decisions, decisions?

[Guest Close Guest]

Im looking into getting a diesel 4wd within the next 6 - 12 months tossing up between a prado and a surf/4runner, looking more towards the former (hence being here), but the main question i have is which transmission is better for offroading? Auto or manual?

[Guest Close Guest]

If you do a search here on the auto vs manual debate you will find a few previous informative threads on it.
No need to start another thread on it please.

http://www.pradopoint.com/viewtopic.php?t=1800

http://www.pradopoint.com/viewtopic.php ... uto+manual

http://www.pradopoint.com/viewtopic.php ... uto+manual

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

I came from a diesel Surf to a diesel Prado, the Surf was auto, the Prado is a manual. We got the Prado because my 6’2” 13 year old son found the high floor pan of the Surf uncomfortable. Poor bugger sat in the back while we did 15,000kms around Australia in 5 weeks with his knees tucked up under his chin.

Despite spending close to $2,000 on modifications to the cooling system, the Surf overheated every time we drove on the beach or took on a long steep hill. Towing a camper trailer in QLD it boiled over going up such a hill and for the rest of the trip the top hose appeared to have very little water flowing through it as it could be compressed almost completely closed even when the engine was hot and running.

I had to constantly check the fluid levels and had to top it up all the time after that. Needless to say, the Surf was disposed of not long after we got back. I got sick of always watching the temp gauge; no matter what I did I always had it in the back of my mind.

The Prado has a lot more passenger room, is more economical, built for Australian conditions and you always paid a premium price for Surf parts (but it was a great vehicle despite all that).

I have a gammy left leg so I was keen on the auto Surf. It was great on the beach (when not overheating) as you just had to point and drive most of the time. Going down a steep slope it had the tendency to run away if you let it, but with the manual Prado, 1st low generally means you can just about forget about the pedals altogether (most of the time).

Having a manual hasn’t been as difficult as I thought given the state of my floppy left leg, but it does get a bit tiresome raking through the gears in the city, but that’s got nothing to do with my leg.

I guess if I could do it again, I go an auto as they are easier to drive around the city (where unfortunately I spend most of my life), but an unexpected side effect of having a manual vehicle for me has been the realisation that I am a bit more capable with my leg than I realised.

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

No no no not the Auto Manual thing again...... :lol:
Do a search & come back to us if we haven't answered it b4.


However re the Surf vs Prado.. go the Prado everytime.

The surf didn't come with an intercooler & suffered overheating issues via crack heads....(Prados can do this too however!)...probably mainly due to the age of the Surfs over the Prados too.

Cheers

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

I've had both, but the surf was 12 years older so it isn't really a fair comparison.

One big reason I went for the prado is that I wanted to get something newer, and surfs / 4runners stopped being produced around '96 (I think). So if you're after a newer 4wd, surfs and 4runners are automatically ruled out.

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

I have both and I love both, each has its own character. I am letting go of the manual though, but only because it is three door and I do not use it much. As a backup car, the wife can only use an automatic, so I have no choice but to let the manual car go, believe me, I hate selling such an incredible car, but I would rather sell it than having to worry about it day in and day out!

My recommendation would to be to buy what you like, the manual is certainly more involving and it made the drive more interactive.

I have to admit though that the manual is more difficult to operate in the rough, you have to be careful with gear selection, otherwise, it can bite.... After my first outing, I was fine and I learned to respect this machine, it has a lot more funcationality and robustness than many other cars at a much more reasonable cost.