Buying used Prado 120 (VX or Grande) - What to Expect?

[Prudao Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Prudao]

I am glad i found this forum as I am shopping for a Prado 120 for the family.
I was looking at the VX and Grande 5 speed auto Petrol. The better half prefers the grande with its leather seats and luxury. However, a VX will also do (my preference). We can spend a maximum of $30K on the car.

I found some online but not sure yet. One of the car is a 2004 Grande 5 speed auto with about 80,000 km and full service history for just over $34k. This seems a bit too much for a 9 year-old car. What do you think? Which Prado should I be looking for? and how much should I be looking for a 2004-2006 low Km's Grande or VX?

Thanks

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

80,000 is low km, but you should be able to do a bit better than $34K. That's about what I paid almost 3 years ago for mine with a few more km from a dealer. Redbook says $29K is top dollar for a 2004 5 speed Grande V6 with 140,000km on a private sale, $31.6K for a 2005 with 120,000km and $33K for a 2006 with 110,000km. The VX is a bit harder to find, but should be $3K-$4K less than a Grande.

I know that you're after a 5 speed, but as a comparison I know someone that recently bought a 2004 4 speed Grande from a Sydney dealer for $20K, which I thought was a great buy. Hope this helps and welcome to the forum!

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

$20K is what the dealer put on my 2002 VX 95 series with 100,000 KMs on the clock. No mods other than a bullbar and AT tyres but in top condition and with all the major service items for a Prado of that age and KMs already done. If I'd had the time or energy to sell it myself I could have made some more $$ but traded it in so I didn't have to carry the extra finance on the Kakadu till the VX sold.

$34K seems a bit high although I acknowledge it's a 120 so at least it's only 1 body shape out from current. KMs are quite low for the age, just remember at 100,000KMs the major items like timing belts need to be done.

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

I just bought a 05 VX petrol auto. 160k kms and $10k of extras fitted. I parted with $20k.
I stayed away from the grande as I didn't want to be looking after leather trim.
$34k is way over priced IMHO for the vehicle you describe.
I took my time and waited for the right one at the right price. I passed on many vehicles due to the owners insisting it was worth the price they were asking.

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

=Beach;432328 as I didn't want to be looking after leather trim. .

IMO leather trim is the best/easiest upholstery money can ever buy. Mine's an 03, seats never been covered and the seats still look really good .Same as cloth the UV rays will get them but leather will far outlast fabric..just a damp cloth with a little bit of neutral soap added now and again will make them last for donkeys, inc muddy clothes. In a 4x4 they do seem odd but they are made for the job! Placing canvas covers over them is the trap which a lot of folks fall into, totally shafts them? They beat buying expensive covers and buying dust busters any day. Just my 2 cents!

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

No belt on the 120 V6 fido......Cheers Steve

[Prudao Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Prudao]

No belt on the 120 V6 fido......Cheers Steve

Chains instead.

[Prudao Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Prudao]

Just found a very good Grande with just over 100,000 Km. But it is located at 5 hours driving from my place
What is the right way to buy a car as far as this one. Is one day enough to inspect the car and drive it away at the end of the day?

P.S. This will be the first time I buy from a private seller. So not sure about the process and how long it does take.

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

Yeah mate unfortunately some times we have to drive and have a look. I even flew to Melbourne when I was at one stage looking at a multivalve 80 series cruiser, looked great in the photo's and even after talking to the owner for a week, luckily I went and checked it out and didn't just hand over the cash and have it transported to me, was a piece of shit. I have travelled many klms looking for the write car only to eventually find it 5 minutes down the road (Penrith Toyota) lol but that's the way it goes. 5 hours is fine if you have an early start like 4am in the morning if I was doing what your thinking about. You also need to do all the checks to make sure its not a written off vehicle, rebirthed, stolen, money owning, RTA klm check make sure it hasn't been tampered with, then your general mechanical check. The usual wear some old clothes and climb in underneath and check it out, any signs of off road work eg bash plates damaged, and signs of sand, chassis rails, welds that don't look right, oil leaks (not common) every thing works eg windows, cruise, a/c, lock the centre diff, low range, everything. Service history in important, if it hasn't got one or no log books I don't touch them (but that's me). Is it garaged ?? Bloke with the 80 series I looked at told me the vehicle was always garaged, I new I was talking to a bullshit artist when I got to his front door and realized he had both the 80 and his new 200 series out the front in the gutted when you would have been lucky to fit a mini down the side of his house to get into the garage. You can send me a PM if you like with the link to the car and some times just by seeing where its parked, the house etc determines how some people look after things. May sound offensive but if I turn up to a house and the lawns up around the windows, cars parked in the middle of the front yard with kids throwing a cricket ball around then I usually wouldn't even bother to stop. These are all the things I look at when buying privately. IF they have no respect for the house their in then generally it refers back to every thing they own as well......Sure I've pissed some one off with this comment which I apologize for but this is how determine things some times..... here is the link you need to check the vehicle out with. The are different levels but I always go the whole hog which gives full history including klms at time of rego's each year. I think they only go back about 5 to 7 years but will still give a very good indication if the speedo's been tampered with........... http://www.revscheck.com.au/?gclid=C...FccTpAodTUcAeQ Cheers Steve

[Prudao Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Prudao]

Hi Steve,

I can't find the words to thank you enough.
I will PM you the link to that car.

Thank you.