Buying a 150 GX - ex fleet

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

Hey all,

Long time lurker / reader, short time joined as now i am looking at buying a Prado very soon.

Basic requirements are Diesel D4D, Manual, under 150km on clock and preferred under $35k.

Been looking at the 120's however they are getting a bit older and harder to find with lower km's and not be a ex miner and look like one to boot.

Been thinking and correct me if not its better to spend a bit more and go for a 150. A GX in this guise and therefore already has most of the 120 gxl fruit. (Dont need extra aircon or 3rd row seats)

Found a few at westside wholesale auto, all around $31-36k with 60-80k on the clock, is there anything to worry about here? for the mileage or others issues, all seem to be ex fleet/govt, mines etc with full service history and both keys etc, some have rollbars still installed, others not.

Nic

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

Ex fleet is a bit luck of the draw, a few are well looked after and have done long trips and a lot have done lots of short trips or been miss-treated.

I would look at the general condition, try to look past the detailing. I'd also try to contact the previous owner /driver. The service history also depends on who did it, some mines have better maintenance than dealers.

Go over it with a fine tooth comb, and I like to take a mate who's job is to look for all the faults.

[leethal1 Member Find all posts View Profile Close leethal1]

Hi Nic,

I also looked at westside when looking for a prado. I found them very slack whe cleaning up cars that are ex-mining, the give the car a good polish, vacume and some spray shine to hide the red dust. Every prado that i looked at in there still had the roll bar holes in the floor pan just behind the front seats, some had been siliconed up, others just had the bolts cut and plate left flapping around underneath the car.

I would be more inclined to look for a privatly owned car from over east. It's a nice drive and u'd proberbly pick up a gxl on the east cost for what you would pick up a gx in wa for in WA.

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

Hey Leethal1

Thanks for the info, when were you looking at them? most were not bad when i saw them, although yes underneath saw a still a bit of dust/crap, i am not too fussed on the amount of cleaning, as long as inside is clean the rest i can do and see any faults etc. Rollbar holes on most i saw were sealed and or i can seal them. barriers etc also

most i looked at had FSH and stamped at regular intervals, i am temped to take my bluetooth OBD2 and see if there is anything in codes but doubt it.

Are the 2010/2011 150s still suffer injector issues or just normal service intervals?

I'd rather not from another state as can't look it over and wont want to risk flying over for a lemon that looks good in pics... member cars for sale excepted. Private cars in was as you may know are rare.

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

Hey Leethal1

Thanks for the info, when were you looking at them? most were not bad when i saw them, although yes underneath saw a still a bit of dust/crap, i am not too fussed on the amount of cleaning, as long as inside is clean the rest i can do and see any faults etc. Rollbar holes on most i saw were sealed and or i can seal them. barriers etc also

most i looked at had FSH and stamped at regular intervals, i am temped to take my bluetooth OBD2 and see if there is anything in codes but doubt it.

Are the 2010/2011 150s still suffer injector issues or just normal service intervals?

I'd rather not from another state as can't look it over and wont want to risk flying over for a lemon that looks good in pics... member cars for sale excepted. Private cars in was as you may know are rare.

Cruisen,

I would recommend buying ex-government where possible. Generally, Prado's wouldnt be as much of a pool vehicle and would be a bit tighter control over people thrashing it - plus they most likely wouldn't have left the bitumen all that much.

With ex-mining / rental you'll be finding red dust coming out of every orifice of the vehicle for 2-3 years and the air-con will always have that Pilbara smell.

If you dont mind ex-rental, take a look at Aus Vehicle Sales - its the sales arm of Thrifty. They keep the cream of the crop and wholesale off the rest to yards.

Carbox is another West Side Auto Wholesale type yard. A lot of ex-mining and ex-rental.

If you can pick one up with still covered by new car warranty, you should be able to extend warranty through Toyota - which I would highly recommend.

Yes, they still suffer injector issues on the early 150's. I would be monitoring it even if it were a facelift 2013/2014 once it hits > 80,000km.

I wouldnt be scared of ex-mining or rental, as they would have been maintained better than alot of private cars! (Rio service every 5k and generally only issued to Supervisor / Superintendent and above) I would be more worried about how much they have been off-road (gravel access roads, pit work etc). A quick look underneath will give you a guide.

Kevin

[Green dog Member Find all posts View Profile Close Green dog]

we picked up a 2012 GX ex Pilbara car through big rock toyota for a good price with a warranty,
Has the obligatory red dust and stone chips unde rth ecar and dust around the seals.. but a very well maintained car at a cheap price..
Carbox also had some good ones in very good condition they just couldnt give as good a trade in on another car

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

Shodown/Green Dog, thanks for the information, both valuable.

GreenDog, was that factory warranty or there own extra warranty what they like to sell, from what i have researched the extra warranties are not worth it.

Shodown, I already own and selling an ex-mine 80 series so know what to expect with the red dust lol
Carbox and Aus i have heard of and will look at them too, Do you know who does servicing or fleet management for RIO? as most if not all i have looked at were ex-chalkwest (budget) or PMG servicing.

Can you get anything out of the statutory warranty on the injectors? after testing etc?

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

Extra warranties such as AWN would be a waste of time, but if your car is still under NCW Toyota will allow you to extend the NCW. From everything I have read, that is worth it.

Rio service there own.

[Green dog Member Find all posts View Profile Close Green dog]

factory warranty still..
but the car went back after a month for a free check up and service..
Big Rock now come to my door at work to service it..

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

Hey Nic,

When I was in PNG, Lihir would buy sight unseen from East Coast Commercials and have them shipped up. I thought it was a strange arrangement but the trucks were pretty good. In fact that's what got me started on Prado's. May be worth a look?

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

Just picked up a 2013 Prado GX, bull bar, side steps, new tyres, 1 1/2 years new car warranty and only 60,000km on the clock - ex councillors car from a country council in NSW... $38k. Im stoked - car is in great condition. Has full log book service history etc... Pick it up tomorrow.

[Totally4x4 Corporate Member Find all posts View Profile Close Totally4x4]

well done mate.. thats great value for a 2013!!

[Mattfunk 120 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mattfunk 120]

Nice buy. Well done. Saved some money for mods & virtually a new car

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

I got one too :-)

mid 2012 GX 150 with 66000 on clock with 6months new car left, very good condition from Aus vehicle sales, for $34k
has full history also and bullbar attached.

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

I got one too :-)

mid 2012 GX 150 with 66000 on clock with 6months new car left, very good condition from Aus vehicle sales, for $34k
has full history also and bullbar attached.

Fark, that is cheap. 5 or 7 seat?

I got my 2010 150 GX (7 seat) with around 85k for $35k around 20 months ago.

Didnt know about Aus Vehicles until I went searching for the service history and was put onto them to get a copy. Mine was one of the dustier vehicles they wholesale off to yards.