Looking at first Prado Purchase help needed

[sillypoint Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close sillypoint]

Hi everyone, new member here. A quick couple of questions. I have been looking for a prado to suit my needs. needs to be my daily drive, tow a camper trailer on holidays and get me across the simpson etc. I have my eye on a 2004, its in good nick, done 188K, has Bullbar and dual batteries. Might get be able it for around 26k maybe. I know thw power, fuel economy etc is and issue with the kz motor wjich bothers me a bit. A D4d ticks the boxes but a a bit dearer not to mention the injector issues. Ive read threads on the performance chips and exhaust mods and seem like they help the kz out a bit, just not fuel consumption. Is this car too expensive at that price? how much will it coat me to put a chip in and a 3" exhaust?

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

26K depends on what equipment level it has, is it a GX, GXL, VX, or GRANDE, you can always try to knock a few grand off it anyway

[sillypoint Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close sillypoint]

Thanks mate, its a GXL and that price is after neg so it wont go down much if at all. Seems a bit much, for a car that is almost about to click over 200,000K. People are asking this type of money and more in SA. nothing else on it but a Bull bar and Dual Battteries.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Does it have to be a diesel, there are plenty of petrol Prados around that are at least 6k cheaper, thats alot of diesel to make up for if your after a diesel just because of fuel figures. You would be looking at at least 200000k's to even break even. Or think about the accessories you could put on her for that price saving.
Just an idea for you..

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

I will sell you a 2009 diesel Grande with one or two mods for $75k, $74,990 if you want to bargain.

Ignore all the twats that will post up saying my rig is worth more.

I want to down grade to an 80 or 100 series with a 6 inch lift

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

Mate i was looking for the same, daily driver, tow my dirtbikes, camping trips, fraser, the simspon and the cape at some stage, took me 6 mths of hunting through vehicles to find the right 1, the 2.7l petrol motor gx seems to be the cheapest, found a few with around 170 000klms on for around the $16 to $18k mark, unfortunately the motor is extremely gutless and works hard pulling such a big vehicle, and i,d have serious reservations about engine life as the kays get higher for such a hardworking motor, don't care for diesels personally and for the extra mark up i couldn't justify it, performance is miles behind the petrol 4l on road as well IMO. Ended up buying a 03 GXL with the 4L v6from a bank manager, 1 owner car, never offroaded, sovereign bar, bluetooth, flawless toyota service history, just clocked over 200 000klms and had the major service done, incuding all diff oils, plugs etc, safety cert, 6mths reg, i paid $16 cash, mind you i had to look for half a year and do some serious haggling, 200 000klms on these motors serviced properly is nothing, runs smooth as, quiet, comfortable, fuel wise im still working out as i havn't emptied the tank yet, trip meter say,s ive done 1035klms and it,s still sitting between the halfway and quarter empty line, that,s up the beach, hilly country in kenilworth, daily driving with air con blasting, reckon ill get 1200klms minimum out of it, which is equal to my old falcon ute so happy with that for the performance, fast for such a big car.



cheers

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I had a 2002 VX 95 series 3.4L V6 Petrol Auto with 100K on the clock that I traded in on the Kakadu last October. It went on the lot at $20K (bastards) and only lasted 2 weeks, not sure what it actually sold for. That car also had a full service history and no serious off-roading (unless you call dirt and a bit of gravel serious off-roading LOL). It also had recently had some major service items done (timing belts, radiator, and water pump) and had 18mth old Bridgestone Duelers all round.

Would have kept it longer but saw the nice shiny 09 Kaka on the lot and had to have it :-)