Thread: Personal thoughts on the Perentie/ISUZU powered LR

Well, after much thinking and speaking with certain people from here I took the plunge and went out too see a Perentie.

The guy took me for a decent drive around in one which gave me a feel for what they really are. Used high, and low, centre diff locked and unlocked.

It was bare bones. No interior basically, all metal like, a piece of plastic it calls a dashboard and a steering wheel that looks as good as what came in muscle cars. Clean, no fancy buttons/gizmos on the steering wheel. The seating position is definitely high compare to landcruiser 80 series and other solid axle vehicles like the Jeep wrangler. The seats themselves in this particular vehicle were pretty primitive.

The engine sound... after hearing a lot of stories how the TD5 sounds great... I must say the ISUZU sounds unbelievably good. To my taste, I wanted a diesel 4x4 because I like the 4x4 to sound like a truck, and well, the TD5 is a very smooth sounding diesel compare to the ISUZU. The ISUZU has this growl in it that sounds almost like a mac truck and I guess only the owners of these vehicles can understand what I mean by that.

The car is so old it does not have any fuel emission things on it, just a mechanical engine, no ECU/management systems etc to go wrong. It is basically like the muscle car I had, engine, gearbox, radiator, differentials and thats about it.

It was very interesting to see the cars low 1st gear.... it was only moving as fast forward as my regular car does when you just take the foot of the brake (auto).

It could also take off in 4th gear without any sound of strain which I found quite interesting.

Galvanised chassis underneath to prevent rust and a very solid/heavy duty type vehicle compare to what else is out in the market to be bought.

My over-all experience I must say with the perentie being so primitive like, bare bones, awesome sound (best sounding 4x4 i ever heard) etc... is that it has been the best 4x4 I ever been in. The whole thing feels and sounds like a truck. The ISUZU motor truly is something and the Perentie probably is the best Land Rover ever made.

People can have their 80 series land cruisers, I love the Perentie.

The ISUZU powered perentie hauled like a semi!

No regrets, best 4x4 hands down.

Originally Posted by 87County

That seems a bit harsh Vern....

A turbo can pack a punch tho’

Not at all, not a race car with a turbo, but just so so much more driveable! Its nice to be able to drive and tow up hill at the speed limit!!!