Kakadu vs VX - KDSS

[fatty boy Member Find all posts View Profile Close fatty boy]

I'm thinking of joining the 5 doors tribe and been looking at VX and Kakadu. From what I've been reading KDSS is a good to have it. But I'm not sure whether it is justifiable of extra coins over VX - if my main interest is just KDSS. I've got MTS/ Crawl on my ZR and I can count the number of times used in my one hand
Especially, if I were to lift the car with BP51 or similar after market
Would have been nice if I can get GXL with some bolt on features
IIRC, KDSS was available as optional on VX previously?


PS - also, how easy is to remove the third row?

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

Pretty easy to remove 3rd row. Can be done by a mug. I can prove it.
instructions are here on this site.
I put in a cupboard type arrangement with hinged doors that lays flat. No lost space.
Drawers get a bit pricey.

[gunda Member Find all posts View Profile Close gunda]

I will reply as someone who confronted this decision recently, and whose Kakadu is currently in build so this is not a comment from personal experience. I really liked the sound of KDSS, which was one thing that pushed me to the Kakadu level, but it's not without disadvantages. It does increase the weight of the vehicle a little, and thus reduce the payload. As I've read, it can be problematic, as you can get a slight side-to-side lean that can be hard to eliminate entirely.

But the thing you really need to consider re the Kakadu is the air bag suspension. While this should improve ride ride comfort and allow for adjustable suspension, it makes a lift difficult (but not impossible, but at the cost of losing the adjustment), and it makes a GVM upgrade impossible, so you're stuck with the basic payload. Removing the rear seats will help a little. I half-regret not getting a VX Cruiser while they could still be ordered, as this would have given KDSS with steel springs, but it was more $ and Kgs. I don't understand why Toyota removed KDSS from the VX Prado.

[onehdft Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close onehdft]

Can't comment on KDSS in the Prado, but have a lot of experience with it in the 200 - it is fantastic. Driving a non KDSS 200 and one with, is like chalk and cheese.
The car corners much flatter on road and there is much less wallow.
It's the one main reason we are looking at the Kakadu over the VX.
Hope this helps,
Mark

[starbuck76 Member Find all posts View Profile Close starbuck76]

KDSS came standard with my 2011 VX. Not sure if it was optional after that, but I think you would regret NOT getting it. The car handles much better with KDSS than without.