$20k what would you buy?

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

Yeah Wooley our friends had a xtrail in diesel and pissed it off as they had it in Nissan a couple of times due to this filter. They were lucky to be done under warranty but were told the next time it wouldn't be so he pissed it off. He was told he had to do at least 80k (speed wise) for at least 20 mins for the filter to burn off the crap to keep it clear if that makes sense, other then that he loved it, he actually we to a petrol version.... Cheers Steve

Yeah, they're not useful (or friendly) on city vehicles.

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

Doubt you will get a 06 120 diesel for 20k or less ?? I could be wrong but I think if you did it would have huge klms and probably trashed. A 90 series yes. Cheers Steve

[t303 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close t303]

Why a kzj95 and not a kzj120? I would like to cruise with my 1700kg van at 110 not 90. The crappy Santa Fe with its 2.2lt diesel did 110. How thirsty are the petrols. The economy thread is a little all over the place.

I haven't been watching the prices, but I would have thought that a low k's 120 would be at the upper end of the budget, but you still have a 1KZ-TE. At 1700kg and 110kmh you will be on high boost a lot of the time and I would guess you will be somewhere between 15-20L/100km. I have a full suite of boost/EGT/temp instruments so I can see all the parameters. With a 1.5T CT on the hitch she runs about 6-7psi at 95Kmh, 110Kmh has it pegged at 10psi most of the time (stock is 9.7psi). I do have larger tyres and full roof rack, but a van on the back would have a similar drag factor. I have a manual and stuck 235/85 tyres on it as it drops your cruising revs by about 200rpm, making it more comfortable when towing in 4th (as you must unless you want to destroy the RF151 gearbag: it's actually a car gearbox as found behind things like old Supras, so treat it with respect)

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

If you go the KzJ 120 look for a 2006 one just before they went to D4D as these ones had the 5 speed auto the older ones with the 4 speed auto will annoy you towing or just go a manual
However as above i have to agree if it was me i would go a 120 petrol

All automatic KZJ120 Prados were 4speed, the 5speed auto came out with the KDJ120. The 5speed auto was first available in Sept 2004 with the GRJ120 V6 petrol. Yet another reason to go for the V6 petrol.

[macaroon1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close macaroon1]

^^Thanks Peter for finally clearing all this 4/5 speed thing up. I was always unsure from all the threads if the KZJ120 automatics ever came in 5 sp. It always seemed suss, Tojo would not put a new gearbox in a old engine they were de-listing, they would not just give the last batch 5 speed!! The GRJ petrol 09/04) is where all the confusion has come from???

FWIW I've the 4 sp auto and it's OK for me as I act/drive like an 'old man'. I never take it past 100K's as it starts to drink too much. Like on another thread I'd go the GRJ120..but then you are towing....if heavy I'd be tempted at KZJ95 for your budget, still get some good examples and are better 'off roaders'!

[Guest Close Guest]

I wished I knew a bit more about the 5spd auto in the V6. I think it is also the model that you can plug a scangauge into.

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

I'd get the same as what I've had for the past few years... a 90 series 3.4L auto with low KM's. They're simple, reliable, many available and you'll have spare cash for the fuel.

Whilst diesel engines are definitely more efficient with fuel use, they do have other costs:
- Their purchase price is higher.
- Turbos cost more to maintain.
- They tend to have higher KM's, leaving you with more repairs to spend money on.

If you keep getting burnt by past purchases then you're repeating a mistake. Try to find well looked after vehicles with legitimately low KM's. Don't get a high-km vehicle due to budget restraints - you'll just end up spending more money on maintenance.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

After we traded it in our 2002 VX V6 Petrol 95 series was on the dealer's lot for ~$20k. It had low KMs (100,000 odd), fairly new tyres (11 mths old), and had all the major stuff done at the 90K service (new water pump, radiator, and timing belt). We had ours for 10 years and it was very reliable, just a flat battery and the water pump going and the normal service items.

I'm not sure if you would find a 120 in such good nick with low KMs for the same kind of money.

[mcfisherclan Member Find all posts View Profile Close mcfisherclan]

thanks guys... we are also thinking that a petrol is the way to go. also thinking that if we can get a late 04, 05 with the 5 speed auto. have been driving a Pajero hire car with manual for the last few days and its not much chop with the mrs.

Have found some pretty amazing deals out there on even grandes of that era with ~180k kms for under or around $20k. wish we had more money but we just dont. It would seem that the old non d4d diesel is not really going to be right for us which seems odd (we had a a d4d wish we hadnt gotten rid of it). Am i right in reading that the petrol will pull better than diesel at higher speeds (if a little exy on fuel)?

What should i inspect in a car of 05 age and 180k kms in the petrol variaty? so i can do a visual inspection myself before forking out for a mech inspection? is anyone in Darwin that can help us out?

Thanks again PPers your legends. great community

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

I wished I knew a bit more about the 5spd auto in the V6. I think it is also the model that you can plug a scangauge into.

Yes it is http://scangauge.com.au/?page_id=473

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

Have you thought about a dpf replacement pipe, straight through replacement with sensors if required

Chip-It sell one for the NS Pajero dpf replacement pipe so there might be other providers

You may need to ensure the cat and aren't combined

[Guest Close Guest]

Yes it is http://scangauge.com.au/?page_id=473

Yes, would have waitied for a 5spd if I had known. Didn't do enough research on PradoPoint back then.

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

Fairly new to the forum but decided this is something I can throw my two bob's worth into. Recently purchased a 2003 120 manual after shopping for a looooong time. I decided some time ago to avoid the D4D motor even though they make great power and have a six speed manual. That left me with the 1kz or petrol motor. Nearly went down the petrol path but in the end picked up a 1kz with less than 100,000 kms on it in very good nick, it cost more than your budget though. Was thinking of putting a chip in it after reading so much about them being 'gutless' but I have found it to be ample power so far, both on and off road. Haven't started towing yet though so that could change. Driving it at 100-110 kph on highways returns around 9.5-10 litres/100 k. You're never going to get the same power out of a diesel as you do out of a petrol so that's something you'll have to live with.

After working out long term finances including purchase prices and servicing the price difference was negligible, what you loose in the fuel cost you make up for in servicing costs. If you're doing a lot of towing or off road work maybe go for the diesel as I think they are better to use in those circumstances.

'bout time you had some good luck with cars by the sound of it, I would have thought you'd be sick of diesels by now.

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

20k will see you in a 03/04/05 petrol 120 with klms from 150 to 200k, paid 16k for an 03 with 200k on it 6mths ago and it is a seriously powerful, reliable, comfortable car, my rule of thumb is high klms always buy petrol over diesel, around town, camping and everyday driver buy petrol, towing a lot, buy diesel. In the situation you have described with the coin you have, I,d buy a petrol pajero, $20k will see you in a 04/05ish paj with only 100k on the clock, every bit as well built, reliable and nice to drive, miss out on toyota resale tho, cheaper when u buy, best of luck.





Cheers

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

Hi Karlmagoo, while agree with most of your post I would stand well clear of the petrol pajero's. No where near as reliable as as a Toyota petrol and expensive to repair and parts and some electric issues especially on the 3.5L. The 2.8D were bad for the heads, but I would have the 3.2 DID any day..... Cheers Steve