2008 Nissan Patrol Cab Chassis review
January 9, 2008 by Karl Peskett
2008 Nissan Patrol Cab Chassis review
CarAdvice rating: 
Model Tested: DX Coil suspension
Recommended Retail Price: $49,790 (DX Leaf), $50,180 (DX Coil), $52,890 (ST Coil)
Options Fitted: Alloy Bull Bar – $1620, Underbody Tyre Hanger Chequerplate tray – $1997
- by Karl Peskett
As we walked in to Nissan’s head office to pick up this week’s car, the affable lady behind the desk, Tara, got up with the keys and said, “I’ll just be two seconds; it’s around the back.”
No worries. Tara is so helpful and easy to get along with that we were happy to wait a little. She came around the corner, in the bright red, diesel Patrol Cab Chassis, that you see here. Complete with red tray and big bullbar, there was only one thing I could say to her. “This is definitely a country car.”
Tara agreed. “It even comes with hay and seeds in the tray for you,” she said. I thought she was kidding. But she was right. Fresh from a display at the Dowerin Field Day (click here) where Nissan was exhibiting, the Cab Chassis did indeed have farm fodder stuck in gaps in the tray. This was especially evident when I brought it home. Our garage started smelling like a shearing shed.
So the workhorse aspirations of the Patrol Cab Chassis are pretty clear. Further evidence of its single objective is visible on entry into the cockpit. I can count on one hand the amount of press cars I’ve driven which haven’t come with automatic windows. Most car companies option up their loan vehicles to give a good impression. But here, staring me in the face, was stark proof that I was going to have to put some effort in, and actually use my entire arm to get some fresh air – window winders.
The only reason Nissan sell any of these 4 cylinder toys,is because Toyota can’t bring in enough 78 series V8 turbo’s to satisfy the demand.How many of these toys do you see in the real outback and mines? you could count them on one hand.
I agree Dennis, even the old 6 cyl Toyota Turbo Diesels eat these 4 cyl Nissan diesels. You only have to read the car section in the telegraph to see how many people have written in reguarding their 3L Nissan Diesels blowing up.
It is bloody slow and does nissan have a V6?
Window winders are not a bad thing if you want a 4×4, because electric windows can get broken easiely
WAY overpriced for what you get.
U forgot to mention the high and silly load hight of the tray.
They should cosy 1/2 of what they sell them for.
Better off with a Falcon RTV for 90% of the time, the other 10% you can use your FIAT tractor :-)
Cheers
F-0
An interesting review, particularly when the description of a basic bland interior don’t quite match the photos of a rather stylish looking dash. I don’t think the patrol is a spin off from the Xtrail but maybe that explains why the only engine option is 4 cyl!
I’m not exatly buyest towards toyota and nissan, I own a GQ nissan patrol and there as tough as nails, I think it is a bloody big shame they ditched the pushrod 4.2 as much as the days of pushrods are over i think it was great.
I wouldn’t buy a 3.0lt patrol ute, i’ll wail for the V6TD, if it doesnt happen soon LC76 here i come, I Love em!! Bloody fantastic engine.
Dont like the 200’s at all, mainly because i love my manual gears,
I to didn’t like the 3.0 litre engine in it but after a bit of research i found a good 3.0 litre V6 Turbo diesel made by VM Motori (and italian company). After about 2 weeks i had secured an engine and it was on it’s way to north queensland. It may not sound like much but the engine i put in trumps toyota’s 4.5L (single) turbo V8. The toyota’s V8 generates 151Kw/430Nm while the TDV6 engine i got makes 184Kw/510Nm. I did have to get a mate of mine who knew heaps about engines to fit it for me (and it tok him 3 weeks to do). So stop getting in a sook and just do what i did, ok. It is a tiny bit smaller than the standard one but it will fit in the engine bay.
out of which vehicle did you get the VM v6 or was it a crate from the factory??
What did it set you back..and are you satisfied with the conversion.
Looking at fitting similar to my GQ camper
We have these at my work.
No go below boost and then everything above it.
Auto in this vehicle is the best option if it is an option.
The suspension is rough in the rear as ours have been uprated.
One of the fellas managed to make the cam belt slip some teeth with an incorrect gear change – bye bye engine.
I have had three toyotas, all of them have blowen up, all of them new. I have learnt my lesson, i have 5 nissans now all ok, at least the run.