Thoughts on getting a 150...

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

Howdy,

First, I HAVE seen other posts on this, but mine is a bit more specific!!!

Current rig is a 06 Diesel, Manual, GX Prado but with wider wheels and flares to emulate the GXL. Have bullbar, racks, towbar, etc.

Am seriously thinking of getting the new Diesel, but thinking of the wife would get Auto, and probably the GXL or the VX.

Two main areas of questions...

1. has anyone else made the jump like this, and what do they think? Do they regret buying the 150? As far OFFROAD capability goes, is the 150 far superior? Offroad is important as we do go away a bit, and is why we are getting another Prado. Things like clearance, exit / entry angle, etc....

2. regarding the GXL compared to the VX... it seems that the engine etc are the SAME.... only changes really being the 18" instead of 17", and leather seats. Xenon lights / foot lights / CD etc am not so fussed about... is that a good assumption?

Thanks heaps!

Nick.

[RED T UTE Member Find all posts View Profile Close RED T UTE]

Re: Thoughts on getting a 150...

And VX gets KDSS

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

Re: Thoughts on getting a 150...

True - is that worth the extra cash??

And is the Kakadu REALLY worth that more for offroad capabilities?? Luxury stuff I can give or take, but offroad is the Kakadu light years ahead??

[trackers Member Find all posts View Profile Close trackers]

Re: Thoughts on getting a 150...

We went from a manual 3ltr Patrol to the current 150 auto.......best thing we ever did....you would not be sorry. GXL model.
Cheeers

[gxllouie Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxllouie]

Re: Thoughts on getting a 150...

hey nick,

personally, i do not see the point in the crawl feature on the kakadu. when climbing a hill in low range, the auto gearbox and traction control work the same way - the only difference is resting your foot on the accelerator. as for downhill, the auto and low range do the job pretty well - turn on down hill assist and again, same result as crawl. if i had to of bought the kakadu, it would have been for the comfort features, not the off road extras. having said that, the camera's would be useful off road. the kdss is supposed to work a treat on and off road, but if you check out other threads, there are issues with leaning and fitting aftermarket suspension.

anyway - that's my opinion.

louie

[lissted Member Find all posts View Profile Close lissted]

Re: Thoughts on getting a 150...

Hi Nick
Off road these things are fantastic. The traction control and LSD are great. If I had to buy another 150 now I guess I would just grab a GX and build it. There is another tread on here discussing the GX v's GXL but by the sounds of your last Prado you will pull all the bits off the GXL and replace them anyway. IMO the extra $$$ just really for KDSS isn't worth it, go and buy some sway bar disconnects if it worries you that much about the travel but the electronics on this car make it great.
Peter

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

Re: Thoughts on getting a 150...

i can't comment on question 1, as i went from a nissan navara d40 to the gxl. i love it

question 2 - yes the engine is the same. same across all models. the thing about the vx and wheels bothers me a little. it's hard to find good tyres in 18" for offroad. and if you can get them, they are bloody expensive.

i wanted some of the nice things in the GXL over the GX and didn't need the extra nice stuff that came with the VX. the extra 10K it costs to go up a model has paid for all of my mods.

dan

[Rogerthatv2 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Rogerthatv2]

Re: Thoughts on getting a 150...

i can't comment on question 1, as i went from a nissan navara d40 to the gxl. i love it

question 2 - yes the engine is the same. same across all models. the thing about the vx and wheels bothers me a little. it's hard to find good tyres in 18" for offroad. and if you can get them, they are bloody expensive.

i wanted some of the nice things in the GXL over the GX and didn't need the extra nice stuff that came with the VX. the extra 10K it costs to go up a model has paid for all of my mods.

dan

Fully agree with Dan, as a almost happy VX owner, the tyres and no cargo restraints really P me off! However if I had my way again I think I would still buy the VX. The leather seats, HID cornering / levelling lights, front parking sensors, optitron dash and KDSS still make it worth that extra 10K IMO.

I drive a new Hilux every day and we traded our 2006 Rav4 in on the Prado and love it, costing a little more in accessories then first thought, I did not think I would get bitten by the Prado bug so hard and fast as the accessories are being added thick and fast but hey, you only live once.

With the minimal off road work we have done with it, it has performed great, a little low and soft in the front end but nothing that a suspension kit and underbody guards won't fix.

Which ever decision you make, you will love it.

Cheers Daniel

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

Re: Thoughts on getting a 150...

I did not think I would get bitten by the Prado bug so hard and fast as the accessories are being added thick and fast but hey, you only live once.

Which ever decision you make, you will love it.

Cheers Daniel

truer words could not be said.. it's a little scary actually..

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

Re: Thoughts on getting a 150...

This is why I love this group. Thanks for the GXL / VX comparisons... my wife REALLY wants leather seats!!!

I vowed NEVER to get a GX again and do up - I had SO much problems with flares when I got the wider wheels. I got a mate with a Paj, 18" and has SO MUCH problems getting tyres (downside of getting a VX...).. apparently Cooper have just put out on 18"... I have used D694's on the last 2 Prado's and love them.

A few more about mods.... Cargo barrier I assume I will have to get a new one? Different between the models? Stereo / amp / sub, air compressor, UHF I will remove and reuse.

Regarding bullbar and towbar - will probably NOT get another steel bullbar atm.... but for the towbar, roof racks, tint.... do MOST people use Toyota for them when they get the car new? Or go external..... I normally would go external, but out of touch at the moment.

Thanks again.... I also bet my wife will get a price that is GREAT - will post when she gets it!!! The first Prado we got in 2001 (I think), she made both Carney Brothers from Townsville Toyota and Charters Towers Toyota cry...... :P

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Thoughts on getting a 150...

You can always get aftermarket leather from motor trimmers. They are not that expensive.

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

Re: Thoughts on getting a 150...

SO, really looking at it.... getting the GXL and aftermarket leather seats would just mean the KDSS and little thinks like Xenon v Halogen (can do that myself) and door lights for my feet....

I read on another thread, leather seats around $3500... does this sound right? Any good place to use? And then it is around $6000 or so for NOT getting the KDSS..... so seems that the GXL may be the way to go.....

AND the fact that the D694's are still not out in the 18's, would make it harder still (more $$) for the VX

[DaveZ Member Find all posts View Profile Close DaveZ]

Re: Thoughts on getting a 150...

Your dealer will most likely fit GXL rims to your VX/Kakadu at no extra cost if you so desire. That's what they offered to do for us anyway, though I haven't checked the tyre placard yet to see if both size rims are listed on the up-spec models.

Dave.

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

Re: Thoughts on getting a 150...

Ok, still no closer to deciding on the GXL or VX.

Up at Rainbow Beach atm and the 06 performs so good am thinking twice...... Anyway!

So, quick one about the stereo on the GXL. Bluetooth? Also, is the rear camera a video input (standard yellow plug)? Is it twin din? My kenwood is great, I put a reverse cam on my current gx, but if the new gxl is standard video then that is great. Will replace the head unit with mine. Have got aftermarket in built screens for the rear so will work well.

HID upgrade about $400? That I can do easy.

Leather seats extra $4000 approx.

So the only other things i would be missing that i want is the KDSS, luggage rails and parking sensors for the wife. Are the rails better than say standard Thule or rhino bars? Sensors I can do easily. KDSS am still in two minds.

Too hard too choose!!!

Anything I am missing out on?

Thanks.

[al_brisvegas Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close al_brisvegas]

Re: Thoughts on getting a 150...

Hi,

I asked the same question myself GX or GXL or VX. I just upgraded from a 04 120 GXL Petrol, ended up with a 150 GXL DID for a couple of reasons.


I went up to the GXL because I really wanted ducted climate control aircon, wider rims, reverse camera, a few of little luxuries.

Price over VX, just couldn't justify those few extras, that I don't really want anyway.
- electric rear seats, leather seats, 18" wheels (more expensive replacement tyres and less choice), KDSS (just more stuff to go wrong), heated seats,

I am going to spend the $10k on 4WD extras.

Wife wanted leather, easy fix, I put in aftermarket leather 6 years ago on my GXL. This Australian leather is top grade. I have friends who have same age Grande's and the leather is all cracked and split. Mine was perfect which really helped with the resale.

I just had a full leather trim - colour Carbon ( like a flat black) which matches the dark grey interior just perfectly - Cost $2400 from Global Automotive Specialists at Sumner Park. That was for all 7 seats, door trims, and it is an excellent job. This guy has been doing trims for Toyoto's for 20+ years. He did 3 new Prado's alone last week when he did mine, + 200 series etc..

I am very happy with the GXL, its an awesome truck. I do find the suspension a bit soft compared to the 120, but I plan to get suspension upgrade in a couple of weeks, - OME or TJM? not sure yet.

Hope this helps. I notice your in Brisbane, if you wanted to see the quality of the aftermarket leather interior, happy to show you.

Cheers. Al.