2018 Prado

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

Check out their fb page, just autos nambour, a few stock examples there with dyno sheets. No one said anything about retaining warranty hence why I wouldn't contemplate handing a 60-80k vehicle over to them. But it certainly is nice to hear from these aftermarket guys how over engineered Toyota engines are once they start breaking them down. Couldnt agree more Krytpo I'll have my Toyotas anyday over the over rated over stressed Euro gear any day when heading off the beaten path.

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

I saw a my18 Prado leave a dealership today with the premium alloy bullbar on, it looked awesome. Best genuine bar since the 120 series days.

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

......and that sovereign bar was crap! It was bolted together and a day or 2 on corrugations saw it fall apart [ not to mention the support brackets which broke and were subject to recall]. It was a nightmare to keep clean as well. At the very least one hopes the new bars are one piece.

[rags Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rags]

......and that sovereign bar was crap! It was bolted together and a day or 2 on corrugations saw it fall apart [ not to mention the support brackets which broke and were subject to recall]. It was a nightmare to keep clean as well. At the very least one hopes the new bars are one piece.

It was the failure of the bracket that resulted in the bar dislodging in some occasions rather than the sovereign bar itself falling apart.
Quite easy to keep clean if it was like mine, powder coated charcoal. It was an option at the time and cheaper than the polished bar, typically fitted to the GX model

[Fasteddie Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Fasteddie]

Local paper had run out prices on Prado GXL auto, with metallic paint, no other options listed, drive away $61990.00.
Once the dust settles in the new year, and stock becomes available, I would think an astute buyer, should be able to secure a 2018 GXL auto with towbar for under this $62 K, advertised amount.
The new ARB alloy bar looks good on the previous model, I'm sure they won't be long till their ready for the 2018 release, it follows the shape of the front end very well, is winch comparable, with a steel mounting bracket. But in typical ARB, they won't quote the weight of their steel models or the alloy models, to compare the difference?
The ECB is prob the stronger, better made, only my impression, not based on any fact though, and Australian made.
It has a straight once piece, main bar design. Their very clear about weight, specs, and if you'd like it can be powder coated to limit the polishing required.
I'll definitely considered both these two for next yr.
The Toyota factory bars are improving, but are lighter, don't protrud as far out, to fit in garage etc, but are still not comparable to after market as yet. Only based on what I've seen for the new hilux ranger, though. 👍

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

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.

Thanks for the information and photos, really useful to see how they've attached the bar to the truck. I'm at a loss as to why they couldnt source you some black parking sensors though, it looks pretty unusual the way you have it now (especially since I'm guessing you have the Kakadu). Also yeah, the holes in the bumper where the old plate was is also a "why didn't they just ..." moment. That said, the bumper isn't going to corrode with those holes and the steel looks great. Would you mind at all sticking up a couple of photos of the car from the front and at an angle so I can see the bar and the car in full context? We're considering pushing for a bar in our car but would appreciate more of an idea how it looks. It seems like it's a good bit of protection for parking bumps, people backing in to us, and maybe some small roadkill (it probably isn't going to protect the from end from anything more than a few feet high).

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

Good news for me, have put a deposit down on a 2018 build VX in Peacock Black (wife’s choice). Should collect in March. Got what we consider a great deal at $71400 including the afore mentioned metallic paint, tow pack, bonnet protector, mats front and back and cargo mat, plus first service for free. Took a swerve on the nudge bar after seeing the photos from bigowenb. Now we have to count down the days, weeks and months! That bloody KDSS though... god damn it.

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

Thanks for the information and photos, really useful to see how they've attached the bar to the truck. I'm at a loss as to why they couldnt source you some black parking sensors though, it looks pretty unusual the way you have it now (especially since I'm guessing you have the Kakadu). Also yeah, the holes in the bumper where the old plate was is also a "why didn't they just ..." moment. That said, the bumper isn't going to corrode with those holes and the steel looks great. Would you mind at all sticking up a couple of photos of the car from the front and at an angle so I can see the bar and the car in full context? We're considering pushing for a bar in our car but would appreciate more of an idea how it looks. It seems like it's a good bit of protection for parking bumps, people backing in to us, and maybe some small roadkill (it probably isn't going to protect the from end from anything more than a few feet high).

Photo's attached ......when I take it in for the 1000km inspection i'll be seeing what they will sell me a pair of black sensors for and then i'll re-run the loom along the bracket, put the white sensors back in the bumper and the black ones in the Nudge Bar.

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

Good news for me, have put a deposit down on a 2018 build VX in Peacock Black (wife’s choice). Should collect in March. Got what we consider a great deal at $71400 including the afore mentioned metallic paint, tow pack, bonnet protector, mats front and back and cargo mat, plus first service for free. Took a swerve on the nudge bar after seeing the photos from bigowenb. Now we have to count down the days, weeks and months! That bloody KDSS though... god damn it.

Congratulations, the wait will go quick, it'll be March before you know it! When I picked mine up on Thursday was chatting to the dealer and they've been as surprised as I have with the popularity of the VX.....they've sold more VX's than any other variant, looks like Mr Toyota knows more about what sells than I ever will! lol.....although I think it helps when every media report and review makes no mention of the fact KDSS has been deleted from the VX.

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

Drove my new Prado at night last night for the first time......previous model had LED low beam and Halogen high beam which was very good with the only problem being the amber colour difference of the high beam light against the white of the low beam LED which was a little annoying. The new model now has both LED low and high beam. The low beam, like the old model is excellent.....but the high beam, aarrgh!!! Weak, dull, not far reaching.....in a word, disappointing!! Surely the Toyota engineers tested these things at night while evaluating them before they were released? Looks like its a pair of driving lights for Christmas to mount on the Nudge Bar!

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

Drove my new Prado at night last night for the first time......previous model had LED low beam and Halogen high beam which was very good with the only problem being the amber colour difference of the high beam light against the white of the low beam LED which was a little annoying. The new model now has both LED low and high beam. The low beam, like the old model is excellent.....but the high beam, aarrgh!!! Weak, dull, not far reaching.....in a word, disappointing!! Surely the Toyota engineers tested these things at night while evaluating them before they were released? Looks like its a pair of driving lights for Christmas to mount on the Nudge Bar!

Well that's just plain disappointing to hear and of course it's one of those things nobody will ever be able to check before purchasing the vehicle and driving away. In my case with no nudge bar I'll have nowhere to put after-market driving lights so I'll just have to make do with what I get; hopefully there wont be too many more nasty surprises like this.
Otherwise, how happy are you with your new motor and how does it feel driving it about? What's the advice on bedding in the engine? I imagine it'll be something like keeping the revs under 2000rpm for the first 500kms.
Thanks for the additional photos, the car looks great and the nudge actually fits in really well. I see you added a bonnet protector too like I have. As I'm buying with Peacock Black I'm wondering which version of the guard will be better - the clear one you have or the tinted version. I think it'll come down to the colour of the retaining clasps on the tinted version. If they're black I think the tinted version will work better, because I'm quite sure the steel clips on your guard will show up like a sore thumb on dark paint.

[[email protected] Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close [email protected]]

You mean LED highbeam is worse than the previous helogen? I saw some lc200 bi-led headlamp, that's very close to an aftermarket spotlight.

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

Well that's just plain disappointing to hear and of course it's one of those things nobody will ever be able to check before purchasing the vehicle and driving away. In my case with no nudge bar I'll have nowhere to put after-market driving lights so I'll just have to make do with what I get; hopefully there wont be too many more nasty surprises like this.
Otherwise, how happy are you with your new motor and how does it feel driving it about? What's the advice on bedding in the engine? I imagine it'll be something like keeping the revs under 2000rpm for the first 500kms.
Thanks for the additional photos, the car looks great and the nudge actually fits in really well. I see you added a bonnet protector too like I have. As I'm buying with Peacock Black I'm wondering which version of the guard will be better - the clear one you have or the tinted version. I think it'll come down to the colour of the retaining clasps on the tinted version. If they're black I think the tinted version will work better, because I'm quite sure the steel clips on your guard will show up like a sore thumb on dark paint.

you will regret the black

hergy

[Snouto Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snouto]

you will regret the black

hergy

I suspect you'll be right on that. I was tempted by the Dusty Bronze but the wife insisted on Peacock Black. C'est la vie.

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

I suspect you'll be right on that. I was tempted by the Dusty Bronze but the wife insisted on Peacock Black. C'est la vie.

As any smart husband knows, happy wife=happy life.......me's suspects hergy is single!lol