2018 Prado

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

Has anyone got experience with the nudge bars? I don't like the look of the full size bars and i'm worried about the weight, but would like some form of protection to my bumper in case I hit someone crossing the road or maybe a roo. Are these bars any actual useful for protecting the front-end or are they for show only? I notice the nudge bar on the 2018 looks different to that of the previous model. Whereas before there were two black seats that the bar secured in to, now it looks like it goes under the bumper almost as a deflection plate. Would that offer any additional protection when doing offroad? How sturdy and useful are these things? P.s. I'll be getting front parking sensors so doubt i'll need a nudge bar for parking only.

[Rorz Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Rorz]

Has anyone got experience with the nudge bars? I don't like the look of the full size bars and i'm worried about the weight, but would like some form of protection to my bumper in case I hit someone crossing the road or maybe a roo. Are these bars any actual useful for protecting the front-end or are they for show only? I notice the nudge bar on the 2018 looks different to that of the previous model. Whereas before there were two black seats that the bar secured in to, now it looks like it goes under the bumper almost as a deflection plate. Would that offer any additional protection when doing offroad? How sturdy and useful are these things? P.s. I'll be getting front parking sensors so doubt i'll need a nudge bar for parking only.

IMO the nudge bars are good for parking and taking the hits in tight parking spaces regardless of whether you have sensors or not there will still be occasions where you hit something, although with the sensors yes it will be less frequent. The bullbar will help immensely if you hit a roo. I have seen it in action when driving in north west australia and I genuinely believe it stopped the car from being a write off and allowed us to continue our journey to the nearest smash repair shop. I will try dig the photos out and post on here. I have heard and read about how the bull bar over time can cause issues with the chassis due to weight. Im sure you could find other forums going into more detail on the issue. The bull bar looks cooler Worth mentioning that the bull bar is made of aluminium and the nudge bar is stainless steel

[GEEEXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close GEEEXL]

Worth mentioning that the bull bar is made of aluminium and the nudge bar is stainless steel

are sure? just asking :-)

[Rorz Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Rorz]

are sure? just asking :-)

According to the toyota website under Prado accessories I am

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

IMO the nudge bars are good for parking and taking the hits in tight parking spaces regardless of whether you have sensors or not there will still be occasions where you hit something, although with the sensors yes it will be less frequent. The bullbar will help immensely if you hit a roo. I have seen it in action when driving in north west australia and I genuinely believe it stopped the car from being a write off and allowed us to continue our journey to the nearest smash repair shop. I will try dig the photos out and post on here. I have heard and read about how the bull bar over time can cause issues with the chassis due to weight. Im sure you could find other forums going into more detail on the issue. The bull bar looks cooler Worth mentioning that the bull bar is made of aluminium and the nudge bar is stainless steel

It sounds like from what you're saying that the nudge bar is literally only for "nudging", and anything beyond that is gonna wreck the front of the car regardless. Having rechecked the nudge bar it's actually not going underneath and back much at all, so doubt it'll offer any offroad protection :

[CamJam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close CamJam]

Has anyone got experience with the nudge bars? I don't like the look of the full size bars and i'm worried about the weight, but would like some form of protection to my bumper in case I hit someone crossing the road or maybe a roo. Are these bars any actual useful for protecting the front-end or are they for show only? I notice the nudge bar on the 2018 looks different to that of the previous model. Whereas before there were two black seats that the bar secured in to, now it looks like it goes under the bumper almost as a deflection plate. Would that offer any additional protection when doing offroad? How sturdy and useful are these things? P.s. I'll be getting front parking sensors so doubt i'll need a nudge bar for parking only.

A good nudge bar will still cover your radiator - the thing most of us are concerned with in a Roo hit. I'd try ECB or similar rather than the (on appearances only) rather stylised flimsy nudge bar Toyota are offering.

[CamJam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close CamJam]

For everyone looking at getting the Toyota leather and heated seats - can I suggest (if you have the wherewithal/ time etc) to look at after-market mobs that do the same 7 seats (and consol, and doors) in far, far, far better quality leather and with heated seats for the same price. The leather is absolutely miles apart. They also do the OEM leather - but at a cheaper price than what Toyota are asking. The other bonus is you can choose from heaps of different colours.

I've done it to mine and I'll never go back to OEM leather. It's much thicker and more durable. I don't know if I can mention businesses, but I had mine done at Doyles in Wollongong a year or so ago. They're not everywhere - and I have absolutely NO affiliation with them - but a local search will bring up plenty of others. Just worth considering - particularly if you want it to be done later (say, when you can afford the $3000 if you can't when you sell it).

[bretthar Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bretthar]

It's pretty tough to stump up 70 odd k in 2017 for a vehicle with no reverse camera, rear air vents or steering wheel controls or trip computer. Or exposed barn door hinges that were in fashion in 1965! Don't let Toyota australia treat us like muppets with a gx 200. I reckon if you can't afford a 200 gxl then stick with the Prado. Keep in mind a safe dyno tune will get you close or same to standard vdj200 power without the extra weight.

You can get a safe 200Kw out of the 2.8 with a dyno tune?

[bigowenb Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bigowenb]

Has anyone got experience with the nudge bars? I don't like the look of the full size bars and i'm worried about the weight, but would like some form of protection to my bumper in case I hit someone crossing the road or maybe a roo. Are these bars any actual useful for protecting the front-end or are they for show only? I notice the nudge bar on the 2018 looks different to that of the previous model. Whereas before there were two black seats that the bar secured in to, now it looks like it goes under the bumper almost as a deflection plate. Would that offer any additional protection when doing offroad? How sturdy and useful are these things? P.s. I'll be getting front parking sensors so doubt i'll need a nudge bar for parking only.

I've always had a Nudge Bar fitted, protects the bumper when the wife 'kisses' the garage brick wall.......picked up the new Prado yesterday, the new genuine Nudge Bars are a huge improvement over all the ones i've had fitted in the past. Stainless steel (not alloy like before), thick tube, mounted 2 places on each side with heavy duty brackets.....very solid! What I don't like is the way they remove the parking sensors from the bumper and put them on the Nudge Bar. Looks ugly how the loom comes out where the sensors were, should bring the loom out along the bracket and put a plug in the hole. Also they need some sort of plate to cover where the number plate normally goes on the bumper, looks unfinished. Was going to put a light bar on top using the mounts but it'll cover the camera and radar sensor in the badge.

[Desirable4Driving (D4D) Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Desirable4Driving (D4D)]

You can get a safe 200Kw out of the 2.8 with a dyno tune?

Yea talk to the guys at just autos nambour. The 2.8 is very derated, a small turbo lets it down a bit too.

[Fasteddie Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Fasteddie]

Thanks for the feedback, I'd never consider a motor trimmer for the leather option, would definitely pay to price the option, agreed on OEM leather wouldn't be the same quality as a quality after market trimmer, but would be hard to give the ok, to pull apart the new interior to redo, I just love the heated / cooled seat options, and standard intergrated controls. When I've finished paddling ocean ski, at 630 on a winters morning the heated leather seats are worthwhile luxury to me !!

As a standard 2.8GD prado, makes 450 Nm and 130 kW in auto, with pdf system, extracting 200 series power is a little unrealistic ? (650 Nm and 200 kW). On a $70 k vehicle with 3 yrs warranty, who's going to jeopardise the motor/warranty tunning an engine way past its manufacturing design parameters, chasing V8 twin turbo power levels.
I understand modern diesel are a compromise, with tuning for emissions, fuel efficiency and power, but a tune can only do so much, adjusting fuel pressure, boost, and making it flow more air, etc, very hard to do with a PDF system.
A 10% might be achievable, but always risks the manufactures warranty if something goes wrong, and if it was easy would Toyota have offered more.

I think for me for a family wagon, surf rig and remote touring either the gxl prado would suit, but so would the gx 200 !!!, for a premium above the premium Toyota want for the Prado.

Maybe the economics of the 10 % ish saving on purchase price, smaller dimensions for day to day commuting, better fuel range, better fuel usage all lends the win to the Prado, but a test drive of the gx 200 could make it an decision of the pants for more power !!!!!.

In keeping with the thread, I'm sure this new updated 2018 Prado will deliver Toyota increased sales in a very competitive market, as it offers a great platform for family off roading and touring, for those of us that do not get the dual cab hype, and prefer a wagon.
A decision for the new year, and a first world problem if there's ever been one !!!

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

Nothing comes for free. If you increase the power and and more importantly the torque that dramatically you will be getting well inside and possibly beyond the design safety margins for the engine and drive train.

The power of 200kw is within the range of what that gearbox and drive train can handle, although the engine would not be designed for that level of output. The engine, gearbox and drive train would not be designed for 650NM of torque. Even the GX470 (American Prado) with a V8 only makes around 200kw and 440NM.

[Desirable4Driving (D4D) Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Desirable4Driving (D4D)]

A 200 series makes poor power levels for what it is. But they are enough for our needs hence why toyota derate everything for long lifespans.The Europeans pull 300kw out of 8cyl tt Diesel engines. Jusy autos safely dyno tune the 1vd to excess of 800nm. A 2.8 engineered in 2015 is very capable of close to 200 levels of power

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Dyno charts please.

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

A 200 series makes poor power levels for what it is. But they are enough for our needs hence why toyota derate everything for long lifespans.The Europeans pull 300kw out of 8cyl tt Diesel engines. Jusy autos safely dyno tune the 1vd to excess of 800nm. A 2.8 engineered in 2015 is very capable of close to 200 levels of power

"safely dyno tune the 1vd to excess of 800nm" Love to see the warranty that comes with that.

Highly tuned engines are great and I would love more grunt in my Prado. However, it's not so simple to get high specific power outputs (kw/litre) without adding stress to all parts of the engine and when you can't guarantee fuel quality. With that power comes complexity and lots of heat.

There is a difference between a high performance diesel designed to cruise autobahns, and one that gets used as a tractor in really harsh conditions. My mates super duper Range Rover with those sorts of specs regularly breaks.

Apart from why do you need 800Nm, not sure how it would go towing in crappy conditions on a 40C plus day. I'm not sure that you will find many high performance engines in truly remote and harsh places such as parts of Africa, Australia etc. Unless perhaps you can bring your own spares and workshop like in the Dakar rally