Which to buy - '05 VX or '07 GXL

[taylz Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close taylz]

Hi All,
I'm in the market for a Prado to replace the family people mover and introduce the kids (3) to the world of camping out bush.
With the budget in mind, I've narrowed the choice down to an 05 VX or an 07 GXL (both petrol). Air con that is effective in the back row is essential as we do carry small children back there 3 days per week. All other things being equal (kms, service history, accessories) are there any new features introduced in 06 or 07 that I would miss out on in an 05 VX?

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

Re: Which to buy - '05 VX or '07 GXL

If you need the drivers seat to be height adjustable then that might put the GXL off the list. My GXL didn't have it and my wife didn't enjoy driving it locally at all. I don't know if an 07 GXL has it and the current online Toyota specs for the GXL are somewhat vague while the VX specs show seat height adjustment.

[taylz Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close taylz]

Re: Which to buy - '05 VX or '07 GXL

That is the sort of feedback I am after - those little features that don't really have a big deal made of them, but some of them are really nice to have and have the potential to break a stalemate.
Height adjustment on the seat isn't going to worry us, My SS has it and the Mrs doesn't use it when she steals it off me!

[whiteman Member Find all posts View Profile Close whiteman]

Re: Which to buy - '05 VX or '07 GXL

The 05 model should be a better buy as would assume it has depreciated in value to a point where resale is stable but of course the 07 should have far fewer kms.

I recently upgraded from the 05 GXL petrol to the 08 GXL diesel. Besides the obvious difference between the engines and the odometer reading, not a lot of difference (rear aircon controls which kids love, bluetooth which I love for handsfree phone, roof rails which are handy). We had a great time in the 05 petrol - fantastic performance - and the only thing it needed after 75k of faultless driving was a new set of rear shockies which cost about $250.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Which to buy - '05 VX or '07 GXL

the 07, less kms I would expect and also still under warranty... Better resale when you go to move it on in a few years.

[tileys Member Find all posts View Profile Close tileys]

Re: Which to buy - '05 VX or '07 GXL

You still have to get a VX or a Grande to get a height adjustable front seat - not a big deal if you're average height but could be a deal breaker if you aren't.

[metro09 Member Find all posts View Profile Close metro09]

Re: Which to buy - '05 VX or '07 GXL

the 07, less kms I would expect and also still under warranty... Better resale when you go to move it on in a few years.

Another vote for this one.

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

Re: Which to buy - '05 VX or '07 GXL

yep, got the 07 d4d, my only crib is no rear a/c and the middle seat drink holders are in the centre fold down area.... WTF! Toyata for god sake sell an 8 seater but only seven can access drinks in the middle not 8 hahaha... bit of pain doing the Nullabor with the girls wanting to laydown in the middle and no where to put there drinks. Other than that, love it to bits.

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

Re: Which to buy - '05 VX or '07 GXL

yep, got the 07 d4d, my only crib is no rear a/c and the middle seat drink holders are in the centre fold down area.... WTF! Toyata for god sake sell an 8 seater but only seven can access drinks in the middle not 8 hahaha... bit of pain doing the Nullabor with the girls wanting to laydown in the middle and no where to put there drinks. Other than that, love it to bits.

Sorry to go OT... Golly... you need to get those handy bag thingos with heaps of pockets that hang over the back of the front seats, like this oneL



We use them for our kids all the time when travelling. I pretty sure most come with a holder specifically for drink containers included. Very handy indeed.

ps. the rear air-con is excellent too.

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

Re: Which to buy - '05 VX or '07 GXL

Do you intend on traversing over medium to hard rating tracks? Are you likely to lift a wheel or two? if so, then I would go for the 05 VX as it comes with electronic traction aid. The GXL prado only comes with a rear LSD and although it's good for light offroading applications, the rear diff is prone to obliterate under heavy accelerations.

I also believe that 05 model petrol VX only comes in cloth trim but has lumbar support. These are more comfortable than the GXL seats.

[taylz Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close taylz]

Re: Which to buy - '05 VX or '07 GXL

More valuable information - thanks guys.
The intended use will be 90% around town with 10% highway travel and 10% off road on relatively moderate tracks. (Doing Darwin to Perth via Yulara and the Central Highway and back via the coast will be it's first major trek). My kids are 10, 3 and 15 months so it's likely that reasonably heavy duty seat covers will be in use.

Lumbar Support is a VERY big plus. The wife will be driving it most of the time and she has back issues so if I can customise the seat support a little for her it will be a big bonus.

I've taken a bit more of a look and it appears at the moment that there are a few 05 VX's on the market around the country and they are a good $5000 to $10000 cheaper than most 07 GXLs. Kms on the ones in mind vary from 40000 to 80000 which I find more than reasonable for a 3+ year old car (I'd be expecting 40000-50000 for an 07). A local has a December 05 available with 60000 km, bullbar, towbar and is asking $40500. Any comments on this sort of price?

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

Re: Which to buy - '05 VX or '07 GXL

Most used car sales web site utilise the red book valuation for valuating used vehicles. Try one of the popular ones and do a search on the model you're interested in and use it as a guide for your purchase.

this one on carpoint.com http://www.carpoint.com.au/car-valuations/
and another on carsales.com http://www.carsales.com.au/car-valuations/

[metro09 Member Find all posts View Profile Close metro09]

Re: Which to buy - '05 VX or '07 GXL

Redbook / Bluebook / Glass's guides are useless in the current climate and there is no real 'market value' for used cars at the moment other than what people are prepared to pay (i know that sounds obvious, but redbook values are higher than what vehicles are actually being sold for) - found this out when I was looking at selling a car a couple of months ago.

Best place to look is in the classifieds - you will see a trend where people list their car using redbook values, and they stay for sale until they reduce the price - generally by a minimum of 10-20%

Its certainly a buyers market at the moment.

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

Re: Which to buy - '05 VX or '07 GXL

The intended use will be 90% around town with 10% highway travel and 10% off road on relatively moderate tracks....

You do know this adds up to 110%? :lol:

A local has a December 05 available with 60000 km, bullbar, towbar and is asking $40500. Any comments on this sort of price?

Don't forget to leave some $$$'s to add the accessories you wish/require/want.

[taylz Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close taylz]

Re: Which to buy - '05 VX or '07 GXL

:lol: I live my life at 110%, I drive at 11 tenths :twisted: , I guess I was just adding an allowance for that.
With a bullbar, seat covers and a towbar already in place, I'd be looking at a cargo barrier, some sandgrabbas and upgrading the stereo to kenwood dvd/satnav/rear camera (Ryda have some good deals going). I don't mind the DIY so I'll build a shelving set myself for when we do the camping thing. I'm going to have to allow for these no matter which rig I end up with anyway (unless someone is willing to unload theirs already set up for the "right price")