GXL or VX, which to buy, please help.

[The Alberto Member Find all posts View Profile Close The Alberto]

A few other significant items are missing that I wish to add
Hill start / dowhill assist control.
HID xenon headlight
Optitron cluster
17 JBL speakers
The seat with electric adjustment.

I'm pretty sure you will find that Auto GXs and GXLs have Downhill Assist and Hill Start as Standard.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Some interesting comments but consider these simple matters when comparing the two models. Below are the VX specs above GXL.............Leather seats + door trims

Sadly the leather is only on the facings (the bits you sit on and against), sides and back are vinyl.

Still love my Kakadu, just wish they were honest about the upholstery. If mine wears through I will just get a motor trimmer to re-do the lot in the real stuff, never managed to rip or wear out the velour in the 02 95 series.

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

I was going to wait until I could get a GXL with KDSS but that didn't quite happen Looked at both GXL and VX and decided on GXL because the rest of the stuff in a VX we didn't value at the $15k more that it would have cost. Then add in rims to go back to 17s (aftermarket or FJs) and it was a huge premium. I had adjustable sway bar links fitted with the lift so next step is to disconnect one of those....

If you use and value the fruit then the VX is very nice. If not the GXL gives mighty bang for the $, especially now if a 2012 build date doesn't worry you.

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

Wow guys. I am a newbie here too & am interested in both VX & GXL & am trying to weigh up pros & cons. The best 'Deal Price' will probably be the deciding factor for us

Does anyone have any super prices they have recently achieved on either model & with what extras?

Whoa.. I just priced the replacement tyres for 18 & 17"std tyres & the 18" are around $100 extra per tyre & apparently wear out faster as they are a lower profile

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

Wow guys. I am a newbie here too & am interested in both VX & GXL & am trying to weigh up pros & cons. The best 'Deal Price' will probably be the deciding factor for us

Does anyone have any super prices they have recently achieved on either model & with what extras?

Whoa.. I just priced the replacement tyres for 18 & 17"std tyres & the 18" are around $100 extra per tyre & apparently wear out faster as they are a lower profile

You will find that the 18" Grandtrek AT22 are far superior to the 17" Grandtrek AT20 tyres.

I have done almost 40,000 KM on my AT22 with not much wear at all. You would easily get 80-100k out of the AT22. Most people change the tyres early to get a chunkier tread pattern.

I was also looking at the GXL Vs the VX, and I went the $15k premium for the VX and I would do the same if I had to choose again.

It's all a matter of personal choice though. Only you can make the decision based on what you want in a vehicle.

Cheers,

Jeff

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

[QUOTE=Jeffers;393122]

You will find that the 18" Grandtrek AT22 are far superior to the 17" Grandtrek AT20 tyres.

Thanks Jeff but doesn't a lower profile mean harsher ride? Are they more superior in handling, wear, traction...?
also
Wouldn't a HT tyre be a longer wearing & safer tyre as the car spends the majority of its travelling time on bitumen type surface even considering the getting to off road places?

I was also looking at the GXL Vs the VX, and I went the $15k premium for the VX and I would do the same if I had to choose again.

Had you considered the Altitude? We are although its obviously not released as yet

I have done almost 40,000 KM on my AT22 with not much wear at all. You would easily get 80-100k out of the AT22. Most people change the tyres early to get a chunkier tread pattern.

Did you change tyres after delivery, after wearing out or organise as part of your price with dealer?

I am sure I read somewhere that the smaller 16" preferably then 17"wheels were better suited to off road work as they handled better ?

I can't imagine the general user having multiple wheels or tyres for different applications because of the cost

[SandRunner Member Find all posts View Profile Close SandRunner]

I hear what your saying, BUT, this is a "work" (buisiness) car, and kev help pay if you know what I mean, I am self employed and earn enough to pay off a few prados if I like but dont like to waste money either, as for getting out, I work about 60 hours + travel at 12 hours per week, so it only leaves the week end when I am usually in my HDJ79 ute with the boys shooting, or getting wood, or mowing lawns.

Wife only does around 12000km per year now which is a Quarter of what we were doing last year, so car wont get many K's, my ute on the other hand does 70,000km per year.

The thought of going without beer so I could pay a home off (i dont have a mortgage on home) or alike makes me shiver, life is too short and money is too cheap, under 8% on car loan and low 6% for rural block is not enough to worry about, IMHO.

If you have enough cash to but a few Prado's then its a no brainer - go the VX.

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

Hey Vichel

To answer some of your questions...

From what I have heard from other GXL owners with the 17" AT20 tyres, they wear quickly and handle poorly which is why most people are keen to get out of them ASAP. With my 18" AT22 tyres, I find that they handle very well and they wear well also. I have not changed my tyres since new and currently have 40,000km and are just on 1 year old. I can see me getting another year/40,000 out of them no problem. I'd like to change over to a tougher looking heavier tread tyre, but I cant justify it when my current tyres are working fine for me.
As far as the ride is concerned with reference to the tyre profile, the difference in rim dia between the 17" and 18" would be minimal. The ride is however much firmer in the VX with the KDSS compared to the standard suspension in the GXL.

The Altitude - When I ordered my VX (October 2011) There was no news of the Altitude at that time. I may have considered it if it was available, but to be honest I was keen on the handling of the KDSS suspension in the VX, so I would have still bought the VX.

I also just had a 2" lift in my VX. The better quality shocks combined with the KDSS is fantastic. The Prado drives like its on rails.

I purchased the VX based more on the handling. The extra fruit in the interior was a bonus for me

I hope this answers some of your questions.

At the end of the day, I would suggest that you take the VX and the GXL for a good long drive with your family and see how you like them.

Cheers,

Jeff

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

=Jeffers;393285]Hey Vichel

To answer some of your questions...

Thanks for your time & info Jeff

From what I have heard from other GXL owners with

the 17" AT20 tyres, they wear quickly and handle poorly which is why most people are keen to get out of them ASAP. With my 18" AT22 tyres, I find that they handle very well and they wear well also. I have not changed my tyres since new and currently have 40,000km and are just on 1 year old. I can see me getting another year/40,000 out of them no problem. I'd like to change over to a tougher looking heavier tread tyre, but I cant justify it when my current tyres are working fine for me.

80,000kms out of tyres sounds greatto me even though $350 per tyre(18") is a bit of killer when the 17" tyres are $100 less per tyre.
I have read about the AT22 & now apparently are being superseded by the A3 series

I also just had a 2" lift in my VX. The better quality shocks combined with the KDSS is fantastic. The Prado drives like its on rails.

What exactly does a 2"lift do for you in terms of handling? Does it mean you have more travel in the springs for a more cushioned ride, greater ground clearance or?


At the end of the day,

I would suggest that you take the VX and the GXL for a good long drive with your family and see how you like them.

Sensible idea. Must now think of where around Melb that will give a varied driving surface & experience to test drive

Thanks again

[The Alberto Member Find all posts View Profile Close The Alberto]

From what I have heard from other GXL owners with
80,000kms out of tyres sounds greatto me even though $350 per tyre(18") is a bit of killer when the 17" tyres are $100 less per tyre.
I have read about the AT22 & now apparently are being superseded by the A3 series

What does a VX run out at currently? $75K + ? IF you get 80,000klm out of a set of tyres that cost $1,400 to replace, I'd call that a bargain. If you are baulking at $350 per tyre, you are possibly looking at the wrong car.

I just replaced the Grandcraps on my GXL with 5 x 275 65 17 BFG All terrains. These were $370 per tyre and are 200% better all round than the OEM tyre. I have no idea about wear rate on the OEM tyre as I replaced at 5,000k.

I also just lifted mine 2" as well. I did this for a few reasons:

• Ground Clearance Offroad

• Ride and Handling - Stiffer yet still more comfortable than OEM

• To carry the additional weight of the Bar, Winch and dual Batts etc.

• To make it better as a tow vehicle

My Opinion is this - You need to work out exactly what you are going to be doing with the vehicle before anything else. Then as others have said, work out what features are MOST important to YOU and your use. Then drive both for your final decision. I would love to have KDSS on mine, I drove the VX and it was brilliant, however I did NOT want the leather or the 18" wheels more - plus the extra fancy bits inside I can live with or without. My uses are as a daily driver, tow vehicle and we 4x4/camp most week-ends (although seems like every other month lately!). This made my decision easy, the GXL better suited my individual needs.

Good Luck with it all, whatever you pick will be awesome anyway as both have Prado on the back!

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

I drove the VX and it was brilliant, however I did NOT want the leather or the 18" wheels more - plus the extra fancy bits inside I can live with or without.

Thanks T.A.

Apart from the other not needed VX stuff, what was your reason for not wanting the 18"wheels though?

Vic

[The Alberto Member Find all posts View Profile Close The Alberto]

Thanks T.A.

Apart from the other not needed VX stuff, what was your reason for not wanting the 18"wheels though?

Vic

Hey Mate,

My reasoning was really a conbination of everything, however my not wanting 18's was purely based around offroad driving. I have always found that a higher sidewall is generally better in most 4x4 applications. The 18 would be OK, but I prefer 17's (and 16's) and I really did not want to muck around changing wheels as well as tyres. I was also originally going to put 70 series tyres on as well, and I still probably will in the future, which you just can't do (easily) with the 18s. Not really a biggy I 'spose, but in combination with not wanting the leather at all and not caring about electric "Heated" seats, sat nav, Front Parking Sensors, rain sensing wipers, 17 speakers, electric third row seats that never get used, illuminated step etc. I have all these gimmicks on my other "car" (and hardly use most of them) - I simply don't need them on a 4x4 that is going to the desert, cape, kimberleys etc. The only extras off the VX I would like on the GXL is KDSS as an option and HID headlights.

If I was only touring, towing the van and driving around town - I probably would have gone for the VX as my wife likes all the extra "bits".

Hope this helps.

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

I'm pretty sure you will find that Auto GXs and GXLs have Downhill Assist and Hill Start as Standard.

Can someone please confirm if this is true?
VSC, EB things are standard but not Downhill/Hill assist. They are only available on VX and kakadu.

Pathfinder ST-L has got the feature yet it's 10k cheaper than the Prado GXL

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

Can someone please confirm if this is true?
VSC, EB things are standard but not Downhill/Hill assist. They are only available on VX and kakadu.

Pathfinder ST-L has got the feature yet it's 10k cheaper than the Prado GXL

Well I've got the buttons so it must be true

[The Alberto Member Find all posts View Profile Close The Alberto]

Check the Prado e-brochure HERE on the Toyota website. It shows DAC/HA as standard equipment on GX and GXL (AUTO ONLY), plus I have the button too. I have never pushed it however, perhaps it is not hooked up ..........

Pages 20 - 21 under the GX specifications.