Why not to buy ex-mining & service at Toyota Dealership

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

So question is ...... Would you ever buy another one (ex mining that is) ?? And once the nightmare is over for you will you keep it other rid of it ?? Or too much $$$ invested ??..... Cheers Steve

It hasnt cost me a dime really (apart from the brakes / wheel bearing + 90km service) - oh, and having to fuel the petrol loan car where I had a fuel card for the Prado....

It would really depend on the vehicle in question, its history and the savings to be had. If there were a soccer mum car available for similar price or only a few thou more then it's a no brainer. However, when I was looking there were no 7 seater 150's in my price range except for ex-mining.

The car was in good nick - the engine failure has nothing to do with being ex mining. As it turns out, this car is actually ex Thifty. Most people would go "Wholly sh!t, steer clear".

However the guy who commissioned the engine failure report said it was one of the cleanest engines he has seen dismantled at 90k - it was obvious the oil was changed every 5k.

As part of his investigation, it turns out Thrifty hired it to construction company NRW on long term lease. Two back to back supervisors aged in their mid 40's drove the car the entire time.

I would just encourage people to pull off kick panels and inspect wiring looms etc.

I was fortunate to pick up a full 150 suspension setup of a fellow PP'er for free, therefore I have replacements of the components I expected most of the problems from + spares if I ever get round to CSR.

As for my plans - Unfortunately, I have to keep it for the next 2.75 years as I have it on a novated lease. I really dont like the fact that I know what has happened, and I do wonder whether I am in for any further trouble - however they have also replaced the timing belt and going over the injectors as part of the build.

So over the next couple of years, I will start adding goodies:

• Replacement stereo with SAT Nav and reverse camera + looking at adding GXL stero controls
• Dual battery + sockets + anderson etc
• Dash Cam
• Uniden UH7760NB
• Roof rack (not sure on the Tigerz11 flat, windcheetah or Rhino) + traxrax
• Awning
• Cargo barrier
• Tyre Dog 5x TPMS
• ARB Fridge
• Possible a single drawer + fridge slide for the left side only (retain right rear seat)
• Agressive A/T - maybe a hybrid
• AMTS Rear wheel spacer + light + bash plates
• TG150 Guard
• Most likely go a winch setup on winch cradle at rear for the limited use I would give it
  

By the time I conquer the above (time + money), it will be time to chop it in an upgrade - so will most likely strip most of my goodies and look at then upgrading to a face lifted 150 GXL

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Hope you have no further issues with it and you lose a few of the grey hairs you would have got over the last 5 months, would have been extremely stress full for you. Lets hope happy days from here on in....... Cheers Steve

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

Well, pick-up was delayed Tuesday and Wednesday as they were missing nuts and bolts - blaming the guy who stripped it.

Delayed Thursday as they couldn't get it started - corrosion in the control body module etc had gotten worse, they had to try and clean up the terminals and spray with contact cleaner (the dealer I bought it from is having this fixed this week) They finally got it running Thursday arvo but said they didnt want to give me the car in the state it was in - they wanted to detail it first.

Picked it up Friday afternoon to find they had literally only vacuumed it and blackened the tyres. Car smelt like a wet sock (the guy who stripped it left the grill of near the wipers and rain got in though the air intake..... I picked this up when it was delivered to dealership and they put the grill back on plus said they would air out the car / lift the carpets) - dont think they did....

Found Vegie Chips under the drivers seat courtesy of my son that had gone mouldy, Pilbara dust on the back of the front two seats where parts had been stored on the back seat of my car - front carpets where dirtier than when I handed it over (water in the passengers side and workshop guys on the drivers).

I specifically asked them on Friday to enable the automatic windows up / down with central locking - not done.

Ended up spending 3-4 hours detailing it myself Friday night.

Took it out Saturday to give it a decent run - ended up breaking down. Engine cut out - so I expect the Body Control Module corrosion is the cause, same reason Toyota had issues getting it started Thursday....

Fun fun..... though in all fairness, I probably should have driven it until after the dealer had sorted the electrics this week.....

[D4Dforme Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4Dforme]

My 120 is an ex Thrifty.......it was on a 3 year lease to Serco in Alice........I bought it with 55k on the clock and it has now done 75k with no mechanical dramas yet.

It had a full service history......although sometimes it did go over by a thousand or so and was serviced every 10k by the book.......I now do engine oils at 5k.
It was a bit dirty inside and had a bit of dust here and there but that suits me as I wanted a 4x4 and not a Toorak tractor.

At the time I paid 36k which was a fair price with below average k's.........would I by another ex-fleet........sure would.

Dan

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

The majority of Prados never venture underground. This is the realm of the LC utes. However, most minesites use groundwater to keep the dust down on their internal roads and that's where the rust problem will come from. Corefleet have been selling some good cars recently with several big mining outfits going to the receivers. This has put a lot of low mileage cars onto the market. If you do your homework you can find decent Prados and LCs (and Patrols) leased by the government agencies like Education and Dept for Child Protection. They are optioned with roof racks, bullbars and twin rear wheel carriers. They are replaced at 120,000km which isn't too bad. Most rarely venture off the black top. These are fetching good prices but still a saving on buying new and fitting your own accessories afterward.

[hahnking Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close hahnking]

Great to see you almost have the pride and joy back in proper condition. My Grande was an ex-fleet car owned by the regional manager for a pest company in Sydney. I doubt it was ever offroad and still has the original Grandtrek as the spare. It was a little high on the mileage when we got it but had been serviced very regularly as per the logbook.

I can second the idea of buying an ex-gov fleet car from Education or Child Safety here in QLD. The ones I've seen here in Kowanyama are fully kitted out with everything (including winches for some of them!!) and never go offroad except to go back to Cairns for servicing. Picking one up after the end of lease period would give anyone who manages to catch one of these a leg up in the mod stakes.

[dwr69417 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dwr69417]

Just a quick ask - pleased you got everything sorted but you mentioned it was on a novated lease did the lease company say anything about the whole thing, reason I ask is I'm thinking of novated lease for my next one.
Regards
Dave

[Burrows75 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Burrows75]

Mine is ex QLD education and has lived out west somewhere. Full of red dust that just keeps coming out. It is a 2008 and I bought it at the end of 2012, 4 years old with only 36, 000. I now have just over 50, 000 on it, not many with such low mileage and a good price.

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

Just a quick ask - pleased you got everything sorted but you mentioned it was on a novated lease did the lease company say anything about the whole thing, reason I ask is I'm thinking of novated lease for my next one.
Regards
Dave

I didnt really tell them (unintentionally) until I sort of had it under wraps. They just gave me a bit of friendly advice once I did inform them, but agreed that I had followed the logical path.

[outback7 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close outback7]

Awesome well done.

[drop bear Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close drop bear]

Great outcome which should have never been needed. Side note. Just got hold of a fleet/ lease car and the sticker said it was out of service/warranty date. Rang the dealer only to be told that the lease company opted for a different servicing schedule as to that of a private buyer. Apparently major companies may have the option of a less periodic servicing regime. In other words they may be able to do away with inspect and filter change service and only get the major ones done instead. Makes it even more of a gamble now when buying ex-fleet.

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

A lot of the prados on site spend most of their time parked up in the car park or are driven by maint/production superintendents who rarely get their vehicles dirty.

[Unruly Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Unruly]

I am a light vehicle mechanic at a Rio Tinto mine in the Pilbara. I can say hand on heart I would own one of our Prados in our fleet (so long as it was cheap). We service them every month, and sometimes the oil comes out clean. The Prados are the most looked after cars on mine sites as bosses are usually the only ones who get to drive them.

As for the utes and other vehicles, they are a bit ratty.

And definitely dont buy a Ford Ranger!

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Whats wrong with the rangers Unruly ?? Is this based on just been used in the mines ?? .....Cheers Steve

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

Whats wrong with the rangers Unruly ?? Is this based on just been used in the mines ?? .....Cheers Steve

I would say its based partly on Fords lack of quality control and after sales customer service, especially warranty claims. "Its all within spec sir" is the reply even when something doesn't work properly or breaks.

I remember talking with a motoring journo when these were launched in Australia. Due to the sophistication and electronic wizardy, all agreed these were a game changer. Quietly they also said there is a lot to go wrong and Ford aren't exactly known for quality control and fixing problems.

The best advice given to me at the time was to keep looking for a good low mileage used Prado. I'm still very glad I did.