Help! I cant make up my mind - Petrol V Diesel 120

[RippinRutman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close RippinRutman]

G'day folks.

I know this has been discussed before but i am seeking every ones input into which vehicle to buy.

Ive had my heart set on a 04-06 GXL Turbo Diesel but I am struggling to find the right one (I am very very picky even down to colour)!

Ive started looking at petrols again due to the lack of TD's that are in my range but the only thing that is putting me off is fuel consumption. I had a 90 series (which i should have never sold )due to it being a fuel monster and the missus hated driving it.

I have crunched the numbers and with the cost of fuel and servicing on the TD, the petrol is back as an option.

It will be set up much the same as my previous 90 Series for touring (lift kit, drawers, roof rack, winch, muddies (I have spare road tyres now) etc.

There are some really good buys in the petrol range at the moment and I might even be able to put some money back in the bank. Actually that is a complete lie - it will go into diff locks etc

Here is my pro's and con's:

Diesel.

Pro's:
Reliability
Better fuel consumption (including towing my dirtbike)
Better for water crossings
Goes for ever if you look after it

Con's:
Costly to repair (engine)
Costly to service (5000kms compared to 10000kms)
Diesel is more expensive to purchase
Cost of vehicle is more to buy
Need to but a fuel water seperator and a chip and exhaust probably down the track

Petrol:

Pro's:
Goes like a rocket
Cheaper to service
If the engine goes bang its around 6k rather than 10-12k? to replace
Cheaper to buy

Con's:
Fuel monster

I know i havent covered everything - thats why i am asking you lot and I know there are the petrol lovers v the diesel lovers!

So sell it to me!

Cheers

RR

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

Running cost is a poor basis for choosing a 4wd the decision should be based on what you want to be doing with the vehicle. You haven't described what duties you expect the vehicle to perform, but in broad terms my opinion is diesel for towing and very remote travel and petrol for everything else.

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

Ummm your pros are a little out . Diesel reliability vs petrol, way off the mark in fact it's quite the opposite . Water crossing , you must be living in Roothy's time warp , it makes no difference what so ever , except that if you drown your diesel and hydraulic lock it , you may as well throw it away . Petrol , let's see , pull the plugs out , dry it out , maybe some new oil and off you go .

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

Fuel monster ????? the V6 is not bad on fuel. Mine runs on LPG cost $40 to fill lasts me two weeks. I agree with Leachy , diesel good for towing and long range stuff but the added cost of servicing and repairs on the diesel especially the D4D motor ,,injectors leaking, sump oil pick up blocking, ect I would go the petrol every time.

[BiLLz0r Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close BiLLz0r]

Petrol FTW.
I'd definitely say the Petrol engine is the more reliable of the 2.
Water crossing. Use a car bar/tarp if it's that deep (prolly should do that anyway, either fuel version).
The fuel economy is the big draw back. Ours is averaging 15-16ltrs/100 around town (Gold Coast). Very stop go, round abouts everywhere so you're always slowing and accelerating. When we ran Grandtrek AT tyres in the default size we got 14's. This is with an steel ARB front bar and 3rd row rear seats removed.
It does go great and with extractors and zorst like ours sounds even better.

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

I chose petrol over diesel when I bought my 120. As you have found out, you're not automatically saving money just because you drive a diesel.

Broadly speaking, if all your driving is loaded up touring and towing the diesel is the better choice. Having said that, we have a 150 D4D auto at work that goes everywhere loaded up. Nice to drive, but I'm glad I'm not paying for the fuel. It drinks like a fish and regularly gets worse fuel economy than my 120 V6. Go figure.

The other considerations are servicing costs and diesel is not always cheaper than petrol.

As others have said, the V6 isn't that bad on fuel. How you drive it is a big factor. Also theres a lot of evidence proving the reliability of that engine. I very nearly bought a 120 GXL V6 with close to 500,000kms on it. Asking price was around $14k. All its mileage was touring by an elderly couple and it came with meticulous records. There was nothing in the paperwork that hinted at anything surprising. Regular oil changes are cheap insurance. There are V6 Hilux's with even more miles.

Used 120 prices vary greatly, but the V6's are always way cheaper than equivalent diesels. $10k - $20k is a lot of fuel and accessories.

Usage is a big consideration and theres no accounting for personal taste. Both are good capable vehicles.

[minh Member Find all posts View Profile Close minh]

I have had two 90 series petrol. The 1grfe 4 litre motor in the 120 series is leaps and bounds in power and way more economical on fuel than the 90 series 3.4 litre.

Trust me when I say this. The prado 120 v6 is one of the most fuel efficient 4wd petrol cars on the market. The 150 petrol is even more efficient.

Top that off. The petrol is damn reliable. Powerful as and cheap to run.

Good luck with any choice you make.

[BiLLz0r Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close BiLLz0r]

Just another thing to consider. The Rego on the Diesel will be less as it's a 4cyl whilst the Petrol is a 6cyl. Insurance on the other and may be more as it's worth more comparing year for year.

[BiLLz0r Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close BiLLz0r]

The 150 petrol is even more efficient.

What figures are petrol 150 owners getting out of interest (without me reading the Fuel Consumption thread of the 150 section, I'm lazy, I know). I'd love a 200kw 150 Petrol *grunts like Tim Alan*. They seem rare as though.

[rogjil Find all posts View Profile Close rogjil]

Do the 120 series turbo diesel Prado's have any turbo lag at all?

The only thing better than a 4l V6 Prado would be one with a larger V8

Just my opinion

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

Don't forget to add in that when you buy the diesel and you get sick of driving a vehicle that accelerates like molasses , your gonna do what most of them do which is fork out for a power chip then a 3 inch exhaust , then a bigger turbo , then half a dozen useless gauges to let you know that your engine just blew up . See how long it takes to recoup the cost of all that lot . Hehehe com'on where's the diesel brigade , who's gonna be the first to say not this argument again . Yes it's been done to death .

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

I have a 120 auto petrol. Yes you will get about 14-15 l/100 around town; 12s unloaded and without roof racks in the country at around the 110kph mark. Mine gets about 17-18 l/100 towing 1 ton + camper at 100 kph. BUT it is sweet and smooth and goes like the clappers for a 4wd. They don't appear to have any great mechanical foibles [like $2k for injectors at 100,000km in the diesel and cam belts at 150,000] and are cheap to service. Every time I think of getting a 150 diesel I go for a drive in the 120 petrol. I think I will have it for a long time! For both petrol and diesel my mechanic has told me of radiators corroding from the outside as the aluminium breaks up. About $250 ish aftermarket [$700 ish Toyota, from memory] so factor that in to any purchase. As to the furphy of fuel range you will have 180 l on board which will get you between any 2 fuel stops in Australia except the CSR where a couple of jerries will bridge the gap. As to water crossings, they are best avoided in any car but modern petrols are as good as modern diesels ie. they both have electrics and they both have the same 700mm. fording depth anyway. A said above use a tarp! If you are always towing long distances then the diesel may be the go. If it is infrequent and/or short distances go petrol eg I have a 10,000 + km trip planned next year with the camper behind most of the way and I calculate that the difference in fuel cost will be about $800- $3200 v. $2400.Not bad when you can buy the petrol At $10,000 cheaper! Neil

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

a vehicle that accelerates like molasses ,
and
half a dozen useless gauges to let you know that your engine just blew up .

Ha ha on fire there Kav.



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[RippinRutman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close RippinRutman]

Thanks for the replies gents. Just what I was after. Im sold on the petrol after the overwhelming response from the Diesel faction Ive found a Prado here in Canberra with 110 000kms on the clock. Going to have a look at it on the weekend. Only downside is I need to sell my POS Triton. 2 years of let downs but that is another story

[rogjil Find all posts View Profile Close rogjil]

Thanks for the replies gents. Just what I was after. Im sold on the petrol after the overwhelming response from the Diesel faction Ive found a Prado here in Canberra with 110 000kms on the clock. Going to have a look at it on the weekend. Only downside is I need to sell my POS Triton. 2 years of let downs but that is another story

Interesting, after 2 years of putting up with our 2010 Triton breaking down every 2 months and towed a couple of times, the dealer did the right thing and purchased it back from us for a little bit more than real current market value, got lucky!!
I am not convinced that these new small high output diesels are the way to go anymore.

Just purchased a 2005 V6 no extras with 110,000 on the clock a couple of weeks ago, I dont think you will regret buying petrol! Took it to Fraser the day after we picked it up and the only regret I have now is not buying one sooner.