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Hi Guys
I'm faced with the dilemma of buying my first 4WD to be used for mainly long range driving and some light 4x4ing with an occasional harder track (i.e. Cape York) thrown in every 1 or two years. I have been researching Prado's for about a month now while I have been out at the Mines and prettymuch have my heart set on a Diesel Manual but have a budget of $40k. Looking around the local area (Townsville, North QLD), there were no diesel manuals for sale until this week when two popped out of nowhere, 1 being a private sale and 1 being from a dealer. These are going to be snatched up very quickly. The car at the dealer's is not here yet (not here till next week) and I can't see it until then, hence risking the car currently under Private Sale from being bought and leaving me up s--ts creek if I do not think the Dealer car is a good deal. Details of the 2 cars are below:
Private Car: 2006 Prado GXL 104,000km $38,000. Stock standard - no extras (i.e. highway tyres, no bullbar etc). Diesel Manual.
Dealer Car: 2008 Prado GX or Standard. 53,000km. $44,000. Have convinced the dealer to include a TJM Steel Bullbar and All Terrain tyres in that price. Diesel Manual.
A few times the dealer has said that it's the "Standard Model" and a few times he's said its the "GX" model. My main questions that I have that I haven't been able to find answers to across the forum are:
1. After looking at the difference between the 2008 GX / 2008 Standard Models (only real difference is the dimensions and less seats between those) and the 2006 GXL, are the major differences (thinner steel wheels etc) going to affect the 4x4 ability of the car? I know that the GX/Standard lacks Cruise Control and some of the finer comforts as well, which is fine by me. The only noticeable mechanical difference between the GX/Standard and the 2006 GXL (apart from everything associated with the D4D engine) is GX/Standard does not have ABS Brakes and has thinner wheels?
2. For only an extra $6k do you agree (with me) that it is a better deal to go to the 2008 GX/Standard (which has the D4D engine, almost half the kms and Bullbar and A/T Tyres).
3. Would you pay $44k for the "Dealer Car" version? Would you pay less or would you pay more?
4. Just to inform myself before I go to the dealer when the car comes in (so I know what I'm getting if its a Standard or a GX), what are the differences between the "2008 Standard" and the "2008 GX" apart from less seats. Do the slightly different dimension of the Standard affect its 4x4 ability (Standard is: 190kg lighter, 210kg increased payload, 40mm shorter, almost 100mm less width, 15mm lower than the 2008 GX).
I'm going to test drive the 2008 GX/Standard on Monday. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Aussie86
I'm faced with the dilemma of buying my first 4WD to be used for mainly long range driving and some light 4x4ing with an occasional harder track (i.e. Cape York) thrown in every 1 or two years. I have been researching Prado's for about a month now while I have been out at the Mines and prettymuch have my heart set on a Diesel Manual but have a budget of $40k. Looking around the local area (Townsville, North QLD), there were no diesel manuals for sale until this week when two popped out of nowhere, 1 being a private sale and 1 being from a dealer. These are going to be snatched up very quickly. The car at the dealer's is not here yet (not here till next week) and I can't see it until then, hence risking the car currently under Private Sale from being bought and leaving me up s--ts creek if I do not think the Dealer car is a good deal. Details of the 2 cars are below:
Private Car: 2006 Prado GXL 104,000km $38,000. Stock standard - no extras (i.e. highway tyres, no bullbar etc). Diesel Manual.
Dealer Car: 2008 Prado GX or Standard. 53,000km. $44,000. Have convinced the dealer to include a TJM Steel Bullbar and All Terrain tyres in that price. Diesel Manual.
A few times the dealer has said that it's the "Standard Model" and a few times he's said its the "GX" model. My main questions that I have that I haven't been able to find answers to across the forum are:
1. After looking at the difference between the 2008 GX / 2008 Standard Models (only real difference is the dimensions and less seats between those) and the 2006 GXL, are the major differences (thinner steel wheels etc) going to affect the 4x4 ability of the car? I know that the GX/Standard lacks Cruise Control and some of the finer comforts as well, which is fine by me. The only noticeable mechanical difference between the GX/Standard and the 2006 GXL (apart from everything associated with the D4D engine) is GX/Standard does not have ABS Brakes and has thinner wheels?
2. For only an extra $6k do you agree (with me) that it is a better deal to go to the 2008 GX/Standard (which has the D4D engine, almost half the kms and Bullbar and A/T Tyres).
3. Would you pay $44k for the "Dealer Car" version? Would you pay less or would you pay more?
4. Just to inform myself before I go to the dealer when the car comes in (so I know what I'm getting if its a Standard or a GX), what are the differences between the "2008 Standard" and the "2008 GX" apart from less seats. Do the slightly different dimension of the Standard affect its 4x4 ability (Standard is: 190kg lighter, 210kg increased payload, 40mm shorter, almost 100mm less width, 15mm lower than the 2008 GX).
I'm going to test drive the 2008 GX/Standard on Monday. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Aussie86
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