Where did you buy your prado?

[soccermum Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close soccermum]

Private purchase. I bought it from a friend who had it from new and was buying the latest model with no trade in. Lucky for me he only wanted the lease payout figure.

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

Bet the Rangie driver to buying it back eh?

Spoke to the old owner, and he was still keen on it - but need to up-grade for his business.

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

Mine was private, bought it from the daughter of the original owner. Even have the original sales receipt from 1997 to track it from delivery to me. Ive always bought my cars private as I can see at once how a vehicle has been treated or mistreated as may be the case. Plus its easier to do a deal with owners rather than salesman.

[cmilton54 Find all posts View Profile Close cmilton54]

Dealer Ceduna Machinery last two from them plus last Hilux as well

[sounda Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close sounda]

Bought both my 150's from a dealer (Busselton WA) and would not look at private. Too much of an investment to be buying someone's grief. Still, if you have bought privately and not had any dramas then good luck to you. Dealers do add a margin - no doubt. Research tells me it is in the 5 -6k range. My last trade was 2.5 years old and in very good condition but they would have had work to do on it prior to selling. I simply walked in got a trade figure and signed for the new 150. Easy. The trade was a good price ($49,000 for a 2010 GXL Diesal with 90,000km's on the clock and a bit of fruit). Grabbed the new GXL Diesal for $61,0000 - went for the white one this time. About to take it around OZ in 6 weeks.
Here's a good story. While in the process of finding the new car, I had a very good look at the new Disco 4 SE ($91,000). It certainly drives very nice but while out test driving (with the salesman) both my boys (aged 8 and 10) started asking the salesman why didn't the car have mid and rear air con and this and that and other features (apparently centre rear arm rest with cup holders was hugely important to them) which the Prado has. They then said to me (salesman still sitting in the back between both of them the missus was in the front with me) and said, "... dad you would have to be crazy to buy this car, why would you pay more to get less?" Right out of the mouth of a 10 year old. Apart from the momentary embarrassment he caused me and his mum - he was right on the money. Disco salesman coughed a fur ball! The only thing Prado lacks when compared to the Disco is that lovely European diesal - very nice engine that it is. Anyway, we have the new Prado and all are excited about heading off around Oz very shortly.

[sounda Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close sounda]

Dealers are Okay I Reckon

Bought both my 150's from a dealer (Busselton WA) and would not look at private. Too much of an investment to be buying someone's grief. Still, if you have bought privately and not had any dramas then good luck to you. Dealers do add a margin - no doubt. Research tells me it is in the 5 -6k range. My last trade was 2.5 years old and in very good condition but they would have had work to do on it prior to selling. I simply walked in got a trade figure and signed for the new 150. Easy. The trade was a good price ($49,000 for a 2010 GXL Diesal with 90,000km's on the clock and a bit of fruit). Grabbed the new GXL Diesal for $61,0000 - went for the white one this time. About to take it around OZ in 6 weeks.
Here's a good story. While in the process of finding the new car, I had a very good look at the new Disco 4 SE ($91,000). It certainly drives very nice but while out test driving (with the salesman) both my boys (aged 8 and 10) started asking the salesman why didn't the car have mid and rear air con and this and that and other features (apparently centre rear arm rest with cup holders was hugely important to them) which the Prado has. They then said to me (salesman still sitting in the back between both of them the missus was in the front with me) and said, "... dad you would have to be crazy to buy this car, why would you pay more to get less?" Right out of the mouth of a 10 year old. Apart from the momentary embarrassment he caused me and his mum - he was right on the money. Disco salesman coughed a fur ball! The only thing Prado lacks when compared to the Disco is that lovely European diesal - very nice engine that it is. Anyway, we have the new Prado and all are excited about heading off around Oz very shortly

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

Private!!!!!

I would never buy from a dealer, your paying $6000+ more. Ever traded a car in and go back and see what they put on it? I have seen up to 9500.00 added to a wholesale price, but then they do deals and throw in the on roads. Big business, some big costs too, they are there to make coin, not to be nice to you.

Also often ppl just trade in their problems, now ppl sell their problems too, but private buying you are usually able to buy for pretty close to wholesale, or cheaper, it's the nature of the beast. I think if someone is prepared to sell it themselves they may think they have one thing worth more than just trading it.
Now this is not always the case, I'm sure you can get good cars from the dealer, but as long as your happy to donate.
Auction is ok too.

Whether private or auction, it is very important, you or you ave an expert check the vehicle out to help reduce you ending up with a lemon.

Couldn't agree more! Ever noticed how caryards generally quote you either Red book or Glasses guide prices for your trade in, however are not afraid of pricing way over those guides for their selling price. Bottom line is, do your homework, if they start mentioning Red Book or Glasses, make sure they're using the same for their pricing.