120 Series Prado - I'm Losing Hope

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

I'd say that 80% or more of Prados spend their lives as shopping trolleys for the soccer mums and never venture off road. There is usually a good supply available in Perth but their prices are fairly high. Shows the resale value of Prados is good. Wise words offered there to take your time in finding the right one. There are heaps of ex-mining and fleet Prados available but you need to carefully check underneath for signs of salt damage. The detailers here in Kalgoorlie are pretty good at dressing up the ex-mine vehicles. Maybe look at any colour other than white. You may also find older possibly retired people selling a good honest car with low miles and regular servicing as they downsize or update to a newer model. The extra bucks to get a nice car will be worth it.

Why look at any colour other than white....it may not be as luxurious, but its much easier to keep clean, seriously, than any darker coulor, and its also much easier to repair than any pearl/metailic paint...and the fading is not as obvious. The oterh colours look good when clearn and new, but an older car, I still recon that white should not be discounted. Honestly, I would not discount white....ahhh, just a thought, unless you assume that if its a white one its more likely to have been a mine or company car...is that what it is about white?

[Flyboy Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Flyboy]

Don't lose hope just yet thebigo. They are out there (or will be shortly).

I have a silver '09 120 D4D that is coming off lease in early July and it will only just have the required 75 000km on it. Slightly embarrassed to say it hasn't been off road at all. It has been my wife's shopping trolly and school taxi.

My dillema is that it has been such a great car, cheap to run and ultra reliable that I am not sure if I want a 150 or if I should re-lease the 120. I am in the camp that doesn't really like the look of the 150 and the wife wants a Grand Cherokee but I am not going to go there...

I will have a look in here a little closer to the end of lease and hopefully will have made a decision by then.

Cheers. And good luck.

Edit: Oh, forgot to say G'day. New here and hoping to find out the latest info on Prados. Great forum from what I have seen so far.

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

Mate,
I was looking for ages also. Finally after test driving a heap I settled on my ex lease car (from up north) as it was clean, straight and drove the best out of the lot. Had service history and no rust or signs of salt use in the bash plates, sills etc. Once it was home I dropped all the oils and filters, pressure washed the under side and applied fish oil and paint. Could not be happier with the car, condition and price. Got it through a wholesale yard so no pesky car salesmen. Highly recommend and would do the same again. Bargains are to had if you know what to look for and are handy with a spanner.

Cheers,

[LostDingo2 Find all posts View Profile Close LostDingo2]

I was not even looking to get a 150 but because the value was so high on the 120 had little to change over $$$ to get a new vehicle, new warranty and insurance is cheaper as well with the extra air bags.

PS: Always a good idea to check insurance cost before buying anything. Just like with some of the small cheaper cars....reapirs cost more than the car so insurance is very high.