Purchasing 120 Advice

[BIG GQ Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close BIG GQ]

G'day guys.

My name is Linc. Some of you may already know me from the 4X4 comp scene or from other forums. I am looking to buy a 120 series V6 auto in 4-6 weeks and was hoping you guys may be able to tell me what to keep an eye out for and of any possible inherent problems.

Not overly interested in 4wding the thing as I am a Nissan man and have my Patrol for the hardcore offroading and so the Prado would only really see the beach once or twice a year and easy tracks into camp grounds, 4wd park, etc.

The main reason for purchase will be to carry a third child comfortably (wife's current BA Falcon just can't do that) if we decide we are going to have a 3rd child. Would also like to here from others with 3 young children in a Prado and what they think about it.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Cheers
Linc

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

Re: Purchasing 120 Advice

Welcome GQ, you will love the Prado for the family aspect.
I have 3 daughters, 15,8 and 1.5yrs old. We went to Melbourne at christmas from Perth. Baby had the left side, miss 8 and miss 15 swapped around from 3rd row half seat and middle two seats every now and then. The fridge and gear took up the rear half. All the kids had a blast. Middle seats have a fold down drinks holder, arm rest, very handy for books and drinks of course. Good thing is the rear seats are out in 5 secs. I have the GXL, it has underslung aircon for the middle seats (from under the front seats) but the 3rd row has no aircon. The VX and Grande models have a 3rd row aircon I think, and someone said the new model GXL has the 3rd row aircon in the roof now. Could be wrong on that :?
As far as beach goes, by all the videos and pics in our Trip section, the Prado belongs on the beach ! :mrgreen: and you will be surprised just how 4x4ish it can go by some of the Rig Buildups we got here 8) One coming up in the 4x4Monthly very soon ! (Joey)
For comfort the Prado is a Limousine IMHO for a 4x4. Great ride on standard suspension, but for handling a majority of us here have upgraded or going to for offroad.
I love my beast, just need more cash to trick it up hahaa, but the family love it, and thats what really matters to me. It will be with us for at least 5years more I am sure.

Cheers

Golly

[BIG GQ Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close BIG GQ]

Re: Purchasing 120 Advice

Thanks for the replies so far guys. I will be getting GXL. One I'm looking at has 2" lift fitted already

[Mrs Two+Four Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mrs Two+Four]

Re: Purchasing 120 Advice

I love my Prado, but hubby thinks he loves it more....hmmmm, anyway. We have four kids aged from 7-17, they're not exactly young but they still take up a fair bit of space. We travel very comfortably in it with the 60 litre Engel in the back as well. Our eldest finds it more comfortable in the front seat but he's 6'4" and still growing, I don't mind being chauffeured occasionally (he doesn't always get the front seat).

I was in Bunbury (2hrs south) this last weekend with the scouts, I had 6 scouts + myself of course, aged 12-14.5 - not little kids, and all of our gear (we had the pod on top too) there was no complaints about room from the kids (If they had complained they would have been put onto he side of the road :twisted: ).
Hubby worked out the mileage and was pleasantly surprised how economically it ran.

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Re: Purchasing 120 Advice

Good thing is the rear seats are out in 5 secs. I have the GXL, it has underslung aircon for the middle seats (from under the front seats) but the 3rd row has no aircon. The VX and Grande models have a 3rd row aircon I think, and someone said the new model GXL has the 3rd row aircon in the roof now. Could be wrong on that :?
Golly

no you are correct, new GXLs have climate control ( seperate settings for driver and passenger ), separate aircon controls for the second/third row on the back of the centre console and seperate vents in the roof for second and 3rd row seats.

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

Re: Purchasing 120 Advice

Gidday Big GQ

My clan includes 3 kids under 5, 2 of whom travel in full on baby seats and the other who travels in a booster seat, all of which fit nicely across the second row. We can load it up with enough gear for a family holiday and still get 10 to 11 litres per hundred k's (its an "old" 1KZ-TE). I spend a lot of time on the beach and sandy tracks and frequently pass other "tough" 4x4's which are either bogged or struggling in areas which the Prado romps over. The Prado is an awesome family wagon and more.

Good Luck with the GXL

Snappa

[BIG GQ Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close BIG GQ]

Re: Purchasing 120 Advice

My clan includes 3 kids under 5, 2 of whom travel in full on baby seats and the other who travels in a booster seat, all of which fit nicely across the second row.

Snappa this is great news to me - exactly what I wanted to hear. So you have 2 kids in there in a maxi rider or similar (???) and one in a booster seat with back, etc (???)

Both my wife and I would love it if you could take a photo or 2 with the seats in and either post them up here or email them to me??? [email protected]

Thank you very much

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

Re: Purchasing 120 Advice

No Worries Big GQ

Not sure what a "Maxi Rider" is but I can imagine. Our twin boys are each in separate car seats - the ones that that have the sides that wrap around and the seat angle is adjustable and where the straps come over the shoulders, around the waist and connect to a crotch strap - pretty standard baby seats really. Our older daughter travels in a full booster with seat base and back. I'll try and get photos taken as soon as but you may have to give me until the weekend as I'm doing a fair bit of travelling this week.

Cheers

Snappa

[Prado BB Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado BB]

Re: Purchasing 120 Advice

Ditto with everything said so far, Big Q.

I have 3 kids and the best part is being able to separate them, 2 in second row with arm rest down and third up the back in the third row (he gets his own power outlet to charge his PSP).

I too have a GQ for fun, and now they won't get in it, cause the Prado sooooo cool, dad like....

Uncanny, I also sold a BA to buy the Prado!!!

Cheers
Andy

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

Re: Purchasing 120 Advice

I have 2 kids but often take a kid friend with us and they all fit across the 2nd row - 2 baby seats, forward facing (a bit like maxirider) and one large toddler (full height) seat. No worries at all. We take a camper trailer these days so room for gear isn't a problem although I'd leave the camper and put a rack on if doing Simpson or similar. Very versatile for what you're needing it for - you'll love it.

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: Purchasing 120 Advice

Not overly interested in 4wding the thing as I am a Nissan man and have my Patrol for the hardcore offroading and so the Prado would only really see the beach once or twice a year and easy tracks into camp grounds, 4wd park, etc.

Don't worry... the Prado is more than capable too.

The main reason for purchase will be to carry a third child comfortably (wife's current BA Falcon just can't do that) if we decide we are going to have a 3rd child. Would also like to here from others with 3 young children in a Prado and what they think about it.

We have three children (12,10 and 6). Plenty of room. At least when they have friends with them, we can easily and safely carry up to 8 persons in total - all with full seatbelts (not lapsash like the Nissan, and full curtain airbags all-round too. Our GXL has dual zone and rear air-con. Nowadays the kids ask us to turn the aircon down in the back - they never said that when we owned our Nissan Patrol!

My wife mainly drives our car day-to-day with the kids I have to wait for our special camping/4wd trips for that joy (and also to the local fuel outlet every 900-1000km to fill her up when that strange green light comes on and begins to annoy the wife :roll: ).

The Prado is a fantastic all-rounder. We absolutely love it. Drives like a sedan. More than capable 4wds. I'm sure you will too. :wink: 8)

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: Purchasing 120 Advice

Not overly interested in 4wding the thing as I am a Nissan man and have my Patrol for the hardcore offroading and so the Prado would only really see the beach once or twice a year and easy tracks into camp grounds, 4wd park, etc.

Don't worry... the Prado is more than capable too.

The main reason for purchase will be to carry a third child comfortably (wife's current BA Falcon just can't do that) if we decide we are going to have a 3rd child. Would also like to here from others with 3 young children in a Prado and what they think about it.

We have three children (12,10 and 6). Plenty of room. At least when they have friends with them, we can easily and safely carry up to 8 persons in total - all with full seatbelts (not lapsash like the Nissan, and full curtain airbags all-round too. Our GXL has dual zone and rear air-con. Nowadays the kids ask us to turn the aircon down in the back - they never said that when we owned our Nissan Patrol!

My wife mainly drives our car day-to-day with the kids I have to wait for our special camping/4wd trips for that joy (and also to the local fuel outlet every 900-1000km to fill her up when that strange green light comes on and begins to annoy the wife :roll: ).

The Prado is a fantastic all-rounder. We absolutely love it. Drives like a sedan. More than capable 4wds. I'm sure you will too. :wink: 8)

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

Re: Purchasing 120 Advice

Mum and dad in 09 GXL.

2 sons (17 & 16) in 98 GXL.

Perfect solution. Don't have to put up with their whining and fighting.

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

Re: Purchasing 120 Advice

Good thing is the rear seats are out in 5 secs. I have the GXL, it has underslung aircon for the middle seats (from under the front seats) but the 3rd row has no aircon. The VX and Grande models have a 3rd row aircon I think, and someone said the new model GXL has the 3rd row aircon in the roof now. Could be wrong on that :?
Golly

no you are correct, new GXLs have climate control ( seperate settings for driver and passenger ), separate aircon controls for the second/third row on the back of the centre console and seperate vents in the roof for second and 3rd row seats.

I have a 2004 GXL, and while I don't miss it now as I don't have kids, I can imagine in the nearish future I will get complaints about no air con in the back. Is there any car more perfect than a 2009 Prado? If only I had to $$$ to have afforded a new one at the time.

[vx05 Member Find all posts View Profile Close vx05]

Re: Purchasing 120 Advice

Hey Big GQ

We seem to be similar to Snappa, 3 kids, 5, 3 and 1. So 2 full size seats, and 1 full size booster. Won't deny that it is tight between the 3 seats, but you only need to reach between for the booster. You can get narrower car seats than we have, but it's not really a drama.





We have a camper trailer so packing for trips is easier, we also have a lifestyle rack http://www.lifestyleracks.com.au/ which splits the cargo area nicely, and makes day trips that much easier than just jamming everything in.

They are a very easy car to live with day to day, quiet, comfortable and well built.

Best of luck
Steve