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talk me into buying one(few question about the diesel Prado)

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  • talk me into buying one(few question about the diesel Prado)

    Gday all, well like most first posters I have a few question etc. In the market for new 4WD currently driving a Mitso Delica diesel (yer i hear the sighs and word of blasphemer) to make it worse I owned 2 of them (only 1 to sell now). But to be fair there pretty capable off road car but I’m over them now.
    Fuel consumption been pretty well covered from what I’ve read so far, expect about 10-11L/100Ks a little more for heavy work, been looking for while at several offerings in the market and sort of have narrowed it down to 3. One is the GXL Prado manual diesel or a series 100 landie post may 2006 manual turbo diesel and the latest 70 series GXL.
    The 5 speed box compared to the 6 speed box would it be fair to say there would be a marginal increase in fuel economy using a 6 speed box?
    Rust after having a look at one second hand one I noticed so minor rust nothing of note, but I believe it may have been with the previous owners activities (beach driving) so apart from the exhaust manifolds what’s the go with rust any bad news stories out there?
    Approach and departure angles looking at the 100 and 200 and then Prado I suspect the Prado has better departure angle would this be true? (Fairly important do a fair bit of road stuff).
    Apart from the ZD Nissan motors blowing up I’m yet to find anything about the Toyota Diesel (well the D4D anyways) again any horror stories out there?
    Would it be fair to say the Prado is basically a smaller version of the 100 series Landies the main difference I could see was the width (apart from length, I don’t count an extra 40mm a lot and no there’s no follow up needed quoting what a ladies response would be ) and a little lower (5mm) ?
    Properly one for the wife’s/partners to answer visibility out the back any probs?. Height limits on car parks unfortunately my Delica has a 2 in lift and accessing anything less than 2.2M is a no go, but the specs say under 2M this is correct I assuming (and not paying truck tolls towing a trailer would be nice as well).
    Towing well the poor old Delica just doesn’t have it in her to tow anything more than a small box trailer we now have a new off road trailer and its dry weight is 350Kgs and all the usual stuff when going away brings it up to just under 700Kgs crawling up hills with fully loaded semis overtaking us is just embarrassing and a pest to other road users, any probs anyone can see with towing?
    Roo strikes will have a steel bull bar fitted not the cosmetic alloy bar anyone had the miss fortune and the resulting damage was? I do an annual trip to Tibooburra prospecting and last time nearly hit 4 roos and some crazy Emus not to mention goats, sheep and cattle. I won’t mention the amount of bird/bat strikes thou.
    Other question will be answered when the wife and myself have a test drive (extended one not round the block) something that only yourself can answer.
    Not to many questions I hope, but as this will be a fairly long term vehicle new family car need to make the right choice (fairly confident the Prados the go)


    Dropped into the local dealer who had a selection of Prados, 100 series and 200 series, as I was by myself checked out the seating room the 100 and 200 series plenty of space side to side and larger seats (to be expected as it’s a wider vehicle) but found the leg room on all to be fairly similar. The rear seats on all are pretty useless due to age of our kids so I don’t really include them in the scheme of things.
    One thing I keep looking at the Prado then the landies and so forth, the Prado just looks small but seems large? is it me or do I really need them glasses Still haven’t worked that out yet really bizarre any ways rambling on now.
    Regards
    John

  • #2
    Mate a little bit more info might help...

    Having no experience with the Delca, I find it hard to make a comparison but as for towing I think you will need to back off rather than being passed.

    Don't know what the story is with tolls...don't they cart freight :twisted: OK maybe thats a Pilbara thing.

    But you haven't said how many kids you have or what you really intend to do with the PRADO apart from 1 trip a year.

    Myself when I went looking I wanted a vehicle that could do every thing from towing the boat/camper to commuting the kids for sport and their friends but had to be able to be driven by the old girl for day to day tasks.

    Prado ticked all the boxes but that was for me.

    Personally I don't think you will find a better car/4X4 but then I have been called 1 eyed at times :lol: :lol: :lol:


    Chuck
    [color=red]GXL D4D AUTO Option pack more to follow & Camprite TL8s[/color] [url=http://www.fuelly.com/driver/Chuck1/prado][img]http://www.fuelly.com/smallsig-metric/46023.png[/img][/url]

    Diabolus fecit, ut id facerem!

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    • #3
      G'day Freshwater

      I picked up an '03 petrol just over a year ago. 55,000 Kms later and its still my best car buy ever !

      This this is an awesome day-to-day commuter and kid taxi .... then on weekends it becomes extremely capable at travelling some of Oz's less travelled routes.

      We spent 4 months, last year, doing a 20,000 Km bog lap of Oz .... 5 adult sized bodies in the car, enough luggage for 4 months and a 1400 Kg camper trailer hanging off its butt ..... sheer luxury.

      As for rust .... WASH IT ! I've done a lot of beach driving and always make sure to wash it with FRESHWATER :lol: :lol: :lol:

      The size thing is interesting (nup ... not going there :? ) .... the Prado statistically appears to be a fair bit smaller than some ... but space is used incredibly well and the amount of available internal space really is quite deceptive.

      Just go out and get one .... you know you want to :lol: :lol: :lol:

      Cheers
      Chippy

      Comment


      • #4
        Hi Freshwater

        I actually went in to purchase a 100 series but when I got there could not justify the price at the time. There was a Prado parked next to the 100 and I thought it was a Rav4 at first so did not even bother. All this was after I had ordered a Nissan Patrol but Nissan let me down to their detriment.

        The Tojo salesman talked me into having a look at it and spent the next hour going from one end to the other explaining it all and asked me three times to take it for a test drive. In the end I did, just to shut him up and I bought it .

        I have had a multitude of 4x4's over the years ranging from SWB landcruisers to hiluxes, Pajeros, Nissan patrols (still got one - wife's car) and this diesel Prado manual eats the lot of them and would have to say that out of the 9 fourbies I have had the pleasure of owning or having as company cars the Prado is the best .

        I always said that I would never own an automatic 4x4 but the only downside of the manual 6 speed is on and off the clutch when I spend a lot of time in Sydney so I think my next Prado will be an auto :?

        As you say take it for an extended test drive and you will be hooked
        06 GXL D4D, 6spd, Snorkel, ARB bar, XS900 50w HID lights, 55W HID Headlight upgrades, T/bar, 7" GPS, QStarz data logger, 52L Bushman Fridge, Premier winch, Sandgrabbas, GME TX3440, AE4705 antenna, Scangauge II, Dual Batteries, Aero bars & rack, Drawers, 2" Ironman/Rancho/King lift, Under bonnet compressor, Black ducks, Voltage booster, Rear table, AVE TPMS,

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        • #5
          hey fresh water.

          i cant help too much but i can help with the towing part. We have a D4D prado all stock! we tow a 23ft offroad Jayco van. shower, toilet, bunks, hotwater, two 90ltr watertanks the lot so it does weigh abit



          all up, it weighs about 2400kgs when all packed up with also 1 of the 2 water tanks filled (so that when we have a break, we have running water to drink, shower etc)

          The prado would put your delica to shame. we overtake cars with the van. it has plenty of torque and will take off when you plant your foot. it is a TAD sluggish up hills but not that much different from a petrol. just stick it in 4th and go and you will be fine. its nothing to worry about though.

          We get roughly 13-15ltrs/100kms so its not too bad

          hope this helps

          Jared
          -=WILSON=-

          -2007 Black Toyota Grande Auto D4D, darkest legal window tint, rhino racks.

          -2008 Jayco Expanda OFFROAD van.

          pretty much stock but lookin for some good 4WD action!!!

          Comment


          • #6
            Honestly Freshwater, you can't even have i discussion about how a Delica will tow compared to a Prado. Or any late model diesel for that matter. The design of the Mitsi motors was in the mid 80's in the early Pajeros. Bit like comparing a 60 series cruiser to a 200 series. Similar capacity but nothing alike! Honestly, dont just look at figures etc. Go and drive a Prado, Pajero, anything made in the last couple of years and you'll be shocked!

            Matt

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by MattWhite
              Go and drive a ... Pajero
              I'm shocked :shock:

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by fishnut
                Originally posted by MattWhite
                Go and drive a ... Pajero
                I'm shocked :shock:
                yes - but it could have been worse. "p*trol" - could also have been suggested.
                Easter-08 White GXL D4D Auto - delivered in near record time (5d) from placement of order. Has turned into a "Bermuda" or "Swiss fund" where $ get lost or converted into mods/accessories.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Honestly Freshwater, you can't even have i discussion about how a Delica will tow compared to a Prado. Or any late model diesel for that matter. The design of the Mitsi motors was in the mid 80's in the early Pajeros.
                  Yer very true that the old swirl chamber and non direct injection is antiquated design so sill y question on my behalf.
                  Don't know what the story is with tolls...
                  due to private industries running roads here for a buck anything towing a trailer and over 2M attracks the truck toll normally about double the cost, one time when i had my Narrava my sons bike was lying on the roof and the handle bar was picked by the height sensor the toll bloke said that'll be full toll thks M8 i wont say what my response was but you;d have a fair idea.
                  Yer should have put a bit more info my 3 kids are 17,14and 12 all tall about 3 family Hols a year and serveral short trips for me (do a bit of metal dectecting in the central west) towing only on family hols camper trailer weight about 700-750Kgs.
                  Unfortunatly (or maybe not :wink: ) the wife gets car sick in our current ride think its a height thing and it does sway a little but nothing drastic.
                  I sorta wanted the 200 series but as the wife and i would like to go back to a manual car thats out (+the price tag geez).
                  I have done the figures for comparision between the Prado/100 series (after 5/06 model) and theres not much difference about an extra 5% Torque and 18% power (in favour of the 100 but the Prado weighs less about 12-15% depending on the model im assumming so this cancells out the extra power.
                  But yer a test drive will sort out most of my questions just have to find a dealer with a diesel model.
                  Thks for the replies
                  Cheers for now
                  John

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Sorry, wasn't making an attack, more just encouraging you to go drive any modern diesel before you decide anything.

                    And Fishnut, I was just trying to SOUND inbiased. :wink:

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Sorry, wasn't making an attack
                      i know your werent so need to say sry or anything else so its all good.
                      I did have a 04 Navara STR dual cab and was impressed with it till the rust appeared around the front door pillars :evil: so it was ditched and besides not very spacious rear seats.
                      Ducked into the local dealer yesterday with the tribe, sat in 1 Prado then the 200 series and then 100 series as it is the wifes call on this new car her opinion was requested.
                      200 hard to see over the bonnet and its an auto (200 scratched from list) 100 series too bulky, Prado all fit in nice and snugg youngest can just fit in the back seats if needed to, it comes in a manual and doesnt look over sized so its thumbs up from the wife.
                      But she says in 12 months time i thinking NO 3 months now comes the hard yards of talking her outa the Delica she does like them even thou she gets car sick in them (go figure :roll: ).
                      Just a side note when i was having a general chat about the Prado to the new car sales bloke, i explained M8 in no rush just kicking tyres at the moment i asked about the wait for diesels models from Toyota he said yer about 3-4 months. He then checked the stock list and said we have 2 cars for customers coming in a couple of weeks (manual GXLs Diesels) and said if you want you can have one of these, i looked at him and said but arnt they pre ordered cars? his response was its alright.
                      So Hmmmmm to me He doesnt have these cars coming in for pre ordered customers rauther they have taken the plunge ordered 2 in and are hopeing for a quick sale to say you can grass cut other peoples cars was rauther stupid thing to say hoping id jump and say yer ill have one for full price :roll: . O the joy. So if your new car is delayed you know why now ive got it :lol:
                      Cheers for now
                      John

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Go Prado

                        Hi John,
                        My 2 cents worth: I owned 3 landcruisers over the last 20 years. A 60, 80 and 100 series. The 80 series was by far the best rig closely followed by the 60 series. The 100 series was not a bad truck just not as good as the others. There were a few things that swung me to the Prado: Cost - around $85,000 for a new crusier with the bits I wanted on it. The Prado with the same things I got for $59,400 drive away - no contest. Engine/transmission options - the cruisers as you know come only in Petrol V8 or twin turbo V8 diesel and both only in auto transmission. I actually ended up getting an auto - the first I've ever owned but have no regrets there. The Prado is such a pleasure to drive on the dirt, around town and on the highway. On a recent trip to the Gold Coast I got 11.2 ks to the litre - about 9 litres per 100k (over 30 mpg in the old terms) -outstanding. I did the trip on a tank of fuel and could have gone about another 200ks with what was left in the tank and I could have driven it a lot easier. On the down side I reckon the steel panels on the Prado are probably a bit thinner than the cruiser - you'll find a few examples of cracking around the front guards etc on this site but this seems to be the exception rather than the norm. When I was polishing the Prado the other day I noticed that without a lot of efffort I pushed the roof in a bit - no damage but just a sign of the times I guess. Manufacturers trying to cut costs and weight. There is also a fair bit of plastic on and under the Prado but this applies to the 200 series cruiser as well - more cost/weight cutting. All in all I'm really happy with the Prado and glad I made the switch. Maybe in the future we'll see you on the site as a proud Prado owner - as I am.
                        Tim
                        08 GXL TD Auto Silver, sovereign bullbar, towbar, headlamp & bonnet protectors, rear dust visor, Light Force 240 Strikers, BFG A/T's, GME TX3440 UHF, Rola Vortex roofrack.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: talk me into buying one(few question about the diesel Prado)

                          Go diesel Prado Mate! Try spinning a salesman's wheels and take a landcruiser for a drive 1st. Then a Prado. You won't regret buying the Prado. If you are carrying extra fuel diesel is much safer. They also tend to run cooler under heavy loading and use less fuel (this has been my personal experience over the last 6 Toyotas I have owned) The auto gearboxes are bloody amazing (even though I own a manual and love it). With the rear fold-up seats removed you have a great luggage space also. Kids don't get sick on trips as they are up high and get a good view.
                          2005 100 Series Landcruiser. 4.2 T/D 5 speed auto. LTD c/w AHC/Leather etc.

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