Anyone here travel the aussie outback in a Prado 150?

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

Yes i know exactly what you mean. I just went from a 200 series to a XJ 2001 Jeep as a temporary vehicle (Don't start me on this car).

On top of the usual mods you want to do to get off road, you'd need to spend extra to at least get it up to a reasonable level of comfort and features. e.g. new stereo, cruise control, centre console, seats and so on.

I have also ruled out the GU, too basic and past reliability issues.

Thanks for your help.

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

I test drove a GXL today for a good 25 mins by myself which was good. The dealer didn't know much about them at all, I ended up answering the questions for him! Otherwise, an extremely laid back bunch of people at the dealership, no hesitation what so ever in providing me with a test drive and even when i returned the bloke didn't ask for any details. I was shocked...

Thoughts were not too bad, it wasn't as good as I expected but I may have had the 200 series in the back of my mind still! Just found the whole thing a bit bland and boring inside. Also an annoying rattle in the rear... i know the 120 series prado's at work (mine vehicles) rattle like hell in the back. Is this normal?

Was happy with power delivery, no problem there it was what i expected. Drove nicely, brakes were insane compared to the jeep im driving at the moment! Very smooth over crappy sections on the road.

Anyway, Looks like I could get one close to 56K drive away. I am still keen on something second hand with a few mods already done though just to save the bank and stick to my budget.

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

Test Drive a Kakadu Matt

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

My local Toyota dealer has just listed a silver 2011 D4D GXL Auto with 19,118Ks on the clock for $56,990. No pics yet but the listing mentions bullbar and towbar already fitted.

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

I recently did a trip from Adelaide - Oodnadatta - Mt Dare - Alice Springs - Gary Junction Road - Rudall River NP - Ningaloo - Mt Augustus - Wiluna - Nullabor - Adelaide in a 3dr SX (tough dog suspension), accompanied by a stock standard 5 dr 150 GXL, 80 Series Landcruiser, & Oka truck. Prados had absolutely no troubles at all and proved to be far more comfortable than the other vehicles, e.g. on the extremely bad 39km corrugation into Ningaloo Station (which cracked the winscreen of the Oka).

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

I recently did a trip from Adelaide - Oodnadatta - Mt Dare - Alice Springs - Gary Junction Road - Rudall River NP - Ningaloo - Mt Augustus - Wiluna - Nullabor - Adelaide in a 3dr SX (tough dog suspension), accompanied by a stock standard 5 dr 150 GXL, 80 Series Landcruiser, & Oka truck. Prados had absolutely no troubles at all and proved to be far more comfortable than the other vehicles, e.g. on the extremely bad 39km corrugation into Ningaloo Station (which cracked the winscreen of the Oka).

Lucky b@st@rd.

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

Lucky b@st@rd.

Yes - and I forgot to mention also Karijini NP between Rudall River & Ningaloo. What a fantastic place. Also Mt Augustus was amazing - so isolated and peaceful and they say twice as big as Uluru as a single rock!

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

Very jealous mate, well done. Would have been a top trip.

Guys, I've found a couple of second hand prado's i'm interested in that are within my budget. Problem is the kms may be a little high...

One is a VX for 55k with 75,000kms. Bullbar, snorkel, suspension lift, towbar, grandtreks look low on tread - looks immaculate. Up at darwin, could be an expensive exercise... stamp duty, blueslip, (tyres maybe) rego etc etc.

The other is a GXL, closish to where i am in a remote area and has been used purely for country driving so the kms are bit high @ 92,000kms, asking 47k but i reckon i could get them down to 45k... mods are bullbar, spotties, UHF.

Thoughts on buying a high km D4D engine... they seem pretty bullet proof. What other maintenance could I bet up for? I do roughly 35,000kms a year which is why the higher km models are turning me off!

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

""they seem pretty bullet proof. What other maintenance could I bet up for?"" new injectors, injector seals, pulling the sump off and cleaning the oil pick up before it blocks and blows the motor up. If they fix the injector seal issues then I would say there a good motor but only for this website (PP) people are actually aware of whats going on with these engines. Iv'e started to hear people refer to these engines like the ZD30's in the nissan patrol's ?? I wouldnt say they are that bad when you compare the amount of prados with the D4D engine in them and the amount having issues but its certainly some thing to be wary of. Iv'e heard of injectors having to be replaced at around the 130k mark which isn't a cheap job (few grands worth) so possibly the lower the klms the better for yourself and your pocket but some times your limited depending on where you live and PLEASE dont just go by photo's on the car sales add, and then get a lemon transported to your house. You really really need to inspect for yourself or get some one with plenty of knowledge to do it for you. I was buying a 80 series cruiser a couple of years ago and thank got I decided to go to melbourne (Im in Sydney) and check it out for myself, it was a piece of shit, looked great on the carsales website and talking to the bloke, yeah mate nearly like new, felt like smacking him one when I got there needless to say I flew back home with my mechanic mate ($800) round trip on a long weekend............Cheers Steve

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

That's interesting Steve. I purchased a new 2010 D4D in 2010 and from what I understood the injector issues were only a problem for the early model D4D's? I would have assumed the 150 prado would be well past those issues!

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

That 2011 D4D I mentioned back on page 2 of this thread has gone from the site, I assume they sold it already.

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

Ah no worries, thanks fido... was a bit over what im looking to spend anyway. appreciate it though!

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I'm just surprised how fast it went, only got listed yesterday.

ETA: Actually they are closed today so maybe it was put on in error.

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

Guys, I've found a couple of second hand prado's i'm interested in that are within my budget. Problem is the kms may be a little high...

One is a VX for 55k with 75,000kms. Bullbar, snorkel, suspension lift, towbar, grandtreks look low on tread - looks immaculate. Up at darwin, could be an expensive exercise... stamp duty, blueslip, (tyres maybe) rego etc etc.

The other is a GXL, closish to where i am in a remote area and has been used purely for country driving so the kms are bit high @ 92,000kms, asking 47k but i reckon i could get them down to 45k... mods are bullbar, spotties, UHF.

Here are some prices from another thread

Sci fleet brissy paper add today

GX manual 52700
GXL manual 58490
GXL auto 60990
Kakadu 84990.

The first two would definately be diesel, not sure about the last two?

The GX manual with zero K's would be a good buy if you dont want an auto, personally if was in the market for a 150 I would be heading straight for the GX.

Cheers Andrew

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

Thanks Andrew, not keen on buying new. I have purchased 3 new cars in the past 3 years and lost a lot of $$ and prefer not to risk it this time, having said that I made some bad decisions (e.g. not keeping long enough) then along came a new born then relationship break ups and so on!!

I work for a big mining company and we do get a (fleet?) discount from Toyota, not sure how much, from what i've heard from other employees it's generous. I still think it may exceed my budget at the moment which is closest to 50K as possible! Other option it to "save" on tax with a novated lease. Although I struggle to sometimes see the benefits when making a comparison.
I had a novated lease on my previous vehicle (sahara petrol 200 series) and that was a big mistake, or was it? Can't help I was forced to sell it due to personal reasons listed above and lost a lot of $$ which was an extremely expensive exercise, anyway novated leases are a whole other kettle of fish and I am very hesitant to go with one again.