Introductions

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Welcome aboard, Paul.

Sounds like you have a pretty good setup there.

[juc33_prado Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close juc33_prado]

Intro: Sam

Just a quick introduction;

SAM:
Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Warehouse Manager @ Furniture Store

Hey all, I am new to 4x4, but have been on car forums for 10 years for other cars I have had!

First Car:
1981 Holden TE SL/X Gemini Diesel (baby poo brown, horses could walk past me it would drive that slow!)

Second Car:
1997 Mitsubishi Mirage CE (originally blue, then painted green with other mods to look cool when that was the 'IN' thing to do)

Third Car:
2011 Nissan 370Z (red, daily driver, quick and zippy around town, haven't managed to get it to a track yet)

Fourth Car:
1999 Toyota Landcruiser Prado RV 2.7 Manual (white, my new weekend toy, also good for carrying things as the Zed is small!)

I love forums, has always been a great place to meet people, I hope to meet some Prado owners out there soon!

Thanks

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Welcome Sam, your obviously a brave man! Admitting to owning a diesel Gemini takes some guts

The Queensland guys are pretty active, so you should have a chance to meet some good guys up your way.

Cheers Andrew

[juc33_prado Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close juc33_prado]

Welcome Sam, your obviously a brave man! Admitting to owning a diesel Gemini takes some guts

The Queensland guys are pretty active, so you should have a chance to meet some good guys up your way.

Cheers Andrew

Even the worst first cars always have great memories!

Thanks Andrew

[BiLLz0r Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close BiLLz0r]

Hi all,

My name is Daniel, 35yo, married with 2 boys.
Looking at a 4WD for the wife as a daily and for me on weekends, trips away.
Currently considering the Prado 4Ltr Petrol 05-06. Not decided on GXL, VX or Grande yet. Just will see what comes along at the right price.
We were considering a GU III patrol (always a Patrol man, sorry Toyota guys) but the high fuel consumption and larger size has been a down point. My dad has a '99 GU and it's just great offroad but a little lacking in the daily driver area.

[PradoGXL08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradoGXL08]

Welcome to Pradopoint Daniel,

It is great to see you considering crossing over from the Dark Side.

You state that you were looking at the 05-06 Petrol Version due to the high fuel consumption of the GU Patrols, is that correct?

May I suggest you consider a 2008 Turbo Diesel version.

FYI, the is would be 2008 Prado, model: KDJ120R D4D (1KD-FTV Engine)

I have been driving this model since new, (Auto version) and it has done 130,000kms without major problems.
It is economical and small enough to run around City, and get great fuel economy on long trips.
Fuel Economy is approx 12-14L/100kms around the city, and drops to 10-12L/100kms on Long trips.(Depending on vehicle setup and weight)

What this means, is on long trips you will save money as you will go further than a Petrol and it will be cheaper at the bowser, as you won't need to be as much in.

The only drawback I have found with the Prado, is the towing Capacity - 2,500kgs.

I regularly tow a 1.3T offroad Tvan and my Prado goes like anything. It doesn't even know there is a camper on the back, such is the responsiveness of the 1KD-FTV Engine.

Also with the Diesel Engine, you need the Torque to climb hills, not the power as much.

I hope this is of some help to you.

In closing, do you plan to do any major 4WD trips - Simpson Desert, CSR or Cape York?

Stuart

[BiLLz0r Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close BiLLz0r]

Nothing major like that Stu. We do the SE QLD thing, Fraser, Rainbow, Bribie, etc
The Patrol's fuel consumption figures are high teens, low 20's (high 20's with lots of mods). My wife only does the kids the school/shopping thing so she won't use too much. The 08 Diesel would also be way out of our price range. Trying to keep it around $20K or lower.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

I get 11.4/11.6L per 100 loaded 3 on board fridge etc. havnt done a long trip towing over all terrains. Round town 15/16 if you drive it like it's stolen you will see 18/20, not a huge difference in torque over the diesel, 1kz 343 nm, V6 379 nm, 1kd 410nm... If doing heaps of towing I'd go the diesel, if maximum 4 weeks of the year petrol suits me fine. Up to the individual and the requirements. We all have our preferences. Either way there a great vehicle for long distance and only vehicle I can drive for 10 hours or more straight and not get a sore back.... Cheers Steve

[BiLLz0r Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close BiLLz0r]

Well I made the plunge yesterday and purchased a 12/07 Prado GXL Auto Petrol. 180K km's. Looks and runs like new.
Current mods are:
ARB front bar
Tow bar
Reverse cam
Satnav
Snorkel
Back seat headrest DVD players
Rooftop DVD player
Pacemaker Extractors
Slotted rear brake discs, slotted and cross drilled front brakes
Dunlop AT tyres

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/65293367/photo4.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/65293367/photo5.jpg
Got it for $22.9K. Bargain I think. Pick it up next week.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Well done BiLLzOr, looks bloody great for that price. Few grand worth of extra's there already. Looks like it was just an exec's car with all the gear but never used it off road. Looks like from the photo's there's not even any stone chipping under the flares... Well done....Cheers Steve

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Welcome to PP.

[BiLLz0r Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close BiLLz0r]

Well done BiLLzOr, looks bloody great for that price. Few grand worth of extra's there already. Looks like it was just an exec's car with all the gear but never used it off road. Looks like from the photo's there's not even any stone chipping under the flares... Well done....Cheers Steve

I think you're on the money there. It was ex-Energex fleet so think it was an Energex exec's family wagon. It had been off road looking under it but only dirt/little mud. Clean as. Can't wait to pick it up. These pics were also pre dealer detail as it looks like the fleet company did a mini detail on it first. All the rubbers and plastics were covered in goo, even the engine bay hoses.

[surfie Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close surfie]

Hello there

Hi,

My name is Ty, 42 years old married with two young kids (4 & 7) and lives on the Sunny Gold Coast.
I recently joined as a member as I purchased my new to me 2007 GXL auto diesel with 168000 on the clock. The car runs great.
I previously owned a Nissan X-Trail for about four years and that vehicle introduced me to 4WD'ing. The X-Trail although very capable off road for it’s class was very limiting on where it would take me so the decision was made to get a Prado. Was thinking about getting a Wrangler at the time, but now glad I went with Toyota.

The Prado came with: GME UHF radio, Sovereign bar, 2 x HID lights, duel battery with Red Arc management system and a tow bar
The wish list for mods is endless, but slowly but surely I will get there.

Looking forward to meeting some of the member and joining some trip.
Cheers

Ty

[BiLLz0r Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close BiLLz0r]

Hi Ty and welcome. Sounds like you bought a similar vehicle to mine (except yours in the Diesel).
Might see you around the Goldie too. Do you 4WD anywhere around here?

[surfie Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close surfie]

Hi BILLz0r,

Thanks mate
The closest place to home I have been to is Cabalo rd Mt. Tambourine but in my last time there (three weeks ago) I found a locked gate.
Any other places that you can recommend ?