MY 2019 NISSAN NAVARA ST NP300 DUAL CAB UTE
After searching for a few weeks, and finding nothing but rubbish, I had found a reasonably good looking 80 Series Land Cruiser on the web. Gun metal grey in colour, no panel damage visible, looked like a pretty clean wagon, ‘Centreline’ type mag wheels, tinted windows. Upon inspection at the car yard, it was a heap of rubbish that wasn’t worth the asking price of $10000. The underside of the car was covered in grease and oil. The interior looked like “Cujo” himself had been havin fun, tearing all the interior, and all the dash was cracked. The wonders of Photoshop! I didn’t find, or look at, a single car worth keeping all day. Leaving the car yards in disgust, I spotted the car that I would eventually buy. It just caught my eye as I was leaving, down a side road, sitting out the front of a small dealer.
I swung around and turned down the street and parked up out the front of the car yard. It looked good close up, had been recently washed and polished, and a big flouro $19,999 on the windscreen. It still smelt brand new inside, and not the smell of a freshly sprayed car yard deodorant. She had reasonable km’s for her age I thought. It had a 2” lift, and had been set up for towing a caravan, as was evident by the press studs on the grill for the bug mesh. She was also sporting 33” all terrain tyres. The salesman said it was an elderly couple that traded it in on something smaller. The exterior did not have a scratch on it, and the interior was in even better condition. All seven seats looked like they had never been used, and the rear carpet was in 'as new' condition. So I took it for a spin. I was impressed…..
After a few minutes of pointless niggling with the salesman over a few freebies, I said goodbye to my little Holden Rodeo tray back Ute ( trade in $4000) , and became a proud Patrol owner with $16k less in the bank. I couldnt help but think I might have been a little ripped off, as my Rodeo was in pristine condition, but looking back at the fun I have had with this car, it doesnt matter anymore. It was worth it.
Specifications
Manufacturer Nissan
Make NAVARA
Year 2019
Model D23 NP300 ST
Engine Typ YS23
Capacity 2300cc
GVM 3000kg
Build Date July 2019
Colour / Trim K23 / G
Odometer 2 kms
With the ability of a 4wd, the options where endless as to where we could go. There is plenty of sand hill playgrounds nearby, so from then on, it was every spare moment we had, we were off and enjoying our new wagon. Now that I was a “Patrol Owner”, I loved it. I was sitting high up, due to the 2” Suspension lift the previous owner had fitted, and with the 33” all terrain tyres, could see 5 cars in front when sitting at the lights. The more I got to know the car, the more I was impressed. It was basically a standard Patrol, but with a suspension lift. The mud was especially good fun and my kids even had a go (sitting on my lap or course).
The first trip out 4wding, I took her up the road to Pippidinny. Dense overgrown bush along some of the tracks, left, what sounded like, some almighty scratches along the whole length of the car. I knew it was inevitable, but to do it on the first trip????? Anyway, when I arrived home, my wife come ouot to see the whole side of the car scratched to the proverbial. I asked what the problem was, as judging by her reaction, I had dinged the side door or something. When I got out and finally looked at the scratches, I said to her, "well thats what happens when ya 4wding". SHe just shook her head and walked off inside the house. Some of those scratches are still there and wont polish out. Oh well......
COLLECTION
The first time I had the desire to modify my wagon was when my mate come round in his 4.8 GU. He runs 35" tyres and a 4" lift. Right there and then, the bug had bitten again. After the first few outings with him and his family, the things his car could do that my one couldnt was significantly noticeable. I would get bogged, he would power through. He could get over, I couldnt. This spurred me on to start the mod's.
SHOPPING
Driving the Patrol at night was less than impressive on the highway, or long bush roads. High beam was ok, but I needed more. The first addition was to install a set of spot lights. I purchased a set of Hella 160’s and found that there was already a lume tucked in behind the grille. I connected them up and they worked. The switch in the cabin needed work but all was working in about 5 minutes flat.
TYRES
Driving around in my new Patrol, I had started to see a heap of Patrols on the road, and my one, although I loved it, didn’t look tough like the rest of them. I needed new tyres, which I was due for anyway. The 33” all terrain tyres that were on it since I purchased the vehicle were worn, and the spare (which I hadnt even noticed) was a 31" tyre. It was time to invest in some mean looking boots.
285 / 75 R16 Micky Thompson Baja MTZ’s was my tyre of choice. I liked the look of them, and many on the forums recommended them. Good grip in the mud, minimal road noise, and a decent life were some of the pro's in selecting this tyre. I managed to get a good price on 5 tyres, installed, balanced, fitted, including wheel alignment from Emerald Tyre and Mechanical, in Joondalup. They were great to deal with and even threw in a few stickers for the ole toolbox.
