Hi everyone,
I'll start by saying how much I love this site. I love the mods, I love the top job the moderators are doing, this is a good site for all things 4WD (and Prado).
Now, I am posting because I want a Prado. Well I think I want a Prado. Since many of you have owned other vehicles and many of you are not made of money, I would like to propose a detailed discussion on why I should choose to buy a Prado as my next family car.
I currently have a 2007 Forester XT (Turbo). I love this car. Its affordable, very fast, safe, easy to drive and it has taken me to most 4WD destination beach wise in SEQ. I have had it at Noosa, Teewah, Freshwater, Double Island, Inskip, Fraser, Kinkuna, Coonah, Stradbroke and Bribie Island. It has never let me down, and its graded all the sand tracks flat without drama everywhere I have been. However, it is not a big car, and it has a shitty little fuel tank and it drinks like a fish. I bought the car new three years ago and with a baby due in Feb there is no way in hell I am going to make it back to Fraser camping for a week with a car-seat + all essential baby things (what ever they are).
So I need a bigger one! The new one doesn't excite me much, and I don't want to spend much more then $45K-$50 (which is the price of a new XT Premium).
On my shortlist is:
2007-2009 GXL Prado V6 Auto
Brand new Pathfinder
2005-2007 Disco 3 TDv6
2005-2007 Range Rover Sport TDV6
Brand new Forester XT Premium
I hate Pajero so don't go there.
I suggest we have two sections, Pro and Con, and list all the pro/con of each of my choices based on past and present knowledge/experience.
PROS:
Prado - V6 (power, power, power), 5-speed auto, Size (not too big, not too small), accessories and parts (heaps), ability on and off (safe, diff locks, electronic aids), towing capacity, comfort, Looks (120s are nice to look at), resale (Not pad from new, 2nd hand may be different [3rd hand?])
Pathfinder - V6 (Power!), gearbox 5-speed, accessories, good on-road/off-road beach ability (electronic traction aids standard), towing capacity, cheap brand new (warranty)
Disc 3 - TDV6 (Power and economy), 6-speed auto (ZF same as Falcon), outstanding off road ability (traction aids standard SE), price ($45K price range)
Range Rover Sport - as above but not price
Forester XT - Turbo 2.5L (WRX speed!), AWD ability, safety, sand performance second to none (think rally car), versatile (can mimic what the big boys do on sand sometimes way better, sometimes with a bit of bum dragging), looks (not bad), equipment (lots of standard goodies), brand new (warranty), resale (VERY good!)
CONS:
Prado - Second hand (never know what you are getting), fuel economy (Big engine, big car, will use a bit), old design (been around since 2002), reliability (Never hear of issues with V6 leaving you strandard), 150-series may leave 120 in the dark.
Pathfinder - Cheap interior (looks and feels like a work ute), IRS (too soft and ground clearance issues), no LSD (All electric traction control), resale (Nissans suck for this).
Disco 3 - Reliability (Most people say they are great, but you do hear of annoying things), no warranty (expensive repairs if failures occur), dated looks
Range Rover Sport - Not really for offroad, but basically Disco 3 ability with better looks, reliability in same boat as Disco, price (75K km samples are around $55K, newer ones closer to $70K).
Forester XT - Heavy on fuel for 4cyl (12L town, 9L Highway), small (the Fraser thing!), Ground clearance makes you think twice before attempting things (even though 9/10 times you'll make it first go), auto is crap (old 4-speed and I don't like the idea of giving up the LSD centre the manual has, for a variable clutch type controlled by computer), not much accessories for camping and 4Wd'ing, copping flack from 'real' 4WD owners gets tiresome after a while (despite they lack of evidence to their claims), not able to really mount fridges, CB, maxtrax, tow trailer on sand.
So there you have what is washing around my head at the moment, one day I want one thing, the next day I want the other. I think I am going insane, please help me decide, my top pick is the Prado but the other contenders have emotional value as well. I only fall away from the Prado because its dated (I'm used to having the latest thing), but this seems to be one truck that doesn't matter of its age. The 150 would be my choice if it don't more than the nearly two of all the other options.
I'll start by saying how much I love this site. I love the mods, I love the top job the moderators are doing, this is a good site for all things 4WD (and Prado).
Now, I am posting because I want a Prado. Well I think I want a Prado. Since many of you have owned other vehicles and many of you are not made of money, I would like to propose a detailed discussion on why I should choose to buy a Prado as my next family car.
I currently have a 2007 Forester XT (Turbo). I love this car. Its affordable, very fast, safe, easy to drive and it has taken me to most 4WD destination beach wise in SEQ. I have had it at Noosa, Teewah, Freshwater, Double Island, Inskip, Fraser, Kinkuna, Coonah, Stradbroke and Bribie Island. It has never let me down, and its graded all the sand tracks flat without drama everywhere I have been. However, it is not a big car, and it has a shitty little fuel tank and it drinks like a fish. I bought the car new three years ago and with a baby due in Feb there is no way in hell I am going to make it back to Fraser camping for a week with a car-seat + all essential baby things (what ever they are).
So I need a bigger one! The new one doesn't excite me much, and I don't want to spend much more then $45K-$50 (which is the price of a new XT Premium).
On my shortlist is:
2007-2009 GXL Prado V6 Auto
Brand new Pathfinder
2005-2007 Disco 3 TDv6
2005-2007 Range Rover Sport TDV6
Brand new Forester XT Premium
I hate Pajero so don't go there.
I suggest we have two sections, Pro and Con, and list all the pro/con of each of my choices based on past and present knowledge/experience.
PROS:
Prado - V6 (power, power, power), 5-speed auto, Size (not too big, not too small), accessories and parts (heaps), ability on and off (safe, diff locks, electronic aids), towing capacity, comfort, Looks (120s are nice to look at), resale (Not pad from new, 2nd hand may be different [3rd hand?])
Pathfinder - V6 (Power!), gearbox 5-speed, accessories, good on-road/off-road beach ability (electronic traction aids standard), towing capacity, cheap brand new (warranty)
Disc 3 - TDV6 (Power and economy), 6-speed auto (ZF same as Falcon), outstanding off road ability (traction aids standard SE), price ($45K price range)
Range Rover Sport - as above but not price
Forester XT - Turbo 2.5L (WRX speed!), AWD ability, safety, sand performance second to none (think rally car), versatile (can mimic what the big boys do on sand sometimes way better, sometimes with a bit of bum dragging), looks (not bad), equipment (lots of standard goodies), brand new (warranty), resale (VERY good!)
CONS:
Prado - Second hand (never know what you are getting), fuel economy (Big engine, big car, will use a bit), old design (been around since 2002), reliability (Never hear of issues with V6 leaving you strandard), 150-series may leave 120 in the dark.
Pathfinder - Cheap interior (looks and feels like a work ute), IRS (too soft and ground clearance issues), no LSD (All electric traction control), resale (Nissans suck for this).
Disco 3 - Reliability (Most people say they are great, but you do hear of annoying things), no warranty (expensive repairs if failures occur), dated looks
Range Rover Sport - Not really for offroad, but basically Disco 3 ability with better looks, reliability in same boat as Disco, price (75K km samples are around $55K, newer ones closer to $70K).
Forester XT - Heavy on fuel for 4cyl (12L town, 9L Highway), small (the Fraser thing!), Ground clearance makes you think twice before attempting things (even though 9/10 times you'll make it first go), auto is crap (old 4-speed and I don't like the idea of giving up the LSD centre the manual has, for a variable clutch type controlled by computer), not much accessories for camping and 4Wd'ing, copping flack from 'real' 4WD owners gets tiresome after a while (despite they lack of evidence to their claims), not able to really mount fridges, CB, maxtrax, tow trailer on sand.
So there you have what is washing around my head at the moment, one day I want one thing, the next day I want the other. I think I am going insane, please help me decide, my top pick is the Prado but the other contenders have emotional value as well. I only fall away from the Prado because its dated (I'm used to having the latest thing), but this seems to be one truck that doesn't matter of its age. The 150 would be my choice if it don't more than the nearly two of all the other options.
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