A definite goodbye to my trusty Patrol.

[Flying Torquewrench]

Never heard of the Commander. Looks alright to be honest. I am still keeping an eye on the Land Cruiser on eBay. See what that goes up to and if I put a bid in. Hinckley isn’t too far away from us.

[Bat21]

Originally Posted by Flying Torquewrench

Never heard of the Commander. Looks alright to be honest....

Not many people have.

A very nice one here, higher spec for £4.5k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409043655611

[Flying Torquewrench]

I look at anything that is half decent. The more basic the better. That is why the Patrol was ideal, hardly any electrics in it. I only do about a 1000 miles a year in it with the furthest it gets from home is about 20 miles. So luxuries are not on the top of my list as they only cause problems.

[Flying Torquewrench]

Might go and have a look at this little Mitsubishi Shogun. A nice SWB and should be roughly the same size as the SWB Patrol. Also a manual which I prefer.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-det...=10000&fromsra

[Bat21]

Originally Posted by Flying Torquewrench

Might go and have a look at this little Mitsubishi Shogun. A nice SWB and should be roughly the same size as the SWB Patrol. Also a manual which I prefer.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-det...=10000&fromsra

Looks good and, like you say, about the same size as the Patrol.

[Flying Torquewrench]

Ordered a Metabo 9” angle grinder from Howe Tools last Tuesday. They do next day delivery if ordered before 8pm. My order was in by 7:50pm and promptly received a dispatch confirmation and that it would be delivered with DHL.

Not sure how it is elsewhere but in our area DHL is absolutely useless. To such an extent that if I know that a retailer uses DHL I will shop elsewhere. Next day delivery didn’t happen and neither did the day after that. I emailed Howe Tools and cancelled the order. In their return emailed they mentioned that an order placed before 5pm is dispatched with DPD and after this time it is DHL. As DPD is absolutely brilliant here I placed another order yesterday but this time before 5pm. DPD were here at 09:30am this morning with my order.

Nicely on time to start the horrible job of cutting the Patrol up ready to take him to the scrap yard. There is a lot of rust on the truck. Not from the fire and the fire brigade but in areas that were sealed or protected. The chassis is showing a few rust holes and the body had a lot of rust in the seams. Inside the body panels and the floor of the body above the fuel tank.

This is the sorry sight after a few hours cutting.

[solarman216]

Yes DHL not bad, DPD excellent, what a sorry state the poor old Troll is in, but axles should be OK, probably all you will salvage, if yours is the 233 diff I may well be interested, Rick

[Flying Torquewrench]

Rang the seller of the Mitsubishi but he never answered the phone. Today the add disappeared from Autotrader so not sure if the car has been sold or the add timed out. Will see if it pops back on in a couple of days.

Otherwise there is a similar one close home but it is an automatic and 6 years older. Higher road tax but slightly cheaper on insurance. The downside is that the rev counter is not working. Could be an easy fix but could also require a new instrument cluster.

Continued cutting up the Patrol today. Not much left of the engine after the fire.

[Flying Torquewrench]

Cut up the last bits of the body today. The more I look at it the more I get mixed feelings. There was soo much rust on the body and chassis that was perfectly hidden.

On both sides where the inner wheel arch meets the floor was completely rotten through along the whole length of the wheel arch. The strengthening ribs under the floor were paper thin above the fuel tank.

The rear off side panel behind the fuel cap was riddled with rust holes on the inside. The chassis rails either side of the fuel tank were paper thin on the inside of the rail.

All repairable but it would really require a full cabin strip and body removal. I had planned to sort of restore it once we had the work on the house done and I had time. It would have been a nice project to do with no time pressure.

[Flying Torquewrench]

So went to look at two Shogun’s yesterday. Both are relatively local.

I have decided to go for a SWB as the LWB is just too big for my needs. Only really need it to ferry the dogs around and tow the trailer.

First one we looked at was a 2015 model that is mechanically sound but cosmetically leaves a lot to be desired. Bit of damage on the rear door, front bumper has a tear in the plastic, glove box has deep scratches on the outside of the door, no tools to change a wheel and the headliner is very dirty. It looks like it belonged to a farmer that kept his dogs in the back.

Second one is a 2008 model that is in good condition inside and out but the rev counter is not working. Which could be a cheap fix or could cost a pretty penny.

The 2015 is £4k dearer but is £500 a year cheaper in insurance/road tax. The 2015 is Euro 5 whilst the 2008 is Euro 4.

Trying to make a decision which one to buy. Done some research and to change the worst damaged parts on the 2015 model will cost around £250 with an additional £50 to paint the headliner if it can’t be cleaned.

[Flying Torquewrench]

Today I bought the Shogun. For more money then I had hoped to spend and it needs a bit of money spending on it. It could do with a new glove compartment door, rear door panel and the headliner needs cleaning/painting. Not ideal but it being a 2015 model hopefully means that I can drive it for many years without issue.

[solarman216]

Looks OK but I know absolutely nothing about them, do not even know anybody that has one, so time will tell, Rick

[Flying Torquewrench]

You might know them as the Pajero. They are quite big in Australia and South Africa. In those countries they have the Pajero name.

It is not a Patrol and the SWB can only tow 3000kg vs the 3500kg on the LWB. Same engine and gearbox but slightly smaller brakes, hence the difference.

As you say, time will tell.

[Bat21]

Originally Posted by Flying Torquewrench

Today I bought the Shogun....

That should do you nicely

Originally Posted by Flying Torquewrench

You might know them as the Pajero....

[Schoolboy mode on]
Check out the Spanish translation of Pajero
[Schoolboy mode off]

[Flying Torquewrench]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 Hadn’t seen that.