engine is so solid.

    Will keep an eye out on the private market aswell as at auction.

    Cheers again, this is more info than I could have hoped for!
    Dan

  7. #7
    JDNSW's Avatar
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    One other point I will add to the above - these are sprung for operation at full load. If you drive a lot with just one or two and no load, don't expect a smooth ride.
    John

    JDNSW
    1986 110 County 3.9 diesel
    1970 2a 109 2.25 petrol

  8. #8
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    Is the civilian Isuzu County 110 as uncomfortable & noisy? Can it be made quieter and more comfy?
    Cheers

    Simon
    2003 D2a TD5, ACE, SLS, Vienna Green.

  9. #9
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    You can make them more comfy - it depends on how deep your pockets are / how much work you want to do. Common mods are

    - Power Steering (4x4 only - 6x6 already has it)

    - Turbo (same again)

    - Sound deadening material (under bonnet, firewall, seat box, floor)

    - Some people have fitted under dash aircon

    - Some people have changed the seats to something more comfortable (Defender Seats, Recaro)

    - Some people fit a hard top.

    - Some people change the tyres to a more road based tyre

    - Some people spray sound deadener in the wheel arches..

    It depends how far you want to go...

    Or you can just buy a modern 4x4!!

    Prospective Perentie 4x4 BuyerProspective Perentie 4x4 Buyer
    54 Series 1 86
    61 Series 2 109 - Club Rego
    76 2 Door Range Rover
    78 101 Forward Control - Club Rego
    88 Perentie FFR - Club Rego
    90 4 Door Range Rover - Club Rego
    93 Discovery 1 200 Tdi - Club Rego
    98 Freelander 1 - Full Rego
    22 Defedner 90 - Full rego

  10. #10
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    Prospective Perentie 4x4 Buyer

    Quote Originally Posted by grey_ghost View Post
    You can make them more comfy - it depends on how deep your pockets are / how much work you want to do. Common mods are

    - Power Steering (4x4 only - 6x6 already has it)

    - Turbo (same again)

    - Sound deadening material (under bonnet, firewall, seat box, floor)

    - Some people have fitted under dash aircon

    - Some people have changed the seats to something more comfortable (Defender Seats, Recaro)

    - Some people fit a hard top.

    - Some people change the tyres to a more road based tyre

    - Some people spray sound deadener in the wheel arches..

    It depends how far you want to go...

    Or you can just buy a modern 4x4!!

    Prospective Perentie 4x4 BuyerProspective Perentie 4x4 Buyer
    But what would be the fun in that?
    I have done all of the above except aircon over about 3 yrs when cash was available and don’t regret any of it.
    It is a great vehicle.
    BTW I have owned 6 company Prado and others
    Absolutely no comparison
    Phil B

    Custodian of:
    1974 S3 swb wagon (sold)
    1978 S3 swb canvas
    48 749 '88 4x4 Perentie
    1985 County with 4BD1T

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