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The Monkey Review – Prado 150 D4D VX Auto bought 1st July
Took mine up Bells line of Road to the Blue Mountain on the weekend for its first shakedown.
Diesel performed well, really minor hesitation/turbo lag sometimes when I put my foot down (generally where revs were highish, but not high enough to spool the turbo fully I assume). Less turbo lag than my previous petrol turbo (ok, it was a Volvo....).
Overtaking up hill at 100 ks an hour was no problem, torque seemed to take care of the required acceleration.
Fuel economy about 8.5 per 100 ks combined, but this was long distance driving. Down to mid 7’s on a flat freeway – seems very low hope the computer is right – but the fuel gauge didn’t move much so must be.
Dipped lights are a little too bright and point in other driver’s faces causing them to flash me a couple of time – will get these adjusted at first service. Only happened twice and you don’t need high beam they are so good!
Plastic new car smell disappearing thank goodness. It was so strong I felt ill when I first drove it!
Everything was really smooth with engine and transmission, did hunt for gears a little sometimes – felt like it was in slightly too high a gear as it looked for better economy – this happened on hills only.
When I braked going down hill it down-changed and engine braked a little stopping it from rolling faster and faster – unlike my last car. A nice change.
Went off the tarmac at Bilpin through Burralow Camping ground to Kurrajong. A really nice 20 k trip down some nice steep sections, across a rickety bridge, up some steep rutted bits. Nothing fazed the Prado at all, I didn’t have to do the usual thing on dirt roads which is keep the speed up so you don’t feel the bumps, the suspension just ate them up. I couldn’t fault it and felt as safe as houses. Was worried about having such big rims and so little tyre. But it was great. Did try to put it in low range to show my wife (see my other posting about beeps) but I should have done this when stationary in neutral and not when in park… it does not work in park! I know better now, it beeped and beeped and didn’t go into low range. I used torque the whole way and had no overheating of the transmission and no “hot” smells. Maybe this issue has been fixed in new cars??
Temps overnight in the negatives at Leura and it started bright and sharp, no problem. None of the usual diesel lag on start up in cold conditions. Would consider using the “revs up” button at the Snowies just to warm up the engine more quickly and too melt ice and stuff.
I’ve read reviews on this car which don’t shine about its on-road performance. To say I’m surprised is an understatement. It is more comfortable than a limo and has no body roll. It’s no 911, but I don’t expect a 911 to soak up bumps on a dirt track. The finish is excellent. The layout is sensible.
I put a portable dvd player on the centre armrest for the kids to watch (used a strap around it to hold it in place), plugged the earphones socket into the auxiliary bit for the stereo (the iPod jack) and turned the fader to rear and the kids were in heaven with movie style surround sound in the back, and the adults could talk in the front.
Before my next trip I think I’d better check there is air in the spare (!!), buy a puncture kit, get out my air compressor, get out my snatch strap and work out how to connect it to both front recovery points simultaneously (anyone?).
Hey does everyone know that you can’t recover backwards? Ruins the auto apparently. Maybe you can if you are actually in reverse and gunning it though??
http://www.greaterbluemountainsdrive.co ... rajong.php
The part of this track from Mountain lagoon was closed when I went…
In summary, diesel on paper is weakish but in practice is a strong performer. Transmission is great and smooth. Fuel economy for a car that had 35km’s on the clock was outstanding… not even broken in. No speaks or rattles offroad, quality 4wd system – it was better than my 100 series.
This is the best car I have ever been in!
Adios amigos.
Took mine up Bells line of Road to the Blue Mountain on the weekend for its first shakedown.
Diesel performed well, really minor hesitation/turbo lag sometimes when I put my foot down (generally where revs were highish, but not high enough to spool the turbo fully I assume). Less turbo lag than my previous petrol turbo (ok, it was a Volvo....).
Overtaking up hill at 100 ks an hour was no problem, torque seemed to take care of the required acceleration.
Fuel economy about 8.5 per 100 ks combined, but this was long distance driving. Down to mid 7’s on a flat freeway – seems very low hope the computer is right – but the fuel gauge didn’t move much so must be.
Dipped lights are a little too bright and point in other driver’s faces causing them to flash me a couple of time – will get these adjusted at first service. Only happened twice and you don’t need high beam they are so good!
Plastic new car smell disappearing thank goodness. It was so strong I felt ill when I first drove it!
Everything was really smooth with engine and transmission, did hunt for gears a little sometimes – felt like it was in slightly too high a gear as it looked for better economy – this happened on hills only.
When I braked going down hill it down-changed and engine braked a little stopping it from rolling faster and faster – unlike my last car. A nice change.
Went off the tarmac at Bilpin through Burralow Camping ground to Kurrajong. A really nice 20 k trip down some nice steep sections, across a rickety bridge, up some steep rutted bits. Nothing fazed the Prado at all, I didn’t have to do the usual thing on dirt roads which is keep the speed up so you don’t feel the bumps, the suspension just ate them up. I couldn’t fault it and felt as safe as houses. Was worried about having such big rims and so little tyre. But it was great. Did try to put it in low range to show my wife (see my other posting about beeps) but I should have done this when stationary in neutral and not when in park… it does not work in park! I know better now, it beeped and beeped and didn’t go into low range. I used torque the whole way and had no overheating of the transmission and no “hot” smells. Maybe this issue has been fixed in new cars??
Temps overnight in the negatives at Leura and it started bright and sharp, no problem. None of the usual diesel lag on start up in cold conditions. Would consider using the “revs up” button at the Snowies just to warm up the engine more quickly and too melt ice and stuff.
I’ve read reviews on this car which don’t shine about its on-road performance. To say I’m surprised is an understatement. It is more comfortable than a limo and has no body roll. It’s no 911, but I don’t expect a 911 to soak up bumps on a dirt track. The finish is excellent. The layout is sensible.
I put a portable dvd player on the centre armrest for the kids to watch (used a strap around it to hold it in place), plugged the earphones socket into the auxiliary bit for the stereo (the iPod jack) and turned the fader to rear and the kids were in heaven with movie style surround sound in the back, and the adults could talk in the front.
Before my next trip I think I’d better check there is air in the spare (!!), buy a puncture kit, get out my air compressor, get out my snatch strap and work out how to connect it to both front recovery points simultaneously (anyone?).
Hey does everyone know that you can’t recover backwards? Ruins the auto apparently. Maybe you can if you are actually in reverse and gunning it though??
http://www.greaterbluemountainsdrive.co ... rajong.php
The part of this track from Mountain lagoon was closed when I went…
In summary, diesel on paper is weakish but in practice is a strong performer. Transmission is great and smooth. Fuel economy for a car that had 35km’s on the clock was outstanding… not even broken in. No speaks or rattles offroad, quality 4wd system – it was better than my 100 series.
This is the best car I have ever been in!
Adios amigos.
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