New to Prado (hopefully soon!)

[AdAm82 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close AdAm82]

Hi everyone, i am looking at buying my first prado and am seriously looking at the 150 series. I had originally looked at the 120's but the price is still so high for the newer models so the 150 looks like the better option. I am currently in a Pathfinder, which is my first 4wd and the experience has been mixed so far. It has been a fairly good vehicle but has had its issues (clutch, timing chain, rust) but has handled everything ive wanted to do with it. Ive mainly done beach work with the wife and kiddies with the occasional mud run. I have been really dissatisfied with customer service from nissan in general.

like i said before, I am looking at purchasing new, but i had some questions first. Is there anyone running a manual gearbox on the forum or are most doing auto? i would prefer manual but am happy with an auto if they are strong and reliable (i have read about them over heating on the sand work??) and just peoples general impressions with the 150's. Im looking at buying mid year, when the lease on the Pathy is over.

Thanks

Adam

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

The manual version is good ( but I went the auto). With the Auto you need to get a transmission cooler and/or run in "S" mode and you will have no issues with sand ( or just about anything else )

Go with the one you prefer to drive.


Steve

[AdAm82 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close AdAm82]

Thanks guys for the replies, i will probably end up going the manual and upgrading clutch when/if i have an issue. I said i'd never buy a new car again after the experiences with the Pathfinder, but i am excited at the idea of a new Prado. We just bought a 2008 carolla for the missus to drive around in and i see what people say about toyota's, there is just something about them that seems better than the other options around. My lease runs out november, but im looking to get out early, so hopefully August will be the time

[bdee Member Find all posts View Profile Close bdee]

Adam,

I am far from an expert on this topic however have recently gone through a very similiar thought process in regards to both a new or secondhand vehicle and I am also pretty familiar with the Pathfinder.


Let me summarise.

Upgrading from a Pathfinder is a very good step. Range on the Prado is so much better and the petrol tank on those things a way too small.

Assuming the Pathfinder is similar age to my brothers (which he sold to get a new Prado) he had excessive brake usage something that is not a problem with his Prado.

If I remember correctly he sold his TI 2006 model for about 25K at a time when a similiar Prado was fetching at least 10K more for an equivalent Grande.

As for Price of new vs secondhand my thought process (if you don't mind waiting a little) get a new vehicle if you can afford it way too small a difference between the two in price. I paid a little under 59K for my GXL Petrol Auto car with Towbar, Snorkel and mats etc.

Overheating can be an issue on the Diesel autos but not on the Petrol autos. This was a consideration I made when purchasing as I had first hand experience on 2 different cars experiencing the same overheating issue (one whilst towing and one on a steep incline on a track).

This overheating can be fixed (as has been mentioned in other forums) so I would now not let that put you off the diesel.

As I said earlier I choose a Petrol and I know that ever time I fill up I will be regretting my decision but it seemed too difficult for my wife to cope with the change from a Petrol commodore to the "Truck sound and the reduction in take off) of the diesel.

I hope this helps?

Brett

[Emj Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Emj]

I test drove the auto but bought a manual, at the time not a single dealer in Adelaide had a manual for me to try but I took my chances! I'd always driven a manual up until two years ago when I was given a work vehicle and while I liked the car I didn't like the auto, found it made me lazy (eat while driving, didn't care when I parked crap) and always had a sore back from only moving the one leg .. Also be the best 4wd I've driven but of course I'd say that!

bdee, I find it hilarious that you said the wife couldn't go from a petrol commodore to the diesel sound - that's the exact leap that I made and it honestly doesn't bother me, if anything I find myself winding the window down to listen to it. And for arguments sake I am of the same species . And no, it doesn't take off as well at the lights, but its not made to!

The only thing I'm finding odd is the location of reverse, slowly getting used to it, the boy keeps putting it in 6th and stalling it when he moves it in the driveway, much to my amusement.

[rptdprado Member Find all posts View Profile Close rptdprado]

Hi Adam,

I've also got a manual 150 TD, for me the choice was easy I had a petrol Auto 90 series previously as I wanted a manual TD for the next car. The petrol 90 series was rock solid but had two key issues that irked me, very thirsty 3.4L engine and when 4WDing the Vic High Country I was continually trying to prevent the Auto from "running away" on steep declines. I found it was difficult to find the right balance of Low range 2nd and use of the brakes to prevent running away downhill (not a good idea when 4wding) or having to use LL with engine braking very steep declines. Of course the Auto TD provides much better engine breaking than my old petrol 90 series, but not as good as the manual TD.

Overall I'm wrapt with my choice and the manual is no issue for me even with city driving, I find the clutch very light for such a big vehicle. Good luck with the choice either way you can't go wrong !

Cheer
Rob

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

If u do a lot of beach work the auto is just so much easier, I think in today's world of modern auto's it din't make qmuch difference.

[AdAm82 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close AdAm82]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I had originally planned on purchasing the prado back in 2007 when i bought the pathfinder, but stupidly made the decision based on the cost and thought the money id save buying the pathy would allow me to do the basic mods. Thanks god most of the fixes it needed were covered under warranty.

This time though will be different, gonna spend the extra money and do it right.

Looking forward to hopefully contributing to the forum in the future, will let you know how i go with the decision in the next couple of months.

[bdee Member Find all posts View Profile Close bdee]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I had originally planned on purchasing the prado back in 2007 when i bought the pathfinder, but stupidly made the decision based on the cost and thought the money id save buying the pathy would allow me to do the basic mods. Thanks god most of the fixes it needed were covered under warranty.

This time though will be different, gonna spend the extra money and do it right.

Looking forward to hopefully contributing to the forum in the future, will let you know how i go with the decision in the next couple of months.

My Brother did exactly the same thing as you after going from a 90 series then choosing a Pathfinder because he got more for his money and now he has a 150 series. He loves his Prado but he hated his Pathfinder. I put a video on a trip we did to Wonnangata in the Trip section last year not long after he got it. He has not regretted his decision for a minute.

Brett