buying my first 4x4

[dmop85 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dmop85]

Hi all

I am in the process of choosing the right Prado for me. I have done heaps of reading online but cant really make a decision about which exact model or engine to go for.

The only things i know for sure is I want a diesel and it has to be auto so the other half can do some of the driving.

At this stage it will be used as a daily driver and hopefully will get dirty once a month. We plan to do some longer trips in the future.

My dilemma at the moment is i want all the good stuff (fuel economy and decent power) at the same time so not sure which engine i should be searching for.

Trying to decipher all the differences between KDJ120R vs KZJ120R and im just getting confused, I have been set on the KZJ for a while but now i realise i have no idea why i wanted that one.

Please help

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

Any particular reason for the diesel? Purchase, maintenance and servicing costs are considerably higher than the petrol and eat eat up the savings made by fuel economy. Petrol motor is good for 500 000 km+ with normal maintenance, and will get up and go when you need it. What sort of budget are you looking at?

[dmop85 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dmop85]

I want to stick with the diesel mainly because i feel like the diesel will suit us better especially with the longer trips that might end up in the middle of nowhere (i hear that petrol is hard to come by when your really far away)

budget would ideally be around $15-17k because i know i will want to spend some extra on mods. i would spend a bit more if the prado was already set up with BB n winch, roof racks and maybe lift kit

[pradosteve97 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradosteve97]

go drive a petrel Prado the same model as you want a diesel in and tell me where all this diesel torque is the petrol will blow it to the weeds off the lights and all thru the rev range I'm yet to see a hill a diesel 90 series can get up my petrol can't we have found 1 or 2 ole mate with AT's couldn't get up . How far do you have to drive for diesel to end up cheaper?

[Mick2211 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mick2211]

You really need to do your sums when making a decision between the petrol or diesel options. Buying a diesel vehicle only on the basis that it will be cheaper to run was OK 20 years ago however with the CRD's its been proven not always to be the case. It really depends on what you are going to use it for. Buying a diesel just because you tow a camper once a year or go on a long 4WD trip every other year probably isnt as cost effective as it was in the past. At work I'm involved in the maintenance of 280 diesel heavy vehicles mostly Euro 5 and I bought a 2013 V6 150 GXL and have never regretted that decision.

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

Hey DMOP85 - Diesel - Good choice... I am sure you've done you sums so if you want a diesel, get a diesel. I have my own reasons for wanting a diesel and its nothing to do with running costs & I didn't buy a Prado to be a traffic light racer - more torque over a wider rev range in the diesel and having a friend who died when when their petrol landrover rolled over and exploded, sold me on the diesel. Diesel is much harder to make go boom than petrol.

KZJ - 8 Valve Single Overhead Cam, Indirect Injection - basically its an older motor. Pretty much the same design used for decades = slightly less power at higher rev range, older tech therefore less to go wrong out in the bush and easier to fix - 4 Speed Auto, 5 Speed Manual. More able to be worked on by a DIY home mechanic. Its a solid reliable motor that's like a truck to drive but you'll need to use more right foot than the D4D.

KDJ - AKA the D4D- 16 Valve Double Overhead Cam, Common Rail Direct Injection - Newer motor, more power at a lower rev range, better fuel economy, less truck like to drive, - 5 Speed Auto, 6 Speed Manual. Less bits able to be worked on by your average home mechanic - and bits are a lot more expensive to replace.

Later KDJ models have more gadgets but will likely be out of your price range.

KZ - 96KW @3600 rpm, Max Torque = 343NM @ 2400-4800
KD - 127 Kw @ 3400rpm, Max Torque = 410NM @ 1600-2800rpm
5VZ-FE (3.4 litre Petrol) - 132KW @ 4800 rpm, Max Torque =303NM @ 3600rpm

[RBJET Member Find all posts View Profile Close RBJET]

You'll be looking at a KZJ120R with that budget which came out in the earlier 120's. Pre 2006.

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

I want to stick with the diesel mainly because i feel like the diesel will suit us better especially with the longer trips that might end up in the middle of nowhere (i hear that petrol is hard to come by when your really far away)

budget would ideally be around $15-17k because i know i will want to spend some extra on mods. i would spend a bit more if the prado was already set up with BB n winch, roof racks and maybe lift kit

I'd be surprised if there's anywhere you can't go in a petrol Prado with a bit of planning beforehand. 180lt fuel tanks will get you a long way. Only reason I would consider the diesel is if I was planning on a lot of heavy towing. Purchase price is lower so you can pick up a petrol with most of the fruit on it for the same as a stock diesel with maybe a bullbar if you're lucky.
A guy at work paid twice what I did for his 05 diesel with similar extras and a few less kms than my 04 petrol. Both bought within about 2 months of each other. I've replaced the starter motor and battery in mine, about $600, he had to get injectors done pretty much straight away which added another $2500 to his spend.
Nice petrol with a few good extras, looks like it's had a lift but doesn't mention it. http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...4212938/?Cr=32
Diesel in similar price range. Older with higher kms but still a nice unit. Add a few grand if the injectors haven't been changed in the last 120000kms. http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/de...3532193/?Cr=38

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

Here's another with a good fit out. Lower kms but a bit older, http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...3967581/?Cr=19

[dmop85 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dmop85]

Hey DMOP85 - Diesel - Good choice... I am sure you've done you sums so if you want a diesel, get a diesel. I have my own reasons for wanting a diesel and its nothing to do with running costs & I didn't buy a Prado to be a traffic light racer - more torque over a wider rev range in the diesel and having a friend who died when when their petrol landrover rolled over and exploded, sold me on the diesel. Diesel is much harder to make go boom than petrol.

KZJ - 8 Valve Single Overhead Cam, Indirect Injection - basically its an older motor. Pretty much the same design used for decades = slightly less power at higher rev range, older tech therefore less to go wrong out in the bush and easier to fix - 4 Speed Auto, 5 Speed Manual. More able to be worked on by a DIY home mechanic. Its a solid reliable motor that's like a truck to drive but you'll need to use more right foot than the D4D.

KDJ - AKA the D4D- 16 Valve Double Overhead Cam, Common Rail Direct Injection - Newer motor, more power at a lower rev range, better fuel economy, less truck like to drive, - 5 Speed Auto, 6 Speed Manual. Less bits able to be worked on by your average home mechanic - and bits are a lot more expensive to replace.

Later KDJ models have more gadgets but will likely be out of your price range.

KZ - 96KW @3600 rpm, Max Torque = 343NM @ 2400-4800
KD - 127 Kw @ 3400rpm, Max Torque = 410NM @ 1600-2800rpm
5VZ-FE (3.4 litre Petrol) - 132KW @ 4800 rpm, Max Torque =303NM @ 3600rpm

Thanks r4ndll really good info there will definitely come in handy.

i think after reading that maybe i have to up the budget because although i havent tested either model yet, it looks like the KD will be the power and economy... time to start the search again haha

[dmop85 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dmop85]

so this is the cheapest KD on carsales in melbourne at the moment.. after having all the work done it sounds like a good deal but i would love to hear some other opinions.

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...-4180245/?Cr=0

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Petrol IS available anywhere diesel is virtually anywhere in the whole of Australia , especially since Opal became availalabe in centra Aus. The myth that it isn't is perpetuated by one or two 4x4 mags. who haven't been there, didn't look for petrol , or drive 20 year old diesels and have NFI about petrol. I drove my 120 petrol all over the country including the CSR which would be the longest distance between fuel in Aus. and petrol[orOpal] can be bought anywhere diesel can be now.180 l tank will take you a safe 1000-1200 km and there aren't too many places that you will need more than that. Mu 05 petrol was great but I have recently traded to a new diesel but if I was buying 2nd hand it would be petrol that I choose for the reasons given above. On my figures I reckon you need to do well in excess of 100000 km to be ahead on a new or near new diesel.A budget of $15-17k will get you a great 120 petrol but amediocre diesel of probably much higher kms. Good luck.