Before I bought my Patrol I was looking at ANY vehicle that was firstly Diesel, and with minimal electronics. I narrowed it down to 2 vehicles eventually. The Patrol i currently have and a Cruiser. Both were turbo'ed 4.2 diesels, both were 1999 models and both had similar km on them. They also had very similar extras on them ( Bullbar, drawers, roof rack, spotlights etc). The deciding factor for me was the R90 000 price difference !!!!
I got so much more value for my buck with the Patrol that it wasn't a hard decision to make. Yeah look, There really is very little difference between the 2 vehicles. Cruisers have front lockers vs the articulation of a Patrol which negates the use of a front locker pretty much. Personally I would say don't fit a front locker on a Patrol, as the diffs on a Patrol are so over engineered that if you lock up the whole drive train, and you push things way over what both Cruisers and Patrols can do you are going to break something in a catastrophic way. Just look at the diameters of the side shafts between the Cruisers and the Patrol. A Cruiser can sheer that side shaft when locked up completely, but the diameter of that patrol shaft.....hmmmmm.... only bad things can happen in my opinion.
Will you get more money for your Cruiser when you want to sell it one day.... most probably.... is it w true reflection on the cars value and worth ... nope. However I bought my patrol 8 years ago, and I believe that i could get pretty damn close to what I paid for it should i sell it.(..... by the way... not going to happen....hahahaha). Generally, guys that buy Patrols, aren't looking to resell them anytime soon, and they are kept for many many years.
I love my diesel for sure, and they can make true petrolheads ( like Tinus was ) into devoted diesel smokin' nutcases....
.... But having said that, I would definitively look into a 4.8 Patrol. Why, cause that is a beast of a machine. That Auto box is epic, Fuel consumption, considering it has the aerodynamics of a brick, is pretty good for overlanding travels, and they are designed to be run in by about 500 000km.... and that is for all patrols. ok, maybe the 3.0 diesel needs a little precaution mentioned, but there are a few here that are well into their higher mileage bracket and going well !!!
Will you get what you want by switching to a Patrol.... I don't know... I love my Patrol.... she is my girlfriend..... we do nice things together.....
I would suggest joining us on a trip. Jump in with one or 2 of the guys... get a feel .... if you like..... there is a Patrol somewhere with your name on it then !!!!