I have just bought a new GU Patrol which we pick up in a fortnight and did so knowing "the risk". Ultimately each car has "risk" of a problem somewhere and it is an each to their own decision. Here is my thought process.
Google any car and you will read about problems if it isn't engines it is drivetrain or something else. My other hobby is motorsport and it is not dissimilar to the Subaru STI (grenade) engines versus Mitsubishi Evo drivetrain but I am still yet to pop my Subie despite the amount of time it has spent on track. I figured with the Patrol I would run the 'gamble' on the 3L CRD over the Cruiser Diffs & IFS axles/CV joints as examples. Reading the Patrol4x4 forum the CRD grenade issues don't seem to be prevalent like the early DIDs with many achieving high mileage and they have been around for approximately 5 years now.
My family has owned about 7 patrols over the years and other than some clutch issues in one that were resolved under warranty we have never had a problem with any of them, granted most were GQs with the TD42. The last one was a 2004 DID that spent the first 5 years of its life doing 60% of its km with 3.5t worth of boat behind it. It then spent most of its weekends 20m from the waters edge at the boat ramp getting covered in salt spray. The last few years it spent parked in the driveway exposed to the elements as newer cars took priority. After all this it had no rust something that can't be said for the hiluxes & cruisers we have had in much shorter time frames. It was sold, same day as listed, about 12 months ago without having had one issue ever and for $30k which makes for only a 40% depreciation over 8 years. As a grenade it was a let down, as an 4wd it has probably been the most practical, competent and economical allrounder we've ever had.
For this purchase I wanted to have something (preferably with solid axles all round) that could tow, be very competent offroad and still be comfortable to drive on a day to day basis. I looked with absolute open mind at cruisers both 70 & 200, Prado, Wrangler, Grand Cherokee and settled back on the Patrol. The thing that came closest was the 200 series with some Altitudes floating around for high $80k as the likely model to settle on. I opted against it as 'round town' driving is minimal for us and for the price difference between it and a Patrol we could buy a new VW golf GTI as a buzz around car. It also means I don't have to risk or scratch up the best part of six figures whilst 4wding.
Something else that should be remembered is registration costs which doesn't affect NSW. In Qld though, rego is based on number of cylinders not GVM and so a CRD Patrol costs the same as a Yaris whereas something like the cruiser V8 costs considerably more.
