updating to 150

[Matty R Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Matty R]

Its slow if you are in D and you put the foot down at a 100Km/HR, by the time it changes down and get going the overtaking opportunity is over.

funny that you mention that. The first prado i test drove was auto diesel and i couldnt wait to get out of the thing as is was so doughy and un responsive. It almost turned me off the prado completly, so I ordered a manual diesel and its a totally different animal! so much fun to drive.

[whiteman Member Find all posts View Profile Close whiteman]

I'm driving my 4th Prado (diesel 120) and about to pick up my 5th (diesel 150). My previous was a 2005 120 petrol.

I have lost nothing in drivability in the diesel. It beats heaps of cars off the lights when I drive it like I stole it. My cars spend most of their lives on the Bruce Highway and are called upon to pass others regularly sometimes carrying lots of extra weight, even towing, and getting the needed acceleration is no issue. I have no memory of ever missing the "on paper" extra punch of a petrol version. I certainly don't miss its thirst (13.5 vs 9.5 over 35,000/year makes a BIG difference!).

Service costs of the diesel are MUCH cheaper - I don't use Toyota as have a really caring mechanic nearby.

And now I'm trading in my first diesel there is a big smile on my face. No haggling, I got $39k for a 4yo car with over 100,000km on the clock. That's nearly 60% of original value. Try getting that with a petrol engine.

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

I got 55% for my trade in after 5 years and 115000.

[gxlkeb Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close gxlkeb]

I bought my 07 GX V6 2nd hand for $37500 with 80k on the clock, based on new price of $54k thats 69% resale.
I sold it for 27k with 148k on the clock, thats 72% resale on the price i paid. Admittedly thats only 50% on new price but it had done nearly 150k and is was a GX.

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

Great work guys- lots of food for thought here. Keep it coming. Neil

[fun45 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close fun45]

This is a great thread to read through and it is interesting to hear the real world feedback. Seems to confirm the discussions that often take place around the camp fire when chatting about the differences.

Thanks.

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

interesting reading the comment on the manual d4d vs the auto. I drove both and had a manual prior to this, this in fact is my first ever auto car.
After nearly two years of driving this one there is no way I would even consider a manual now, the auto is slow to get going from a 100, but like I said once you floor it or change it manually its fine, but the advantages of the auto in towing and driving around the bush far outweigh the disadvantages. Its fast off the line, certainly gets stuck into it.
Its only that Toyota have chosen to calibrate the auto for fuel economy and low to medium throttle openings its changes up, its also slow to change down unless you encourage it with the right foot. If you have ever driven a Pajero diesel with auto, their`s is more calibrated to keep the engine in the performance range, its a more aggressive calibration I guess, I actually prefer that. But would I go back to a manual in a diesel 4wd, no way.

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

I spoke to my BIL today who recently upgraded from a 120 GXL D4D auto to a new 150 D4D auto. He told me that the 150 was "gutless" compared to the old 120 and was surprised when I told him the engines were the same. I told him that maybe it will perform better with a few more Km under the wheels, but there's no escaping the fact that the 150 is heavier.

[CQ_Prado Member Find all posts View Profile Close CQ_Prado]

I currently have a V6 120, and have on order a D4D altitude. the reason I went for diesel this time round as i'm finding out at the moment with my current vehicle is resale.

My current vehicle is worth 3-6k more if it is a diesel in this area. So better economy, better resale, and with test driving both yes the petrol is smoother but in all honesty felt similar to drive, as well as being <$1000 price difference at the start I think at the end I will be in front(if that even makes sense).

That was my rationale I understand it may be different for others.

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

I currently have a V6 120, and have on order a D4D altitude. the reason I went for diesel this time round as i'm finding out at the moment with my current vehicle is resale.

My current vehicle is worth 3-6k more if it is a diesel in this area. So better economy, better resale, and with test driving both yes the petrol is smoother but in all honesty felt similar to drive, as well as being <$1000 price difference at the start I think at the end I will be in front(if that even makes sense).

That was my rationale I understand it may be different for others.

I (my family) have upgraded to a 150 kakadu diesel from a 120 series grande petrol. the performance of the petrol motor, the quietness is what i miss.

The diesel is certainly more economical. but not that much to justify buying a diesel i believe, i was getting about 6-7km/litre out of the petrol and with the same driving i get about 8-9 km/litre in the diesel. this is pure city driving though and what more can we expect out of these prados. we do forget they are heavy, big and are a 4wd so i rekon they are spot on for economy.
it is more torquey however.

i think anyone with the 150 needs to do the silly DIY involving sound insulation on the front driver side guard because it is definently rattlier in the cabin. otherwise they are a fantastic 4wd and the lighter steering makes it very easy to manouever.

im still yet to justify whether or not we made the right decision not going for a petrol kakadu which could have been bought for $10 000 less.... the issues ive found with the 150 they are more plasticy. more prone to wear and tear on interior trims also.

i still rekon that we're all doing the right thing by not buying the silly euro suv's / landrovers etc which have no reliability cred but toyota does and i hope their engineering has continued from the first landcruisers.... the 120 was a brilliant and proven machine. i rekon give the 150 a year or two more then we will know for sure if it is a good machine.

thats my 2 c's.

Ray

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

Gez Ray for 10g's I would have definitely brought the petrol as u would need to own the deisel probably almost 10 years to recoup the difference??? I am not helping am I?

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

haha rob your certainly making me doubt the decision NOT :P i think ours was an impulse purchase only due to a good trade in price on our 120 grande ! do miss it to bits our 120. robust bludy thing.

i hopped onto carsales , $10 000 is the extreme figure a private seller but then again need to factor in LCT, stamp duty and rego on top .... it might bring the difference down to only about 5-6g's , $0 is for one advertised. same year same kms but petrol so i think we did okay . again carsales is a guide !!!

ill re-evaluate my initial figure to meet in the middle at 5g's

either way i hope the 150 lives to its name ! how are you finding yours rob?

Ray

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

It is a little unfare to compare your brand new tight as a drum D4D engine with a well run in one be it petrol or diesel. By the time you have 30,000km on the clock it will be awsome in comparison to brand new. If you live in the big smoke and are never going to fit a towbar or go bush then petrol verses diesel is a fair comparison. If you intend to tow on a regular basis your 200 killer wasps will be biting hard on your wallet and your 200kw will not hold you back on the downslope of a decent track with a view. Anyone noticed that most D4D owners will never even consider a petrol fueled 4wd for their next vehicle.

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

That is correct there barajak. i did say that if you were towing the D4D was the way to go.

to be honest it has enough power and we are spoiling ourselves when we get them chipped. the 410nm of torque is more than enough to get the car going from 0-60 which is what majority of the road speeds are now unfortunately.

im yet to take it off road to compare it but thats just my personal opinion as i stated above.

no doubt at resale time the d4d does pay off. either way, every prado we've had from the 90 to the 120 and now to the 150 we have been very happy with them and will continue to buy them !

still like the look of the 120 but it was time to move on.

the kakadu we have purchased has 45 000 kms on it, all highway kms and no tow bar ...

cheers