Sell me the Land Cruiser Prado

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Re: Sell me the Land Cruiser Prado

What is 150 GC?

I think he meant 150 GX.

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

Re: Sell me the Land Cruiser Prado

so have you made a decision yet?
I'm trying to decide between a used 120 GXL, new 150 GXL or buy a challenger and a camper for the price of a 150 GXL

[YOOT Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close YOOT]

Re: Sell me the Land Cruiser Prado

Yes I have made my decision!

Drum roll....


I ended up with a new Patrol ST Auto for work (I'm a part owner of a medium sized business). I had a Navara and although we have just changed to a fleet of Hiluxs, my Boss just bought a LR Disco 4 HSE (The most awesome 4WD/Car I have ever driven BTW!) and I decided on the Patrol. Why?

We have had two Patrols before, and never had a problem with anyof them. They are bigger than the Prado by a long way (think LC200 size). The diesel is close enough to the same power/torque as the Prado but economy is not so good (12.5L/100km around town). It has GPS, DVD, Reverse Camera fitted, bullbar and 130w IPF Spotties, towbar and seven seats all for under $60K driveaway. I can't even get a base model Prado off the lot for that. Let alone driveaway and accesories.

So the Forester will remain in my hot little hands till next year (to save some money) and I will more than likely replace it with a Liberty Sport Preium wagon with Satnav for around the $49K mark for my wife.

Also an intersting note, my boss has had his heart set on a LC200 for his next car, but when he sat in the GXL Diesel which is $85K+ with NO options or accessories AT ALL thought he better see the Sahara. Sat in it and said where's teh GPS? Where is the Xenon headlights? Cornering lamps? Stability control for the trailer/caravan? tow bar? armrests? The Disco has all this and more standard and is MUCH quieter and goes a lot harder on the road, corners well and soaks up the bumps like a Caprice. The Toyota salesman said the money is in the name and the V8... all $120K worth.

Well one quick flight to Syndey and a 900km return leg to BNE in a demo Disco 4 HSE for $95K later, minus GST for a busniess purchse and we have a top of the range Disco 4 for $86K. Hard to believe so many people who live and drive in a city would choose the LC over such a nice car. I wouldn't say no to either but my God you pay through the nose for realtively nothing with Toyota.


Anyway, thanks so much for the info, i would still like a Prado one day.

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

Re: Sell me the Land Cruiser Prado

Lets see if the Disco will have same reliability and resale value as the Landcruiser, especially if used offroad. It hasn't in the past!!!

[butane8 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close butane8]

Re: Sell me the Land Cruiser Prado

anyone tell you bad luck runs in threes...butane :?:

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Re: Sell me the Land Cruiser Prado

I thought I'd read somewhere that the difference in the interior between the Prado and LC is only marginal. However not sure now with the difference between the 150 and LC200. the earlier comparison was between the 120 and maybe LC100.

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Re: Sell me the Land Cruiser Prado

Re the Prado / Nissan / Discovery debate.

Yes you can get a Patrol, very capable 4WD and a better deal than a Prado. But not everyone wants/need need something that size besides would not fit in my garage.

Seriously looked at a Discovery ( was still D3 when we were looking ), Fantastic car, ride etc. But the Disco SE was still $15K above a Prado GXL on the road.
LandRover dealers very snooty and not prepared to negotiate -not so with our local Toyota dealer.
Disco 4s are even better, fantastic ride and capable - but try getting support anywhere outside a major city.
And yes I think resale would be an issue. Discos don't have a great record in that area although I think the D3/D4 will hold up better than the D1/D2 series.
Disco also has very limited cruising range compared to Prado. ( and Pajero for that matter ).

[YOOT Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close YOOT]

Re: Sell me the Land Cruiser Prado

Hehehe, I thought the 'reliability' thing would come up, but hey all cars have faults. this Disco will never go further than the Gold Coast from BNE so none of those issues will matter. Most of the Sahara's never make it past the urban sprawl either so the points are even more valid. Thing is there are 'rumors' on internet forums about issues with the LC200 too, bubble fishbowl shaped windshield, gearbox falts, dust sealing not effective, diffs. And of Toyota want you to pay excessive amounts for a basic 4WD this is not acceptable. The extra price is supposed to garantee reliability I would hope! Otherwise whats the point?

The fact remains though, LC200 is very hard to justify, but I do see a lot of them so there must be something in it. I certainly can't afford one so I guess I will never know.

i wouldn't say the Prado is better/worse than the Patrol, differnt beasts. The Patrol is not refined but is silent at highway speeds and has decent range, and its cost me zero so it doesn't have to be good to be impressive to me. But I just can't make a calim for a smaller 4Wd for nearly $70K when there are others out there offering the same level of equipment for more than $10K less.

[vchandaria22 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vchandaria22]

Re: Sell me the Land Cruiser Prado

See below website for the amount of issues the discovery has

http://www.landroverhell.com/


Regards,

Vijay

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

Re: Sell me the Land Cruiser Prado

and the tank is smaller

I think that with the claimed improvements in fuel economy of the 150 series, the smaller tank would give the same ballpark range as the 120 series with the 180L tank.

I think that the claimed improved fuel economy comes from a difference in height between the 120 D4D and then 150 D4D.

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

Re: Sell me the Land Cruiser Prado

Redbook Trade-in prices for 2007 models with avg kms:

Prado GXL V6 Auto. New: $57,413 Trade-in: $33,800 - $37,700

Disco 3 SE 4.0i New: $63,990 Trade-in: $31,500 - $35,400

So it costs more up front, but is worth less at trade in. There is $8k or thereabouts down the drain right there. Add to the pile the substantial extra servicing costs, add the inconvenience of breaking down in the bush, add the extra fuel costs etc, and you soon realise that this is not the same sort of car as the Toyotas even though its specifications say otherwise.

We had about 5 in the company for a few years. Every single one was a disaster of breakdowns and outrageous running costs.

Buyer beware. :shock:

Michael