Buying a 120 series and need some advice

[Swerdy4x4 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Swerdy4x4]

Gday everyone.

I am currently in the hunt for a prado 120 series. I have read thread after thread in regards to diesel versus petrol and auto versus manual. As I am new to 4wds I am after some input from you guru's to help me make a decision.

My situation is pretty straight forwards. I will use it as the daily driver around the suburbs of adelaide, but need the 4wd side of things for longer trips anywhere in Australia with use mainly on sand and some light bush bashing. By all means nothing extreme. Wont be towing anything at this stage.

Budget of around $25k.

What should I be looking at?

Cheers in advance. Hope everyone's new year has started off excellently.

[Guest Close Guest]

Probably a petrol auto. The V6 is cheaper to buy so you are likely to get one with less km and younger for the same price. Autos are convenient and is good in sand where you won't lose speed changing gears.

[turtlewa Member Find all posts View Profile Close turtlewa]

Yes go the Petrol for sure less issues and cheaper to service do most yourself
I picked up a 08 petrol with 170,000km never been offroad on owner full Toyota logbooks service
For $260000 over all fuel use town and open road AV 13 ltr per 100km no towing
Ben

[Swerdy4x4 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Swerdy4x4]

Thanks for the replies.

So many split opinions from talking to people. The diesel is certainly more favourable from people I have spoken to elsewhere. But the price difference is full on.

How many km's is too many for the petrol or diesel for an 06/08?

[Guest Close Guest]

The petrol will go on for ever properly maintained. The D4Ds needs special care with the injectors and seals.

[pwatt01 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pwatt01]

I just got my first 4WD in Adelaide as well - I 2008 Prado with 159k on the clock, and a whole bunch of extra kit. I went for the petrol fro a few reasons, mainly:
- the injector issues of the diesels
- higher cost of servicing of the diesels ( and greater frequency if all is the be taken at face value)
- as this is be the family car, there will be some short distance driving, which diesels don't really like that much

I found looking around that there were some good deals in Melbourne that make it worth the money to fly there and drive it back!

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

The D4Ds needs special care.

You saying we're special?

[topic97 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close topic97]

You saying we're special?

A special kind of special

I say go petrol - but then I am slightly biased....

[Swerdy4x4 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Swerdy4x4]

Yes go the Petrol for sure less issues and cheaper to service do most yourself
I picked up a 08 petrol with 170,000km never been offroad on owner full Toyota logbooks service
For $260000 over all fuel use town and open road AV 13 ltr per 100km no towing
Ben

There's a 2005 GXL petrol with 119,000km. Going for $24k.

Something like that be worth looking into?

Couple of others floating around that price. Should I look for something a few years newer like an 08 with more km's?

[Hogey66 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hogey66]

Went for a look today at a 2004 GXL petrol with just over 200 000 on the clock and all looks to be in good nick for its age and mileage. Only concern was a noticeable ticking noise, appears to be worst on left side of motor. Not sure if it is valve clearance but that's what it sounds like. Any experts out there?

[Guest Close Guest]

The ticking noise is a character trait of the V6. It sounds more obvious when driving along a road with a concrete wall on the side.

[Hogey66 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hogey66]

The ticking noise is a character trait of the V6. It sounds more obvious when driving along a road with a concrete wall on the side.

Thanks for the quick reply.
Is that peculiar to the 4.0ltr? I have a old '97 petrol with over 420 000 kms and it doesn't do that.

[Guest Close Guest]

AFAIK, only on the 4L V6

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Gday everyone.

I am currently in the hunt for a prado 120 series. I have read thread after thread in regards to diesel versus petrol and auto versus manual. As I am new to 4wds I am after some input from you guru's to help me make a decision.

My situation is pretty straight forwards. I will use it as the daily driver around the suburbs of adelaide, but need the 4wd side of things for longer trips anywhere in Australia with use mainly on sand and some light bush bashing. By all means nothing extreme. Wont be towing anything at this stage.

Budget of around $25k.

What should I be looking at?

Cheers in advance. Hope everyone's new year has started off excellently.

Much debate on this.

As a daily driver if its short trips petrol is the answer, most diesel toorak tractors running around the city should have been petrols.
When you say longer trips anywhere in Australia, I immediately think diesel.
So it depends what your mostly using it for, & how anywhere you mean.

The truth is you cant really go wrong!
they cost about the same to maintain, diesel savings at purchase will be chewed up in fuel cost.
Same same different same

Enjoy!

[topic97 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close topic97]

Yeah I have to agree with ####, I got a petrol & couldn't be happier with it.
Brother in law has a Diesel and couldn't be happier with it.

In the end, you are still getting essentially the same great Toyota quality regardless of engine - and any car has the tendency to shit itself if its not looked after.

I will say one thing though, I did notice how obtrusive the diesel rattle is in the cabin whilst riding in his recently.
But meh, thats brass tacks stuff.

Write a list of all the stuff you want to have already on the car, work to your budget & go from there and take whatever engine pops up at the right price.