How are you finding the SWB 150s?

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

A quick question to SWB owners.
I am considering an up grade of my 90 series to a 150. Other than the cost difference what were the major factors that influenced your decision to purchase the SWB. (Alternatively if you purchased the 5 door did you consider the SWB? if not why not)

Is the smaller fuel capacity of concern when considering longer trips?
How painfull is it to access the second row of seat? (won't really bother me as I am driving, but a concern for others)

Thanks in advance for you feedback.

[Walker Member Find all posts View Profile Close Walker]

Re: How are you finding the SWB 150s?

I have had my ZR for just over a month now and I love it. Other than the price, the main reason I went with the SWB is because I don't really need need the room of a LWB. Most of the time I drive it for work and it is just me. We have a van we take for family holidays (only 1 kid) and my wife is not interested in camping so on any outback trips it is just me or me and the boy.
Not sure how I will go with the smaller tank on outback trips but I will just have to cope. I usually remove the rear seats for outback trips anyway.
One thing I really like about the shorty is the fuel economy. This week I drove from Melbourne to Warrnambool and back. With only 3500km on the clock I averaged 7.3l/100km on the way down and 7.6 on the return trip. I was wrapped with this. Those figures were taken from the computer but even if it is a bit out it is still great economy. It also feels a lot more nimble than the LWB around town and is great to drive.

[tournament Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close tournament]

Re: How are you finding the SWB 150s?

the 3 door is good dont have to worry about room just me and the cook good on fuel and pulls like a train with 2 ton of boat on the back weve done 11500 ks now with no probs only thing i can fault is still no roo bar for it here in wa

[Jase150 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jase150]

Re: How are you finding the SWB 150s?

The SWB is great, have done 9500k's in my SX and could not be happier.

I had a few reasons for buying it -

Price
Rarely use back seat (it is a little hard to get into though)
4WD ability - tight stuff and steep humps etc
The appearance
No real other SWB option
The fact that it is a bit different (gets heaps of looks and comments)
Much more nimble than LWB

The fuel economy is great as Walker pointed out, not sure about tank size in outback but the range is more than adequate for my uses.

[BMSKEITH Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close BMSKEITH]

Re: How are you finding the SWB 150s?

Have had our ZR now for 4 months
And am more than happy with it again Great Fuel econ about 7.8 around town
Drives great and when of road with 9 long wheel base Prados shorty never scraped side steps or rear once unlike the long wheel base.
GREAT CAR

[Foxy49 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Foxy49]

Re: How are you finding the SWB 150s?

Hi We are hoping to pick our SX shorty in about 3 weeks .There are a number of reasons why we went for the shorty .1 weight (considerably lighter than the log wheel base). 2 power to weight ratio .3 size .4 agility .5 towing 6 tank size will be overcome with a Long-ranger fuel tank (complete the survey) 7 quality 8 price 9 diesel fuel economy 10 resale 11 there is only the 2 of us 12 Grand children will be fine. looking forward to some 4x4 ing Cheers Foxy :?

[Foxy49 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Foxy49]

Re: How are you finding the SWB 150s?

Speak of the devil just as we were heading north we get a call telling us "the eagle has landed " and we can't pick her up until early July something to look forward to Cheers Foxy

[mikes09 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close mikes09]

Re: How are you finding the SWB 150s?

I have had my sx 3 door for 1 month now & love it, it is my first 4wd so I cant compare to others but all i know is that I dont need much of a reason to jump in it and go for a drive. My wife also enjoys driving it and with rear camera she has no probs reversing.

[drecked Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close drecked]

Re: How are you finding the SWB 150s?

I got my SX a few days ago and It's fantastic + there' not enough room for the MIL to get in the back seat Yea !
It's very lively and drives like a dream but I can see a take over looming from she SWMBO !
All BS aside only done a few KM's but I'm really Impressed .

[rick Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close rick]

Re: How are you finding the SWB 150s?

If you have the means I can’t recommend enough the 150 Series. Two weeks ago I took delivery of a white SWB SX Demo – incredible, fantastic, luxury, power and economy. I am in Cairns and the computer indicates 6.2l per hundred on the highway and 6.8l per hundred around town that’s with aircon on no less! I have driven up to Port Douglas and down to Mission Beach really eats the highway up – I traded a Daihatsu Terios which I bought new in 2004 for this SX so it is a big change for me. I have driven the SX in sand and no problem at all did not even need to let the tyres down just dropped in Low Range and it was effortless to get through quite deep sand.Also the diesel engine is really smooth and quiet at highway speeds.
Resale and depreciation were a concern however I did my research and being a Toyota Diesel is a big factor, plus the most interesting is the three tonne towing capacity of the SWB that being substantially more than the 5 door which is 2.5 tonne only.

[Foxy49 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Foxy49]

Re: How are you finding the SWB 150s?

We have picked up our shorty and we are loving it .After having a petrol guzzling V6 before this diesel the economy is amazing . She really gets up and boogies when you put the foot down . We are about to do our first 1K oil change and I'm going to put in Mobil 1 synthetic diesel .I have just added a trans oil cooler with a in line filter (K&N) Z9 equivalent and a 20K BTU cooler .We are going to do a lot of towing soon as we are heading from SA to Q for the Gympie muster .Found there is No Engine bay dip stick and filler point for the trans but with the information from my mechanic (Toyota) we were able to work it out . many thanks to them . I know from my experience HEAT is the biggest killer of transmissions and can be very expensive to repair so a little precaution can help .
We had to wait from early Feb until July to get the color we wanted and have no regrets (Sandstone) I see according to the plate she is late April build no problems So at this stage very happy :lol:

[Walker Member Find all posts View Profile Close Walker]

Re: How are you finding the SWB 150s?

Foxy, Does that mean the Prado doe not have a transmission oil cooler?

I have just come back from my first big trip with the ZR. We drove up to Coffs Harbour and back towing about 2.8T car trailer. The Prado was great and did it easy, but I did have the transmission warning light come on 3 times during the trip when going up long steep hills. Each time I was almost at the top when the light came on and it went back off again about 30 seconds after cresting the hill but I am not happy that this can happen when towing a load that it should be rated for. The ambient temperature was cold as well so I would hate to see it during summer.

The good part is that I averaged 16.1l/100km while towing and I was not taking it easy, doing up to 110km/h on the highway. I thought this was pretty good economy for towing a large heavy load.

It is now due for its 10,000km service so hopefully it can all be sorted with the new software upgrade.

How much was the tranny cooler and will Toyota do it or do you have to go aftermarket?

[tidythatshed Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close tidythatshed]

Re: How are you finding the SWB 150s?

Just picked up new Silver 2010 SWB SX last week.
Only extra so far is a factory towbar.
Originally had a 100 series V8 Landcruiser but it was written off in hail storm, replaced it with a 2009 3.2 litre SWB Sports Diesel NT X Pajero, did not like Pajero so traded it for the Toyota, so far very pleased with it.

What we like:

Quietness
Smoothness
Supportive cloth seats
Bluetooth & USB
17 inch rims
Fixed price service
240 volt outlet in rear
Resale value ?

What we dont like:
Oversoft suspension
It aint pretty
No rear diff lock option
Centre dash lights dont dim with instrument lighting
Slower acceleration than Pajero
Pricey, but dealers are now discounting.

[drecked Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close drecked]

Re: How are you finding the SWB 150s?

Hi Guy's , Done about 1500 in my SX and I always thought it would be a bit slower than a petrol engine
but I was wrong there It's very zippy I have to watch my self all the time to stop having to donate to
the Govt It's very cheap to run and can't wait to take it for a long trip I'm very impressed . If you want
a fun vehicle this is a ripper unless you need to take heaps of junk . :wink:

cheers drecked

[pedrodepacas Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close pedrodepacas]

Re: How are you finding the SWB 150s?

good stuff drecked. 1500k's still a baby! I drove an sx the other week. have to say I was impressed with it.