Anyone here travel the aussie outback in a Prado 150?

[vxcruiser08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxcruiser08]

G'day Guys,

Interested to hear if any owners of the 150 have done a fair bit of travel taking on the aussie outback and done trips like the kimberly's, flinders, cape york etc.

Obviously I am referring to a diesel model, wouldn't pick anything else.

I was actually looking at a 76 series wagon but with the amount of rural highway driving i do inbetween, i don't know how i'd go with this type of vehicle long term plus I have a little boy and the safety features are a bonus.

150's diesels very cheap now, mid 40's - 50's for a low kms GXL which i think is very reasonable.

Coming from a 200 series in the past, i am use to that little bit of extra comfort!

Thanks in advance!

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

They sure have. Have you looked through some of the Trip Planning and Reports threads?

All Prados (90, 120 and even 150 series) are very capable off roaders even stock standard.

Peruse some of the trip threads to see just what others get up to. You might be surprised.

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Have a hunt through the build up threads as well... you should be able to get an idea of who goes bush there as well.

[vxcruiser08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxcruiser08]

Thanks guys, yeah i've had a fairly extensive read of the build up threads. A lot of pages on some of them so may have missed them.

Did a bit of a comparison tonight, I have a lot of faith in toyota and not really willing to consider too many other types of vehicles.

The Prado 150 seems exceptional value for money. I just have to get over the fact that most of them are actually a soccer mums car and i always looked at them this way!

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

I just have to get over the fact that most of them are actually a soccer mums car and i always looked at them this way!

Wash your mouth out with soap!

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I just have to get over the fact that most of them are actually a soccer mums car and i always looked at them this way!

I have the 120 not the 150 but mine have been to the Kimberly, the Cape, the High country, Birdsville, Oodnadatta and Strezlecki tracks, Camerons Corner, across the Tanami , East and West Macs, Across the Gulf on the back roads, Madigans Line across the Simpson, Flinders and a few of those more than once................ I could go on.

Great car, love it.

My Prados definately not a soccer mums car!

Cheers Andrew

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Does this look like a soccer mum's car?

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...6-s-150-Kakadu

While mine hasn't done any real touring yet (at least not in my ownership) I'm sure it is more than capable. I still have to get my winch and recovery points installed but I keep getting told it looks mean :-)

[nigelh Member Find all posts View Profile Close nigelh]

dont know what you're really after but i used to own a 76 series, with all the usual mods including lift, duel wheel carrier bar work plus the list goes on.
very capable truck for work and tough tracks but for everyday use plus comfort the Prado i have now is far and away better. And standard trim is more capable for where ive taken it.
ie in sand is better, light weight and the wheels track as opposed to the 76's different wheel track front to rear. corrigated roads, you cant beat IFS in the Prado. car like handling.
In car comfort. the wife hated the agricultural feel of the 76 and the upright seat position.bench seat rear. lack of sound proofing.
really theres no comparison unless you want the V8 for the torque. thats the only thing the 76 has over the prado is sheer grunt.
plus the 5 speed gearing is low in the 76. you'll hate it once you get over the gear changing in the city. plus ive seen some pretty tough 150's with lift, twin wheel carriers and 33' tyres. I believe the Prado is the best 4wd on the market. 200 is too wide and clumsy. the prado is more nimble. just my 10 cents worth.

[nigelh Member Find all posts View Profile Close nigelh]

dont know what you're really after but i used to own a 76 series, with all the usual mods including lift, duel wheel carrier bar work plus the list goes on.
very capable truck for work and tough tracks but for everyday use plus comfort the Prado i have now is far and away better. And standard trim is more capable for where ive taken it.
ie in sand is better, light weight and the wheels track as opposed to the 76's different wheel track front to rear. corrigated roads, you cant beat IFS in the Prado. car like handling.
In car comfort. the wife hated the agricultural feel of the 76 and the upright seat position.bench seat rear. lack of sound proofing.
really theres no comparison unless you want the V8 for the torque. thats the only thing the 76 has over the prado is sheer grunt.
plus the 5 speed gearing is low in the 76. you'll hate it once you get over the gear changing in the city. plus ive seen some pretty tough 150's with lift, twin wheel carriers and 33' tyres. I believe the Prado is the best 4wd on the market. 200 is too wide and clumsy. the prado is more nimble. just my 10 cents worth.

[vxcruiser08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxcruiser08]

Don't take what I wrote the wrong way! Let's be honest though, most of them are used for this reason (unfortunately).

fido666 - Prado looks tops and looks to be a very capable rig! I had a good read about

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Does this look like a soccer mum's car?

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...6-s-150-Kakadu

Kakadu, bullbar, standard suspension................ Yep just like a soccer mums car

Cheers Andrew

[vxcruiser08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxcruiser08]

nigelh - really appreciate your feedback. Always good to get feedback from a recent owner who has actually owned both vehicles i've been looking closely at purchasing.

I don't mind the upright seating position, i'm only a small fella @ 5 ft 6. Have a few back issues though, so better seating is always useful. The 5th gear thing is what bothers me and the sound proofing. I'm a single bloke with a 1 1/2 year old so don't have a missus to worry about at the moment!!

The 200 series is definitely a big beast, i didn't mind it but I had the v8 petrol, wow what a joke that was on the wallet!!! On the tight tracks it was a challenge too, otherwise a great vehicle.

I do around 1000kms a week of rural hwy, i think i need to put comfort first and take one of these for a test drive...

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Wash your mouth out AJ lol.....Cheers Steve

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I think the previous owner of mine had the rims powdercoated black to make it look less like a soccer mum's car and he was from Brighton LOL. I haven't done a lot with it yet as we bought it not long before Christmas when other expenses get in the way. I do intend for it to see some real dirt even though it's a Kakadu hence why I went for one that already had a bit of fruit. There seem to be a few late model ones around for decent prices so look around on CarSales, etc and you might be pleasantly surprised.

@AJ,

Them's fightin' words dag nangit!

[nigelh Member Find all posts View Profile Close nigelh]

nigelh - really appreciate your feedback. Always good to get feedback from a recent owner who has actually owned both vehicles i've been looking closely at purchasing.

I don't mind the upright seating position, i'm only a small fella @ 5 ft 6. Have a few back issues though, so better seating is always useful. The 5th gear thing is what bothers me and the sound proofing. I'm a single bloke with a 1 1/2 year old so don't have a missus to worry about at the moment!!

The 200 series is definitely a big beast, i didn't mind it but I had the v8 petrol, wow what a joke that was on the wallet!!! On the tight tracks it was a challenge too, otherwise a great vehicle.

I do around 1000kms a week of rural hwy, i think i need to put comfort first and take one of these for a test drive...

yeah mate the 76 on the highway wandered due to the solid axels, was worse with the 3' lift. i had to steer the car...PLUS the 76 had no cruise control, only forward and back seat adjustment, crap stereo, no centre armrest, the console was like a lunch box, and the aircon was only out of 1 port per passenger, none in the rear. i can drive my Prado at 140kms, (not that i do) with one finger on the wheel if you know what i mean in terms of road holding, and it has all the creature comforts i missed in the 76. I previously owned a GU Patrol then an 80 series Cruiser so im acustomed to tough and ALSO had the soccer mum opinion of the Prado, but after owning one i soon apprietiated that its essentially Hilux chassis and running gear combined with light weight capability combined with Landcruiser comfort and refinement.. cheers. good luck with your decision