Trying to decide on a Prado

[AUTO.. Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close AUTO..]

Apologies for not getting back to you guys sooner. Been flat out at work.

I'm interested to hear more from petrol owners as to what kms they're getting and what driving style they use.

I am slowly leaning to a petrol as I could pick one up for around 15k. Set it up with double lockers, bar, winch, uvp, tyres and OME lift for another 7k. So there's 22k everything done.
I would be looking at a diesel for around 22k and then I've still got to set it up with 7k plus I would be tempted to chip and exhaust it for another 3k. So by this stage I'm looking at 30k+ for a diesel!

So let's say 6-8k difference in pricing for a fully set up example of both vehicles.
Let's say I'm using an extra $40 per tank owning a petrol over a diesel.
I do a 3000km trip I would probably use $100 more per trip with petrol than diesel which is unnoticeable when you consider servicing 5k diesel and 10k petrol plus the cost of filters for a diesel and cost of pumps + injectors on diesel if something happens.
Pretty much I'd have 6-8k worth of fuel to use on trips rather than having a diesel that I can't use because I've spent all my money to get a diesel.

I'm not towing ever. So that's not a concern for me.
I am keeping it for 5-10 years and setting it up fully for wombat holes, climbs, crawling, touring etc.
Trips like the cape and Vic high country as well as trips out the local 4wd parks.
Dual locked, barred front rear and sides, lifted with 33s. That's the aim.

However people that I've been driving with for a while have told me stay away from the petrol as its thirsty as! And that the diesel is the only one to consider. Mos car manufacturers are heading to diesel. The 200 is only available in diesel etc etc.
Toyota as a whole are shifting to diesel so it has to tell you something.

I understand diesels have more torque etc but I am coming from a big 4.2 petrol with PLENTY of powerful shift my 35s.
As mentioned I would be willing to sacrifice 200kms per tank to gain a heap of power which seems to be the case with the 120 petrol vs diesel prados.

I would love a diesel but I just can't seem to justify forking out another 6-8k to get one. Then to consider the extra servicing. Just to try and save myself 200kms/$40 per tank.
Then again v6 rego is more. But really noticeably one you take into account diesel running costs?

Longevity is a concern as well. Am I going to get 5-10 years out either of them and which would serve me better in 5 years. Would the petrol still be plugging away or would the diesel be dominating? Obviously both would be running but in what condition?

Tell ya what though, a fully set up petrol for 22k is much more tempting than a fully set up diesel for 28k.
I could do two cape trips with that extra money.

Then there's the issue of me not being able to let to of my rock crawling.. But there's not many AFFORDABLE options for live axle vehicles. Plus I want to be comfy.

I could always use the 6-8k to keep the patrol running as a toy lol

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

Rego more for the V6 ???.... Not sure why, not in NSW anyway. Mate at 22k your only going to get a 1KZ, and by the time you chip it and add an exhaust it still wont have the grunt the D4D has. The 1kz is a very reliable motor (in the 120 anyway, 90 had head issues) very straight forward engine and give little trouble, the V6 yes will chew more fuel then a D4D, but against a 1KZ the difference would be minimal. There is a member on here who lives around the corner from me and has a 120 1kz, chipped, exhaust (great looking 120) but said he might as well had bought a petrol as the 1kz isn't economical. As Ive mentioned before I get on average 11.4/11.6L per 100 on the freeway doing the speed limits. Around town yes I would say about 2 to 3L per 100 more then the 120 1KZ or the 90 but I am talking auto in all this. Im sure the manual 1kz's are better on fuel. I know Samo on here who has just bought himself a new spanker BT50 (great looking machine) and he said his was not economical but never had any unusual issues with his 1kz. I can get over 1500k from both tanks when cruising. When punching through sand yes the V6 will drink over the diesel but hey good to have the grunt (just hope matt doesn't read this as he stopped dead in his V6 while big fella got to the top of the sand dune) was just tyre pressure issues in my opinion lol. Mate either way there a great vehicle and the only difference in the end will be the decision you make. Drive all 3 if need be and go from there...........Cheers Steve

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

Auto, I have only had diesels for more years than I care to remember and my driving style is adapted to them. Slow and easy does it with bags of torque. Your logic though is spot on. There is nothing wrong with having spark plugs and the V6 is a good engine. If you do a direct comparison between a heavily modded petrol to an unmodded diesel then I know which I would prefer to pilot.

You are still used to driving patrols and I see no reason to change in your circumstances.

EDIT: I think the V6 got the 5 speed auto as well. It is pretty good.

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

""and my driving style is adapted to them"" very true, driving style with a diesel over a petrol is totally different. My wife use to nail the 1kz all the time and rev the shit out of it (no wonder the head cracked), I use to say to her just drive with light throttle and let the turbo do the work, revving the shitter out of them does nothing, she was coming from a V8 statesman so I suppose its a big difference. I use to hate it when she took it to work and as usual running late so flick the key hit drive and go, could hear the poor old 1kz screaming help me lol. Yes the 5 speed come out in late 04 on the V6 I think it was October. The 4 speed is still a good box just the extra cog gives that bit better economy. My mate reckons he gets an extra 200k per tank with his 5 speed auto over his early 04 4speed auto.......Cheers Steve

[AUTO.. Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close AUTO..]

You have all raised very good points, ill just clear it up a little bit so its not so murky.

My Patrol is locked and even though I drive hard stuff I rarely get it up over 3000rpm. Being locked allows me to keep the revvs right down and remain at a steady controlled pace. I am thinking more if I ever NEEDED the power I would have it there on tap if needed with the 4L V6. Not that I would use it all the time being locked, most of the time it would be a slow steady pace.

I would be going for an auto as they are absolutely unbeatable offroad IMO. Patrol is auto and it just walks. Even though downhill is a bit of a hassle its not enough to make me want a manual just for that ability.

I will keep an eye out for the 5 speed auto if I do however as your theory of better economy sounds accurate.


Correct again, its the choice of a 4L V6 or the 1kz. The D4D is out of my price range.

And as much as I love my patrol I just don't want to keep spending money on repairs especially if its my daily. I want something more comfortable and enjoyable to drive as a daily. Id like the ability to do longer trips as well which the 4.2 carby just doesn't allow.
A GU TD42T is out of my price range as well (the wagon is anyway), and the 3L Patrols are just too much of a nightmare with their horrid engine problems. So it doesn't leave me much option for Patrols.

Then I've looked at 105 series TD and theyre just too expensive or massive kms.

I am almost convinced of a Prado as they seem very capable offroad and offer the 180L tanks, amazing comfort, and look great.

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

Mate I'd have any of the prados. Extremely comfortable and great for touring but I will admit I would buy a pajero DID if I was touring and towing as well due to their torque (Toyota lagging behind I think with the D4D now, getting on a bit). I almost bought a Exceed pajero before this 120 but I like the live rear axle's on the prado but must admit I really do like the interior of the Exceed as well. As at the moment my towing would be a maximum 4 weeks of the year (which its not anyway) so petrol is fine for me but if I was retired and touring and towing, diesel is the way to go............Cheers Steve

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

I'm not towing ever.

In that case, go the petrol

[AUTO.. Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close AUTO..]

What about in regards to touring. River crossings, mud etc.

Any dramas being a petrol?

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

Mud wont really make a difference wether its petrol or diesel, either way the shit gets in places/seals etc and causes you $$$ My mate who use to own a touring company says Mud Means Money, reckon he's write to, every time Ive been screaming through it, it cost me some form of repairs. While I love doing it I wont be doing it to often in the future. At least with the 4L V6 you have plenty of revs on board to spin the crap out of the tyres lol, seriously though Water is really not a major issue in either these days, as they all run computers with a shit load of sensors, and the petrols having their own coil packs gone are the days of distributer caps getting condensation under them or points shitting them selves or getting wet. Sure if you get cought up some where and you are sitting there the diesel would have the advantage BUT only till the water gets to the computer on either of them then your screwed lol. Even with a diesel I would still use a water blind to stop the gush of water through the radiator and onto the fan causing it to possibly ripping it off or bending the blades and shoving it through the guts of your radiator. Bigfella on here (use to have a 90 series petrol then a 120 diesel D4D) had water over his bonnet many a times with his 3.4L V6 and even without a blind never had any issues..........Either way it can be a bit daunting when you see it coming over the bonnet and you hope to your self you get out the other side with out any issues...........Cheers Steve

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

Also there are a heap of guys on here with patrols and surely they ALL can't be wrong

[AUTO.. Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close AUTO..]

Correct.
Mud wreaks havoc on my patrol. Dizzy, carby, alternator. It's horrible.

Any more fuel figures guys between the 1kz and the 4L petrol?

Are people running front lockers or rear lockers?

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

Correct.
Mud wreaks havoc on my patrol. Dizzy, carby, alternator. It's horrible.

Any more fuel figures guys between the 1kz and the 4L petrol?

Are people running front lockers or rear lockers?

Front and rear lockers :mrgreen: but if you only go for one get the rear.

Cheers Andrew

[AUTO.. Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close AUTO..]

I'll be going for both eventually but one will do for now. If I need the other one later I will. I have a front locker in the Patrol and that gets me everywhere.

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

Patrols have really good LSD's, the Prado one is crap, hence go the rear first.

Cheers Andrew

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

Patrols have really good LSD's, the Prado one is crap, hence go the rear first.

Cheers Andrew

I can't support this comment strongly enough, the Toyota LSD is hopeless. There are plenty of people who have rebuilt the things, changed shims etc etc to no avail. I had the same experience I reckon the LSD stopped being an LSD before the first tank of fuel was finished. Chuck the first locker in the back.