What do you think?

[Schniff Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schniff]

I loved the ride comfort of the Prado and it did everything I wanted it to do with aplomb. It was a daily driver with the odd weekend away here and there and one big trip per year.
It was therefore heartbreaking when the guards started to crack up and disintegrate. I no longer hold confidence in the Prado to stand up to touring in Australian conditions.

I will never buy one again.

[Rrob Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Rrob]

GXL diesel auto. Car is standard apart from a 2-position cargo barrier, VHF radio and Smartbar. 16,500 km since Feb 2012. Just completed a 10,500 in a trip through 'everywhere' but WA & Tas - about 1,000 on dirt roads. 9.3 l/100 km overall - not bad for a car just under GVM much of the time (roof pod but no trailer). Everything worked well apart from broken windscreen (rock from a car on the tar!), a very optimistic fuel usage readout, and an 'aggressive' cruise control. The fuel since last refill never showed above 9.5 and several times showed below 8.0 - substantially below what was actually being used. With cruise on, we used anything up to 2 l / 100 km more than when we 'drove', and was not very subtle when it cut in (quite different to other cars I've owned but similar to other Toyota's I have driven)
regards
Rrob

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

That guard thing is really bad Schniff and I feel sorry for you mate. It started to happen on the 120 series that I owned a number of years back now. It was a KZJ120 2005 GXL model. Boy, did it do some hard yards though and 420,000 kms of them.
The Roo.

Gday roo... whats your theory on the cracked guards mate. I know there is a big thread on it but just in a nut shell if you could please.

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

No, I have been looking at the Ford Ranger with the five cylinder diesel. I have also been considering the GRJ150 as well. Yes, the V6.
The Roo.

It's sad really that a once very reliable icon "Toyota" is no longer, i brought into the Toyota brand for the "tough reliable" history, sadly we all know that the new engines are plagued with issues and detract from the vehicle, I love my prado, but I can't see myself owning it for many years to come... I will be looking at other companies aswel next time, and those ford rangers look like a beast! A guy I work with owns a very nicely kitted out one and loves it to death, says it has oodles of power

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

I am thinking of buying one of these for my wife instead of a Corolla. And do it up slowly. Do you think she will notice if I do it quietly?

I'll give you my wife's Corolla and you can do the Ranger up for me

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

Yep looked at one at the show, good bit of kit! Only one issue I see with it is the badge!! Lol

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

I know it's been a lot of years and things have changed but call me over cautious call me anything you like but after having bought every ford you can name and ALL have proved to be lemons and cost me heaps I swore I'd never go there again and no doubt the Ranger is all that it's cracked up to be but it's just too hard to go back there after so many went wrong, look Ford's are great value but the longevity leaves a lot to be desired and the resale it's frightening they half their value every year, sorry but it would take more than a write up to get me back there, (just my 2 bobs worth)
Dave
PS Hope I didn't upset any Ford lovers it's just my personal experience only.

[Hubble80 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hubble80]

If we are still talking about the 150 Prado, I left a message in this thread about mine earlier. It is now 18months old and I cannot wait to get rid of it!!!

It rattles, is tiring to drive and has a lot of little things that just bug me.

1. The rattles that have come up since having the ARB Deluxe bar fitted drive me crazy. All in the front end and Toyota have tried 3 times and have only put it down to "loose wiring."
2. The ARB Deluxe bar is also crap and is losing paint in many spots. Does anyone know the warranty on these? I should have gone the TJM like I was going to!!
3. The car ducks and dives all over the road and I find it tiring as you are always correcting it. You cannot take your eyes of the road for more than half a second or you are on the wrong side of the road. The steering has no feedback and I feel it is very difficult to keep straight.
4. Cruise control hunts badly and when set to resume takes a LONG time to start accelerating. As mine is an auto, it never knows what gear to be in and shuffles back and forth and then takes off.
5. It doesn't seem to go anywhere near as well as my manual D4D 120. When you put your foot down to overtake, it just drops back and revs, doesn't seem to pick up pace. Have had a few scares and am really careful when overtaking now.
6. The rear suspension is far to soft. When towing you can feel the rear of the car bounce and continue to bounce three or four times when running over a bump.
7. Fuel economy is nowhere near as good as my old 120. The dealer said that they have "tweaked" the engine to make it have the same mileage from the 150L tank as the old 180L in the 120. The rated economy is 8.5L/100km. I cannot get mine better than 11.2 at best. Therefore struggle to get 1100kms from the tanks.
8. Dash layout is a bit backwards also. I think the radio and climate control should be in opposite positions. You tend to change stereo settings more than A/C...

My rant over. Going for a 200 Series next I think.

Overall that is my rant.

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

reply

If we are still talking about the 150 Prado, I left a message in this thread about mine earlier. It is now 18months old and I cannot wait to get rid of it!!!

It rattles, is tiring to drive and has a lot of little things that just bug me.

1. The rattles that have come up since having the ARB Deluxe bar fitted drive me crazy. All in the front end and Toyota have tried 3 times and have only put it down to "loose wiring."
2. The ARB Deluxe bar is also crap and is losing paint in many spots. Does anyone know the warranty on these? I should have gone the TJM like I was going to!!
3. The car ducks and dives all over the road and I find it tiring as you are always correcting it. You cannot take your eyes of the road for more than half a second or you are on the wrong side of the road. The steering has no feedback and I feel it is very difficult to keep straight.
4. Cruise control hunts badly and when set to resume takes a LONG time to start accelerating. As mine is an auto, it never knows what gear to be in and shuffles back and forth and then takes off.
5. It doesn't seem to go anywhere near as well as my manual D4D 120. When you put your foot down to overtake, it just drops back and revs, doesn't seem to pick up pace. Have had a few scares and am really careful when overtaking now.
6. The rear suspension is far to soft. When towing you can feel the rear of the car bounce and continue to bounce three or four times when running over a bump.
7. Fuel economy is nowhere near as good as my old 120. The dealer said that they have "tweaked" the engine to make it have the same mileage from the 150L tank as the old 180L in the 120. The rated economy is 8.5L/100km. I cannot get mine better than 11.2 at best. Therefore struggle to get 1100kms from the tanks.
8. Dash layout is a bit backwards also. I think the radio and climate control should be in opposite positions. You tend to change stereo settings more than A/C...

My rant over. Going for a 200 Series next I think.

Overall that is my rant.

Geez , you sure it isn't a Ford ???

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

Gez, Hubble u r one unhappy chappy!!

I don't have any of those issues, yes the 150 tank is smaller but I do get better economy than the 120.

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

From those comments I have a feeling hubble wouldn't be happy with any vehicle though...

[Hubble80 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hubble80]

From those comments I have a feeling hubble wouldn't be happy with any vehicle though...

I was really happy with my 120 GXL, best car I had ever owned. Just thought the 150 would've been better. Bit of a disappointment to me. I don't mean to shadow everyone. I am sure that there are people out there that absolutely love the 150 and believe it is leaps and bounds ahead of the 120 in every way, I am not one of them!!!

I am sure in all of our car histories that there has been a few cars which we owned which we couldn't wait to offload. I had a 2003 HSV Maloo which was an absolute Friday car. Sold it with 23000kms on it.

[Hubble80 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hubble80]

From those comments I have a feeling hubble wouldn't be happy with any vehicle though...

I was really happy with my 120 GXL, best car I had ever owned. Just thought the 150 would've been better. Bit of a disappointment to me. I don't mean to shadow everyone. I am sure that there are people out there that absolutely love the 150 and believe it is leaps and bounds ahead of the 120 in every way, I am not one of them!!!

I am sure in all of our car histories that there has been a few cars which we owned which we couldn't wait to offload. I had a 2003 HSV Maloo which was an absolute Friday car. Sold it with 23000kms on it.

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

im really liking the idea of the ford ranger, i owned an 2003 au falcon and never had a drama with it (yes slightly ugly) but was a ripper of a car, use to get 900k to a tank, the later model fords started to get a bit cheap tho. to bad i still have a bucket load owing on my big white girl or i would be seriously considering a move back to a ute

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

Having had a 90 series for 13 years and then getting the 150 I must say I'm extremely happy with the drive, modern capabilities and features. Sure some offer better features but you have to look at the reliability, resale (not realty an issue after I kept my last one for 13 years) and the quality.

My only gripe is the stupid tow capacity that the Toyota marketing people put on the car to force people to buy 200 series wagons.

See ya on the tracks, Richo.

Ps the current work supplied car is an FG G6E Ford and at 50000 k's in 18 monthes not one issue and a nice car to drive as well.