Would you buy a 76 series TDV8 wagon or a 120 series D4D?

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

I got some quotes to compare pricing.

A brand new GXL 76 series wagon (4 door small Troopie) with airconditioning and twin difflocks for under $57K on the road

vs

A brand new VX 120 series D4D Prado auto with no other option for under $65K (and yes, I know some of you have gotten better drive away prices)

Which vehicle would you pick? :-)

I guess the answer would be easy but I guess I'm just curious to find out why someone would shell out big dollars for a 76 wagon, if just to get a big capacity diesel and solid front axle and the promise of simplicity.

On face value, the 76 series wagon, in GXL form with only a 90 litre fuel tank, and optional airconditioning as a $2300 addon, and twin difflocks at $2700 option, and no electronic anything seems frightfully overpriced.

Comments, opinions?

Lawrance

[Walker Member Find all posts View Profile Close Walker]

But how can you even start to compare those to vehicles.

They have nothing in common and if you are willing to buy a 76 series with all it blandness, horrible shape and no creature comforts at all, why would you compare it with a VX Prado, better to compare it with the base model Prado....but even the base model would be a lot nicer to drive and would probably be $20k cheaper

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

Buy both, swap motors and sell the 76 = V8 prado. mmmm V8 prado!!

Or, buy the 76 and pretend its a 70 series prado, they look almost identical.

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

Lawrance,

You need to decide what your needs/wants are... Both cars are designed for totally different things... And 200 series diesel Cruiser is not that far away - october this year....

Stan

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

But how can you even start to compare those to vehicles.

Great point Adam - these two vehicles have practically nothing in common except for the Toyota badges and very similar price points.

I guess this is the same sort of decision that will drive someone to decide on whether to spend $55K on a brand new Land Rover Defender or on a base model Discovery 3 TDV6 - similar prices, but radically different interiors and comfort levels.

I guess I'm trying to work out why Toyota has priced the 76 series TDV8 wagon at these sort of prices and still expect to sell the product. Obviously they must be able to sell them, as there's already a backlog on the 76 wagon, whether it's due to artificially low sales forecasts or simply due to high demand, I don't know.

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

Lawrance,

You need to decide what your needs/wants are... Both cars are designed for totally different things... And 200 series diesel Cruiser is not that far away - october this year....

Stan

G'day Stan,

Sadly I think the 200 Series Cruiser will be priced even higher into the stratosphere. I won't be able to afford it, that's a mathematical certainty.

Lawrance

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

I agree with the previous posts about the two vehicles being for completely different needs so you have to decide exactly what are your needs. If your seduced by the thought of the V8 power remember the 78 is detuned becuase of the drive train limitiations, if fact a Dtronics Chip and a Taipan exhaust on a D4D with give you the same if not more power and torque.

leachy

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

Lawrance,
Where do you do your biggest percentage of driving, bush or urban (Could be a clue)
Truck or Limo? :P :P :P
Creature comforts or basic ??
Toyota or (Wash one's mouth out) some other brand???
I don't know that we can help unless you take up Yota suggestion & buy both :wink: as yet, I don't know of the perfect vehicle.
Maybe that the Prado comes close :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink:

Couldn't miss the opportunity to stir.

Cheers,
Fazza

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

Gee Lawrance :twisted:
Youv'e been talking about buying somethin else for about 2 years now and looked in detail at every offering that is out there.
There is NO perfect 4wd.
Because we want something that is comfy and good to drive around in town as well as good off road in some ways they are opposite types of vehicles.
SO you will buy a compromise that suits you.
Work out what you are going to do with it. If it is going to sit in the garage all week and come out on the weekends then you could live with something that is simple and good offroad.
If you are going to drive it during the week then look for something that suits you that way as that is where it will spend most of the time and then accept the compromises off road, or modify it to suit as you did your Disco
Just go and buy something....I can't stand the suspense anymore

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

I agree with everyone's sentiments on comparing apples with apples.

I think the 76 is expensive because it can be. The majority of purchasers of this vehicle will be government and business clients who previously purchased the 105. I think the consumer/family purchase will definitely be the exception. They may prove popular with farmers also, but in my experience farmers have a ute (78 series) and a town car (100 series) or similar.

Looking at the prices on the Toyota Australia website - I can't see why a family car purchaser would consider the 76 over a 120.

And it's true, it's all about compromise, if anyone tells you and different they are kidding themselves. It's about balancing on road handling, parking manners, accessibility, performance with longevity, off road performance and durability. That's why I love my 120, it strikes the right balance for my needs.

Drew.

[matty Member Find all posts View Profile Close matty]

I agree with Drew,
I test drove the 76 before i even was thinking about getting a new car, i just wanted to take the new 76 for a spin, i found the seat didnt go back far enough and for the price it was very basic, at the time i was in dual cab v6 03 lux with the works and i didn't consider swapping vehicles, i then test drove the 120 with my partner and wow. enough power, heaps more comfy than the lux or 76, decent back seats, less room in the rear but you just gotta pack smarter, economical, good looks.
in the end i was happy so was the partner and we drove our new 120 away a week later with, tow pack, canvas seats, cargo barrier, rubber mats throughout. The only thing i miss from the lux is the ute area and better ground clearance.

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

The only thing i miss from the lux is the ute area and better ground clearance.

G'day Matty,

Have you seen the ute conversion 120 in "120 Modifications" section? There's your answer! Just add a suspension lift! :lol: Just kidding.

Drew.

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

Gee Lawrance :twisted:
Youv'e been talking about buying somethin else for about 2 years now and looked in detail at every offering that is out there.
<snip!>
Just go and buy something....I can't stand the suspense anymore

G'day Tim,

Yes, I know I've been looking and looking a lot. ops:

I've been waiting with bated breath on each new model that comes out in the market and just something keeps preventing me from pulling out the cheque book.

1. Nissan Patrol Ti with CRD 3.0 - ruled out due to fears of buying an engine that still may put holes in the pistons.

2. Land Rover Discovery 3 TDV6 - love it in every sense but fear of niggling problems have NOT been mitigated by near bottom ratings in USA survey of vehicle reliability.

3. Land Cruiser 100 Series 4.2TD - 5000 km oil change intervals a bit hard to swallow and RACV TCO report shows this vehicle to be the most expensive mainstream SUV to operate and run.

4. Jeep Cherokee CRD - never really considered them as they have about the same reliability as Land Rovers (and I know what it means to be a Land Rover driver!) ops:

5. All utes e.g. Hilux, Ranger, etc - only interested in four door wagons

6. Mitsubishi Pajero DiD - haven't done a lot of homework on these but they do have a compelling 5 year warranty and 10 year drivetrain warranty.

7. Toyota Prado - so far no real road blocks, except for availability and pricing.

8. Toyota 76 wagon or 2008 Land Rover Defender - realistically these are more for an "image", and strangely enough, that does appeal to me to be seen driving in a really basic four wheel drive. Prohibitively high pricing doesn't help me make the decision.

9. Luxury SUVs, e.g. Toureag, Volvo, X5, Rangie Sport, etc - not for me coz I must have a "real" four wheel drive.


Let's see what the next generation 200 Series Cruiser (maybe there's a base model) or next gen Nissan Patrol will be like. I may not be able to afford the Cruiser, but it may change the dynamics of the market, i.e. more people may gravitate to it, so prices for the Prado in the used market may come down.


More waiting.... but I'm a patient man! :wink: