First impression

[squonk Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close squonk]

As presented, I am a first time Toyota and Prado owner since a week.
I'm coming from two Pathfinders in a row in the last 7 years and am really exited to live with the Prado for a while.

However I need to be honest and pass you my disappointment.

I've been waiting for my Prado for 8 months. Fist was meant to be delivered before Christmas, then at the end of Jan, then at the end of Mar, Apr and finally end of May brought me the car.
After all the pain Toyota gave me with this delay and the money I've waisted renting cars to work, when I pick up the car, I had to pay for floor mats.
I always had as a present for the dealers, even when they had not beed such a pain.

I've open the bonnet and inside there is not so nice. A loto of wires going everywhere with a lot of electrician tape. The plastic around the bonnet opening is more similar to paper than plastic.

How much a 12V cigarette lighter outlet costs?
Why around the driver seat I can only spot 1, when we are living in 2012 and you need power at least for the GPS (since Toyota is unable to supply one on the GXL) and to recharge your phone?
I don't want to elect the best car in the planet, but my last Patie had 3.

In the cargo area I found a nice 220V outlet (100amp thou and not really sure of what I will be able to plug in there); where is my 12v cigarette lighter outlet?

Don't take me wrong, there are several other things that I have appreciated so far and I'm sure I'll discover more on the way, but I'm definitively got disappointed with these.


Where my expectations too high or the robustness of a car is not linked to its quality?

All you guys are for sure driving a Prado for way longer than me, are you happy with the overall quality and fit out of your car?
Are Toyota dealers usually better behaving than Grand Toyota in WA, for me to have an hope?

Because if it is true that you can spot a good day from the morning... :wink:


Ciao
Marco

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

I have two mates with Prado's that came from various Nissans. They both said many things like you but now would never go back, especially after taking them off-road. Not every car can have everything that each person wants. Just think about it, you want a 12v outlet in the back BUT I think a 12v outlet in the back (that would be running of the main battery) would be a bad thing. Now I have 2 outlets in the back running of the second battery - a much better idea, but that is not right for many people.

You have a strong and capable off-road vehicle. Now make it perfect for what you want.

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

No offense intended, but delays in receiving the Prado should not have any bearing on your assessment of the product quality. Sure take points off for customer service but not the product.

Regarding the sight of electrical tape (which I have found in the engine bay of most cars I've ever looked at), your dislike of the plastic shrouding in the engine bay and the lack of a 2nd cig port: Did you look at any Prados before purchasing? If you required more than 1 cig port, you should have checked how many it came with.

If you go looking for things to be unhappy about, you will find them.

[dmclean1313 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dmclean1313]

On my GX there is one 12v outlet near the gear shift, and another at the back of the centre console for the rear passengers, I plug the GPS into and the phone charger into the other

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

Did you look under the bonnet before you purchased?

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

I have not had 1 good experience with Grand Toyota in Wangara. Once we took our Rav4 to them for a service and they removed the radio antennae for some reason and put it in the gap of the drivers seat between the horizontal and vertical gap. We found it about 6 months later. In the meantime they would not replace it and we had to buy a new one! Then they said they would charge me $150 as a discovery service fee for a warranty item on my Prado, if they deemed it under warranty they would refund, then in the same breath indicated if any modifications to the vehicle had been done then it would most likely have contributed to the problem and will likely void any warranty (new suspension fitted). Problem had nothing to do with suspension! I took my Prado to City Toyota Perth and they had no fee and no dramas, they fixed the issue and were very professional with none of this BS.
My 2c - Pays to check the various dealers they seem to have different standards..
Wardos

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

I agree the prado's far from perfect all the things you noted and disliked are visible prior to purchase though and cheap n easy to make better yourself. What I do have is complete confidence in the durability and mostly trouble free life a Toyota can give me, I can't say the same for MANY other manufactures and you can also rely on a healthy resale. Shut the bonnet get a good auto leccie to install some 12v points then just get out there and enjoy it

[whiteman Member Find all posts View Profile Close whiteman]

Squonk, if that is your only problem you've got a great car!

My biggest issue with the new GXL is learning how to do things in it - eg how to keep the radio going when turning the engine off (RTFM), what is "S" mode on the auto shift when I accidentally bump the lever (RTFM), what's the bloody time???? - when there are four displays to look at, etc, etc. Never a dull moment.

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

Squonk, if that is your only problem you've got a great car!

My biggest issue with the new GXL is learning how to do things in it - eg how to keep the radio going when turning the engine off (RTFM), what is "S" mode on the auto shift when I accidentally bump the lever (RTFM), what's the bloody time???? - when there are four displays to look at, etc, etc. Never a dull moment.

turn it off in gear (R, N, D or S) will allow you to keep the radio on. then just shift to N or P.

[Riv39 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Riv39]

Wow, I actually thought the Prado was well laid out inside the cabin besides a few cheap plastics and the centre connsole lights that don't dim and well laid out under the bonnet as well. Personally I like the fact that everything is there for you to look at/check etc under the bonnet rather than be covered and hidden away.

Guess it depends on what you think is good. Maybe have a closer look before you buy as others have said.

[Gerard9977 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Gerard9977]

I know he is asking for trouble at having a little whinge on a Prado forum but gee you guys are being a little harsh, it is a forum after all.
I’ll probably get roasted too but anyway I’ll have a go.
I too have come from a Pathy, I brought a Prado because I wanted a better made vehicle. But to be honest, you get less but pay more with a Prado.
But in saying that, I’m hopping that what I do get is going to be made better. I know Toyota are onto a good thing with the Prado otherwise why would there be so many of them and why would people keep buying them when as for features etc. they are at the bottom of the list against competitors.
My wife did a comparative pros v cons when looking at what to buy (I was always going to get a Prado) the Prado is lacking in many features that the others now call standard. In the end she made a good argument why are you getting less and but paying more? All I could come back with was cause it’s a Toyota and I want a Prado and I think they are better made.
I’m really happy with my car and don’t regret the purchase at all. But I do think Toyota are a little behind the other manufactures with interior features and designs. In regards to the comment about under the bonnet, I have to totally agree with squonk. I clean / wipe under the bonnet every time I wash my car and I looked under the Prado bonnet and thought heck I’ll never keep this looking new. To many little things that will be hard to clean etc. But I also know that it is just superficial and keeping your motor bay clean don’t do anything for making the car run better.
So in saying that and not wanting to stir people up I reckon Toyota could evolve a little quicker and make some improvements. But why change what isn’t broken……….
Grant.

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

I like how it is under the bonnet. I think most that work on these vehicles would agree. I curse whenever I have to work on a VW or BMW with all of the guards and covers. All that crap does is hide potential problems. The only thing that I am not happy about with mine, is all of the stuck on tupperware exterior moulding, and I agree the interior plastics could be a lot better. I have a 120 though.
The 150 is obviously different, in that they don't have as much exterior tupperware.

The Prado is an excellent vehicle to work on. Mechanically, it is well laid out, parts are generally of good design, and the fact that so many Prados are out there, means that the vehcile is very well catered for in the aftermarket parts industry. This cannot be overestimated as a great advantage over its competitiors IMO. Especially so for those that want to keep thier vehicles long term.

[squonk Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close squonk]

Thanks everyone for the hit.
I had a quick look before buying, but I just decided to go based on positive feedbacks from lots of people, good off road reputation and a great resale price after years.
It is just that for such a big name like Toyota, my expectations were set on high and see them unsatisfied for matter of few dollars, just left some bitter in my mouth.
Said that, I'm enjoying the ride so far (way more quiet than the Patie) and Monday I'll go to put it through few sand dunes to really have a taste of it.

I will fix the 12v outlet myself and the bonnet... well what the hell, I just need to keep it shut!

All up and with a little work, I think I got a good companion for the trips I have in the pipe.

Will keep you posted on the second impression.

Ciao
Marco

[squonk Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close squonk]

Squonk, if that is your only problem you've got a great car!

My biggest issue with the new GXL is learning how to do things in it - eg how to keep the radio going when turning the engine off (RTFM), what is "S" mode on the auto shift when I accidentally bump the lever (RTFM), what's the bloody time???? - when there are four displays to look at, etc, etc. Never a dull moment.

The way they told me is that you have to push twice the start botton, without pressing the brake; is going all on, radio included.

About the "S", it means Sequential: you know have a "manual" car and you can change gears by shifting up and down the lever. Very useful while decelerating and down hill. :wink:

Ciao
Marco

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

There's only one cig outlet in the 150 series GXL ???? My 08 GX has two!