2004 Grande high Kim's or gxl low Kim's diesel

[Tim B Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Tim B]

Hi
I am wanting to buy a Prado.
It seems that the used grande petrols seem cheaper with higher kms even though the original sale price is much higher versus the gxl diesels.

I'm not sure whether to buy a immaculate looking grande 2004 for say $20,000 with 210,000 kms or a GXL 2004 diesel with only 100,000 kms for $28,000.

Both in great nick and seemingly good value.

The only towing would be my tinny.

I have 3 young kids.

My instinct is to spend more and go the diesel even though it is $8k more and the new car cost is $20k less ($70k for grande versus $53k for gxl).

Confused. Is my instinct right?

Any thoughts appreciated.

[Guest Close Guest]

There's a very nice Grande in the For Sale section.

[drew_1 Find all posts View Profile Close drew_1]

check this out mate:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RTX960Rxdk

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Hi Tim

I have an '04 diesel GXL and love it. But, if I had my way again I would go with the petrol living down here in Tasmania. We don't have a lot of stop start driving compared to other capitals and our roads are pretty fast so overtaking is something that happens a lot. (110k's up through the midlands etc). If you want to sit on 110 the diesel will do it fine BUT makes overtaking those sitting on 90 (wearing a hat) a planned thing.

Our friends have a v6 auto and they tend to get around the 14-15lphk around town. My std 1kz would get around the 12.5lphk.

$8000 is a LOT of fuel.

My 2c - Grande.

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

check this out mate:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RTX960Rxdk

Excellent vid review. Thanks for the link.

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

Your comparing 2 different things here, V6 vs Diesel and Grande vs GXL.

V6 gives you heaps of power, lower purchase price but higher fuel consumption. Really that is much a maths decision based on your personal circumstances as anything else. If economy is more important than power then go the diesel, if your happy to use more fuel and like the power and are not doing enough miles that the higher purchase price of the diesel outweighs the V6 fuel usage go the petrol. Really a personal decision.

Grande or GXL, well I reckon this comes down to how much you value the Grande Goodies. Leather seats, sunroof, airbag suspension, inbuilt satnav................. some people love it, personally I wouldn't pay 2 bob for all that stuff as it doesn't suit me, once again an individual decision.

What about a V6 GXL, low purchase price, probably get a later model with less k's for the same money? Given you are in Tassie that's probably the way I would look, but everyone's individual requirements are different.

Cheers Andrew

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

I''ll echo Amts' comment #2. Great price and good looking vehicle, pity your not in NSW. I've a grande 1KZ but if I had my time again I'd go a V6 petrol. Like the vid says...."ripper engines"? I think the second hand price for diesels is overpriced compared to the petrols anyway. Like the vid says the grandes are approaching >10 YO. If your staying on the bitumen the airbags may be OK for a few more years but eventually your looking to upgrade the complete suspension. I'd be looking for a GXL as it has coil springs so slightly better off road etc.

Look at http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...light=partsouq. Appear genuine parts and loads cheaper than Toyota!!

My total suspension is all aftermarket now as decided to keep it for the long term???? Still got to put on AJ120's sidesteps though. Bought my diesel before I knew PP existed!!

[YMUS Find all posts View Profile Close YMUS]

Tim
I did all the research all the checking these cars out and I clearly wanted the luxury and around town economy then the touring capacity of the vehicle.
I then found a 2009 Grande 120 never been off road - diesel D4D (all it had as extras was a tow bar).
The peeps on PP were unbelievable re their feedback AND so after evaluating it all I made the decision based on my needs - suggest you do the same.
ALSO now I have the Grande Diesel I am so pleased with the power and the performance of the vehicle... and simply love the luxury of the whole car.
I will however be adding the bits... Bar/Winch/Draws/Roof Rack AND suspension upgrade as they suggested... NOT a 2" lift, simply beefing the front end up and modifying the rear a little to ensure I can tour comfortably and go off road and feel confident the suspension will do "most things".
So it takes a little research but there are some deals out there re Grandes (SEE carsales.com.au) - I got my 2009 diesel for $36K most were $45-$47K.
Hope this helps a little from someone who has just been through the exercise
Hope this helps
Larry D
YMUS

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

I wouldn't buy a Grande if you want to modify the suspension easily.

[Tim B Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Tim B]

Thank you everyone, much appreciated.

[drew_1 Find all posts View Profile Close drew_1]

Hi Tim

I have an '04 diesel GXL and love it. But, if I had my way again I would go with the petrol living down here in Tasmania. We don't have a lot of stop start driving compared to other capitals and our roads are pretty fast so overtaking is something that happens a lot. (110k's up through the midlands etc). If you want to sit on 110 the diesel will do it fine BUT makes overtaking those sitting on 90 (wearing a hat) a planned thing.

My 2c - Grande.

similarly, i love my 150 GXL TD manual, and while i haven't driven a petrol version, open road overtaking can be a white-knucked moment as momentum seems to be lost at 120km/h or so. Still, it's a heavy truck and i'm averaging 9.5l from a mix of city and true country driving after 12,000ks, so i'm not complaining.

A good mate of mine from school was given his family-owned 1993 4-Runner SR-5 V6 with almost 300,000 k's on it when he got his P's in yr11. The bottom-end was rebuilt in our first yr of uni at 340ks and he sold it for $4k in 2009 before he got married with 600 or so kays - still going strong on the same engine albeit with some pretty bad rust problems probably from our surfing trips before we settled down (ahh memories).

petrol, for sure.
drew

[Tim B Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Tim B]

Thanks again.
I must admit that before I really looked into this I though diesel for sure but pleased that petrol may work out better.

Final(!) query is whether a grande for say $20,000 around 2003/4, 1750,000 / 200,000kms or a gxl for $20.000 around 2005/6 with150,000kms .

Again my instinct says gxl but with young children the 6 airbagsand finish of the grande are tempting .

Personal preference I know but interested in thoughts if anyone has strong options either way. The lovely Mrs would obviously love the leather, sunroof of the grande etc but it's not essential- that's not the reason for a prado it's just a bonus but maybe a couple of extra $1000 is worth it in the long run

I guess a later model with less kms ie gxl is the more prudent decision- but gee those grandes look nice!

Thanks again.

TB

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

^ Tim ..the grandes are good vehicles BUT (points to consider)...
the sunroofs are not great, however in Tasmania you may use them more than the other 90% of Australia. Cases of them rusting in the aluminium frame are common, just do a search on the forum. They get very little use throughout Aus. Also limit mods.

The side curtain airbags really limit the choice of cargo barriers you may use. If you eventually go for a specific manufacturer drawer/barrier combo it could be difficult?? The cut out of the barrier is quite large to accommodate these features. Plus a lot of aftermarket sliders are not certified for use with the B pillar side airbags although a few of VX/grande owners now seem to have them. Make sure the dash has been changed/replaced (all models)..>$1500, to facilitate the passenger airbag. Other gizmos eg sat nav will be so old and OOD it will not be funny. All needs replacing/upgrading.

The leather is not real leather sort of a pleather although it does clean easily. You may find the seats starting to degrade >10years. Finding the right covers for these seats (if you want them) can be challenging and expensive to accommodate the side bags.

The grande does have VSC/ESC and Traction Control though. If your not going to go hard core offroading you do not really need these so will be doing yourself a favour by going with the GXL with less twerky gadgets??? If you get a GXL make sure it is optioned rear a/c but in tas you may not need that as much as te rest of Aus?? Thanks

[Guest Close Guest]

I went with safety first, so the Grande it was for me.