2005 Prado 120 in Africa. Help needed!

[MacLeod Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close MacLeod]

Hi chaps,
I've just been posted to Gabon in central west Africa and am in the process of buying a Prado. It's bloody remote here with lots of sand/beach driving and pretty basic servicing capabilities (but the local mechanic is used to Prado's).
I have narrowed it down to 3 Prado's
2005 VX diesel 5 speed manual, 85000km, price about $30K
2005 VX diesel 6 speed manual, 86000km, price about $30K
2014 TX diesel 6 speed manual, 0km, price about $65K
There is no service history on any of the used cars although they seem to drive ok for 9 years old.
I've never owned a prado before so would really appreciate any advice on what to look for on used vehicles (I've read about clutch issues on the 6 speed manuals). The local mechanic can repace clutches.
I guess it's a question of risked economics, and although there is no way to tell what has happened in the last 85000km of a used car in Africa, I'm generally of the opinion that the prado diesel is a tough beast and a 9 year old vehicle should see me through the next 4 years of beach driving.
Which would you buy?
Cheers

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

Any of these 1KZ or 5le engines? Given the location, remoteness and limited mechanical support I'd steer clear of the common rail diesels.

The 5 speed is more durable than the 6 speed.

Mick

[dizzy Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dizzy]

I'm from Africa. Its not for sissies, especially where you are based...

My opinion - a used Prado in that part of Africa is asking for trouble regardless of how good the vehicle is

Gabon is not a wealthy nation, and since the vehicles dont have service histories, it just proves to that these vehicles haven't been looked after as they should have been.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

I'm from Africa. Its not for sissies, especially where you are based...

My opinion - a used Prado in that part of Africa is asking for trouble regardless of how good the vehicle is

Gabon is not a wealthy nation, and since the vehicles dont have service histories, it just proves to that these vehicles haven't been looked after as they should have been.

It just proves that the book hasn't been stamped, they could have been very well looked after But yes it's a risk. I'm also from Africa and most of our relatives and friends are on farms where all their servicing is carried out on the farms, not in town.

Stay away from the common rails and you should be fine. The local mechanics are pretty ingenious but the more electronic jiggery pokery there is, the less they can do. But there is a reason so many cars on the roads in Africa are Toyota's.

Also consider the owners, are any of those from an NGO, or Aid Agency. Their drivers can be pretty hard on the vehicles.

[MacLeod Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close MacLeod]

Thanks for the reply. I was really sitting on the fence but after these comments, and some further questions around the traps, I'm going to go new. It feels like a bit fancy for something that's going to cop some very rough treatment but breakdowns are just going to be too inconvenient to manage. Secondhand is something I'm used to managing back home but the risks are different here I guess.
Thanks for the input!