Thinking about a 2011/12 GXL Prado... have questions...

[fatrab Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close fatrab]

First post here. Been lurking for a while and on several other forums trying to find out as much information as possible with regards to the 150 Prado.

I am currently living overseas so unfortunately do not have the liberty to test drive the car, but based on the delivery times I am going to get a family member to order this car (should I ultimately choose to purchase it) under the employee purchase plan.

From what I have read, I think the GXL Turbo Diesel is the best bang for buck but I had a few questions. Also thinking about getting this in Auto from a resale perspective.

1/ Aside from the vibration at 1500rpm and 2400rpm, are there any other significant problems with the T/D engine in Auto? Does the vibration also occur in the Manual should I choose to be cruising in 5th @ 1500rpm?

2/ Reading the specifications for the GXL on the Toyota website, it does not explicitly specify that it has the reversing camera. Can someone please clarify?

3/ Is the stereo any good on the GXL? Does it have a front AUX-IN using a 1.5mm audio plug? (Small issue but important to wife!)

4/ I am concerned about the "resellability" of this car. As such, I am choosing to get the AUTO over the manual as AUTO appeals to the majority of people. Out of interest, if anyone has sold a MANUAL on the 2nd hand market, was it easy to move?

5/ Another thread mentioned that the 2012 model may have a facelift. While I find this unlikely (as I cannot find any other information about this), has anyone else heard any rumours?

The other car I am contemplating is the Kluger, but given we love the outdoors I would really love the Prado as I have always loved the idea of going bush though we have never been able to given the cars we have driven in the past.

Looking forward to your responses and I look forward to joining the community!

NB. I saw the "Buying a Prado" section but could only see 1 post in there, so decided to post here. Mods - feel free to move this thread if I have posted incorrectly. Cheers.

[Frank2 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Frank2]

Frank

Fit a snorkel and 1500 virbration will be gone. I have no issues with my GXL D4 just the odd rattle in the back. No flat spots what so ever,

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

I'd still consider selling mine, but it now has only 4 months rego, has done 15,000kms and has a snorkel

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...or-WGN-A-T-GXL

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

1) I have no problems with mine but i have an Airtec snorkle fitted from it was 1 week old.
2) GXL definately has a reversing cam as standard + rear parking sensors.
3) The stereo in the GXL is awesome, the jack for your ipod/mp3 and usb are on the centre console and everything is controllable from the steering wheel.
4) Auto here.... the offroad ability with the "select" shift is sensational.
5) I have heard nothing and think its very unlikely.

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

Good buy

I would buy another Prado without hesitation. Diesel is very economic especially for this type of vehicle. Kluger petrol would be very thirsty. I have gxl manual and this is the smoothest gearchange ever. Sold my 120 series manual no issues. Gxl has rev camera and stereo with both usb and 1.5 mm conn. Sound quality is ok but not outstanding

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

Our Kluger V6 averaged around town 14.1 L/100klm so not too bad considering it was all short school runs etc..The Kluger is very average off roud though I tried it but spent the day getting stuck. The Kluger was never meant to go off road though so we sold it and bought the Prado which I am now taking off my wife and have ordered her a 2011 Kluger Grande.

[fatrab Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close fatrab]

Thanks for the quick replies! Loving this forum already!

Didn't realize it had the reversing sensors so that is awesome.

dreamon - thanks mate but with toyota employee discount I'll be able get it cheaply

Couple of other questions
- how big is the reversing camera screen? Is it the tiny one that is about 3.5"?
- any feedback on driving around town? This is where we would do the bulk of our driving. Reviews say it is a bit rolly, which I guess is expected. How do your wives find it for school runs and such?
- can anyone give me indication of delivery times?

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

My thoughts - I have a GXL TD Auto, and don't have any annoying 1500 or 2400 rattles etc.

The car is good around town getting around 9.5-10L/100km driven daily in stop start traffic, about the same as the Honda CRV we used to drive in peak hour.

It may be a little rolly, but overall it is pretty car like on the road

My partner has never driven a 4wd before and drives it to and from work on a daily basis, and apart from the longer and wider vehicle being a bit more difficult to park than her old Honda CRV she loves it.

Space wise, I removed the third row seats and built a floor out of ply and carpet. It bolts in using the 3rd row seats and gives you a whole chunk more room. It takes me about 10 minutes to swap from 3rd row seat to ply floor, and the same the other way.

The reversing camera screen is only 3.5" or so, and the lens in the camera is a fish eye style so it is useful for seeing if you are going to run over kids and pets, but I still find reversing with the mirrors and/or head out windo to be more effective.

Since getting it we have been on a circuit from Brisbane to Mt Isa, West Mcdonnel ranges, Kings Canyon, Ayers Rock, Dalhousie, travelled part of the French line, Oodnadatta Track, Birdsville track, a short run in the Simpson Dessert from Birdsville to Eyre Creek, cruised up big red. Plus camping at Bribie Island and the car has never looked like getting stuck even with the missus driving and she had never driven a 4wd before.

Ours has stock suspension, no bullbar etc etc and is great. The only thing we changed was putting on after market alloys with Yokahama All Terrain tyres in the same size as the factory wheels and tyres to get a bit more of a rugged tyre.

Overall brilliant car replacement for around town and top 4wd for off road as well. Only issues we have had is we have done 2 windscreens but that is the nature of driving on lots of gravel roads and a bit of bad luck.

[fatrab Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close fatrab]

keencdk - Thanks heaps for putting the time in to write that response!

So basically the reversing camera is more to check if there is anything in the way there. I drove an Infiniti G37X on the weekend, and the reversing camera was awesome. It basically told you where the car was going and also where it would end up based on how much you turned the wheel. Not a big deal though as my wife is not an incompetent driver (like some other people I know lol)

So just one question remains - what are realistic delivery times if I order now? Either way, I will give the dealer a call and see what they say.

[fatrab Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close fatrab]

Just spoke to a dealer.... 2.5 month delivery.

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

good luck mate, ordered mine end of may and still no build date yet

[fatrab Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close fatrab]

good luck mate, ordered mine end of may and still no build date yet

That is pretty ridiculous.... Hopefully you'll be getting the MY12 then.

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

Yeah mate, spoke to the dealer a couple of weeks back and he said build might be occtober and delivery late November and like you asked there is a facelift coming out in november but not too sure about what exaclty is changing, maybe stereo upgrade, privacy glass or something along those lines.

[fatrab Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close fatrab]

I asked the dealer what would be changing as well, and the guy said pretty much nothing... Either way MY12 should be better than MY11 from a resale standpoint.

[150gxl Member Find all posts View Profile Close 150gxl]

Fatrab,

You can follow the ddelivery debacle here:
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...116#post306116